“How much does an IPv4 address cost?” is the first question most buyers and sellers ask. There is no single fixed price: IPv4 is a secondary market where every block is different, and prices move with supply and demand. What you can do is understand the factors that push a specific block's price up or down.
1. Block size
Prices are usually quoted per address, but the size of the block changes that per-address figure. Larger contiguous blocks (for example /20 or /16) are scarce and attractive to large networks, while small blocks such as a single /24 serve a much wider pool of buyers. Because the dynamics differ, per-address pricing can vary noticeably between small and large blocks.
2. Regional Internet Registry
Where the block is registered — ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, LACNIC or AFRINIC — affects who can buy it and how easily it can be transferred. Policies on needs justification, holding periods and inter-RIR transfers all influence demand for space in each region.
3. Reputation and history
A block that has been blacklisted, used for spam or involved in abuse is worth less, because the buyer inherits clean-up work. Clean routing history, accurate geolocation and no outstanding abuse reports support a higher price.
4. Market demand
Demand from cloud providers, hosting companies, ISPs and enterprises rises and falls over time, as does the volume of space being released by sellers. Broker quotes reflect the market at the time of the deal, so a price from last year may not hold today.
5. Transfer terms
Who pays registry fees, how quickly the transfer must close, and how payment is protected all affect the final number. Simple, well-documented transfers with motivated parties tend to close at better terms for both sides.
6. Buying versus leasing
Buying is a one-off capital cost for a long-term asset you can later resell. Leasing is a recurring monthly cost with no ownership, but a much lower upfront spend. Which is cheaper depends on how long you need the space.
Get an accurate quote
Because every block is different, the reliable way to know the price is a current quote for your exact size and registry. Request a buying quote, get a free valuation for your block, or compare leasing options with All Tech Cloud Services.
Frequently asked questions
Prices are normally quoted per address and multiplied by the block size, but the per-address figure itself depends on the size and quality of the block.
Nobody can predict prices with certainty. Demand depends on how quickly networks and services adopt IPv6, and most still rely heavily on IPv4 today.