Last verified April 2026 · Post-May 2024 Escrow.com fees
Escrow for Domain Name Transfers: Fees, Process, and the 2024 Price Overhaul
Selling a domain? Escrow.com is the industry standard. The May 2024 fee restructure changed the math on small domain sales. Here is the current fee schedule, the step-by-step transfer process, and when to use the Domain Holding Service.
Why Use Escrow for a Domain Sale?
Domain sales happen between strangers. Unlike a NamePros-to-NamePros deal where both parties have reputation scores, most domain sales involve at least one party with no prior relationship and no recourse if things go wrong. The risks are real: the buyer could transfer money and the seller could fail to transfer the domain; the seller could transfer the domain and the buyer could reverse the payment.
Escrow eliminates both risks. The buyer's money is locked in a regulated escrow account before the domain moves. The domain is confirmed in the buyer's account before the money is released to the seller. Neither party has access to what the other party deposited until both sides have performed. This is why Escrow.com is the near-universal standard on Afternic, Sedo, NamePros, and DNForum for off-marketplace private sales.
The Domain Escrow Process (Step by Step)
Agree on Terms
Buyer and seller agree on the sale price, currency (USD), and who pays the escrow fee (buyer, seller, or split). This is typically negotiated in a NamePros thread, Afternic private sale, or direct negotiation.
Create Escrow.com Transaction
Either party creates the transaction at escrow.com. Enter the domain name, sale price, inspection period (typically 5 days), and fee allocation. The other party receives an email to accept the transaction terms.
Buyer Funds Escrow
The buyer deposits the agreed purchase price (plus fee if buyer-pays) into Escrow.com. Escrow.com accepts wire transfer, ACH, credit card (fee surcharge applies), and sometimes PayPal. Funds typically clear within 1-3 business days.
Seller Initiates Transfer
Once Escrow.com confirms funds received, they notify the seller to initiate the domain transfer. For a same-registrar push (e.g., both parties at GoDaddy or Namecheap), this is usually same-day. For a cross-registrar transfer, the seller unlocks the domain and provides the Auth/EPP code, and the transfer takes 5-7 days.
Buyer Confirms Receipt
Once the domain appears in the buyer's registrar account, the buyer logs into Escrow.com and confirms receipt. The inspection period begins (default 5 business days). If the buyer does nothing, the transaction auto-completes at inspection period end.
Funds Released to Seller
After buyer confirms (or inspection period expires), Escrow.com releases funds to the seller via wire transfer or ACH. The transaction is complete. Total time: typically 5-10 business days for cross-registrar transfers.
Domain Sale Fee Calculator (Escrow.com Standard, April 2026)
Escrow.com standard fee
$44.50
0.89% of sale
If buyer pays fee
Buyer pays $5045
Seller receives $5000
If seller pays fee
Buyer pays $5000
Seller receives $4955.50
Verify at escrow.com/fee-calculator before transacting. Domain holding service adds $500/yr if buyer pays in installments.
Domain Holding Service
For high-value domains where the buyer wants to pay in installments over months or years, Escrow.com offers a Domain Holding Service. The seller transfers the domain to Escrow.com's holding registrar. The domain is locked there while the buyer makes scheduled payments. When the final payment is received, the domain transfers to the buyer's registrar.
Fee: 0.89% of the total sale price plus a $500 per year domain holding fee. The holding fee covers Escrow.com maintaining the domain registration during the payment period. For a $100,000 domain on a 24-month payment plan, the fee structure would be: $890 (0.89%) + $1,000 (2 years at $500/yr) = $1,890 total.
This product makes sense for six-figure domain sales where the buyer cannot fund the full amount immediately but both parties want the security of a neutral holder throughout the payment period. For five-figure sales with 3-6 month terms, it is generally not cost-effective versus a direct installment agreement with a simpler escrow at final payment.
Scams to Watch For
The fake Escrow.com lookalike scam
An inbound buyer contacts you out of the blue with an above-market offer. They insist on using "their" escrow service and send you a link to a professional-looking site that is not Escrow.com. You transfer the domain. The site shows funds as "processing" indefinitely. The domain is gone. This is the most common domain-sale scam. Always initiate the transaction yourself at escrow.com, or verify the URL character by character.
- ! Never use an escrow service the buyer proposes
- ! The correct URL is exactly: www.escrow.com
- ! Unsolicited high-ball offers from unknown parties are almost always scams