Domain Name Life Cycle

You are probably here for more information about what happens to a domain name once it expieres, or you are here because your domain name entered registry redemption and you do not want to pay $80 redemption fee and looking for the next chance to take your domain back without paying a fortune, sometimes you are just someone trying to backorder a domain name and wants to know when it will be free

When will a domain be free for registration again after it expiers

Very short answer, on the 76th day after expiery

A more elaborate answer is that domain names go through the folloowing stages, the following table is for .COM and .NET since every TLD has it's own registry and it is hard to enumerate them all here.

Stage Name Period Can renew ? Notes
Active From day of registration up to expiery date, Active period is extended with every renew Yes, at any time Domain registration can be extended (Renewed) You are able to use this domain name if it is active
Expiered - Normal Grace 40 days From the day of expiery Yes You can not use this domain name, Most registrars will put your domain name in an auction during this period, and if you fail to renew it, it could end up with someone else
Expiered - Redemption Grace One month after Normal Grace period. (40th - 70th day after expiery) Yes, with an additional $80 Registry redemption fee (Some registrars charge much more) If it is in Registry redemption, it is not active, and there will be no auction on it either, Your registrar can only bring it back by paying the redemption fee
Pending delete 5 days after redemption period ends NO This domain name is NOT active nor renewable, you will need to wait for the Pending Delete period to end and re-register rather than renew

So there you have it, the above table explains everything, if you have a domain name backorder, you can expect to get the results on the 76th day after expiery.