Get a 2026 estimate for your total trademark registration cost based on filing method, number of classes, and whether you need a comprehensive clearance search — then connect with a licensed trademark attorney in your area.
Filing Method
Trademark Classes
Trademark Search
Location
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Disclaimer: This calculator provides fee estimates only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Attorney fees vary widely by jurisdiction, case complexity, specialization, and experience. Some services may be offered on contingency, flat-fee, or hourly basis — this calculator estimates typical ranges, not specific quotes. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for advice specific to your situation. Emergency legal matters, class-action settlements, and pro-bono eligibility are outside the scope of this estimate. Licensing rules differ by jurisdiction and practice area; nothing here should be construed as a recommendation of any particular attorney or firm.
Did You Know?
Registering a trademark in 2026 costs $250–$350 per class if you file directly with the USPTO, $450–$950 with an online service such as LegalZoom, or $750–$2,350 with a trademark attorney — per class of goods or services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q
How much does it cost to register a trademark in 2026?
Registering a trademark in the US in 2026 costs $250–$350 per class if you file directly with the USPTO using the TEAS system, $450–$950 per class if you use an online service such as LegalZoom or Trademark Engine, and $750–$2,350 per class if a trademark attorney handles the filing. These are informational estimates; consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation. The USPTO fee is the mandatory core cost in all three paths; the range reflects the difference between TEAS Plus ($250/class) and TEAS Standard ($350/class) applications.
DIY self-file (TEAS Plus/Standard): $250–$350 per class in USPTO fees only
Online service (LegalZoom, Trademark Engine): $450–$950 per class total
Attorney-filed: $750–$2,350 per class total (attorney fee + USPTO fee)
Each additional trademark class: $250–$350 more in USPTO fees
Filing Method
Cost per Class
What Is Included
Best For
DIY self-file (TEAS)
$250–$350
USPTO filing fee only
Experienced filers; simple, clear goods/services
Online service
$450–$950
USPTO fee + service fee
First-time filers wanting guided document prep
Attorney-filed
$750–$2,350
Attorney fee + USPTO fee
Complex marks, disputes, licensing, business brands
Q
What is the difference between TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard?
TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard are the two main USPTO online trademark application forms. TEAS Plus costs $250 per class and requires applicants to describe their goods and services using terms already in the USPTO's pre-approved Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual. TEAS Standard costs $350 per class and allows custom descriptions of goods and services, which is necessary when the manual does not have an appropriate pre-existing entry for your specific product or service. TEAS Plus applications also require more upfront information at filing and are less likely to receive office actions if the description fits an approved ID Manual entry exactly.
What is a trademark class and how does it affect total cost?
The USPTO organizes all goods and services into 45 categories called International Classes — Classes 1–34 cover goods and Classes 35–45 cover services. A trademark application must specify which classes it covers, and each class is a separate filing that incurs a separate USPTO fee. A clothing brand that sells apparel (Class 25) only pays one class fee; if the same brand also provides retail store services (Class 35), it must pay for both classes. The total USPTO fee scales linearly: 3 classes at TEAS Plus rates = $750 in USPTO fees alone. Most small businesses register in 1–2 classes; covering 3 or more classes is typical for brands that span both products and related services.
USPTO has 45 International Classes: 34 for goods, 11 for services
Each class requires a separate USPTO filing fee ($250 TEAS Plus or $350 TEAS Standard)
3 classes at TEAS Plus = $750 in USPTO fees; at TEAS Standard = $1,050
Most small businesses register in 1–2 classes to control upfront costs
You can file additional classes later, but future registration is not guaranteed
Number of Classes
TEAS Plus Total Fee
TEAS Standard Total Fee
Typical Scenario
1 class
$250
$350
Single-product or single-service brands
2 classes
$500
$700
Product + related retail service
3 classes
$750
$1,050
Brand spanning goods + multiple service categories
4 classes
$1,000
$1,400
Multi-product brands with broad coverage
5 classes
$1,250
$1,750
Enterprise-level broad trademark protection
Q
How long does the USPTO trademark registration process take in 2026?
The USPTO trademark registration process currently takes approximately 12–18 months from filing to registration for straightforward applications that encounter no issues. After filing, the USPTO assigns an examining attorney who reviews the application within 3–6 months. If approved, the mark is published in the Official Gazette for a 30-day opposition period. If no opposition is filed and the application was filed on a use-in-commerce basis, a certificate of registration issues approximately 8–12 weeks after the publication period closes. Intent-to-use applications require an additional Statement of Use filing after the mark is actually used in commerce, which can extend the total timeline by 6–24 months. Office actions, which require a written response, can add 3–6 months per round.
Initial examination by USPTO attorney: 3–6 months after filing
Publication in Official Gazette for opposition: 30-day window
Registration after no opposition (use-in-commerce): 8–12 weeks post-publication
Total timeline for clean use-in-commerce application: 12–18 months
Intent-to-use applications can extend total timeline to 18–36 months
Stage
Timeline
Notes
Filing to initial examination
3–6 months
USPTO assigns examining attorney; may issue office action
Office action response (if issued)
3–6 months added
Must respond within 3 months (extendable to 6); one response included
Publication in Official Gazette
30 days
Third parties may oppose; most applications proceed unchallenged
Registration certificate (use-in-commerce)
8–12 weeks after publication
Mark receives ® symbol rights upon registration
Intent-to-use: Statement of Use
6–24 months additional
Must file proof of use before registration can issue
Q
Do I need to hire a trademark attorney to register a trademark?
US applicants are not required to hire an attorney to file a trademark application with the USPTO — DIY filing is legal and many applicants successfully register trademarks without legal assistance. However, trademark law is nuanced: errors in identifying the correct goods and services, selecting a mark that is too descriptive to be registerable, or failing to respond properly to an office action can result in abandonment of the application, loss of the filing fee, and loss of priority date. Foreign applicants (outside the US) are required to be represented by a US-licensed attorney before the USPTO. The USPTO itself recommends consulting with a trademark attorney before filing. For any mark that is central to your business identity, professional guidance significantly reduces the risk of rejection or challenge.
US applicants are not required to hire an attorney; DIY filing is permitted
Foreign applicants must use a US-licensed attorney before the USPTO
Common DIY errors: overbroad/underbroad identification of goods, descriptive marks, missed deadlines
USPTO recommends consulting an attorney; most attorneys offer free initial consultations
An office action (refusal requiring response) is the single most common reason DIY applications fail
Approach
Upfront Cost
Success Rate
Best For
DIY self-file
$250–$350/class
Lower without guidance
Clear, distinctive marks; experienced filers
Online service
$450–$950/class
Moderate (no legal advice)
Simple marks; budget-conscious first-time filers
Trademark attorney
$750–$2,350/class
Highest
Business brands, complex marks, licensing, disputes
Example Calculations
1DIY self-file, 1 class, no comprehensive search
Inputs
Service levelDIY self-file (TEAS)
Number of classes1 class
Comprehensive searchNo
RegionUnited States (any state)
Result
Estimated total registration cost$250 – $350
USPTO TEAS Plus fee (1 class)$250
USPTO TEAS Standard fee (1 class)$350
Online service fee$0 (self-filed)
The entire cost for a DIY trademark filing is the USPTO fee: $250 under TEAS Plus if your goods/services match an ID Manual entry, or $350 under TEAS Standard if you need a custom description. No service fee, no attorney fee. This is the absolute minimum-cost path and is appropriate for applicants with a clear, distinctive mark and a straightforward goods/services description.
2Online service, 2 classes, with comprehensive search
Inputs
Service levelOnline service (LegalZoom, Trademark Engine)
Number of classes2 classes
Comprehensive searchYes
RegionUnited States
Result
Estimated total registration cost$1,000 – $2,100
Online service base (1 class)$450–$950
Second class USPTO fee$250–$350
Comprehensive clearance search$300–$800
An online service handling a 2-class application with a professional trademark clearance search costs $1,000–$2,100 in total. The online service fee covers one USPTO class; the second class adds the USPTO per-class fee directly. The clearance search ($300–$800) is a separate professional search across USPTO records, state registrations, and common-law databases to identify potential conflicts before filing — money well spent before committing attorney fees.
3Attorney-filed, 1 class, with comprehensive search
Inputs
Service levelAttorney-filed (full legal representation)
Number of classes1 class
Comprehensive searchYes
RegionNew York, NY
Result
Estimated total registration cost$1,050 – $3,150
Attorney fee (1 class)$500–$2,000
USPTO filing fee$250–$350
Comprehensive clearance search$300–$800
Attorney-filed trademark registration with a comprehensive search runs $1,050–$3,150 for 1 class. Attorney fees in major metros such as New York run toward the upper end of the $500–$2,000 range. The clearance search is typically included in or billed alongside the attorney engagement. This estimate covers filing only; office action responses and inter-partes proceedings (oppositions, cancellations) are billed separately if they arise.
Formulas Used
Trademark registration cost build-up
Total cost = Base service-level range (1 class) + Extra-class add-on + Comprehensive search add-on
Trademark registration costs are calculated from a base range that covers one trademark class at the chosen service level (DIY, online service, or attorney), then flat dollar add-ons are layered on for each additional class and for an optional comprehensive clearance search. The USPTO per-class fee is the unavoidable mandatory core; the service component reflects whether a third party handles the filing.
Where:
Base service-level range (1 class)= DIY TEAS $250–$350 (USPTO fee only); online service $450–$950 (USPTO fee + $200–$600 service fee); attorney-filed $750–$2,350 (USPTO fee + $500–$2,000 attorney fee)
Extra-class add-on= Each additional trademark class beyond the first adds $250–$350 in USPTO fees; for a total of 5 classes, the add-on is $1,000–$1,400 above the base
Comprehensive search add-on= A professional trademark clearance search (USPTO records, state databases, common-law) adds $300–$800 as a one-time flat charge
Break-even: attorney vs. DIY filing
Break-even value = Risk of filing error × Remediation cost vs. Attorney premium
Deciding between a DIY filing and an attorney comes down to the value of the mark, the risk of an office action or third-party opposition, and the cost of fixing a poorly filed application. A rejected or abandoned application loses the entire filing fee and priority date; re-filing costs the full amount again, plus remediation time. For marks central to a business, the attorney premium of $500–$2,000 over the DIY USPTO fee typically pays for itself if the application faces even a single substantive office action or opposition.
Where:
Attorney premium= The additional cost above DIY USPTO fees: typically $500–$2,000 in attorney fees per class for a clean application
Remediation cost= Re-filing after abandonment: full USPTO fee again + attorney fees to correct the original error; typically $500–$3,000 per attempt
Mark value= The commercial and brand value of the trademark; high-value marks justify attorney engagement even for straightforward applications
Trademark Registration Costs in 2026: What You Will Actually Pay
1
What Does It Cost to Register a Trademark in 2026?
The estimates shown by this calculator are informational only and do not constitute legal advice — see the disclaimer above. With that framing in place, the figures reflect 2026 US market data: total trademark registration costs run $250–$350 per class if you file the application directly with the USPTO yourself using the TEAS system, $450–$950 per class if you use an online preparation and filing service such as LegalZoom or Trademark Engine, and $750–$2,350 per class if you hire a trademark attorney to handle the application. The USPTO filing fee is the mandatory core cost in all three paths, and it alone represents your minimum spend regardless of which route you choose.
The most important number to understand is the per-class fee. The USPTO charges separately for each International Class of goods or services that your trademark application covers. A clothing brand protecting its name in apparel (Class 25) pays $250–$350 in USPTO fees; if that same brand also wants trademark protection for its online retail store services (Class 35), it pays double. A comprehensive search before filing ($300–$800) is a separate cost that is not required by the USPTO but is strongly recommended by trademark practitioners to identify potential conflicts that could result in rejection or expensive opposition proceedings after filing.
Online service fees vary significantly by platform and package tier. Trademark Engine's basic filing package begins at approximately $199 in service fees plus the USPTO fee; LegalZoom's trademark registration service starts at around $199 per class in service fees with optional add-ons for comprehensive searches, office action response assistance, and renewal reminders. Attorney flat fees for a straightforward single-class trademark application on a use-in-commerce basis typically run $500–$1,200 in attorney fees in mid-market cities, with fees in major metros (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco) running $800–$2,000 in attorney fees. These are all in addition to the mandatory USPTO per-class filing fee that applies to every application regardless of who prepares it.
Trademark registration cost ranges by service level, US, 2026. All figures per class; additional classes add the USPTO fee per class.
Filing Method
Cost per Class
Includes Legal Advice?
Best For
DIY self-file (TEAS)
$250–$350
No
Experienced filers with clear, distinctive marks
Online service
$450–$950
No
First-time filers; budget-conscious simple marks
Attorney-filed
$750–$2,350
Yes
Business brands, complex marks, multi-class filings
The USPTO filing fee is the one cost you cannot avoid regardless of which registration path you choose. Before comparing online services or requesting attorney quotes, identify which International Classes your trademark needs to cover — it determines the floor of your total registration cost.
2
DIY vs. Online Service vs. Attorney for Trademark Registration
The DIY route — filing a TEAS application directly on the USPTO website — is the cheapest path and is available to all US applicants. The process involves selecting the correct trademark class(es), providing a clear drawing or specimen of the mark, describing the goods and services in acceptable terms, and paying the filing fee online. TEAS Plus ($250/class) requires the use of pre-approved ID Manual terms for goods and services; TEAS Standard ($350/class) permits custom descriptions. The main risks of DIY filing are using the wrong class, writing an overboard or underbroad description that triggers an office action, choosing a mark that is too descriptive or that conflicts with a prior registration, and missing response deadlines if the USPTO issues an office action. Each of these errors can result in abandonment of the application and loss of the entire filing fee.
Online trademark filing services such as LegalZoom, Trademark Engine, and Trademarkia provide guided document preparation and file the TEAS application on your behalf for a service fee on top of the USPTO fee. Most platforms offer a name availability search (checking the USPTO database for identical or similar marks), help selecting the correct trademark class, and document preparation that reduces the risk of clerical errors. They do not provide legal advice, will not evaluate the legal strength or distinctiveness of your mark, and typically do not advise you on whether a similar mark is likely to be a legal obstacle — that judgment call requires an attorney. Online service packages that bundle an office action response guarantee are generally more valuable than basic filing-only packages for applicants who have not worked with the USPTO before.
A trademark attorney provides the most complete protection and the highest likelihood of successful registration. A registered trademark attorney or patent attorney licensed to practice before the USPTO conducts a comprehensive clearance search across USPTO records, state trademark databases, and common-law usage before filing, evaluates the legal strength and distinctiveness of your mark (descriptive marks are routinely refused), selects the optimal filing basis and class coverage, drafts a precise goods-and-services description that minimizes office action risk, and handles any office actions or oppositions that arise during examination. Attorney flat fees for a straightforward single-class application run $500–$1,200 in attorney fees in most markets; complex marks, multi-class applications, and contested cases are billed hourly at $300–$500/hour. For any mark that is central to your business identity, the attorney premium is a sound investment compared to the cost of losing a registration or defending an infringement claim later.
The goods-and-services description is the single most common source of office actions — and the single best reason to use an attorney or professional service. A description that is too broad (covering goods you do not actually sell) or that does not match an ID Manual entry precisely will trigger an office action that must be responded to within 3 months, potentially stalling registration by 6–12 months. Getting it right the first time costs less than fixing it under deadline pressure.
3
USPTO Filing Fees: TEAS Plus, TEAS Standard, and Multiple Classes in 2026
The USPTO charges trademark filing fees on a per-class, per-application basis. As of 2026, the two standard TEAS electronic filing forms are TEAS Plus at $250 per class and TEAS Standard at $350 per class. TEAS Plus has stricter requirements: the applicant must use terms from the USPTO's Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual, must provide all required information at the time of filing with no deficiencies, and must agree to receive USPTO correspondence by email only. TEAS Standard permits custom descriptions of goods and services, allows more flexibility in how required information is submitted, and is the appropriate form when TEAS Plus requirements cannot be met. There is no quality difference between a registration obtained via TEAS Plus and one obtained via TEAS Standard — the difference is purely the upfront cost and filing requirements.
Multiple-class applications are handled within a single TEAS form but incur the per-class fee for each class included. Filing 3 classes in one TEAS Plus application costs $750 in USPTO fees; the same 3 classes filed as TEAS Standard cost $1,050. It is also possible to file separate single-class applications, which some practitioners recommend for administrative flexibility (each class can be managed independently for renewals, assignments, and section 8 declarations), but doing so means paying any applicable service fees multiple times if using a bundled online service. The USPTO fee itself is the same whether you file classes together or separately.
Beyond the initial registration fee, trademark owners incur ongoing USPTO maintenance costs. Between the 5th and 6th year after registration, a Section 8 Declaration of Continued Use must be filed (currently $225 per class). Between the 9th and 10th year, a combined Section 8 and Section 9 Renewal must be filed ($325 per class). These fees recur every 10 years thereafter. A mark that is not renewed is cancelled. Over a 10-year period, the total USPTO cost of maintaining one class of trademark registration is approximately $500–$800 in government fees alone (initial filing + Section 8 + Section 9 renewal), not including any attorney or service fees for preparing the maintenance filings.
USPTO trademark fees as of 2026. All fees per class. Combined Sec. 8 + Sec. 9 is the standard renewal filing; separate filings are possible but uncommon.
USPTO Fee / Action
Cost (per class)
When Due
Notes
TEAS Plus initial filing
$250
At time of filing
Must use ID Manual terms; all info provided upfront
TEAS Standard initial filing
$350
At time of filing
Custom goods/services description allowed
Section 8 Declaration (continued use)
$225
Years 5–6 after registration
Required to maintain registration; specimen must be current
Section 15 Declaration (incontestability)
$200
Years 5–6 after registration
Optional; strengthens mark against certain challenges
Section 9 Renewal
$325
Years 9–10 after registration
Renews registration for another 10 years; includes Sec. 8
Combined Sec. 8 + Sec. 9 (10-year)
$325
Years 9–10 and every 10 years
Most common combined renewal filing
Late filing surcharge (Sec. 8 / 9)
$100 per class
Within 6-month grace period
Applies if filing in grace period after deadline
The Section 8 declaration between years 5 and 6 is the most commonly missed trademark maintenance deadline. Missing it — even by a day outside the 6-month grace period — results in cancellation of the registration, and the mark must be re-registered from scratch with a new filing fee and new examination. Set calendar reminders at year 4.5 and year 5 to ensure timely filing.
4
When to Consult an Attorney
This calculator provides a general cost estimate and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed trademark attorney. Consulting a trademark attorney is advisable in any of the following situations: your mark is a word, phrase, logo, or slogan that is central to your commercial identity and would be costly to rebrand if a conflict were discovered after filing; your mark may be similar to an existing registered trademark and you need a professional legal opinion on the likelihood of confusion; you are filing in multiple classes or across multiple countries and need a coordinated filing strategy; you have received a cease-and-desist letter from another trademark owner alleging infringement; you need to license your trademark to a franchisee, business partner, or manufacturer and require a written trademark license agreement; or you are a non-US applicant, since foreign applicants are required by USPTO rules to be represented by a US-licensed attorney or patent attorney in all TEAS filings.
Even applicants who choose to file themselves or use an online service benefit from at least a one-time attorney consultation before filing to evaluate the legal strength and distinctiveness of the mark (fanciful and arbitrary marks register most easily; descriptive marks often face refusal), confirm the correct international class or classes for the specific goods and services being sold, and review the goods-and-services description for completeness and accuracy. A one-time pre-filing consultation typically costs $150–$400 and can prevent expensive mistakes. To find a licensed trademark attorney, the American Bar Association's lawyer referral service (americanbar.org/groups/lawyer_referral), your state bar's attorney directory, and the USPTO's own attorney/agent database are good starting points. Many trademark attorneys offer a free initial consultation and provide flat-fee quotes for straightforward single-class applications. Do not make final trademark filing decisions without speaking to a licensed attorney if your brand has significant commercial value or if you have any doubt about potential conflicts.
This calculator is provided for informational and educational purposes only. Results are estimates and should not be considered professional financial, medical, legal, or other advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important decisions. UseCalcPro is not responsible for any actions taken based on calculator results.