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By Alex Morgan | Last Updated: May 2026
Alex has been building and managing WordPress sites for UK businesses since 2018, testing hosting providers across 40+ client projects.
Key Takeaway: Namecheap domains have a 30-day grace period after expiry during which you can renew at the normal price. After that, a 30-day redemption period begins — recovery costs approximately £80 on top of the renewal price. After redemption, the domain is released for others to register. Here is exactly what happens at each stage.
The Domain Expiry Timeline at Namecheap
| Stage | When | What happens | Recovery cost |
| Active | Before expiry date | Domain works normally | Standard renewal price |
| Expired (Grace Period) | Days 1–30 after expiry | Domain may stop resolving; you can still renew | Standard renewal price only |
| Redemption Period | Days 31–60 after expiry | Domain enters ICANN Redemption Grace Period | ~£80 redemption fee + renewal price |
| Pending Delete | Days 61–65 after expiry | Domain queued for deletion; cannot be recovered | Not recoverable |
| Available for registration | ~Day 75+ after expiry | Domain dropped and available to anyone | Standard new registration price |
Stage 1: The 30-Day Grace Period
For most generic TLDs (.com, .net, .org, and many others), Namecheap provides a 30-day grace period after the domain expiry date. During this window, your domain remains in your Namecheap account and you can renew it at the standard renewal price — no penalty, no extra fee.
However, your domain may stop resolving during this period. Namecheap typically suspends DNS resolution shortly after expiry, meaning your website and email may stop working even though the domain is still technically yours. The domain has not been deleted — it is in a suspended state pending renewal.
Namecheap sends renewal reminder emails before and after expiry. If you have auto-renewal enabled (recommended), the domain renews automatically using your saved payment method before expiry, and you never enter the grace period at all.
Stage 2: The Redemption Period
If you do not renew within the 30-day grace period, the domain enters the ICANN-mandated Redemption Grace Period (RGP). This lasts approximately 30 days. During the RGP, the domain is no longer in your active domain list — it has been removed from your account pending recovery.
You can still recover the domain during the RGP, but the cost is significantly higher. Namecheap charges a redemption fee of approximately $88.88 (around £70–£80 at current rates) plus the standard renewal fee for your TLD. For a .com domain, total recovery cost during the RGP is typically around £95–£100.
To initiate redemption, contact Namecheap support within the RGP window. Do not wait — once the RGP ends, the domain enters Pending Delete and cannot be recovered by anyone, including the original owner.
Stage 3: Pending Delete and Release
After the RGP ends, the domain enters a Pending Delete status for approximately 5 days. During this period, the domain cannot be renewed, redeemed, or transferred by anyone. It is queued for deletion from the registry.
Once the Pending Delete period ends, the domain is released and becomes available for anyone to register at the standard new registration price. Valuable domains are often captured immediately by domain traders using backorder services.
Prevention Checklist
- Enable auto-renewal: In your Namecheap account, go to Domain List → Manage → toggle Auto-Renew to ON. This is the single most important protection against accidental domain loss.
- Keep your payment method current: Auto-renewal fails if your card is expired or payment is declined. Check your billing details annually.
- Ensure Namecheap has a working email address: Renewal reminders go to your account email. If that email is inactive, you may not receive warnings.
- Set reminders 60 days before expiry: For domains without auto-renewal, set a calendar reminder well in advance of the expiry date.
- Renew for multiple years: Namecheap allows you to renew domains for up to 10 years in advance. Multi-year renewals prevent accidental lapses.
For full domain management guidance, see our Namecheap domain guide and our guide on Namecheap WhoisGuard. Also check our full Namecheap review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the grace period for expired domains at Namecheap?
30 days for most gTLDs (.com, .net, .org). During this period you can renew at the standard renewal price. Some ccTLDs have shorter or different grace periods — check Namecheap’s TLD grace period table for your specific extension.
How much does it cost to recover a domain in the redemption period at Namecheap?
Approximately £80 redemption fee plus the standard renewal cost — typically £95–£100 total for a .com domain. The redemption fee is set by ICANN and registries, not Namecheap specifically.
Will my website go down if my Namecheap domain expires?
Yes. Namecheap suspends DNS resolution shortly after the domain expiry date, meaning your website and email stop working even during the grace period. Renewing during the grace period restores your domain within hours.
Can I recover a domain after the redemption period at Namecheap?
No. Once the redemption period ends, the domain enters Pending Delete for 5 days and then is released. There is no way to recover a domain in Pending Delete. The domain becomes available for anyone to register.
How do I prevent my Namecheap domain from expiring?
Enable auto-renewal in your Namecheap account under Domain List → Manage → Auto-Renew. Ensure your payment method is current and your account email is active for renewal reminders.
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