Register a .shop domain

.shop is a generic top-level domain built around retail. It does not require a store, a business licence or a product catalogue. The extension simply tells visitors what to expect, and that expectation is the whole reason to choose it.

What .shop signals

The extension sets a commercial expectation. A visitor who sees .shop arrives ready to browse products, compare prices or buy. That is a useful head start for a store and an awkward one for a consultancy, a blog or a charity.

It is also longer than .com. The extra four letters matter on a business card, a van and a spoken radio ad. A short name can absorb them; a long name cannot.

The extension does not create trust. Visitors still judge the product pages, the return policy, the contact details and the checkout. A .shop with a thin site reads as a thin site with a clever domain.

When .shop is the right call

Register the .shop when most of these are true:

• The site sells physical or digital products, and that is the main purpose.
• The name is short enough that the extra four letters do not hurt it.
• Visitors should know it is a store before they read the headline.
• The .com is taken, and .shop is a clear alternative rather than a compromise.
• You will invest in product pages, checkout and support, not just the domain.

It is the wrong call for a service business, a portfolio, a nonprofit or a content site. It is also wrong when the store is still an idea and the domain would be a placeholder for a decision you have not made.

If you are weighing .shop against the default, the .shop and .com comparison sets out where the retail signal helps and where it gets in the way.

Where to see the price

A .shop registration and a .shop renewal are separate charges. The first-year figure in an offer is not necessarily the renewal price, and premium or resold names are priced differently from standard registrations.

This page does not quote a number. The search result and the checkout page show the current registration and renewal prices for the exact name you want, including whether it is a standard registration or a premium listing.

A domain is not a store. Hosting, payments, email and any marketplace fees are separate costs. Budget for those before you spend on the address. For the vocabulary of domain costs, read what affects domain pricing.

How .shop registrations work

These are the current rules for .shop, as listed in the .shop help article:

• Registration and renewal terms: 1 to 10 years.
• Who can register: anyone, on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Name rules: 1 to 63 characters, letters, numbers and hyphens. A hyphen cannot sit in the third and fourth positions. Special characters are not allowed, and internationalized domain names are supported.
• Renewals: you can renew manually before expiry. Auto-renew is attempted on the expiration date, and the domain is parked after the first failed billing attempt. Redemption fees may apply 12 days after expiration.
• Transfers: moving a .shop in or away is supported.
• Privacy: Domain Privacy and Domain Protection are supported.
• DNS: 0 to 13 nameservers, with IPv4, IPv6 and DNSSEC supported.

Registry rules and provider policies can change. Treat this as a summary of current practice, not a permanent guarantee.

How to check availability without wasting time

1. Search the store name first, exactly as you would print it.
2. Check the .com as well. If it is taken by another store, you need to know.
3. Read whether the result is a standard registration or a premium listing.
4. Say the name and the extension out loud. If you have to explain the spelling, shorten it.
5. Do not add a hyphen just to stay on .shop. A clean name on another extension is stronger.

If the name is gone, compare the realistic options before you buy a compromise.

The .shop fit test

Answer five questions honestly.

Reading the result

• Four or five yes: .shop is a clear, useful address.
• Two or three yes: keep .com as the primary and use .shop for a campaign or a product line.
• One or none: choose a name and extension that match what the site actually does.

Who this is for

This page is for online stores, direct-to-consumer brands, market stalls, seasonal shops and product businesses that want the address to say what they sell. It also fits a brand that already has a .com and wants a short retail address for a campaign or a product line.

It is less useful for consultants, agencies, blogs, charities and anyone whose main offer is a service rather than a product. Those readers usually do better with .com or an extension that matches the mission.

Before you register

• Trust. The extension starts the conversation, but product pages, returns and contact details finish it.
• Length. Check the full address on a phone screen and a business card before you commit.
• Email. Set up a role address and test it before you print the domain.
• Marketplaces. If you also sell on a marketplace, decide which address is the canonical brand.
• Privacy. Supported on .shop, but confirm it at checkout.
• Renewal. Check the renewal price and set a reminder that reaches more than one person.

Frequently asked questions

Last reviewed: 2026-10-19. This page describes current practice and general information. Prices and registry policies can change.