How Long Should a Domain Name Be?

Whether you’re looking to purchase a domain name for personal use, or you’re a domain reseller looking to buy domain names in bulk, one important factor you need to consider is domain name length. While there is no set rule that must be followed, the length of your domain name can greatly affect its monetary value, user experience, brandability, and more.

A domain that is too short and simple may be taken or look spammy.

A domain that is too long can be difficult to remember and tough for people to type.

So how long is the perfect domain name? Follow our guide below to help you find the perfect domain name length, then find it with our domain search tool.

Using the Shortest Possible Domain Name

Many resellers and retail companies purchase domain names that are as short as possible.

Sometimes, if the domain name is too short and simple, it’s already taken or incredibly expensive to purchase. Also, if you’re looking to build a brand, one-word noun domain names won’t help you separate yourself from the competition.

Some domains will use abbreviations to keep their address short - think sci instead of writing out science or mktg instead of marketing. Unfortunately, this strategy makes your domain sound awkward and difficult to share.

Is it psy? or sci? Em-Kay-Tee-Gee.com? No, it’s MKTG.com. Remove any confusion and use the full word, even if it means making your domain name longer.

Benefits of Short Domain Names

There are many advantages to using a short domain name too! Short domain names are:

• Easier to remember
• Simple to type
• Fit on promotional material like business cards or pamphlets
• Likely to show up in full, on search results

So keeping your domain name short, but not at all costs, is a good guideline to follow.

Choosing a Long Domain Name

The longer a domain name is, the higher the chances it’s available for purchase. It also might be more affordable! If you’re finding it hard to register a short domain name, it might be worth adding a word or two and experimenting with longer options.

But beware! If your domain name is too long, you might frustrate some users that prefer typing the entire domain name in the address bar. Also, if your company has an admin team, think about how it will affect them as they share, email, and network using the long domain name.

“Sure, just send an email to myname@thisishowlongmydomainnameisandisreallydifficulttotypebutitwascheaptobuy.com” does not give people a great user experience.

So what should you do?

Choosing the Perfect Domain Name Length

The perfect domain name length should be relatively short, simple, and unique. Here are some helpful tips to get you started!

Keep it to 2-3 words

This will keep it short enough that it’s easy to remember, share, and type, yet long enough that you’ll have some flexibility when choosing your domain name.

Say it out loud

Just like proofreading, say it out loud! It should roll off your tongue and be simple enough that upon hearing it once, you can spell it.

Don’t use strange characters

Avoid using numbers, hyphens, and symbols. These characters can be difficult to communicate when you’re sharing a domain name.

Think about the user

Consider the people using the domain name the most. Whether they are internal, external, or both, and give them a good experience.

Make it brandable

Set yourself apart from the competition with a brandable domain name. Making your domain name length two or three words will give you some flexibility, so experiment! Adding a verb or a cheeky play-on-words can make your domain name memorable. For example, if you’re in the coffee industry, some interesting domain names could be:

• perfectroasts.com
• getroasted.coffee
• coffeeme.blog

All of these domain names are simple to understand and communicate while also having a branding element to them.

What if your domain name is already taken?

There is always a possibility that a domain name you want is already registered. Luckily there are a few strategies you can use to get around this hurdle.

Try and purchase it from the owner

If you are set on a domain name that is already registered, you can get in contact with the owner and try to purchase it. In some instances, you can use our Whois search tool to find the current owner. If the information is redacted, you still might be able to find their contact information by heading to the website you’re looking to purchase.

Backorder the domain name

If the domain name you want is already registered, you can place a backorder on it. If you’re the only person to place a backorder on a domain name, our backordering tool will help secure the domain name if the owner does not renew it. If we capture a domain name with multiple backorders on it, the domain will go to an auction, so you still have an opportunity to buy it.

Keep experimenting with different options

Brainstorm ideas and type them into our domain name search tool. This is a great tool to help get your creative juices flowing. You can also try adding a verb, gerund, or noun to the domain, as long as it flows nicely. If you’re focused on a particular region, feel free to add in the country, city, or region at the end like nissanusa.com.

If you’re still having trouble, we have a domain name wizard that will walk you through some simple steps to determine the right domain name for you.

Use other TLDs

We offer over 700 TLDs for you to choose from, so find one that speaks to you. This also gives you an opportunity to create some brandable URLs like ta.co for Taco Bell.

If you’re able to register your preferred domain name, we recommend you purchasing as many common TLDs (and popular misspellings) for it as possible and redirect them to your primary channel. This will give your site every opportunity to succeed and also helps secure your brand.

If you’re a reseller, this also gives you an opportunity to sell similar domain names in bulk.

Find Your Perfect Domain Name

So is there a one-size-fits-all rule when it comes to domain name length? No, not exactly. But follow our guidelines and you’ll be able to purchase, use, and sell valuable domain names.

Are you ready to find valuable domain names? Start bringing your ideas to life! With Hexonet’s advanced domain name search tools and wide variety of TLDs, we know you’ll be able to find exactly what you’re looking for.