Spamhaus Domain Blocklist (DBL)
The Spamhaus DBL is a domain blocklist (blacklist) protecting against spam, phishing, fraud, and malware. Monitor your domain reputation with Suped.
Updated on 17 Jun 2026: We added clearer DBL usage guidance, removal expectations, and reputation practices for domain owners.
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Check if you are listed on Spamhaus Domain Blocklist (DBL)
And 143 other blocklists.
Spamhaus
0Spam
Cisco
NoSolicitado
URIBL
abuse.ro
ALPHANET
Anonmails
Ascams
BLOCKEDSERVERS
Calivent Networks
EFnet
JustSpam
Kempt.net
NordSpam
RV-SOFT Technology
Scientific Spam
Spamikaze
SpamRATS
SPFBL
Suomispam
System 5 Hosting
Team Cymru
Validity
www.blocklist.de Fail2Ban-Reporting Service
ZapBL
2stepback.dk
Fayntic Services
ORB UK
technoirc.org
TechTheftSpamhaus0SpamCiscoNoSolicitadoURIBLabuse.roALPHANETAnonmailsAscamsBLOCKEDSERVERSCalivent NetworksEFnetJustSpamKempt.netNordSpamRV-SOFT TechnologyScientific SpamSpamikazeSpamRATSSPFBLSuomispamSystem 5 HostingTeam CymruValiditywww.blocklist.de Fail2Ban-Reporting ServiceZapBL2stepback.dkFayntic ServicesORB UKtechnoirc.orgTechTheftSpamhaus0SpamCiscoNoSolicitadoURIBLabuse.roALPHANETAnonmailsAscamsBLOCKEDSERVERSCalivent NetworksEFnetJustSpamKempt.netNordSpamRV-SOFT TechnologyScientific SpamSpamikazeSpamRATSSPFBLSuomispamSystem 5 HostingTeam CymruValiditywww.blocklist.de Fail2Ban-Reporting ServiceZapBL2stepback.dkFayntic ServicesORB UKtechnoirc.orgTechTheftSpamhaus0SpamCiscoNoSolicitadoURIBLabuse.roALPHANETAnonmailsAscamsBLOCKEDSERVERSCalivent NetworksEFnetJustSpamKempt.netNordSpamRV-SOFT TechnologyScientific SpamSpamikazeSpamRATSSPFBLSuomispamSystem 5 HostingTeam CymruValiditywww.blocklist.de Fail2Ban-Reporting ServiceZapBL2stepback.dkFayntic ServicesORB UKtechnoirc.orgTechTheftSpamhaus0SpamCiscoNoSolicitadoURIBLabuse.roALPHANETAnonmailsAscamsBLOCKEDSERVERSCalivent NetworksEFnetJustSpamKempt.netNordSpamRV-SOFT TechnologyScientific SpamSpamikazeSpamRATSSPFBLSuomispamSystem 5 HostingTeam CymruValiditywww.blocklist.de Fail2Ban-Reporting ServiceZapBL2stepback.dkFayntic ServicesORB UKtechnoirc.orgTechTheftWhat is Spamhaus Domain Blocklist (DBL)?
The Spamhaus Domain Blocklist (DBL) is a real-time domain DNSBL of domain names with poor reputation due to spam, phishing, fraud, malware, or other malicious activity. It is a domain blocklist (blacklist), not an IP blocklist, so it lists domain names rather than sending IP addresses. It includes domains set up by bad actors and legitimate domains or hostnames that have been compromised, hijacked, or abused.
According to its official policy, the DBL lists domains based on observed domain behavior and broad heuristics. Its proactive value comes from analyzing how domains are registered, configured, and used. That means suspicious activity can be identified before a domain appears in a large spam campaign, and a receiving system can catch malicious messages that pass IP-based reputation checks.
- The blocklist includes domains used in unsolicited bulk email, phishing messages, fraud attempts, malware distribution, and other activity tied to poor domain reputation.
- The DBL can identify suspicious domains before broad abuse is visible, which gives receiving systems an extra layer of domain-based filtering.
- It can be used as a URI DNSBL for domains in links and as a RHSBL for domains in envelope or header fields, so it complements IP-based blocklists.
Who runs Spamhaus Domain Blocklist (DBL)?
The Spamhaus Domain Blocklist (DBL) is operated by The Spamhaus Project, an international non-profit organization focused on tracking spam and related cyber abuse. Steve Linford founded Spamhaus in London in 1998. The organization began by tracking IP addresses used for sending spam, and its work now includes IP reputation, domain reputation, botnet data, and policy-based blocklists.
Spamhaus researchers and automated systems maintain the DBL reputation database. Most DBL listings occur automatically, with manual additions or removals where needed. Spamhaus DNSBL data is free for low-volume, non-commercial use, while commercial use requires access through Spamhaus Technology.
What's the impact of being listed on Spamhaus Domain Blocklist (DBL)?
The impact of being listed on the Spamhaus Domain Blocklist (DBL) is high. A DBL listing can cause serious email deliverability problems because receiving systems can reject, quarantine, or score down messages that use or contain a listed domain. This includes domains in the sender envelope, message headers, contact addresses, and links in the email body.
This affects marketing campaigns, newsletters, and transactional emails such as password resets, order confirmations, billing notices, and invoices. Because DBL is domain-based, a clean sending IP does not fully protect a message if the domain in the message has poor reputation. The result can be delivery delays, lost revenue, and damage to sender reputation.
How Spamhaus DBL checks domains
Spamhaus DBL should be configured only in systems that perform domain, URI, or RHSBL checks. It should not be added to a normal IP DNSBL or RBL field unless that field specifically checks domains. An IP query against dbl.spamhaus.org returns a listed-style response, so the wrong setup can create false positives.
- During connection checks, a receiver can compare DBL against the domain associated with the connecting IP through reverse DNS.
- During the SMTP transaction, a filter can check the HELO string and MAIL FROM domain before message content is accepted.
- During content inspection, a filter can check domains found in message headers, body URLs, and contact email addresses.
- For hostname lookups, DBL supports wildcard behavior where a listed base domain causes its hostnames and subdomains to return a listed result.
How do I get removed and delisted from Spamhaus Domain Blocklist (DBL)?
If your domain is listed on this blacklist (or blocklist), first identify and resolve the underlying issue that caused the listing. Spamhaus DBL listings usually expire automatically after the domain stops matching the listing criteria, but you can request removal before expiry if the issue has been fixed. The only place where Spamhaus DBL removals are handled is the Spamhaus IP and Domain Reputation Checker.
Spamhaus does not charge a fee for removal, and no third party can influence or speed up a removal. Approved removals are processed immediately by Spamhaus, but some receivers and local systems can take up to 24 hours to stop using cached listing data. A domain can be listed again if the same abuse, compromise, or reputation signal returns.
Before you request delisting, take these steps:
- Use the Spamhaus checker to understand the listing type and whether it points to spam, phishing, malware, a compromised website, or an abused legitimate hostname.
- Secure the affected assets by removing malware, fixing hacked CMS files, updating plugins and extensions, rotating passwords, and closing any account or form abuse.
- Review sending practices, including confirmed opt-in, suppression of spam complaints, and whether any unauthorized system is sending mail for your domain.
- Check domain authentication and infrastructure basics, including SPF, DKIM, DMARC, reverse DNS, PTR records, HELO values, abuse@, and postmaster@ role accounts.
- Use DMARC aggregate reports to find spoofing attempts and unauthorized senders. Suped's product can organize those reports so the authentication workflow is easier to review before it becomes a reputation problem.
- After the root cause is fixed, look up the domain in the Spamhaus checker and follow the returned removal instructions.
Other blocklists
Spamhaus Blocklist (SBL)
Organization
Spamhaus
Zone
sbl.dq.spamhaus.net
Type
IP
Impact
High
Delisting
Manual
Spamhaus Exploits Blocklist (XBL)
Organization
Spamhaus
Zone
xbl.dq.spamhaus.net
Type
IP
Impact
High
Delisting
Manual
Spamhaus Policy Blocklist (PBL)
Organization
Spamhaus
Zone
pbl.dq.spamhaus.net
Type
IP
Impact
High
Delisting
Manual
Spamhaus ZEN Blocklist
Organization
Spamhaus
Zone
zen.dq.spamhaus.net
Type
IP
Impact
High
Delisting
Manual
Spamhaus Zero Reputation Domain (ZRD)
Organization
Spamhaus
Zone
zrd.dq.spamhaus.net
Type
Domain
Impact
Medium
Delisting
Automatic
