What is .co.uk?
The .co.uk domain is the commercial subdivision of the United Kingdom's country code TLD (.uk). It has been the default choice for British businesses since the early days of the internet, predating even the shorter .uk option in the world of domains.
A Brief History
The .uk namespace was established in 1985, with .co.uk created for commercial entities. Managed by Nominet since 1996, .co.uk grew to become one of the most registered domain extensions globally. In 2014, Nominet introduced direct .uk registrations, but .co.uk remains the more established and widely used option.
Why Choose .co.uk?
- British identity — Instantly recognized as a UK business domain worldwide.
- Consumer trust — British consumers expect and trust .co.uk addresses for local businesses.
- SEO for UK searches — Google gives geographic preference to .co.uk for UK-based searches.
- Established credibility — Four decades of use have made .co.uk the UK's most trusted domain.
Who Uses .co.uk?
British businesses of all sizes, from high street shops to FTSE 100 companies. BBC (bbc.co.uk), Amazon UK (amazon.co.uk), and virtually every UK retailer maintains a .co.uk presence.
Did You Know?
- As of 2026, over 10 million .co.uk domains are registered.
- Nominet, the .uk registry, is a not-for-profit organization.
- The .co.uk extension is older and more widely used than the shorter .uk alternative.
Registration & Pricing
New .co.uk domains typically cost between $8-12 per year — often cheaper than .com. DomainWorld offers .co.uk registration with full DNS management. DomainWorld offers fast registration and DNS setup of .co.uk — you can get a domain up and running in minutes.
The Future of .co.uk
Despite the introduction of .uk, .co.uk remains the preferred choice for British businesses. Its familiarity and trust make it an enduring fixture in the world of domains.