Ever found the perfect domain name, only to land on a generic page filled with ads or a message saying it’s for sale? The domain could be parked.
In this guide, we’ll explain what parked domains are, how to recognize them, and what to do if the domain you want is already parked.
What is a parked domain?
A “parked” domain may mean different things, depending on where you register your domains. It might be a domain:
- That displays a “coming soon” page but doesn’t yet host a functional site. WordPress.com enables a “coming soon” page by default for all domains purchased through our domain suggestion tool until you launch your site.
- Owned by an investor or broker, often monetized with ads or listed for sale, especially if it receives traffic due to its name or previous usage.
- That has expired or been canceled and is pending deletion, so it shows a static page or monetized links.
In contrast, buying a domain to reserve it for future use, such as for a project that’s still in development, isn’t typically considered domain parking. As long as you continue renewing your registration, you own the domain, even if you aren’t using it yet.
Telltale signs of a parked domain
Looking at a website and wondering if it’s parked? Here’s what to look for:
- A generic, templatized landing page: Parked domains display a cookie-cutter design without much customization. They also typically have placeholder content.
- Lack of navigation: These sites don’t have menus or sitemaps to show that they’re functional. You’ll find a single landing page with nowhere else to go.
- Broker or registrar branding: You’ll see logos or footer text from domain registrars. You may also see display banners like “This domain is for sale” and a domain broker’s contact information in case you’re interested in purchasing it. Here’s an example:
- Page filled with ads and links: You might see an ad-heavy page showing links related to the domain’s keywords. This is a tactic for generating passive income through unused, parked domains.
How to obtain a parked domain
What if the domain you want is already parked? Here are a few alternatives you can try:
Contact the owner with an inquiry
The first order of business when you want to buy a parked domain is to contact the owner.
Most parked domains include the owner’s contact information if they’re willing to sell.
Send a transparent, professional inquiry showing interest in purchasing the domain. Avoid mentioning how much you can pay to keep some space for negotiations.
Make sure you explain how you plan to use the domain. Some owners care more about the future of their domains beyond just the sale price.
Tip: For domains that clearly use a trademark you own, you can claim the domain from the current owner through a process called UDRP.
Make an offer through a broker
If direct contact with the owner fails, reach out to a domain broker to negotiate a deal on your behalf.
By working with a broker, an intermediary can use their hands-on experience to help negotiate a favorable deal. While brokers charge a percentage of the final sale price or a flat fee, their negotiation tactics might give you a significantly lower acquisition cost.
Look for variations of the domain
If all efforts fail and your first-choice domain is out of reach, you can consider some of these variations:
- Extensions/TLDs: Explore different extensions instead of the one you originally wanted—we have domains ending in everything from
.com,.net, and.blogto.dogand.christmas. - Prefixes/suffixes: Add a relevant word before or after your core term to create a new variation.
- Hyphens: Add hyphens between words to create a new domain. However, avoid adding too many hyphens, as they can confuse users when typing and be difficult to memorize.
Monitor the domain
If all else fails, you may want to use a domain monitoring service to track your desired domain and get notified if it expires or becomes available for purchase. However, remember that this approach requires patience and does not guarantee success.
Turn domains into opportunities
Whether you’re exploring parked domains or looking for the perfect name to launch your next idea, domains open the door to future opportunities—creative, professional, and everything in between.
Ready to purchase a domain? Check out WordPress.com’s domain suggestion tool to find all our available domains. We have over 350 available TLDs, and they average just $13 per year.
When you’re ready to launch a website, WordPress.com makes it easy to turn your domain into a fast, secure, and fully customizable website.
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Interesting….how do I SELL my domain name? Thank you
Thanks for the question! If you don’t want the domain anymore, one option is to just let the registration lapse. If you’re looking to sell it to someone else, you can do that through an external marketplace service (that will require an update to your domain’s DNS settings).
What made you post about parked domains ?
Thanks for your question! We shared this post to highlight how parked domains can help you secure the right web address—whether you’re mapping out a business idea, building anticipation with a “coming soon” page, protecting your brand, or redirecting traffic from other domains.
Here’s why, second to last paragraph: “Ready to purchase a domain? We have over 350 available TLDs, and they average just $13 per year.” It’s a sales pitch.
You’re right, the post includes product details so readers know how to buy a domain, but its main goal is to share useful information and guidance.
Perhaps. But I miss the days when WordPress felt like a true writer’s community—where voices connected, stories were celebrated, and getting featured on Freshly Pressed or Discover felt like a meaningful nod. Now it feels more like a sea of SEO tips and tech tutorials, with far less heart. The interaction, the recognition, the sense of belonging—it’s gone.
Thanks for sharing this—it’s clear how much that sense of connection and recognition meant to you. While this post is more practical, your perspective is a great reminder of how important it is to keep the creative and storytelling heart of WordPress alive.
It’s helpful to see how they can be used strategically, not just as placeholders. I hadn’t considered the SEO and branding implications before; definitely gave me a few ideas for my own projects.
That’s great to hear! Glad you found some inspiration from the article.
how much is domain and hosting cost per year?
Thanks for your question! If you choose an annual paid plan on WordPress.com, your domain is free for the first year. After that, renewal costs depend on the domain extension. Hosting prices vary by plan—you can compare all the options here.
This is good info, but I’m a little confused. Am I to understand that it is possible to purchase a domain and “park” it here on the WordPress.com platform… and to do this without having to buy a plan until you are ready to start using the domain? I know that you can purchase secondary domains and make them primary on sites you already own, and hold the old domain, or let it expire, or let a plan expire, but still keep a domain until you’re ready to put a plan back on it. Am I misunderstanding the process for purchasing a domain for parking, or is a plan still required to purchase a domain? I hope these questions aren’t confusing. I almost confused myself lol.
Not confusing! These are great questions. Yes, you can purchase a domain on WordPress.com without attaching it to a plan right away. During checkout, just choose the “just buy a domain” option. You’ll be able to hold and manage the domain until you’re ready to connect it to a site or upgrade to a plan later on. Read more about this process in our support guide.