Guide
How to register a UK domain name, step by step
You register a UK domain by searching for the name, choosing .co.uk or .uk, adding it to an order with accurate contact details and paying. It takes a few minutes, and a .co.uk or .uk costs £9.99 a year with us, with the same price at renewal. You can add hosting in the same order, so the domain and website are connected for you.
Overview
The journey from idea to domain
- SearchSee if the name is free
- Choose.co.uk or .uk
- OrderAdd details and pay
- ConnectLink it to your hosting
- UseBuild a site and set up email
Do it
Registering a domain in five steps
Search for the name
Use the domain search. It opens our client area with your name filled in, in pounds.
Check the result
If the name is free, add it. If not, try another ending or a small variation.
Add your details
Enter your name or company, address and contact details accurately.
Add hosting if you want it
Choose a plan in the same order, and the domain is connected to your hosting.
Pay and confirm
Complete the order, then check your email for confirmation and next steps.
Your details
What you need to have ready
You will need accurate contact details for the person or business that will own the domain: a full name or company name, a postal address, an email address you can access and a phone number. Registries require these to be accurate, and a domain registered with false details can be suspended.
Decide who the owner is before you start. For a business, register the domain in the business name or your own name, not that of a web designer or an employee who might leave. The registrant controls the domain, so make sure it is the right person.
Use an email address that you will still have in a year. Renewal reminders and important notices go to it, and a lost address is a common reason people lose a domain.
Worked example
A freelancer registers a domain in ten minutes
Dan is a freelance photographer who wants dantaylorphoto.co.uk. He searches for it and finds it is free. He also checks dantaylorphoto.uk and sees that it is free too.
He decides to register both, because the extra costs only £9.99 a year and protects his name. He enters his own name and address as the owner, uses his main email for notices and adds a Medium plan to the same order, because he wants a gallery site.
After paying, he logs into the control panel, installs WordPress with one click, and creates hello@dantaylorphoto.co.uk. By the end of the evening his email works and his site is ready for his first photographs.
Why it matters
Why you should own your own domain
Your domain is the address for your website, your email and often your brand. If you do not control it, you do not control any of those. Owning it in your own name or your company's name means you can move hosting, change designers and keep your email address whatever happens.
It costs very little to do it properly, and it can be very expensive to fix after a falling out. Make sure the registrant is the right person, the contact email is one you control, and the login is protected with a strong password.
Quick reference
What you need and what you get
| You provide | You receive |
|---|---|
| A name that is free as .co.uk or .uk | Registration for £9.99 a year |
| Your name or company details | The domain in your name |
| An email address you control | Renewal reminders and notices |
| A payment method | Auto-renew, if you choose it |
| Optionally, a hosting plan | A connected domain and website |
Next steps
Make the domain useful straight away
A registered domain does nothing on its own, so give it a job quickly. Set up your email addresses, put a simple page on the site that says who you are and how to get in touch, and add the domain to Google Search Console and your Google Business Profile if you are a local business.
Even a one-page site is better than none, and it lets you start collecting links and mentions while you build the rest.
Keep records
Keep a simple domain record
Write down the domain, where it is registered, the owner, the renewal date and where the login details are stored. One page in a shared document is enough, and it saves a great deal of confusion when a person leaves or a renewal comes round.
Search and register in minutes
.co.uk and .uk at £9.99 a year, the same price at renewal.
Terms
Words you will meet when registering
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Registrar | The company you register through, such as us |
| Registry | The organisation that runs an ending, such as .uk |
| Registrant | The legal owner of the domain |
| DNS | The system that links your domain to your website and email |
| Name servers | The servers that answer questions about your domain |
| Renewal | Paying again to keep the domain for another term |
Afterwards
What to do once the domain is registered
If you ordered hosting in the same checkout, the domain is connected for you. Log in to the control panel, install WordPress or upload your site, and create your email accounts.
If you registered a domain on its own, you can point it at any hosting by setting its name servers or DNS records. Our pointing guide shows how.
Either way, add SPF and DKIM records for email, set a renewal reminder and keep the registration email safe.
Hosting or not
Domain on its own, or with hosting
Register with hosting
- One order, one invoice
- Connected for you
- Email on the domain works from day one
- Simple for first-time site owners
Register on its own
- Useful if you already have hosting elsewhere
- Good for protecting a name you plan to use later
- You point it where you like
- Easy to add hosting afterwards
Good practice
Four habits that protect your domain
Auto-renew
Keep a valid payment method so it never lapses.
Safe email
Use an address you control for notices.
Right owner
Register it in your business or your own name.
Strong login
Protect your client area with a strong password and two-factor login.
Mistakes
Common mistakes when registering
The most expensive mistake is letting someone else, such as a freelancer, register the domain in their own name. If you later part ways, you may struggle to get control. Always register it yourself, and give them access if they need it.
The next most common is forgetting renewal. Put the date in your calendar and keep auto-renew on. A third is mistyping the name, so read it back before you pay, because a domain cannot easily be changed once registered.
FAQ
Common questions
How long does registration take?
Usually a few minutes after payment is confirmed.
Can I register a .co.uk and a .uk together?
Yes. Both are £9.99 a year with us.
Do I need hosting to register a domain?
No. You can register a domain on its own and add hosting later.
Can I register for several years?
Check the options at checkout. The renewal price stays at £9.99 a year.
Can I transfer an existing domain to you?
Ask our live chat for the steps for your current registrar. You can also point it at our hosting without transferring.
Keep reading
Related pages
Register your UK domain now
Search, register and add hosting in one order.