.co.uk
For business and enterprise
An ending associated with commercial activity. Consider it for a shop, service, independent practice or other business project.
A UK domain ending can help explain what your website is for. Start with your project, then compare the three endings below. All three allow open registration; their intended uses are guidance, rather than restrictions on who can register.
.uk
A shorter UK address
A direct way to give your name a UK connection. Consider it when a shorter address suits your project and the way you want to present it.
.org.uk
For communities and causes
An ending associated with nonprofit activity. Consider it for a community group, cause, association or other purpose-led project.
.org.uk does not verify charity status. Check each exact name separately. Open registration remains subject to Nominet's current rules and availability.
Which ending fits your project?
Use your project's purpose to make a first shortlist.
A manual guide based on your answers. It does not check availability, reserve names or give legal clearance. No personal details needed.
Your starting point will appear here, with the reason behind it.
What the ending
can tell you.
Audience fit, not a certificate.
The ending gives a visitor a naming cue. A commercial project might suit .co.uk; a community organisation might prefer .org.uk; .uk offers a shorter option. None of these endings alone proves a site's location, charitable status or trustworthiness.
A sole trader can consider .co.uk without being a limited company. A personal project can use .uk. Intended use helps you choose a name; it is different from a registration restriction.
Each exact address stands on its own.
A matching name under .co.uk, .uk and .org.uk can have different registrants. Registering one does not reserve the others. The old launch-era right to a matching .uk ended in 2019, so check each address you are considering today.
Buying several endings is optional. Decide whether you have a practical use for each and can maintain its renewals. Forwarding an extra domain is a separate setup task.
The address is one part of the setup.
Registering a domain does not by itself create a website or an email inbox. Check whether you need hosting, a page builder, a mailbox or forwarding, and what the provider includes. You can use a different web host from your registrar.
Before you register.
Move from a suitable ending to an address you can use and look after.
Check the whole name.
Write the spelling and ending together. Read it aloud, check likely typing mistakes and search for similar names. Use the UK trade mark search as part of your research. Domain availability is not legal clearance.
Check availability with a registrar.
Search the exact address you want. A suggestion in this guide is not a live availability result or a reservation. You buy through a registrar; The UK Domain explains that role.
Read the ongoing price.
Check the registration term, renewal quote, VAT treatment and paid extras. Look for first-order restrictions or multi-year commitments behind an introductory offer. Keep optional services separate from the cost of the name.
Keep control of the registration.
Confirm whose details will be recorded as the registrant and who can access the account. Keep the contact email, recovery access and payment details current. If someone registers it for you, agree how you will manage it.
A few useful answers.
Will one ending rank better in Google?
This guide does not rank .co.uk, .uk and .org.uk by SEO performance. Google's guidance treats country targeting as one of several signals. Choose an ending that suits your audience and name; it does not guarantee rankings or traffic.
Is .org.uk only available to registered charities?
No. It is an open namespace intended for not-for-profit and public-service projects, including communities and charities. The ending does not establish an organisation's charitable status. Check the current registration rules and assess an organisation separately.
Should I switch if I already have a working address?
A different ending is not automatically a better choice. Consider the email addresses, website links, printed material and services using your current name. A change needs planning, testing and a reason beyond making an address shorter.
What about .me.uk and other endings?
This chooser covers three UK endings. The wider family also includes .me.uk, with its own rules. Other UK, geographic and international endings may suit your project. Check their intended use, current registration rules and ongoing cost separately.