How we score expired domains

Every name on NameSteals gets a Deal Score from 0 to 100. Here's exactly how it's calculated, and why.

1. Name quality (up to 30 points)

Short, real words are the easiest names to resell and the most useful to build on. A single dictionary word scores 30. A 3-letter .com scores 28, two plain words 22, a 4-letter .com 16–20 (more if it's pronounceable), short all-number names 11–18, and a short made-up name that's easy to say scores 12. The word lists come from the most common English words, with common first names and surnames removed.

2. Value gap (up to 25 points)

We divide GoDaddy's automated estimate by the current bid. Opening bids of $1–$49 don't tell you the real price, so any bid under $50 counts as $50. A 100× gap gets full marks. GoDaddy's estimate is an algorithm, not an appraisal, so we treat it as one signal among several.

3. Age (up to 15 points)

Older names have usually been in use, have links pointing at them, and show that someone valued them for years. Points go up with years since first registration and max out at 25 years.

4. Demand (up to 30 points)

A blend of demand signals that show how much interest there is in the name and the words in it, plus how many bidders have already joined the auction. We don't publish the underlying figures, only their combined effect on the score.

5. Extension adjustment

A name is usually worth less outside .com, so we take points off for other extensions: 8 for .io and .co, 10 for .net and .org, and 12 for .me and .tv.

What we filter out first

• Anything outside .com, .io, .co, .net, .org, .me and .tv, or with a hyphen, or longer than 15 characters
• Anything that scores under 45 once scored (mostly weak made-up names)
• Bids already above half of GoDaddy's estimate
• Adult, gambling, pharma and spam patterns, and number-letter junk
• Names that obviously match a well-known brand. This is a simple filter, not legal clearance.
• Auctions ending in under 30 minutes or more than 7 days away

What the score can't tell you

It can't predict the final price, check trademarks properly, or know whether the old owner will renew. Always check the live auction and do your own research.