Pending Delete (Deletion Period): What Is It?

Throughout the lifecycle of domain extensions, domains go through several stages. The length of each one varies depending on the type of extension. One of these phases is called the “deletion period” or Pending Delete.

What is the deletion period?

It is the final period in a domain’s lifecycle, and once it ends, the domain in question is deleted. Pending Delete begins once the previous phases have passed: the grace period and the redemption period.

Once a domain enters the deletion phase, there is no possibility of renewal, because the domain is simply waiting to be deleted by the registrar.

How long does the “pending delete” period last?

The length of the deletion period varies depending on the type of extension. If your domain has a .com extension, this phase lasts 5 days, counted from the day the previous phase — the redemption period — ends.

However, some extensions don’t go through any of these stages. In the case of country-code domains, namely domains with a .es extension, the domain is automatically deleted after it expires.

How can I tell if my domain is in the deletion period?

A domain’s status is reported in real time through WHOIS data. You can use our WHOIS lookup to check the status of any domain, whether it’s yours or someone else’s.

Just enter the domain, and it will show you its expiration date or, if it has already expired, which phase it’s currently in.

Can I renew a domain that is in the deletion period?

No. If you missed the chance to renew your domain during the grace period or during the redemption period, you can no longer do so, because as we’ve explained, during the Pending Delete phase your domain is simply waiting to be deleted.

Can I re-register the domain once it’s been deleted?

It’s possible… as long as you’re the fastest and the domain doesn’t go to auction. Domains that return to regular availability can be highly sought after, not only by you but also by many companies that register valuable domains in order to resell them to their original owners. Our advice is always the same: “Never let a domain that has value to you expire, or it will end up costing you dearly.”