Technical guide
How to Get an IPv4 Block: Lease or Buy IPv4
There are two practical ways for a business to get an IPv4 block today: lease IPv4 address space from a provider or buy an existing IPv4 block through the transfer market. Because the original free pools of IPv4 addresses are effectively exhausted, organisations that need additional public IPv4 capacity generally rely on one of these two methods.
The right method depends on how long the addresses are needed, available budget, operational requirements, and how much long-term control the organisation requires. Businesses that need flexible production capacity can lease IPv4 directly from LARUS, while organisations looking to acquire IPv4 block can Buy IPv4 through the i.LEASE marketplace.
Table of Contents
How Can You Get an IPv4 Block?
What Size IPv4 Block Do You Need?
What to Check Before Getting IPv4
Key takeaway: If you need an IPv4 block, you generally have two practical options: lease it for flexible operational use or buy it for longer-term control. Leasing is usually faster and requires less upfront capital, while buying involves a larger transaction and a formal transfer process.
What Is an IPv4 Block?
An IPv4 block is a contiguous range of IPv4 addresses represented using CIDR notation, such as /24, /23, /22, or /20. The prefix length determines how many addresses are contained in the block.
| Prefix | Total IPv4 Addresses |
| /24 | 256 |
| /23 | 512 |
| /22 | 1,024 |
| /20 | 4,096 |
| /16 | 65,536 |
Businesses may need IPv4 blocks for hosting, cloud services, telecom networks, data centres, VPN infrastructure, SaaS platforms, APIs, network expansion, and other Internet-facing services.
How Can You Get an IPv4 Block?
For most businesses today, there are two practical commercial methods to obtain additional IPv4 capacity:
Method 1: Lease an IPv4 Block
IPv4 leasing allows a business to use an address block for a defined service period without purchasing the underlying resource outright.
For many organisations, leasing is the most practical way to obtain IPv4 because it avoids the large upfront capital requirement associated with buying and can be adapted as address requirements change.
A leased IPv4 block can still be used for production infrastructure when the service includes appropriate routing, authorization, operational support, and continuity arrangements.
How IPv4 Leasing Works
The leasing process normally starts with defining how much address space is required and how it will be used.
Typical IPv4 Leasing Process
1. Define the required block size: Determine whether the deployment needs a /24, /23, /22, or larger prefix.
2. Define the use case: Confirm the ASN, deployment region, hosting environment, and intended workload.
3. Select suitable IPv4 space: The provider identifies address space that fits the technical requirements.
4. Complete service and authorization setup: Routing and authorization arrangements are prepared for the deployment.
5. Configure routing: The prefix is prepared for use through the intended network and ASN.
6. Deploy and monitor: The block enters production and is monitored throughout the lease term.
A lease should therefore be evaluated based on more than the monthly price. Routing validity, RPKI/ROA readiness, reverse DNS, reputation, geolocation, renewal terms, support, and continuity can all affect whether the address space is suitable for long-term production use.
Who Should Lease IPv4?
Leasing is often suitable when the business needs usable IPv4 capacity but does not need to acquire the resource permanently.
• Hosting providers expanding customer capacity
• Cloud and SaaS platforms with changing requirements
• Data centres requiring additional public IPv4 space
• Businesses launching new regional infrastructure
• Organisations that want to preserve capital
• Projects with uncertain or changing address demand
Where to Lease IPv4
Businesses that need IPv4 capacity without purchasing the address block can lease IPv4 directly from LARUS.
LARUS focuses on usable IPv4 resources for production networks, including routing readiness, RPKI/ROA support, reverse DNS, reputation, geolocation, renewal planning, and continuity requirements.
Need IPv4 for Production?
For flexible IPv4 capacity without the upfront commitment of buying, lease IPv4 directly from LARUS.
Method 2: Buy an IPv4 Block
Buying IPv4 means acquiring an existing address block through the transfer market. This option is generally more suitable for organisations that expect to use the address space for many years and want greater long-term control over the resource.
Unlike leasing, buying normally involves a larger upfront capital commitment and a formal transaction process involving the buyer, seller, and applicable Regional Internet Registry.
How Buying IPv4 Works
Typical IPv4 Purchase Process
1. Define the required prefix: Determine the block size, receiving organisation, RIR region, and intended deployment.
2. Find available IPv4 inventory: Source a suitable block through a marketplace, broker, or direct counterparty.
3. Review the resource: Confirm transfer eligibility, registry information, and suitability for the intended use.
4. Agree the transaction: Confirm the price, payment terms, transfer conditions, and closing process.
5. Complete the RIR transfer: Follow the applicable registry procedures for the resource and transaction type.
6. Prepare the block for use: Configure BGP, ROA/RPKI, IRR records, reverse DNS, IPAM, and other operational requirements.
The detailed transfer process differs between RIRs and transaction types. Buyers should therefore verify the current requirements applicable to the exact resource before closing.
Who Should Buy IPv4?
Buying can make sense when IPv4 is expected to remain a long-term component of the organisation's network infrastructure.
• ISPs and telecom operators with long-term address demand
• Large hosting or cloud platforms
• Data centre operators planning permanent capacity
• Enterprises with stable long-term network requirements
• Organisations that prefer capital acquisition over recurring lease costs
Where to Buy IPv4
Organisations that want to acquire IPv4 resources can use the i.LEASE IPv4 marketplace.
The marketplace provides a structured environment for IPv4 inventory selection and transaction execution, including processes around payment, transfer coordination, and operational handover.
Want to Buy an IPv4 Block?
Explore IPv4 inventory and the purchase process through the i.LEASE IPv4 Marketplace.
Lease vs Buy IPv4 Block
The main decision is whether the organisation primarily needs usable IPv4 capacity or wants to make a long-term acquisition of the resource.
| Factor | Lease IPv4 | Buy IPv4 |
| Upfront cost | Lower | Higher |
| Flexibility | Higher | Lower after capital is committed |
| Long-term control | Defined by the lease arrangement | Greater after successful acquisition and transfer |
| Transaction complexity | Usually simpler | Usually higher because of purchase and transfer requirements |
| Best fit | Flexible or changing requirements | Stable long-term requirements |
For a deeper comparison, see Leasing vs Buying IPv4 Addresses.
What Size IPv4 Block Do You Need?
The right IPv4 block size depends on actual address usage, growth, subnetting, network topology, and routing requirements.
A business needing around 200 public addresses may consider a /24, while a larger hosting environment may require a /22 or /20. Buyers and lessees should avoid choosing a prefix based only on price or availability without considering the expected deployment.
Routing note: A /24 is commonly treated as a practical minimum for independent IPv4 announcements on the global Internet because longer IPv4 prefixes are often filtered. Actual acceptance still depends on the routing policies of individual networks.
What to Check Before Getting IPv4
Whether the block is leased or purchased, the address space should fit the intended production environment.
| Check | Why It Matters |
| Prefix size | Ensures enough capacity without unnecessary cost. |
| Deployment region | Helps align the block with operational and registry requirements. |
| IP reputation | Previous use can affect email, hosting, and other reputation-sensitive applications. |
| Routing readiness | The block needs to fit the intended ASN, BGP, and upstream design. |
| RPKI / ROA | Supports correct route-origin authorization. |
| Reverse DNS | May be important for email and service identity. |
| Continuity terms | Especially important for leased resources supporting long-lived production services. |
A usable IPv4 block is therefore more than a range of available addresses. The resource also needs to work within the routing, authorization, reputation, security, and continuity requirements of the network that will use it.
Which Method Should You Choose?
The simplest way to choose is to start with the business objective.
Lease IPv4 if: you primarily need usable address capacity, want lower upfront cost, expect requirements to change, or prefer flexibility over a large capital purchase.
Buy IPv4 if: the requirement is expected to remain stable for many years, the business wants long-term control of the resource, and the larger upfront acquisition cost fits the infrastructure strategy.
The decision should not be based only on the price of the IPv4 addresses. Consider the full lifecycle, including routing, operational support, transfer requirements, renewal or continuity, internal management, and the cost of future renumbering.
Conclusion
For most businesses, there are two practical ways to get an IPv4 block: lease the address space or buy an existing block through the transfer market.
Leasing is generally better suited to organisations that need flexible, production-ready IPv4 capacity without making a large upfront acquisition. Businesses can lease IPv4 directly from LARUS.
Buying is better suited to organisations seeking long-term acquisition and control of IPv4 resources. Businesses ready to purchase can use the i.LEASE IPv4 marketplace.
Whichever method is chosen, the real objective is not simply to obtain a block of numbers. The IPv4 resource must remain routable, properly authorized, documented, manageable, and suitable for the services that depend on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I get an IPv4 block?
For most businesses, the two practical methods are to lease an IPv4 block from a provider or buy an existing block through the IPv4 transfer market.
2. Can I lease an IPv4 block?
Yes. Organisations that need usable IPv4 capacity without purchasing the underlying resource can lease IPv4 directly from LARUS.
3. Can I buy an IPv4 block?
Yes. Existing IPv4 blocks can be acquired through transfer-market transactions. Organisations looking to purchase can use the i.LEASE IPv4 marketplace.
4. Is it better to lease or buy IPv4?
Leasing is often better when flexibility and lower upfront cost are priorities. Buying may be more suitable when the organisation expects to need the resource for many years and wants greater long-term control.
5. How many addresses are in a /24 IPv4 block?
A /24 IPv4 block contains 256 addresses.
6. What is the smallest IPv4 block I can get?
The smallest available block depends on the provider, marketplace, transaction type, and intended deployment. For independent global BGP announcements, a /24 is commonly a practical minimum because longer prefixes may be filtered by many networks.
7. How much does an IPv4 block cost?
The cost depends on whether the block is leased or purchased. Purchase prices change with market supply, block size, registry region, reputation, and transaction conditions, while leasing normally uses recurring pricing based on the block and service terms.
8. Can I route a leased IPv4 block with my own ASN?
This can be possible when the leasing arrangement and routing authorization support the intended ASN and deployment. The exact routing model should be confirmed with the provider before the block enters production.
9. What should I check before getting an IPv4 block?
Check the prefix size, deployment region, routing requirements, reputation, RPKI/ROA support, reverse DNS, provider or transfer terms, and how the resource will be managed after deployment.
10. Where can I get an IPv4 block?
For leasing, businesses can obtain IPv4 capacity directly from LARUS. For purchasing, organisations can use the i.LEASE IPv4 marketplace.
Production IPv4
Need IPv4 for a live network?
Check available capacity, then choose the Continuity level that matches the cost of disruption and renumbering.