Blacklist Checker — Is Your IP or Domain Listed?
Check any IP address or domain against the major spam blacklists in one pass. If your mail is bouncing or vanishing, this is the first thing to rule out.
What a blacklist listing actually means
A DNS blacklist is a published list of addresses believed to send spam. Mail servers around the world query these lists before accepting a message, and a listed sender is usually rejected outright or filed into spam without ever reaching the recipient. Because the check happens before delivery, a listing is invisible from your side — mail simply stops arriving and nobody tells you why.
The usual causes
- A compromised account — a weak mailbox password or an outdated plugin lets someone relay spam through your server.
- A neighbour on shared hosting — on a shared IP, another site's behaviour can list the address you send from.
- A contact list problem — sending to a purchased or very old list produces spam complaints and hard bounces that trigger listings quickly.
- Missing authentication — no SPF, DKIM or DMARC makes your mail look like spoofed traffic to filters.
- An open relay or open resolver — a misconfigured server that will relay mail for anyone gets listed almost immediately.
Getting delisted
Fix the cause first, because delisting without fixing it results in a faster relisting and a worse reputation. Change compromised passwords, patch the site, clean the mailing list, and publish proper authentication records. Then visit the removal page each list publishes and submit a request. Some lists expire automatically after a quiet period; others require a manual submission. Major lists such as Spamhaus process legitimate requests quickly.
How much a listing matters
Not every list carries the same weight. A listing on Spamhaus ZEN affects delivery almost everywhere and needs immediate attention. A listing on a smaller or more aggressive list may affect only a fraction of recipients. This tool marks which listings are considered high impact so you know what to deal with first.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my IP is blacklisted?
Enter the IP address or your domain above and run the check. The tool queries each major DNS blacklist directly and reports which ones list you. Entering a domain resolves its mail servers first, so you are checking the addresses your email actually sends from.
Why did my IP get blacklisted?
Most often because spam was sent from it — through a compromised mailbox, a hacked website, or a neighbouring account on a shared IP. Sending to old or purchased contact lists and having no SPF, DKIM or DMARC records are the other common causes.
How do I get removed from a blacklist?
Fix the underlying cause first, then submit a removal request on the list's own delisting page. Requesting removal without fixing the problem leads to a rapid relisting and a worse standing. Some lists expire automatically after a period of clean sending.
How long does delisting take?
It varies by list. Automatic expiry lists clear within 24 to 72 hours of clean behaviour. Manual lists usually process a request within a day or two. Delivery does not recover instantly afterwards, because receiving servers cache blacklist answers for a while.
Can a domain be blacklisted as well as an IP?
Yes. Domain-based lists, sometimes called URIBLs, flag domains that appear inside spam messages rather than the sending address. A domain listing can affect you even when your sending IP is completely clean, so both are worth checking.
Does shared hosting cause blacklisting?
It can, if the provider does not manage outbound mail carefully. On a poorly managed shared IP, one bad neighbour affects everyone. Good hosts monitor outbound volume, isolate compromised accounts quickly and maintain the reputation of their mail IPs.