3D Printing Domain Name Sales: The past, the present, the future

As any technology begins to emerge, there is usually a scramble to register as many solid domain names related to that technology as possible. To register a domain name, it costs about $8-$10 a year, but could pay off substantially as the market around the domain matures. Over the last four to five years, we have slowly begun to witness an increase in speculation among domainers, pertaining to 3D printing. While many of those who registered key domain names, related to the 3D printing space, are still holding them as investments, many have also sold off their domains.

The 3D printing market is still not mainstream, not to mention it’s nowhere close to maturity. As you will see below, in this list of publicly reported domain name sales, over the last three years people have been paying big bucks for domains related to this industry. The list below includes sales which were reported on various escrow services, as well as forums and blogs. Each domain is listed, followed by the sale price and the estimated date of sale. In bold are the $5,000+ transactions. There were a significantly larger number of sales taking place in the last 36 months, however many were not reported publicly.

3D Printing Domain Name Sales 1/1/2011 – Present

• 3DPrintedHats.com – $2500 – 4/12/2014
• 3DWorld.com – €20,000 – 4/11/2014
• 3DMe.com – $6000 – 4/9/2014
• 3DP4E.com – $4635 – 4/2/2014
• 3DApp.com – $2427 – 3/5/2014
• PrintMe3D.com – $1500 – 2/23/2014
• 3DPrintedFashion – $1247 – 2/9/2014
• 3-dprinters.net – $750 – 2/4/2014
• 4DPrinter.net – $8000 – 2/6/2014
• Buy3DPrinter.com – $12,000 – 2/3/2014
• 3DPMaterials.com – $1250 – 2/2/2014
• 3DFoodPrinters.com – $566 – 2/2/2014
• 3DPrintingMagazine.com – $10,000 – 1/12/2014
• 3DPrintedFurniture.com – $1350 – 12/15/2013
• 3DPrinter.net – $60000 – 11/26/2013
• 3DPrintPress.net – $5000 – 11/24/2013
• 3DPrintPlus – $1750 – 11/24/2013
• 3DPrintingMedia.com – $7500 – 11/24/2013
• 3DPrintPress.com – $5000 – 11/24/2013
• 3DPrintPro.com – $2200 – 11/24/2013
• The3DPrintingShop – $1500 – 11/24/2013
• 3DPrintMedia.com – $1750 – 11/24/2013
• 3DPrintables.com – $2125 – 11/24/2013
• 3DShoes.com – $2000 – 11/23/2013
• 3DPrintShop.com – $2950 – 9/12/2013
• 3D-Print.com – $6000 – 8/1/2013
• 3DPrinterWorld – $3475 – 8/1/2013
• 3DPrintingWorks.com – $2000 – 6/3/2013
• PrinterFood – $2500 – 4/4/2013
• 3DParts.com – $40000 – 4/1/2013
• 3DPrinted.com – $1960 – 1/08/2013
• 3DModels – $34110 – 11/2/2012
• 3DPrinting.com – $33150 – 1/12/2011

Prior to 2010, there were only a very few number of sales reported, related to the 3D printing space.  Many of the domains you see in the list above were hand registered by the sellers, for no more than the cost of a typical lunch.  While many of these domains have been developed, many also sit idle, with their owners either waiting to turn a profit via a resale, or still considering their options on development.  One trend, which appears to have emerged in the last 12-18 months, is the interest in domains related to specific 3D printed items, such as food, hats, and shoes, among other things.  As the market expands, and the number of available, high quality domains dry up, we will likely see even more of an increase in niche 3D printing market domains.  It will be interesting to watch, as larger corporations within the industry may begin trying to obtain some of the more general names, and just how high of a price those domains will warrant.  Those researching the industry, believe that the annual numbers of consumer level 3D printer sales will increase 10-fold over the next 4-5 years alone, from 100,000 printers sold in 2014, to an estimated 1 million by 2018. This leaves us with an enormous growth opportunity within the industry both for domainers, and those manufacturing printers themselves.

If you have a 3D printing domain name sale to report, please post it in the forum thread at 3DPB.com for 3D printing domain names.