Domain Lifecycle Stages and Daily Registry Drop Schedule

Comprehensive technical guide and real-time operational timetable for domain expiration. Tracks exact daily release windows across Verisign, PIR, Identity Digital, and sovereign registries, including Auto-Renew Grace (ARGP), Redemption Grace (RGP), and Pending Delete states.

14:00 EST

Daily .com Drop Window

30 Days

Redemption Grace Period

5 Days

Pending Delete Duration

~120,000

Daily Dropping Domains

ICANN Domain Deletion Lifecycle Diagram The 5 sequential operational phases from registration expiry to public availability

Stage 1

Active Registration

Duration: 1 to 10 years. Resolves in global DNS normally.

Stage 2 (Days 1-45)

Auto-Renew Grace (ARGP)

Registrar can renew or delete for full refund. DNS usually suspended.

Stage 3 (Days 46-75)

Redemption Grace (RGP)

30 days. Non-resolving. Registrant can restore via $80-$250 fee.

Stage 4 (Days 76-80)

Pending Delete

5 calendar days. Irreversible lock. Cannot be redeemed or modified.

Stage 5 (Day 81)

Dropped / Released

Released to public pool. Caught in milliseconds by automated dropcatchers.

Interactive Expiry to Drop Date Calculator Enter a domain expiration date to compute exact future lifecycle milestones

Expiration Date

ARGP Expiry (Day 45)

2026-11-15

RGP Expiry (Day 75)

2026-12-15

Pending Delete Start

2026-12-16

Final Drop Date

2026-12-21

Daily Registry Drop Windows Timetable Authoritative release hours by registry operator and TLD

TLD Extension	Registry Authority	Drop Window (EST)	Drop Window (UTC)	Frequency	RGP Days	Pending Delete	Primary Drop-Catch Network
.com	Verisign	14:00 - 14:45 EST	19:00 - 19:45 UTC	Daily (Mon-Sun)	30d	5d	DropCatch, SnapNames, NameJet
.net	Verisign	14:00 - 14:45 EST	19:00 - 19:45 UTC	Daily (Mon-Sun)	30d	5d	DropCatch, SnapNames, NameJet
.org	Public Interest Registry	09:30 - 10:00 EST	14:30 - 15:00 UTC	Daily (Mon-Sun)	30d	5d	DropCatch, Dynadot, SnapNames
.info	Identity Digital	04:30 - 05:00 EST	09:30 - 10:00 UTC	Daily (Mon-Sun)	30d	5d	DropCatch, Dynadot
.co	GoDaddy Registry	09:00 - 09:30 EST	14:00 - 14:30 UTC	Daily (Mon-Sun)	30d	5d	GoDaddy Auctions, DropCatch
.biz	GoDaddy Registry	13:00 - 13:30 EST	18:00 - 18:30 UTC	Daily (Mon-Sun)	30d	5d	Dynadot, SnapNames
.us	GoDaddy Registry	15:00 - 15:30 EST	20:00 - 20:30 UTC	Daily (Mon-Sun)	30d	5d	SnapNames, NameJet
.ca	CIRA	14:00 EST (Wednesdays)	19:00 UTC (Wednesdays)	Weekly (Every Wednesday)	30d	0d	CIRA Certified TBR Registrars
.uk	Nominet	20:00 EST (01:00 UTC)	01:00 UTC Next Day	Daily (Mon-Sun)	30d	60d	DropCatch.co.uk, DomainLore
.de	DENIC eG	Variable (Post-Transit)	Variable (Post-Transit)	Individual / Continuous	30d	0d	German Accredited Registrars

How Drop-Catching Networks Compete Automated high-frequency EPP connections and registrar pool mechanics

Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) Rate Limits

When high-value expired domains exit the Pending Delete phase, hundreds of domain investors compete to register them in the exact millisecond they become available. Because Verisign and other registries impose strict per-registrar connection and command limits (typically 20-50 commands per second per accredited registrar), drop-catching companies operate networks of hundreds of shell ICANN-accredited registrars.

Companies like DropCatch (HugeDomains) and SnapNames/NameJet maintain over 1,000 distinct registrar credentials. During the 14:00 EST drop window, these networks coordinate tens of thousands of automated EPP create commands per second across parallel sockets to beat independent registrants to the registration lock.