Definition
Domain age refers to how long a domain name has existed and been active on the web. Google has confirmed that domain age is not a direct ranking factor, but older domains often benefit from indirect advantages: accumulated backlink history, authority built over time, trust from users and search engines. An older domain with a clean history can rank more easily than a brand-new domain. However, an old domain with a bad history (spam, penalties) can be disadvantageous. Domain age can be checked via tools like WHOIS or archive.org.
Key Points
- Domain age is not a direct ranking factor according to Google
- Older domains benefit from indirect advantages (backlinks, trust)
- Domain history is more important than age alone
Practical Examples
Advantage of an older domain
A 10-year-old site with a clean history and naturally accumulated backlinks will generally have an easier time ranking than a site launched 3 months ago.
Age verification
Before buying an expired domain, check its age on WHOIS and its history on archive.org to ensure it was not used for spam.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Google has confirmed that domain age is not a direct ranking factor. However, older domains often benefit from indirect advantages like accumulated backlinks and established authority.
Use a WHOIS service to see the domain creation date, or check archive.org (Wayback Machine) to see the earliest site captures.
Go Further with LemmiLink
Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.
Last updated: 2026-02-07