IPv4 address pricing
& market data.
What addresses actually cost, why the price moves, and where the market has settled since the 2022 peak.
Understanding the IPv4 market.
There are about 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses, and every one of them is spoken for. The five Regional Internet Registries emptied their free pools between 2011 and 2020, which left exactly one place to get space: other networks. That secondary market is where blocks change hands today.
There's no ticker price for an IP address. What a block fetches depends on its size, its region, its reputation history, and frankly on timing. A /24 under ARIN and an identical-sized block under RIPE NCC can trade at noticeably different rates in the same month, and neither number is published anywhere official.
We broker in all three of the big transfer markets (registered with ARIN, RIPE NCC and APNIC) and facilitate LACNIC deals on top. Because we see both sides of transactions across those regions, we can tell you what blocks actually close for. Not what a listing site hopes they will.
A decade of IPv4 pricing.
Single digits in 2015. A peak above $50 in 2022. Since then the market has cooled off and found a new level in the mid-30s.
What determines IPv4 pricing.
Six things move the number, some of them more than buyers expect.
Block size
A /24 holds 256 addresses. A /16 holds 65,536. Per-address pricing differs between those two ends of the range, and not always in the direction people assume.
RIR region
Each registry is its own little market. Supply, demand and policy differ across ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC and LACNIC, so the same size block can carry a different price tag depending on where it lives.
IP reputation
Clean history sells. A block with no blacklist entries and correct geolocation commands a premium, while one with a spam past trades at a discount and needs remediation work before anyone serious will touch it.
Transfer type
Staying inside one registry keeps things simple. An inter-RIR transfer pulls two registries into the same deal, which adds cost, paperwork, and weeks to the timeline.
Market timing
Inventory ebbs and flows. One large acquisition, or a policy change in a single region, can move pricing within a quarter. We watch it daily so you don't have to.
Block contiguity
One unbroken range beats a handful of fragments. It routes cleaner and needs fewer BGP announcements, and buyers will pay for that tidiness.
Buying vs leasing: a cost comparison.
One is OpEx, the other is CapEx. Which suits you comes down to cash flow and how long you'll need the space.
| Cost factor | Lease | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Payment structure | Recurring monthly or annual fee | One-time lump sum + escrow fees |
| Total cost (3 years) | 36 monthly payments, often lower total outlay | Block price + escrow, no further costs |
| Cash flow impact | Predictable OpEx, spread over time | Large CapEx, single upfront investment |
| Exit cost | None. Return addresses at end of term | None. You own the asset permanently |
How Prefixx keeps costs transparent.
Zero buyer fees
The seller pays our commission: 3% on a /16 or larger, 5% for /17 through /19, 8% for /20 to /24. As the buyer you pay the block price, plus whatever the bank and escrow charge. Nothing to us.
Escrow protection
Your funds go into escrow before anything else happens, and they stay there until the registry confirms the transfer. Only then does the seller get paid. Neither side has to take the other on faith.
Tixx quality control
Before a block reaches you it goes through Tixx, our due diligence pass. Blacklist scans, reputation checks, geolocation verification, abuse history. Dirty blocks don't make it through.
Lease rates include services
A Prefixx lease rate covers LOA documentation, RPKI configuration, reverse DNS and full White-Glove support. We don't nickel-and-dime with add-ons. The number we quote is the number you pay.
Why companies choose Prefixx.
Hands-on specialists, not a listing board. The team has worked in data centers and networking since 2007, and the consultant handling your deal has personally closed transactions in every region we serve.
Zero hidden fees
Transparent pricing, no win, no fee.
Multi-regional expertise
ARIN, RIPE NCC & APNIC registered. LACNIC facilitated.
Full-service diligence
Blacklist scans, reputation & escrow.
IPv4 pricing: common questions
It depends, and anyone quoting a flat number without asking about block size, region and reputation is guessing. Prices went from single digits in 2015 to above $50 at the 2022 peak. Ask us for a quote against your actual requirements.
Supply is fixed at 4.3 billion addresses and demand isn't. Cloud platforms, IoT fleets and new networks in developing regions all want space, and none of it is being minted. That imbalance has pushed prices upward ever since the free pools ran dry.
No. Our 3 to 8% commission comes out of the seller's side, scaled by block size. You pay the purchase price plus bank and escrow charges, and that's the whole bill.
Short horizon or tight cash flow? Lease. Long-term need and capital available? Buy, since you own the asset outright and never pay again. The full breakdown lives in our lease vs buy comparison.
Purchases settle by wire transfer through escrow, which is the industry standard for a reason: the seller isn't paid until the RIR confirms the transfer went through. Leases usually run on wire or ACH.
Because we broker on both sides of the market in the ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC and LACNIC regions, we see actual closing prices rather than asking prices. And every block passes Tixx quality control before you commit a cent.
Ready to get a quote?
The figures on this page are market aggregates. For a real number against your block size, region and timeline, ask the team.
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Buy IPv4
Source vetted IPv4 blocks with zero buyer fees. Prefixx manages the entire transfer process across ARIN, RIPE, APNIC and LACNIC.
Learn more →Sell IPv4
Monetize unused IPv4 address space. We connect you with qualified buyers and manage the transfer from start to finish.
Learn more →Lease IPv4
Short- and long-term IPv4 rentals provisioned in as little as 24 hours with LOA, RPKI and reverse DNS support.
Learn more →Lease vs Buy
Compare the costs, timelines and flexibility of leasing vs buying IPv4 to find the right fit for your business.
Learn more →Contact us to discuss your IPv4 needs today
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