Domain Strategy

Should You Use Hyphens in a Domain Name?

A hyphen can make an otherwise unavailable phrase registerable, but it creates a spoken detail that users have to remember.

Reviewed 2026-09-13

The word-of-mouth problem

People must remember where the hyphen goes and may type the unhyphenated version by default. That matters for radio, podcasts, phone conversations, and referrals.

When a hyphen is acceptable

Hyphens can be reasonable for certain descriptive projects, local initiatives, or markets where the format is familiar and the matching unhyphenated domain does not create brand confusion.

Compare stronger alternatives first

Before committing, compare a cleaner brand name, a modifier, another extension, or purchasing the unhyphenated domain.

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