Numeric domain names: the complete investor's guide
What counts as a numeric domain
A numeric domain is a name made entirely of digits — 88.com, 360.com, 4488888.com. They are a distinct corner of the domain market because their value is driven less by English meaning and more by scarcity, pattern and, above all, the preferences of Chinese-speaking buyers, who brokers estimate account for the large majority of demand.
Supply is fixed — and tiny at the top
| Length | Possible .com names | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1 digit | 10 | Trophy assets; almost never trade |
| 2 digits | 100 | Seven-figure territory (55.com sold for US$2.3M in 2011) |
| 3 digits | 1,000 | Corporate brands (360.com, US$17M, 2015) |
| 4 digits | 10,000 | Liquid investor tier, all registered |
| 5 digits | 100,000 | Pattern-dependent; 8-heavy names lead |
| 6–8 digits | millions | Value only for strong patterns (88888, 168168, 8888888) |
A common rule of thumb in the trade: if a numeric domain is still available to register at standard price, it is almost certainly not valuable.
The "Chinese premium" rules
- 8 is king, followed by 6 and 9.
- 4 is a defect. A single 4 can cut value by around half in the Chinese aftermarket.
- Zero is acceptable, but a leading 0 is a mild negative.
- Meaningful phrases (168, 518, 520, 1314) and brand-like readings add value.
- Patterns — AABB, ABAB, AAAA, ABCABC, ascending runs — add value at every length.
Liquidity and market cycles
Numeric names had an extraordinary run in 2015–2016, when Chinese investors poured into short .com domains and prices for low-quality short names jumped several-fold. A correction followed in 2016–2017. Today the market is more selective: premium patterns still sell, but mid-tier names can take years to find a buyer. Treat numerics as a long-hold, illiquid asset unless the pattern is exceptional.
Where trades happen
Chinese-language numeric auction platforms handle much of the volume, alongside global aftermarkets with escrow and a small number of specialist brokers. Price discovery often happens in Chinese-language markets — Western owners who only list on English-language platforms can under-price their names.
A simple pricing method
- Classify the tier by length (the single biggest factor).
- Score the digits for 8/6/9 density and the presence and position of 4. Our analyzer does this instantly.
- Find comparables — reported sales of the same length and similar pattern in the last 24 months.
- Adjust for extension: .com leads; .cn and .net follow at a steep discount.
- Decide your market: list where the culturally motivated buyers are.
- Always use escrow and never transfer before funds are secured.
Case study: a 7-digit name like 4488888.com
Seven-digit numerics are a large pool, so value comes almost entirely from pattern. 4488888 has two distinct digits and a five-digit run of eights — outstanding memorability — but leads with a double 4. For a Chinese end-user that prefix is a real objection; for Western, Indian or Gulf buyers it reads as a clean, repeating, memorable string. That split is exactly why the right audience matters more than the number.
Want a confidential opinion on a numeric name? Use our free valuation desk.
Sources: DomainHoldings; Exabytes; CircleID; NameFi; DNJournal archives. Figures as reported.