How does domain escrow work?
In a domain escrow, the buyer pays a licensed escrow company instead of the seller; the seller transfers the domain only after the escrow company confirms the funds are secured; and the seller is paid only after the buyer confirms they control the domain or the agreed inspection period ends. Neither side has to trust the other, which is why premium domain sales close through escrow. The fee is a percentage of the price, and the parties agree who pays it.
What to agree before you open escrow
| Criterion | What to check |
|---|---|
| Escrow provider | Use a licensed provider you choose or verify yourself. Never use an escrow link a seller sends you without checking the domain of the site. |
| Who pays the fee | Buyer, seller, or split 50/50 — Escrow.com supports all three. |
| Inspection period | How long the buyer has after receiving the domain to accept or reject. Escrow.com allows 1 to 30 calendar days. |
| Transfer method | A push within one registrar is fastest; an inter-registrar transfer with an authorization code takes longer. |
| What “delivered” means | For a domain: the buyer is the registrant in their own account, with the domain unlocked from the seller's control. |
The five steps
- Buyer and seller agree the domain, the price and the terms (including the inspection period and who pays the fee) and open the transaction with the escrow service.
- The buyer pays the escrow service. The seller is told to transfer only once the payment is verified and secured.
- The seller transfers the domain — either a “push” to the buyer's account at the same registrar, or by giving the buyer an authorization (EPP) code to move it to the buyer's registrar.
- The buyer confirms the domain is in their account, which starts the inspection period. The buyer accepts if the terms are met.
- The escrow service releases the funds to the seller after the buyer accepts or the inspection period ends.
How SAW listings can be bought
The sales path decides how a deal starts; every path ends in the same escrow-and-transfer sequence once a price is agreed.
| Sales path | Listings | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Buy It Now only | 48,541 | 15.8% |
| Buy It Now or make an offer | 85,305 | 27.7% |
| Offers only | 173,775 | 56.5% |
Method: Computed from SAW's listed inventory as shown on NameSnatcher (listings marked not for sale excluded) using each listing's recorded terms. Recorded prices are seller terms on file; SAW confirms current availability and price before any purchase.
Escrow.com domain fee schedule
Published fees for domain transactions, as listed by Escrow.com when we checked in November 2026. Check the current schedule before you transact.
| Domain price | Escrow fee | With concierge service |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $5,000 | 2.6% ($50 minimum) | 5.2% ($100 minimum) |
| $5,000.01 – $50,000 | 2.4% ($130 minimum) | 4.8% |
| $50,000.01 – $200,000 | 1.9% ($1,200 minimum) | 3.8% |
| $200,000.01 – $500,000 | 1.5% ($3,800 minimum) | 3.0% |
| $500,000.01 – $1,000,000 | 1.2% ($7,500 minimum) | 2.4% |
| $1,000,000.01 – $3,000,000 | 1.0% ($12,000 minimum) | 2.0% |
Source: Escrow.com — domain escrow fees and process (checked November 2026).
How long the transfer takes
A push between two accounts at the same registrar can complete the same day. An inter-registrar transfer under ICANN's Transfer Policy gives the current registrar five calendar days to respond before the transfer is approved by default. Registrars may refuse a transfer within 60 days of a domain's creation or of a previous registrar transfer, and may apply a 60-day transfer lock after a change of registrant unless the registrant opted out.
Source: ICANN Transfer Policy (checked November 2026).
When this is not the right choice
- Very low-value names bought at a registrar or marketplace checkout that already holds the domain — the platform acts as the intermediary.
- Any deal where the seller insists on direct payment “to save the fee” — that is the most common setup for domain fraud.
Common mistakes
- Clicking an escrow link from the seller that leads to a look-alike escrow site.
- Accepting the transaction before the domain shows in your own registrar account.
- Letting the inspection period lapse without checking control, which releases the funds automatically.
- Forgetting transfer locks: a recently registered or recently transferred domain may not be movable to a new registrar for 60 days.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays the escrow fee on a domain sale?
Whoever the parties agree on: the buyer, the seller, or both equally. Escrow.com supports all three options; the choice is set when the transaction is created.
Is domain escrow safe?
Yes, when you use a licensed escrow provider and reach its site yourself. The main risk is fake escrow sites; type the provider's address directly rather than following a link from the seller.
What happens if the seller never transfers the domain?
The funds stay with the escrow service and are returned to the buyer under the escrow agreement; the seller is only paid after the domain is delivered and accepted or the inspection period ends.
How does NameSnatcher handle escrow?
NameSnatcher shows 307,621 listed SAW domains; acquisitions are handled by SAW, which confirms the seller's current terms, negotiates where needed, and coordinates escrow and the registrar transfer. 56.5% of listings are offers-only, so most deals start with a negotiation before escrow opens.
Next steps
Sources
- Escrow.com — how domain transactions work — checked November 2026
- Escrow.com — inspection period — checked November 2026
- Escrow.com — who pays escrow fees — checked November 2026
- Escrow.com — domain escrow fees and process — checked November 2026
- ICANN Transfer Policy — checked November 2026
NameSnatcher provides acquisition intelligence; SAW (saw.com) confirms availability, negotiates, and coordinates escrow and transfer. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.