.de
Europe's most popular country code extension. Over 17 million registered domains, instant activation, no residency requirement.
Enter a name — the extension .de is added automatically. Or enter a complete domain with a different extension.
Bring your domain to us — including an additional year of registration, DNS management and Auto-TLS. For .
You get the AuthCode from your current registrar — depending on the extension it is also called AuthInfo, EPP code or authorization code.
The First Choice for the German Market
With over 17 million registered domains, .de is the most popular country code extension in Europe. It's managed by DENIC eG, a cooperative based in Frankfurt am Main. This high adoption is no coincidence: Germany has one of the largest internet markets in Europe.
For businesses operating in Germany or targeting German customers, .de is the obvious choice. Users expect a .de address when looking for a local provider. A .de domain signals: We're here, we understand this market.
Since 2009, people outside Germany can also register .de domains. An administrative contact (Admin-C) with a German address is required—we provide this free of charge.
At a Glance
- Registry
- DENIC eG
- Introduced
- 1986
- Registered domains
- ~17 million
- Minimum length
- 1 character
- IDN (umlauts)
- Yes
- Residency required
- No
.de in the DACH Region
Germany, Austria, Switzerland—the DACH region is a unified market for many businesses. With .de, you cover by far the largest portion. Those wanting to serve the entire German-speaking region add .at and .ch.
Europe's most registered country code extension. The first choice for the German market.
Three domains, one market. Complete DACH coverage.
- Local trust in Germany
- Shows presence in German market
- More affordable (from €4.99/year)
- Established since 1986
- Internationally neutral
- No regional statement
- More expensive
- Overcrowded
Umlauts Allowed
ä, ö, ü and ß are allowed for .de. Tip: Also secure the variant without umlauts.
Typical Use Case
An online shop for home improvement supplies wants to reach German customers. Under werkzeug-profi.de, the offering appears more trustworthy than under a .com address. Customers know: Here I get German support, German invoices, fast shipping.
Cooperative based in Frankfurt am Main. Has operated the .de infrastructure since 1996.
Hyphens Common
Unlike in English-speaking countries, hyphens in German domains are accepted and improve readability.
- Global anycast DNS
- New registration +€0.95
- Transfer without setup fee
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about .de registration
-
A .de domain costs €4.99 per year. For new registrations, there's a one-time setup fee of €0.95. Transfers from other providers are free.
-
No. Since 2009, people worldwide can register .de domains. An administrative contact (Admin-C) with a German address is required—we provide this free of charge.
-
Registration with DENIC takes only seconds. Once the domain is confirmed, you can set up DNS records and use it immediately.
-
That depends on the name. Hyphens are common in Germany and often improve readability. If both variants are available, ideally secure both.
-
Yes, .de supports ä, ö, ü and ß. However, also secure the variant without umlauts, as many users will type that.
-
Request an auth code from your current provider and enter it during the order process. The transfer takes just a few hours. There's no additional setup fee—only the regular annual price of €4.99.
More Domain Extensions
Complementary or alternative to .de