Step 1: Find out what it is worth
Run the name through two or three free appraisal tools built on different data, such as our <a href="https://siteappraiser.com/domain">domain value checker</a>, HumbleWorth and GoDaddy, and note the spread. Then search NameBio for similar names that actually sold. Most domains are worth little beyond their registration fee, so this step tells you whether a sale is realistic before you spend time on it.
Step 2: Set a price
A fixed buy-now price sells more domains than make-offer listings, because a buyer at a registrar search box can complete the purchase immediately. Price near the retail end of your range if you can wait, nearer the quick-sale figure if you want it gone. Use the same price on every venue.
Step 3: Choose where to list
Where you list decides who sees the name. Most venues allow non-exclusive listings, so you can use several at once.
| Venue | Seller commission | Why use it |
|---|---|---|
| Afternic | 15% with GoDaddy nameservers, 25% without (Basic) | Shows your name as for sale at 100+ partner registrars |
| Sedo | 10–20% by sale route | International and non-English buyers |
| Spaceship SellerHub | 5% | Lowest fee |
| Atom | Tiered; check current plan | Brandable and invented names |
| Domain broker | Typically 15–20% | Names worth roughly $25,000 or more |
Rates as of September–October 2026. Full comparison in our guide to the best places to sell a domain.
Step 4: Put a for-sale page on the domain
Anyone who types the domain into a browser should see that it is for sale, with the price or an offer form. Afternic and Sedo both provide free landing pages when you point the domain at their nameservers. On Afternic, using its nameservers also lowers the Basic commission from 25% to 15%.
Step 5: Handle offers
Reply to genuine enquiries quickly, since buyers often contact several owners at once. Ask what they plan to use the name for if it helps you judge their budget. Be wary of anyone who wants to skip escrow, pay outside the marketplace or move the conversation to a messaging app.
Step 6: Get paid through escrow
For a private sale, use a licensed escrow service such as Escrow.com. The buyer pays escrow, you transfer the domain, the buyer confirms, and escrow releases the funds. Never transfer a domain before the payment is held in escrow. Sales through Afternic, Sedo and other marketplaces handle payment for you.
Step 7: Transfer the domain
Marketplace sales with fast transfer move ownership automatically. For other sales, either push the domain to the buyer's account at the same registrar, or unlock it and send the authorisation code so the buyer can transfer it to their registrar. Our guide on <a href="https://siteappraiser.com/blog/how-to-transfer-a-domain-between-registrars/">transferring a domain between registrars</a> covers the details.
- Check the value with several tools and NameBio before listing.
- A fixed buy-now price sells more domains than make-offer.
- List non-exclusively on Afternic, Sedo and a low-fee venue at the same price.
- Use escrow for any private sale and never transfer before funds are held.
Work it out: Domain name generator
Value the name itself — separate from any site on it, no email required. The method and the reported sales behind the estimate are published alongside it.
Appraise a domainNamecheap runs a domain marketplace alongside the registrar, so you can list a domain for sale, park it for ad revenue, or grab the next one cheaply.
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