If you are deciding how to buy a dedicated IP address, first determine whether you need one address assigned by a hosting or VPN provider, or a transferable IPv4 block for your own network. These are different products. A provider-assigned IP is tied to a service, while an IPv4 block can be leased or transferred for use with your own infrastructure.
For a website, mail server, remote-access gateway or VPN account, one provider-assigned address may be enough. However, if you operate servers, a data centre, an ISP or a cloud platform and need hundreds or thousands of addresses, you will normally need an IPv4 block and the ability to route it through your network.
What Does “Buying a Dedicated IP Address” Mean?
The phrase is used for several different arrangements:
| Option | What you receive | Best suited to | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider-assigned dedicated IP | Exclusive use of one public IP while the service remains active | Websites, mail servers, business VPN accounts and remote access | The address usually stays with the provider when the service ends |
| Leased IPv4 block | Temporary right to use and route a block, normally under an LOA | Hosting, cloud infrastructure, VPN platforms and temporary capacity | The block must be returned when the lease ends |
| Purchased IPv4 block | Registration of the block to the receiving organisation through the relevant RIR process | Long-term network operation and infrastructure ownership | Higher upfront cost and a formal transfer process |
InterLIR primarily works with IPv4 blocks rather than individual hosting IPs. The smallest independently announced IPv4 prefix is normally a /24, containing 256 addresses. Providers generally supply smaller quantities from their larger allocations rather than transfer them as independent address space.
How to Buy a Dedicated IP Address: Step by Step
1. Define the technical requirement
Start with the service that will use the address space. In particular, record:
- how many public IPv4 addresses you need;
- whether you need one address or an independently routed block;
- the required RIR region;
- whether you already have an Autonomous System Number;
- whether the addresses must be announced from your own network;
- your expected usage period;
- any geolocation or reputation requirements.
If you are unsure how many addresses a prefix contains, use the InterLIR IPv4 subnet calculator before requesting offers.
2. Choose between assignment, leasing and purchase
A single dedicated IP from a hosting provider is usually the simplest choice when the address supports only one hosted service. You typically pay the provider monthly, configure the address in its control panel and keep it while the service remains active.
By contrast, leasing is more suitable when you need a routable block quickly, want to limit upfront expenditure or expect the required capacity to change. InterLIR provides IPv4 address leasing for blocks from /24 upward.
Purchasing is generally more appropriate for stable, long-term requirements where control and continuity justify the upfront investment. You can find available blocks and information about the acquisition process on the InterLIR IPv4 purchasing page.
3. Verify the provider or seller
Before paying, confirm who is supplying the address and what rights you will receive. For a provider-assigned IP, review the hosting or VPN contract and its cancellation terms. For an IPv4 block, verify the registered holder, the relevant Regional Internet Registry, the block’s transfer eligibility and the authority of the seller’s representative.
In addition, do not treat a marketplace listing or an invoice as proof that an IPv4 block can be transferred. The applicable registry process must accept and record the transfer. The RIPE NCC, for example, explains that a resource transfer changes the registered holdership from the offering party to the receiving party in its official IP address transfer guidance.
4. Check address reputation and routing history
An address can be technically valid but operationally difficult to use. Therefore, before accepting it, review:
- current RIR and WHOIS/RDAP registration;
- BGP announcement history;
- RPKI and ROA status;
- existing IRR route objects;
- spam and abuse blocklists;
- previous geolocation records;
- reverse-DNS requirements;
- signs of recent or persistent abusive use.
No address can be guaranteed to remain permanently absent from every third-party blocklist. Reputation changes with usage, and different databases apply different criteria. As a result, the practical objective is to identify material problems before deployment and maintain responsible use afterwards.
5. Confirm routing and deployment requirements
For one provider-assigned IP, setup may involve little more than selecting the address in a control panel and updating DNS records.
For an IPv4 block, however, deployment may require an ASN, an upstream network willing to announce the prefix, a Letter of Authorization, IRR objects, an RPKI ROA, reverse-DNS delegation and updated geolocation information. Therefore, confirm responsibility for each task before signing the agreement.
6. Complete the contract and payment process
The agreement should identify the exact address or prefix, price, service period or transfer conditions, permitted use, delivery requirements and the procedure to follow if the supplier cannot deliver the resource.
For a block purchase, the parties can use escrow and link payment release to agreed transfer milestones. However, the registry procedure remains separate from the commercial payment arrangement. An RIR records the transfer, but it does not set the sale price or act as the commercial intermediary. The RIPE NCC explicitly notes this distinction in its guidance on obtaining additional IPv4 space.
7. Validate the address after delivery
After assignment or transfer, verify that:
- the registry data names the correct organisation where applicable;
- routing originates from the authorised ASN;
- IRR and RPKI records match the intended announcement;
- reverse DNS is working;
- geolocation databases are being updated;
- monitoring and abuse contacts are active.
Finally, do not consider the process complete simply because the address responds to traffic. Registration, routing and reputation data should all reflect the new operational setup.
How Much Does a Dedicated IP Address Cost?
There is no single market price because the products are different. A provider-assigned IP is usually charged as a recurring add-on to hosting, VPN or cloud service. An IPv4 lease is normally priced per address and per month, while a transferable IPv4 block is typically priced per address as a one-time transaction.
Several factors can affect the price, including block size, RIR region, registry status, reputation, routing readiness, geolocation, transaction structure and current supply. Therefore, avoid relying on old provider tables or undated “average” figures. Instead, request a current quote for the exact resource and service model you need.
Dedicated IP Address Checklist
- Do you need one provider-assigned IP or an independently routed block?
- How many addresses are required now and within the next 12–24 months?
- Do you need to lease the addresses or acquire them through an RIR transfer?
- Which RIR region and registry status are acceptable?
- Has the registration, routing and reputation history been checked?
- Who will configure the BGP announcement, LOA, IRR, RPKI and reverse DNS?
- What happens if the address cannot be delivered or used as agreed?
How to Buy a Dedicated IP Address for Your Use Case
If you need one stable address for a hosted service, obtain a dedicated IP from the provider operating that service. By contrast, if you need a /24 or larger block for your own infrastructure, compare leasing with purchase based on deployment speed, budget, expected usage period and the level of control you require.
Ultimately, the most important step is to define the product correctly. A single dedicated hosting IP, a leased IPv4 block and a transferred IPv4 resource solve different problems and involve different technical and contractual responsibilities.
Looking to Lease or Buy an IPv4 Block?
If you need a /24 or larger IPv4 block, talk to our team about current availability, pricing and the most suitable option for your requirements.
