How Much Does It Cost to Trademark a Name in 2026? A Complete Breakdown

You came for a number. Here it is: the USPTO's base electronic filing fee is $350 per class. What you actually pay depends on how many classes you file in, whether you trigger any of the add-on surcharges, and the lifecycle work that follows, such as an intent-to-use filing or your first renewal.

We file US trademarks every week. Below is the cost map we give founders and in-house counsel before we start. For what GTC charges on top of the government fees, our pricing page shows the flat fee before you commit.

What is the base USPTO filing fee per class?

The base fee is $350 per class for an electronic application that meets the USPTO's requirements for a Section 1 or Section 44 filing. Since 18 January 2025 there is a single base application. TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard no longer exist, so there is no cheaper tier to aim for.

Two anchors:

• Fees are per class. File in three classes and you pay the per-class amount three times.
• A paper filing costs more than an electronic one. If you are filing anything on paper, check the current surcharge on the USPTO fee schedule first.

Which add-on surcharges can raise your cost?

Three rule-based surcharges catch people out. If you trigger one, the system adds it to your bill.

• a per-class surcharge if the application is missing required information.
• a per-class surcharge if you write your own goods and services description instead of picking from the USPTO's ID Manual.
• $200 for each additional 1,000 characters beyond the first 1,000 in that free-form description field.

One failure mode we see often: a founder pastes in a long, custom product list. That triggers the a per-class surcharge custom-description surcharge, and if the text runs long, another $200 for each extra 1,000 characters. If the application also omits required details, the USPTO adds a per-class surcharge. On a two-class filing, that turns a clean $700 of base fees into $1,300.

The tip from practice: when your goods and services fit the ID Manual, use it. You avoid both the custom-description surcharge and the character-count fee. If you genuinely need tailored wording, budget for the add-ons.

How does "per class" affect your budget?

Class refers to the Nice Classification system for goods and services. Most consumer brands touch more than one. An apparel brand with a web shop might need Class 25 for clothing and Class 35 for online retail. That is two classes, so the base fee doubles.

If you are not sure how many classes you need, Class Assist walks you through it, and our explainer on Nice Classification covers the system in plain English. Smart classing saves money and avoids messy amendments later.

Before you spend anything, it is worth checking whether the name is clear at all. A free trademark check tells you that in a few minutes.

Filing intent-to-use? Budget for these extra fees

If your mark is not yet in use in commerce, plan for the intent-to-use stage fees:

• $150 per class for a Statement of Use or an Amendment to Allege Use.
• $125 per class for each extension of time to file a Statement of Use.
• $250 to petition to revive an abandoned application.

A typical intent-to-use path for one class that needs two extensions and then a Statement of Use adds $400 to the original filing: two extensions at $125, plus the $150 Statement of Use. For the timing and the specimen rules, see our guide to the Statement of Use.

What will maintenance and renewal cost?

Registration is not the end of the spend. You keep the registration alive with maintenance filings:

• Years 5 to 6: $325 per class for a Section 8 declaration of use. A grace-period surcharge per class applies if you miss the window and use the grace period.
• At the same stage, $575 per class for a combined Section 8 and Section 15 filing, which adds incontestability. A standalone Section 15 filing is also available; check the current fee on the USPTO schedule.
• Every 10 years: $650 per class for the combined Section 8 and Section 9 filing that renews the registration and proves continued use. The grace-period surcharge applies here too.

For a two-class registration kept in good order, with no grace periods used:

• At years 5 to 6, the combined Section 8 and 15 is $575 per class, so $1,150.
• At year 10, the combined Section 8 and 9 is $650 per class, so $1,300.

Our trademark renewal service handles the deadlines and the filings, which is the part most owners would rather not track themselves.

Are USPTO fees the same as attorney fees?

No. USPTO fees are government charges. Professional fees are separate and cover the clearance search, choosing the right classes, drafting goods and services to fit the ID Manual, preparing specimens, answering office actions, intent-to-use filings and maintenance. Careful drafting is what avoids the a per-class surcharge custom-description surcharge, and thorough intake is what avoids the a per-class surcharge insufficient-information fee.

If you want an attorney to handle it end to end, our US trademark filing service covers draft to registration at a flat fee, with a GTC US-licensed attorney acting as counsel of record. For one of the more common bumps along the way, see How to Respond to a USPTO Office Action.

Quick cost scenarios

These are composite examples to help you budget. All amounts are USPTO government fees only.

• One class, in use, ID Manual descriptions. Base $350. No surcharges. Clean and simple.
• Two classes, custom descriptions, missing required details. Base $700, plus a per-class surcharge for the custom descriptions and a per-class surcharge for the missing information. Total $1,300.
• One class, intent-to-use, two extensions, then a Statement of Use. $350 plus $125 plus $125 plus $150. Total $750.

For multi-class or phased plans, we often stage the filings: lock the core class first, then expand once the product line settles. That reduces the upfront spend and usually avoids the custom-description text bloat that drives the surcharges.

For the full process, read How to Trademark a Name: The 2026 Step-by-Step Guide.

Avoiding surprise fees: quick tips

• Use the ID Manual where it fits. You skip the a per-class surcharge custom-description surcharge and the character-overage charge.
• Keep descriptions tight. If you must draft custom text, watch the character count.
• Include every required detail. An incomplete application risks the a per-class surcharge fee.
• Budget per class, and do not force a product line into the wrong class to save a filing fee. Fixing it later costs more.
• If you file intent-to-use, set calendar reminders from the Notice of Allowance date so you do not need extra extensions or a $250 petition to revive.
• Check the current amounts on the USPTO fee pages before you file. Fees change.

Related reading:

• Trademark Searches: Beyond Google, Comprehensive Tools and Best Practices
• Trademark Monitoring and Enforcement: Protecting Your Brand After Registration

Sources

• USPTO: Trademark fee information
• USPTO fee schedule