How to mark your domain for sale in DNS
One small DNS record tells search tools your domain is for sale, so people who find it "taken" learn they can still buy it.
What the record is
When someone searches for a name that's already registered, most tools just say Taken. But plenty of taken domains are actually for sale. RFC 10023, published in July 2026 by Marco Davids of SIDN Labs, gives owners a simple way to say so: a TXT record on a special name, _for-sale, under your domain.
Search tools that support it, including the DomainNams domain search and WHOIS lookup, can then show your domain as Taken, but for sale, with a link to your sale page and, if you choose, an asking price.
How to add it
- Sign in where your domain's DNS is managed (your registrar, or a service like Cloudflare).
- Add a new record of type TXT.
- For the name or host, enter
_for-sale. Some panels want the full name instead, like_for-sale.example.com. - For the value, enter a line that starts with exactly
v=FORSALE1;followed by one detail, such as a link to your sale page. - Set the TTL to one hour (3600) or less, and save.
- Add more TXT records on the same
_for-salename for other details, one detail per record.
Copy-ready examples
Each line below is a separate TXT record on the name _for-sale. Use the ones you want.
- Just "for sale":
v=FORSALE1; - Link to your sale page:
v=FORSALE1;furi=https://example.com/for-sale/ - Asking price:
v=FORSALE1;fval=USD5000(a three-letter currency code, then the amount) - A short note:
v=FORSALE1;ftxt=Make an offer
The link (furi) can be your own sale page, a marketplace listing, or a mailto: or tel: address. There's also an fcod tag for codes agreed between registries and registrars; most owners don't need it.
Make your records
Fill this in and we'll write the exact records to copy into your DNS. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
Tips and mistakes to avoid
- Start every record with
v=FORSALE1;exactly, with no spaces. Without it, tools ignore the record. - One detail per record. Put the link, price and note in separate TXT records, not all on one line.
- Prefer an https link to a sale page over an email address. Anything in public DNS can be collected by spammers.
- Remove the records when it sells, so buyers don't keep contacting you.
- Keep your price current. Tools show it as an indicative asking price, so an old number just causes confusion.
If you're a buyer
A for-sale record is the owner's own claim. It doesn't oblige them to sell, and it could be out of date. Contact the owner through the link, confirm the price, and pay through a trusted escrow service, never by sending money directly to a stranger. Our guide to buying a domain that's already taken walks through it.
Questions
Does a for-sale record mean I have to sell?
No. It only signals that you're open to offers. You can remove it at any time, and you never have to accept a price.
How long until search tools see it?
Usually within an hour. RFC 10023 recommends a TTL of 3600 seconds (one hour) or less so changes show up quickly.
Can I list a price?
Yes, with a separate record like v=FORSALE1;fval=USD5000. Tools treat it as an indicative asking price, not a binding offer.
Is it safe to put my email in it?
It works, but anything in public DNS can be scraped by spammers. A link to a sale page or marketplace listing is usually better.