{"id":367,"date":"2026-06-17T05:52:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T05:52:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ip4.market\/blog\/367-2\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T19:01:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T19:01:13","slug":"ipv4-block-sizes-24-vs-23-vs-22-pricing-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ip4.market\/blog\/ipv4-block-sizes-24-vs-23-vs-22-pricing-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"IPv4 Block Sizes: \/24 vs \/23 vs \/22 Pricing Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"tools-toc\">\n<strong>In this article:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#block-size-why-it-counts\">Why Block Size Actually Matters<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#pricing-per-block\">Pricing Per Block (The Numbers)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cost-per-ip\">Cost Per IP: The Metric that Matters<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#choosing-right-block\">How to Pick the Right Block<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#market-trends\">What the Market Looks Like Now<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<p>So you are shopping for IPv4 blocks. For most of us, it comes down to \/24, \/23, or \/22. Picking the right one is not just a technical checkbox. It hits your budget. It affects your routing table. And it determines how easy it is to sell later if your needs change.<\/p>\n<p>I have watched this market shift for years. Let me tell you, the pricing does not scale the way you might expect. Here is what actually matters.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"block-size-why-it-counts\">Why Block Size Actually Matters<\/h2>\n<p>CIDR blocks. The jargon is dry, but the math is simple. A \/24 gives you 256 IPs. A \/23 doubles that to 512. A \/22 gives you 1024. The thing is, the market does not price them linearly. Understanding exactly why is essential if you do not want to overpay.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Scalability.<\/strong> Bigger blocks keep the routing table clean. But you have to buy them outright. Is the flexibility worth the cash?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Resale value.<\/strong> This is the big one. A \/24 is easy to sell. A \/22 can sit on the market for months.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Compatibility.<\/strong> Some RIRs or network equipment hate fragmented space. A single \/23 is often cleaner than two \/24s.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"pricing-per-block\">Pricing Per Block (The Numbers)<\/h2>\n<p>Here is the snapshot. This data comes from listings on IP4 Market in 2024-2025. Clean blocks, verified sellers. The numbers do not lie.<\/p>\n<div class=\"comparison-table\">\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Block Size<\/th>\n<th>Total IPs<\/th>\n<th>Average Price (per block)<\/th>\n<th>Price Range<\/th>\n<th>Typical Use<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\/24<\/td>\n<td>256<\/td>\n<td>$4,000 &#8211; $6,000<\/td>\n<td>$3,500 &#8211; $7,500<\/td>\n<td>Small ISPs, enterprise branches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\/23<\/td>\n<td>512<\/td>\n<td>$8,000 &#8211; $12,000<\/td>\n<td>$7,000 &#8211; $15,000<\/td>\n<td>Medium ISPs, colocation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\/22<\/td>\n<td>1,024<\/td>\n<td>$15,000 &#8211; $25,000<\/td>\n<td>$12,000 &#8211; $30,000<\/td>\n<td>Large ISPs, data centers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Prices vary by region, RIR (ARIN\/RIPE\/APNIC), and block reputation. Always verify with IP4 Market&#8217;s seller database. (And honestly, check the reputation. A blacklisted block is worth nothing.)<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"cost-per-ip\">Cost Per IP: The Metric that Matters<\/h3>\n<p>This is the metric that usually catches people off guard. The cost per IP.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>\/24:<\/strong> ~$15-$23 per IP. It is the premium you pay for liquidity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\/23:<\/strong> ~$14-$20 per IP. Slight discount.<\/li>\n<li><strong>\/22:<\/strong> ~$12-$18 per IP. Best value, but the biggest check to write.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Why the discrepancy? Because a \/24 is the smallest block most networks will touch. It is the gold standard for quick trades. That liquidity carries a markup. You are paying for the ability to get out of it fast.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"choosing-right-block\">How to Pick the Right Block<\/h2>\n<p>So how do you actually choose without regretting it later? Here is the framework I use.<\/p>\n<h3>When to Buy a \/24<\/h3>\n<p>Reach for a \/24 when you think small, or when you value flexibility.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Small businesses needing a single public subnet<\/li>\n<li>Testing or temp projects. Easy to spin up, easy to shut down.<\/li>\n<li>Meeting RIR minimum allocation sizes<\/li>\n<li>Minimal upfront cash<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Tip:<\/strong> A \/24 is the most traded block on the market. If you need to flip it, this is your safest bet.<\/p>\n<h3>When to Buy a \/23<\/h3>\n<p>A \/23 sits in the middle. 512 IPs. Not too big, not too small.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Growing networks that need a solid 512 IPs<\/li>\n<li>Multiple VLANs or public services<\/li>\n<li>Way cleaner than trying to route two \/24s<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Warning:<\/strong> Some RIRs have annoying transfer fees for \/23s compared to \/24s. Check the fine print.<\/p>\n<h3>When to Buy a \/22<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Data centers. Large ISPs.<\/li>\n<li>You are planning for years of growth without renumbering.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Note:<\/em> The per-IP price is the lowest you will see. But it is a big check. If you do not need 1024 IPs, you are sitting on dead capital. Do not buy a \/22 just for the discount.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"market-trends\">What the Market Looks Like Now<\/h2>\n<p>The market has not cooled off. Since 2020, prices have mostly climbed. Three things stand out:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Clean blocks are gold.<\/strong> If a range has a spam history, you do not want it. Clean ones sell for 10-20% more. Worth it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Location matters.<\/strong> APNIC blocks (Asia-Pacific) generally run cheaper than ARIN (US).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Leasing is booming.<\/strong> Short-term needs? Just lease a \/24. Do not buy a \/22 you won&#8217;t fill.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"result-box\">\n<strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> The biggest risk is not the price. It is buying a poisoned block. IP4 Market verifies the history and handles the escrow. It is worth the peace of mind.\n<\/div>\n<h3>The Practical Checklist<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Total cost.<\/strong> Transfer fees alone are a few hundred. Legal costs too. Don&#8217;t ignore them.<\/li>\n<li><strong>RIR limits.<\/strong> Some registries cap how many \/24s you can hold. Check before you buy.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Compare sellers.<\/strong> IP4 Market has a comparison tool. Use it to see the full range.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Consider leasing.<\/strong> If it is temporary, stop trying to buy a \/22. Just lease a \/24.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-block\">\n<p><strong>Q: Why is a \/24 more expensive per IP than a \/22?<\/strong><br \/>\nA: Simple supply and demand. Everyone needs a \/24. Sellers know this and price in the liquidity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: Can I buy a \/23 and split it into two \/24s?<\/strong><br \/>\nA: Technically yes. But some RIRs get picky about fragmenting the routing table. They prefer you keep it whole.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q: What is the best value block size?<\/strong><br \/>\nA: Depends on your goal. A \/22 is the best <em>price per IP<\/em>. A \/24 is the best <em>asset<\/em> if you want flexibility or resale.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Buying IP space is rarely fun. But it does not have to be risky. IP4 Market keeps the listings clean and the transactions secure. Find a block that actually fits your network. Not just your spreadsheet.<\/p>\n<p><em>Published by IP4 Market.<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"ip4-cta\" style=\"margin:2em 0;padding:1.2em 1.5em;border:1px solid #d8dee9;border-left:4px solid #00b8d4;border-radius:6px;background:#f8fafc\">\n<p style=\"margin:0\"><strong>Need IPv4 space?<\/strong> Lease RIPE-verified \/24&ndash;\/22 subnets at a flat $0.50\/IP per month &mdash; LOA + RPKI\/ROA in minutes, instant company verification, automatic renewals. <a href=\"https:\/\/panel.ip4.market\/marketplace?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=cta&amp;utm_campaign=post-footer\" rel=\"nofollow\">Browse available subnets &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this article: Why Block Size Actually Matters Pricing Per Block (The Numbers) Cost Per IP: The Metric that Matters How to Pick the Right Block What the Market Looks&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":369,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipv4-market"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ip4.market\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ip4.market\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ip4.market\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ip4.market\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ip4.market\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=367"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ip4.market\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/367\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":569,"href":"https:\/\/ip4.market\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/367\/revisions\/569"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ip4.market\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ip4.market\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ip4.market\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ip4.market\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}