Cost to Register a Trademark with the USPTO

Key Takeaways

• The base USPTO trademark filing fee starts at $350 per class of goods or services
• Total cost depends on the number of classes and the accuracy of your application
• Surcharges of $100-$200 per class apply for incomplete or custom descriptions
• Intent-to-use filings require additional fees of $150-$125 per class before final registration
• Maintenance and renewal fees of $325 per class recur every 10 years
• Optional attorney fees can add $500–$2,000, but significantly reduce the risk of rejection

What is the USPTO Trademark Cost?

USPTO trademark cost refers to the total financial outlay required to register, maintain, and protect a trademark in the United States from the initial filing fee through decades of renewal. It's a combination of government fees, potential surcharges, and periodic maintenance costs that compound over the life of your mark.

In plain terms, it's what you pay to legally establish that your brand name or logo belongs to you and to keep that protection active over time.

What Determines the Cost?

• Number of trademark classes filed under
• Type of application (use in commerce vs. intent-to-use)
• How precisely your goods/services description is written
• Whether you use pre-approved descriptions from the USPTO ID Manual
• Post-registration maintenance filings

Base USPTO Trademark Filing Fee

The foundation of every USPTO trademark application is the filing fee: $350 per class of goods or services. This fee applies when you use a pre-approved description from the USPTO's Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual (ID Manual). It's paid at the time of application and is non-refundable, even if your mark is ultimately rejected.

How the Fee Scales with Classes

The USPTO charges separately for each class you file under. If your business operates across product categories that fall into different trademark classes, your base cost increases linearly:

• 1 class = $350
• 2 classes = $700
• 3 classes = $1,050

This is why strategic class selection matters. Filing in three classes because it feels safer will cost triple the base fee, and surcharges multiply, too. Only file in the classes where you actually operate or have concrete plans to operate within the next few years.

Did You Know? 

The USPTO charges per class, not per application. More products covered means more classes filed, which means a higher total fee. Strategic class selection is one of the most effective ways to control your trademark registration cost.

Additional USPTO Fees: Surcharges to Watch For

Beyond the base filing fee, the USPTO applies surcharges in several common situations. These aren't penalties for bad intent- they're fees triggered by the additional review work your application requires.

Common Surcharges

• $100 per class: Missing or incomplete application information
• $200 per class: Using a custom goods/services description not from the ID Manual
• $200 per class: Description that exceeds 1,000 characters

The custom description surcharge is the most avoidable of these. When applicants describe their goods or services in their own words instead of using language from the ID Manual, the USPTO charges $200 per class on top of the base fee. For a two-class application, that's an additional $400- just for word choice.

The practical fix: use the USPTO's ID Manual as your starting point. It contains thousands of pre-approved descriptions. Match your product or service to an existing description, and you avoid the surcharge entirely.

Intent-to-Use (ITU) Application Costs

If your trademark isn't yet in active commercial use when you file, perhaps you're still in development, or your product hasn't launched, you can file an Intent-to-Use (ITU) application to reserve the name. It's a useful tool, but it comes with its own cost structure.

ITU-Specific Fees

• $150 per class: Statement of Use (filed once your mark is in use)
• $125 per class: Extension of Time to File Statement of Use (if you need more time)

Extensions can be requested multiple times, which means costs can accumulate significantly if your product launch is delayed. Each extension adds $125 per class. A startup that files an ITU application for two classes and requests three extensions before the product goes to market is looking at an extra $750 in extension fees alone- before counting the Statement of Use.

Did You Know? 

Intent-to-use filings often end up costing more than standard applications, especially when launch timelines slip. If you anticipate delays, build the extension fees into your trademark budget from the start.

Trademark Maintenance and Renewal Costs

Registration is not the finish line. Once your trademark is registered, you're required to file periodic declarations and renewals to keep it active. Miss these, and your trademark can be cancelled.

Ongoing Filing Requirements

• $325 per class: Declaration of Use (filed between years 5–6 after registration)
• $325 per class: Combined Declaration of Use and Renewal (filed every 10 years thereafter)

For a single-class trademark, you're looking at $325 at the five-year mark, then $325 every decade after that. Multi-class registrations multiply these costs proportionally. Budget for maintenance from the beginning- it's a predictable recurring cost that's easy to plan for if you don't ignore it.

Total Estimated Cost: What to Actually Budget

Combining filing fees, potential surcharges, ITU costs if applicable, and first-round maintenance, here's a realistic picture of what USPTO trademark registration costs over time:

Without Professional Help

• Basic filing (1-2 classes, pre-approved descriptions): $350-$700
• With surcharges for custom descriptions: $550-$1,200+
• With ITU filings and first-round maintenance: $700-$2,000+ over time

With an Attorney

• Attorney fees: $500-$2,000+ (typically a flat fee or hourly)
• Higher upfront cost, but fewer errors and a greater chance of first-pass approval
• Can reduce long-term cost by avoiding surcharges and rejection-related re-filings

Factors That Affect Your Total Cost

• Number of trademark classes- the single biggest cost driver
• Complexity of your goods/services description
• Whether you're filing in-use or intent-to-use
• Whether you use pre-approved or custom descriptions
• How accurately and completely you fill out the application
• Whether you engage a trademark attorney

Common Mistakes That Drive Up Costs

Most avoidable trademark costs come from the same handful of errors. Here's what to watch for:

• Writing custom goods/services descriptions when a pre-approved one exists- triggers the $200/class surcharge
• Filing in too many classes out of caution, each unnecessary class adds $350+ to your bill
• Submitting an incomplete application results in a $100/class surcharge
• Filing ITU without a realistic product timeline, as extension fees add up fast
• Not calendaring maintenance deadlines, missing them can cancel a trademark you've paid years to protect

USPTO Cost vs. India Trademark Cost

For Indian businesses filing internationally, it's worth understanding the differences between USPTO and Indian trademark registration costs. Indian government fees are significantly lower, typically a few thousand rupees per class, compared to $350 per class at the USPTO. However, the USPTO's filing system is more structured and surcharge-transparent, which can make total costs more predictable if you file carefully.

Both jurisdictions require periodic renewals and maintenance, and both offer multi-class filings. If you're building a brand with global ambitions, budgeting for both separately- rather than assuming one system mirrors the other- is the safest approach.

Best Practices to Reduce USPTO Trademark Cost

• Use pre-approved descriptions from the USPTO ID Manual wherever possible
• File only in the classes you currently use or have concrete plans to use
• Submit a complete, accurate application the first time
• Plan your ITU timeline realistically before filing
• Calendar your 5-year and 10-year maintenance deadlines from registration day
• Get a trademark search done before filing to avoid wasted fees on conflicting marks

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What is included in our package?

1. Company Name Registration
2. 2 Digital Signature Certificates
3. 2 Directors’ Identification Numbers
4. Certificate of Incorporation
5. MoA & AoA (Applicable for Private Limited Companies and OPCs)
6. LLP Agreement (Applicable for LLPs)
7. Company PAN & TAN

*May include additional documents depending on the type.

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