ENS .eth name checker and rules
Our check asks the ENS registrar on Ethereum whether a .eth name can be registered right now. How our checks work
What can a .eth name contain?
Letters, numbers, hyphens and approved emoji, at least 3 characters, under ENS's naming standard, ENSIP-15. Our checker takes letters, numbers and hyphens up to 63 characters, so check emoji names in the ENS app.
| Character | Allowed? | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Letters a to z | Yes | Capitals become lowercase |
| Numbers 0 to 9 | Yes | Anywhere |
| Hyphen (-) | Yes | Not in both the 3rd and 4th places |
| Underscore (_) | Yes | Only at the start |
| Emoji | Yes | From ENS's approved list |
| Other scripts | Yes | One script per name; look-alike mixes are blocked |
| Spaces, most punctuation | No |
How much does a .eth name cost?
$5 a year for 5 or more characters, $160 for 4 and $640 for 3. You pay in ETH on Ethereum, plus a network fee.
| Length | Price a year |
|---|---|
| 5 or more characters | $5 |
| 4 characters | $160 |
| 3 characters | $640 |
| 1 or 2 characters | Can't be registered |
Renewal costs the same. The network fee (gas) is extra and changes with demand. ENS doesn't take cards, dollars or stablecoins.[1, 3]
How do you register a .eth name?
- Check the name above, with your handles.
- Get a wallet with ETH on Ethereum mainnet. ETH on Base or Arbitrum won't work.
- Search the name in the ENS app (app.ens.domains), pick the years, and confirm the first transaction.
- Wait 60 seconds, then confirm the second transaction to pay and register. You have 24 hours. Then set it up.[3, 5]
What should you know before you register a .eth name?
You register a .eth name by the year, and it reopens to others in stages after it expires.
| Fact | What it means |
|---|---|
| It's an NFT | The name goes to the wallet that registers it |
| Owner and Manager | The Manager edits the records; the owner can change the Manager |
| Anyone can renew | Renewing for you doesn't change the owner |
| 90-day grace period | After expiry it can still be renewed at the normal price, but nobody else can register it |
| 21-day premium | Then anyone can register it, paying a premium that falls from $100 million to $0 |
What can go wrong with a .eth name, and how do you fix it?
Most problems are a taken name, a stuck registration or an expired name.
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| The .eth is taken | The checker shows close versions and other endings that are available with your handles |
| Stuck on "Almost there" | You sped up or replaced the first transaction, or cleared browser data. Start again from step 1 |
| "Invalid format" | Remove spaces, punctuation or mixed scripts |
| Your name expired | Renew it within the grace period |
Which platforms should you claim with your .eth name?
Basenames, the .com, X, GitHub and Discord, or check every open Web3 name.
Checks ENS (.eth), Basenames (.base.eth), the .com, X, GitHub and Discord invite in one search.
Sources (7)
- PrimaryENS docs: The .eth registrar
- PrimaryENS docs: ENSIP-15, ENS name normalization
- PrimaryENS support: How much does an ENS name cost?
- PrimaryENS support: What do the search bar statuses mean?
- PrimaryENS support: Registration steps
- PrimaryENS docs: Terminology
- PrimaryZero To 1000's platform catalog (what our checker accepts)