Domain expiration checker

See when a domain expires, how many days are left and which stage of the renewal cycle it is in.

Try:

Results for example.com

Checked 2026-11-14from cache1 ms

Registered

Locked down and healthy

example.com is registered with RESERVED-Internet Assigned Numbers Authority since 1995-08-14 (31 years). Expires 2027-08-13 (in 272 days).

RegisteredLockedDNSSEC signed

Expires

2027-08-13 · in 272 days

Age

31years

Since 1995-08-14

Registrar

RESERVED-Internet Assigned Numbers Authority

IANA ID 376

Locks on

3locks

Locked against transfer, update and deletion by the registrar

Status3

Stage 1 of 6: Registered

Locks

Deletion locked (registrar)clientDeleteProhibited
The registrar has locked the domain so it cannot be deleted.
What this status means
Transfer locked (registrar)clientTransferProhibited
The registrar has locked the domain so it cannot be transferred to another registrar.
What this status means
Update locked (registrar)clientUpdateProhibited
The registrar has locked the domain so it cannot be changed (nameservers, contacts, other registration data).
What this status means

Records

Key facts

Registrar: RESERVED-Internet Assigned Numbers AuthorityIANA ID 376
Registered: 1995-08-1431 years ago
Expires: 2027-08-13 in 272 days
Last changed: 2026-08-143 months ago
DNSSEC: Signed
Locks: 3 locks
Nameservers: 2

Nameservers

elliott.ns.cloudflare.com
hera.ns.cloudflare.com

DNSSEC

Signed

Key tag	Algorithm	Digest type	Digest
2371	13 (ECDSA P-256 / SHA-256)	2 (SHA-256)	`C988EC423E3880EB8DD8A46FE06CA230EE23F35B578D64E78B29C3E1C83D245A`

Registrar

Name: RESERVED-Internet Assigned Numbers Authority
IANA ID: 376

Registry notices · 3 messages

Text supplied by the registry. We show it as written and never follow instructions in it.

Terms of Service
Service subject to Terms of Use.
www.verisign.com (www.verisign.com)
Status Codes
For more information on domain status codes, please visit https://icann.org/epp
icann.org (icann.org)
RDDS Inaccuracy Complaint Form
URL of the ICANN RDDS Inaccuracy Complaint Form: https://icann.org/wicf
icann.org (icann.org)

Contacts1

Registrar
Name
RESERVED-Internet Assigned Numbers Authority

How we got this

Result cache · 0 msHITstored 682s ago
Query: domain example.com · 0 ms
IANA bootstrap (dns.json) · 0 msMATCHcom → https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/
.com registry RDAP (rdap.verisign.com) · 21 ms200

Asked: https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/example.com
Server list entry: dns: com
Total time: 0 ms
Cache: hit

Raw

{
  "query": {
    "kind": "domain",
    "key": "example.com",
    "display": "example.com",
    "input": "example.com",
    "domain": {
      "ascii": "example.com",
      "unicode": "example.com",
      "tld": "com",
      "tldUnicode": "com",
      "isIdn": false,
      "isPublicSuffix": false,
      "publicSuffix": "com"
    },
    "notices": []
  },
  "status": "found",
  "source": "rdap",
  "domain": {
    "objectClassName": "domain",
    "ldhName": "example.com",
    "unicodeName": "example.com",
    "statuses": [
      {
        "raw": "client delete prohibited",
        "rdap": "client delete prohibited",
        "label": "Deletion locked (registrar)",
        "description": "The registrar has locked the domain so it cannot be deleted.",
        "category": "client-lock",
        "severity": "neutral",
        "setBy": "registrar",
        "epp": "clientDeleteProhibited",
        "icannUrl": "https://icann.org/epp#clientDeleteProhibited",
        "slug": "client-delete-prohibited"
      },
      {
        "raw": "client transfer prohibited",
        "rdap": "client transfer prohibited",
        "label": "Transfer locked (registrar)",
        "description": "The registrar has locked the domain so it cannot be transferred to another registrar.",
        "category": "client-lock",
        "severity": "neutral",
        "setBy": "registrar",
        "epp": "clientTransferProhibited",
        "icannUrl": "https://icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited",
        "slug": "client-transfer-prohibited"
      },
      {
        "raw": "client update prohibited",
        "rdap": "client update prohibited",
        "label": "Update locked (registrar)",
        "description": "The registrar has locked the domain so it cannot be changed (nameservers, contacts, other registration data).",
        "category": "client-lock",
        "severity": "neutral",
        "setBy": "registrar",
        "epp": "clientUpdateProhibited",
        "icannUrl": "https://icann.org/epp#clientUpdateProhibited",
        "slug": "client-update-prohibited"
      }
    ],
    "events": {
      "all": [
        {
          "action": "registration",
          "raw": "1995-08-14T04:00:00Z",
          "date": "1995-08-14T04:00:00.000Z"
        },
        {
          "action": "expiration",
          "raw": "2027-08-13T04:00:00Z",
          "date": "2027-08-13T04:00:00.000Z"
        },
        {
          "action": "last changed",
          "raw": "2026-08-14T08:01:43Z",
          "date": "2026-08-14T08:01:43.000Z"
        },
        {
          "action": "last update of RDAP database",
          "raw": "2026-11-14T17:43:20Z",
          "date": "2026-11-14T17:43:20.000Z"
        }
      ],
      "registration": {
        "action": "registration",
        "raw": "1995-08-14T04:00:00Z",
        "date": "1995-08-14T04:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "expiration": {
        "action": "expiration",
        "raw": "2027-08-13T04:00:00Z",
        "date": "2027-08-13T04:00:00.000Z"
      },
      "lastChanged": {
        "action": "last changed",
        "raw": "2026-08-14T08:01:43Z",
        "date": "2026-08-14T08:01:43.000Z"
      },
      "lastRdapUpdate": {
        "action": "last update of RDAP database",
        "raw": "2026-11-14T17:43:20Z",
        "date": "2026-11-14T17:43:20.000Z"
      }
    },
    "nameservers": [
      {
        "ldhName": "elliott.ns.cloudflare.com",
        "unicodeName": "elliott.ns.cloudflare.com",
        "ipv4": [],
        "ipv6": [],
        "status": [],
        "entities": [],
        "events": {
          "all": []
        },
        "notices": [],
        "remarks": [],
        "links": []
      },
      {
        "ldhName": "hera.ns.cloudflare.com",
        "unicodeName": "hera.ns.cloudflare.com",
        "ipv4": [],
        "ipv6": [],
        "status": [],
        "entities": [],
        "events": {
          "all": []
        },
        "notices": [],
        "remarks": [],
        "links": []
      }
    ],
    "dnssec": {
      "signed": true,
      "ds": [
        {
          "keyTag": 2371,
          "algorithm": 13,
          "digestType": 2,
          "digest": "C988EC423E3880EB8DD8A46FE06CA230EE23F35B578D64E78B29C3E1C83D245A"
        }
      ],
      "keys": [],
      "delegationSigned": true
    },
    "contacts": [
      {
        "roles": [
          "registrar"
        ],
        "emails": [],
        "phones": [],
        "contactUris": [],
        "urls": [],
        "publicIds": [
          {
            "type": "IANA Registrar ID",
            "identifier": "376"
          }
        ],
        "isRedacted": false,
        "redactedFields": [],
        "links": [],
        "events": [],
        "status": [],
        "remarks": [],
        "entities": [
          {
            "roles": [
              "abuse"
            ],
            "emails": [],
            "phones": [],
            "contactUris": [],
            "urls": [],
            "publicIds": [],
            "isRedacted": false,
            "redactedFields": [],
            "links": [],
            "events": [],
            "status": [],
            "remarks": [],
            "entities": []
          }
        ],
        "handle": "376",
        "name": "RESERVED-Internet Assigned Numbers Authority"
      }
    ],
    "redactions": [],
    "notices": [
      {
        "description": [
          "Service subject to Terms of Use."
        ],
        "links": [
          {
            "href": "https://www.verisign.com/domain-names/registration-data-access-protocol/terms-service/index.xhtml",
            "host": "www.verisign.com",
            "rel": "terms-of-service",
            "type": "text/html"
          }
        ],
        "title": "Terms of Service"
      },
      {
        "description": [
          "For more information on domain status codes, please visit https://icann.org/epp"
        ],
        "links": [
          {
            "href": "https://icann.org/epp",
            "host": "icann.org",
            "rel": "glossary",
            "type": "text/html"
          }
        ],
        "title": "Status Codes"
      },
      {
        "description": [
          "URL of the ICANN RDDS Inaccuracy Complaint Form: https://icann.org/wicf"
        ],
        "links": [
          {
            "href": "https://icann.org/wicf",
            "host": "icann.org",
            "rel": "help",
            "type": "text/html"
          }
        ],
        "title": "RDDS Inaccuracy Complaint Form"
      }
    ],
    "remarks": [],
    "links": [
      {
        "href": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/example.com",
        "host": "rdap.verisign.com",
        "rel": "self",
        "type": "application/rdap+json"
      }
    ],
    "conformance": [
      "rdap_level_0",
      "icann_rdap_technical_implementation_guide_1",
      "icann_rdap_response_profile_1"
    ],
    "lifecycle": {
      "stage": "registered",
      "badges": [
        "registered"
      ],
      "severity": "neutral",
      "label": "Registered",
      "summary": "This domain is registered and expires on 2027-08-13.",
      "isLocked": true,
      "isOnHold": false,
      "isNew": false,
      "earliestExpiry": "2027-08-13T04:00:00.000Z",
      "ageDays": 11415,
      "expiresInDays": 272,
      "periodProgress": 0.9767752117915918
    },
    "discrepancies": [],
    "handle": "2336799_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN",
    "registrar": {
      "name": "RESERVED-Internet Assigned Numbers Authority",
      "ianaId": "376",
      "handle": "376"
    }
  },
  "availability": {
    "verdict": "registered",
    "caveats": [],
    "registerLinks": []
  },
  "provenance": {
    "bootstrap": {
      "kind": "dns",
      "entry": "com",
      "source": "iana",
      "publication": "2026-10-28T22:00:04Z"
    },
    "queryUrl": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/example.com",
    "serverUrl": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/",
    "finalUrl": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/example.com",
    "trace": [
      {
        "step": "cache",
        "label": "Result cache",
        "status": "HIT",
        "ms": 0,
        "note": "stored 682s ago"
      },
      {
        "step": "input",
        "label": "Query: domain example.com",
        "ms": 0
      },
      {
        "step": "bootstrap",
        "label": "IANA bootstrap (dns.json)",
        "host": "rdap.verisign.com",
        "status": "MATCH",
        "ms": 0,
        "note": "com → https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/"
      },
      {
        "step": "registry",
        "label": ".com registry RDAP (rdap.verisign.com)",
        "url": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/example.com",
        "host": "rdap.verisign.com",
        "status": 200,
        "ms": 21
      }
    ],
    "totalMs": 0,
    "fetchedAt": "2026-11-14T17:43:32.180Z",
    "cache": "hit"
  }
}

What this tells you

The expiration date is the day a domain's current registration period ends unless someone renews it. LookupOwl reads it from the registry's record, counts the days left, and flags domains that are close to expiry or already in a grace stage. That gives you time to act before a website or mailbox disappears.

It is useful for your own domains, a client's domain, a vendor whose service you rely on, and a name you would like to buy if it ever comes free.

How to check an expiry date

Enter the domainPaste the name, a URL or an email address. Subdomains are trimmed to the registrable domain.
Read the Expires tileA ring counts down the days, with the date underneath. The headline names the stage, for example “Expires soon” (30 days or fewer) or “Expired, but not gone yet”.
Compare both dates if two appearThe registry and the registrar can show slightly different dates. The registry's date is the authoritative one, but plan around the earlier of the two.

The life of an expiring domain

What happens after the date depends on the registry and the registrar, but generic top-level domains such as .com follow a common pattern. The lengths below are typical, not guaranteed.

Stage	Typical length	What it means
Active	Until the expiry date	Registered and working. Renew any time.
Auto-renew grace period	Up to 45 days	The registrar may keep the site running or park it. The owner can usually renew at the normal price.
Redemption period	About 30 days	The domain is out of DNS. Recovery costs a redemption fee, often much higher than a normal renewal.
Pending delete	About 5 days	The owner can no longer act. The name will be released to the public.
Released	Afterwards	Anyone can register it, and drop-catching services (which race to grab names the moment they free up) compete for good ones.

These stages appear as status flags in the record, for example autoRenewPeriod, redemptionPeriod and pendingDelete. The status code guide explains what each one means.

Edge cases and surprises

The date has passed but the site still works. The domain is probably in auto-renew grace. Renew straight away.
Registry and registrar dates differ. Registrars sometimes show an internal date, such as when they will try to auto-renew. Treat the earlier of the two as your deadline.
No expiry date appears. Some country-code registries, such as .de, don't publish one. Ask your registrar instead.
The date is far in the future. Some registries use a date such as 9999-12-31 to mean no fixed expiry. LookupOwl shows that as “No fixed expiry” and not as a countdown.
Auto-renew is on, but the domain still lapsed. That happens when the card on file has expired, the registrar account is locked, or the registrar is a reseller whose own account ran out.
The domain was renewed but still shows the old date. Results are cached briefly, and registries update on their own schedule. Check again in a few minutes.

Where the date comes from

LookupOwl asks the registry over RDAP (or WHOIS when there is no RDAP server), reads the expiration event, and adds the registrar's own expiry when the registry links to it. Dates are converted to UTC so “days left” doesn't depend on your time zone. The stage comes from the date together with the status flags.

Expiry dates are defined by the EPP domain mapping (RFC 5731) and the grace-period conventions in RFC 3915, and RDAP carries them as events (RFC 9083). ICANN's Expired Registration Recovery Policy requires registrars to publish how they handle the stages.

Questions people ask

How do I check when my domain expires?

Enter it above and read the Expires tile. The expiration date and the days remaining come from the registry, so you don't need to log in to your registrar. If you are the owner, also check the date inside your registrar account, since that is where you renew, and compare the two.

What happens if my domain expires?

Most registrars give a grace period of up to 45 days in which you can renew at the normal price. After that comes a redemption period of about 30 days, when you can still recover the name for an extra fee, then a short pending-delete stage of about 5 days, and then release. Your website and email may stop working earlier than that, so don't wait.

Can someone else buy my domain the day it expires?

Usually not on the day. Under the standard cycle there are weeks of grace and redemption before a name can be released to the public. Some registrars do put expiring names up for auction early, though, and drop-catching services compete for names the moment they are released. Don't rely on the grace period as a safety net.

Why does my registrar show a different expiry date?

Registrars sometimes show an internal renewal date, or round to their own time zone. The registry's date is the authoritative one for the registration itself. When the two differ, LookupOwl shows both, and you should plan around the earlier one so a small gap never costs you the domain.

Does renewing early waste money?

No. Renewing adds time to the end of your current period, so nothing you already paid for is lost, and you can usually register for several years at once. Many people renew important names for 5 to 10 years, or turn on auto-renew. Just keep the payment method valid, because auto-renew fails quietly when a card expires.

Can I watch a domain I want to buy?

You can recheck its date and status as it nears expiry. This page doesn't watch names for you, so you recheck by hand. Owners often renew at the last minute, and an expired name may be caught by a drop-catching service the instant it is released. If a name matters, ask the owner whether they would sell, or use your registrar's backorder service.

Does this show SSL certificate expiry too?

No, a certificate has its own date and its own renewal cycle, separate from the domain's registration. Use the SSL certificate expiry checker for that, and check both. An expired domain takes the site offline even if its certificate is fine, and an expired certificate breaks the site even though the domain is fine.

Use it from AI, the API or the command line

Every LookupOwl tool is also a free API and an MCP tool, with no key and no account. This one is whois_lookup. Please be kind to the rate limits.

curl

curl "https://lookupowl.com/api/v1/tools/whois-lookup?q=example.com"

MCP

claude mcp add --transport http lookupowl https://lookupowl.com/mcp

Description for AI agents · OpenAPI · llms.txt

Locked down and healthy

Locks

Key facts

Nameservers

DNSSEC

Registrar

Registrar

What this tells you

How to check an expiry date

The life of an expiring domain

Edge cases and surprises

Where the date comes from

Questions people ask

Use it from AI, the API or the command line

You might also need

Domain report

Who hosts this site

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EPP status codes

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SSL checker

IP WHOIS