Understanding USPTO Trademark Classes and Filing Fees: A Guide for Businesses
Trademarks are divided into different classes of goods and services. The types of goods and services a business provides help the USPTO determine if there will be a substantial likelihood of confusion between two different brands.
In some instances, two different brands can have the same name as long as they are in different classes of goods and services. In other instances, similar names will be rejected because they are either in the same class of goods or services or in a closely related field.
The USPTO typically charges $250 per class of good or service an applicant wishes to protect. Under certain circumstances, if the product does not fall under one of the classes of goods or services that can be found using TEAS Plus, then the USPTO charges $350 per class of the good or service and requires a written description of the product to be provided.
To further illustrate, if you plan on selling T-shirts and automotive parts, you can anticipate paying $500 in USPTO filing fees. However, if you plan to sell T-shirts and hats, these both fall under the same class of goods and services so the filing fees will still only be $250.
The USPTO tends to interpret classes of goods and services broadly when determining if there is a substantial likelihood of confusion between two brands. However, the USPTO interprets classes of goods and services narrowly when determining if the specimen provided falls into that class of good or service.
Below is a list of the goods and services the USPTO typically divides each product or service. It is worth taking some time to get a sense of the number of classes of goods and services you want to protect to figure out the overall filing fees the USPTO will charge.
Overview of USPTO Trademark Classes:
Goods
Class 1 – Chemical products. Chemical products used in industry, science, photography, agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. Examples include chemicals for industrial, scientific, and agricultural purposes; unprocessed artificial resins and plastics; fire extinguishing and fire prevention compositions; tempering and soldering preparations; substances for tanning animal skins and hides; adhesives for industrial use; putties and other paste fillers; compost, manures, fertilizers; biological preparations for use in industry and science.
Class 2 – Paint products. Paint products such as, varnishes, lacquers; preservatives against rust, deterioration of wood; colorants, dyes; inks for printing, marking, engraving; raw natural resins; metals in foil and powder form for painting, decorating, printing, and art. These items are integral to various industries, contributing to both protective and aesthetic enhancements of surfaces.
Class 3 – Cosmetics and cleaning preparations – non-medicated cosmetics, toiletry preparations; essential oils, perfumery; cleaning products for household use; soaps, hair care products; specialized products such as dentifrices for oral hygiene. This class covers a variety of beauty and cleaning products used in personal care, grooming, and daily household maintenance.
Class 4 – Lubricants and fuels. Industrial oils, greases; lubricants; fuels like motor spirit, biofuels; illuminants such as candles, wicks; dust absorbing, wetting, binding compositions.
Class 5 – Pharmaceuticals. Medications for human, veterinary use; biomedical compounds like antibodies, vaccines; diagnostic substances for medical testing; bandages, dressings, surgical adhesives; sanitary products such as disinfectants, antiseptics; dietetic substances adapted for medical use including infant formula; preparations for destroying vermin, fungicides for medical or veterinary use.
Class 6 – Metal goods. Common metals, their alloys; metal building materials, transportable buildings of metal; materials for railway tracks; non-electric cables, wires of common metal; ironmongery, small items of metal hardware; pipes, tubes of metal; metal safes, various goods of common metal not included in other classes.
Class 7 – Machinery. Machines, machine tools; power-operated tools; motors, engines not for land vehicles; machine coupling, transmission components excluding land vehicles; agricultural implements not hand-operated; egg incubators; automatic vending machines.
Class 8 – Hand tools. General hand tools, implements like hammers, screwdrivers, chisels; specific hand-operated agricultural, gardening, landscaping tools; cutlery such as knives, forks, spoons; side arms like swords; personal grooming implements such as razors.
Class 9 – Electrical and scientific apparatus. Scientific, research, navigation, surveying, photographic, cinematographic, audiovisual, optical apparatus; instruments for weighing, measuring, signaling, supervising, life-saving, teaching; devices for conducting, switching, transforming, regulating electricity; apparatus for recording, transmitting, reproducing, processing sound, images; recorded, downloadable media, computer software, peripheral devices; fire-extinguishing apparatus.
Class 10 – Medical apparatus. Surgical, medical, dental, veterinary apparatus, instruments; artificial limbs, eyes, teeth; orthopedic articles; suture materials; therapeutic, assistive devices for disabilities; diagnostic equipment like x-ray machines, thermometers; apparatus for nursing infants; medical furniture such as operating tables, specialized medical clothing.
Class 11 – Environmental control apparatus. apparatus for lighting, heating, cooling; steam generating, cooking, drying; ventilating, water supply, sanitary purposes. Products range from lamps, heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators to ovens, microwaves, coffee machines; water filters, plumbing fixtures, air fans.
Class 12 – Vehicles. vehicles and products designed for locomotion by land, air, or water. This includes everyday vehicles such as cars, bicycles, and boats, as well as components like wheels and tires.
Class 13 – Firearms. Firearms and related items. It includes firearms themselves, ammunition and projectiles, as well as explosives and fireworks. This classification is specifically tailored to cover all aspects of firearm products and accessories, ensuring that they are properly categorized for trademark registration purposes.
Class 14 – Jewelry. Jewelry and related items, including precious metals and their alloys, horological and chronometric instruments like watches and clocks, and precious and semi-precious stones. This class not only covers the materials used in the creation of jewelry, such as gold, silver, and platinum, but also the finished products themselves, including rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Horological instruments like timepieces.
Class 15 – Musical instruments. musical instruments including stringed instruments like guitars, violins; woodwind instruments such as flutes, clarinets; brass instruments like trumpets, trombones; percussion like drums, xylophones; keyboard instruments such as pianos, organs; electronic instruments; accessories like bows, mouthpieces, drumsticks, music stands.
Class 16 – Paper goods and printed matter. paper, cardboard; printed matter; bookbinding materials; photographs; stationery; adhesives for stationery, household purposes; drawing materials, artists’ supplies; paintbrushes; instructional, teaching materials; plastic sheets, films, bags for wrapping, packaging; printers’ type, printing blocks.
Class 17 – Rubber goods. rubber and plastic products. This class includes unprocessed or semi-processed rubber, gutta-percha, gum, asbestos, and mica, as well as substitutes for these materials.
Class 18 – Leather goods. covers a variety of leather goods and items that are made from leather or its imitations. This class includes products such as luggage, saddlery, harnesses, walking sticks, and umbrellas, as well as animal skins and hides.
Class 19 – Non-metallic building materials. non-metallic building materials such as bricks, cement, concrete; asphalt, pitch, bitumen for road construction, roofing; stone materials like granite, marble; wooden materials such as plywood, timber; glass products for construction; non-metallic pipes, transportable buildings; various construction-related items like chimneys, swimming pools, stone monuments.
Class 20 – Furniture and articles not otherwise classified. Furniture like chairs, tables, beds; decorative items such as mirrors, picture frames; storage options like non-metal boxes, crates; specialized furnishings like cushions, non-metallic furniture parts; kitchenware including bottle racks, chopping blocks; pet furniture like beds, kennels.
Class 21 – Housewares and glass. Household or kitchen utensils and containers; cookware and tableware excluding cutlery; combs, sponges; various brushes excluding paint brushes; brush-making materials; cleaning articles like mops, dusters, brooms; glassware excluding building glass; porcelain and earthenware items.
Class 22 – Cordage and fibers. Ropes, string, nets; tents, tarpaulins; awnings, sails; sacks, bags for bulk transport and storage; padding, stuffing materials excluding paper, cardboard, rubber, plastics; raw fibrous textile materials like wool, cotton, hemp, silk.
Class 23 – Yarns and threads. Yarns and threads for textile use; examples are elastic, plastic, fiberglass threads; embroidery, darning, sewing threads; spun silk, cotton, wool.
Class 24 – Fabrics. Textiles and textile goods not included in other classes; examples are household linen such as bedspreads, pillow shams, towels; bed linen of paper; sleeping bags; sleeping bag liners; mosquito nets
Class 25 – Clothing. Clothing such as shirts, pants, jackets, dresses, skirts, suits, underwear; specialized clothing for sports like swimwear, ski suits, gym wear; footwear including shoes, boots, sandals, slippers, athletic shoes; headgear like hats, caps, berets, helmets, headbands. This class also covers accessories and parts like cuffs, pockets, linings, heels, cap peaks, hat frames, essential for fashion and apparel.
Class 26 – Fancy good. Lace, ribbons, embroidery, braid; buttons, hooks and eyes, pins, needles; artificial flowers; hair decorations such as hairpins, barrettes, headbands; false hair including wigs, toupees.
Class 27 – Floor coverings. Carpets, rugs, mats, matting; linoleum, materials for covering existing floors; outdoor or athletic flooring such as artificial turf, gymnasium mats, yoga mats; non-textile wall hangings.
Class 28 – Toys and sporting goods. Games and playthings like board games, playing cards, plush toys, video game apparatus, frisbees, kites, marbles, remote-controlled cars, dolls, pet toys; sporting goods including gymnastic and sporting articles for water sports, snowboarding, soccer, football, mountaineering, track and field, cricket, baseball, tennis, hockey, playground equipment; decorations for Christmas trees such as artificial Christmas trees, ornaments.
Class 29 – Meats and processed foods. Meat, fish, poultry, game; meat extracts; preserved, frozen, dried, cooked fruits and vegetables; jellies, jams, compotes; eggs; milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, other milk products; edible oils, fats.
Class 30 – Staple foods. Coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, rice, tapioca, sago, artificial coffee; flour and preparations made from cereals; bread, pastries, confectionery; chocolate, ice cream, sorbets, other edible ices; honey, treacle, yeast, baking powder; salt, mustard, vinegar, sauces, condiments; spices, preserved herbs; ice.
Class 31 – Natural agricultural products. Fresh fruits, vegetables; unprocessed grains, seeds; natural plants, flowers; bulbs, seedlings, seeds for planting; live animals; foodstuffs, beverages for animals; raw, unprocessed timber; fresh mushrooms, truffles.
Class 32 – Light beverages. Beers; mineral, aerated waters; fruit beverages, fruit juices; syrups, other preparations for making beverages; soft drinks; de-alcoholized beverages; rice-based, soy-based beverages, excluding milk substitutes; energy drinks; isotonic beverages; protein-enriched sports beverages; non-alcoholic essences, fruit extracts for making beverages.
Class 33 – Wines and spirits. Wines; fortified wines; spirits; liqueurs; alcoholic ciders; perry; premixed alcoholic beverages; alcoholic essences; extracts; fruit-based alcoholic beverages; cocktails; distilled beverages.
Class 34 – Smokers’ articles. Tobacco and its substitutes; cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos; chewing tobacco, snuff, pipe tobacco; electronic cigarettes, related products; smoking accessories like lighters, ashtrays, snuff boxes, humidors; pipes, pipe cleaners; tobacco pouches, cigarette cases, cigar cutters.
Services
Class 35 – Advertising and business advertising. Services such as design, publishing, distribution of advertising content; public relations, marketing, product demonstrations, trade shows; business management, hotel and sports management, human resources management, recruiting services, payroll services; office functions like data processing, bookkeeping, secretarial services, transcription, office equipment rental; retail services including business names of stores, online retail sites, but not the products sold.
Class 36 – Insurance and financial. Insurance underwriting, actuarial services; financial management, analysis, research; brokerage services for securities, real estate, mortgages; real estate agency services, property management, rental, leasing of real estate; banking services, credit, loan services including arranging loans, providing credit; investment services, financial consultation, portfolio management; safe deposit services, automated teller machine services.
Class 37 – Building construction and repair. Construction and demolition of buildings, roads, bridges, dams, transmission lines; shipbuilding; rental of construction tools, machines, equipment; maintenance services for preserving objects; cleaning services for various objects; mining, drilling, material extraction.
Class 38 – Telecommunications. Transmission of digital files and electronic mail; providing user access to global computer networks; radio and television broadcasting; video-on-demand transmission; internet chatrooms and online forums; telephone and voicemail services; teleconferencing and videoconferencing services.
Class 39 – Transportation and storage. Various transportation and storage services, including furniture transport, removal of trash or goods, cargo loading and unloading, aircraft engine rental, traffic information services, delivery and courier services, parking and storage for vehicles, boat storage, towing services, rescue operations like ship salvage, pipeline and cable transport of data, electricity, and water.
Class 40 – Treatment of materials. Covers services related to the treatment or transformation of materials. This includes the transformation of objects or substances through processes that change their essential properties. Examples include material treatment during production, joining of materials, processing and treatment of foodstuffs, custom manufacturing, services of a dental technician, quilting, embroidering, custom tailoring, textile dyeing, and applying finishes to textiles.
Class 41 – Education and entertainment. Educational services such as academies, workshops, tutoring, correspondence courses, and vocational training. It also encompasses entertainment services like organizing cultural or educational exhibitions, publishing books and texts, providing news reporter services, photographic reporting, online gaming services, and sports and fitness training.
Class 42 – Computer and scientific. Scientific and technological services and research; design and development of computer hardware and software; software as a service (SaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS); computer and technology services for securing data and information; industrial analysis and research; architectural and urban planning services; exploration services for oil, gas, and mining.
Class 43 – Hotels and restaurants. Services related to providing food, drink, and temporary accommodations. Examples include restaurant services, catering services, hotel accommodations, coffee shops, juice bars, and cocktail lounges. Additional services encompass temporary accommodation reservations, boarding for animals, rental of meeting rooms and transportable buildings, retirement home services, day-nursery and crèche services, food sculpting, and personal chef services.
Class 44 – Medical, beauty and agricultural. Services related to medical, beauty, and agricultural fields. Examples of services in this class include medical care such as hospital services, telemedicine, dentistry, optometry, mental health services, and therapy services. It also includes veterinary services, dietary and nutritional advice, health spa services, body piercing, tattooing, and animal grooming. In the agricultural domain, it covers services like gardening, floral arrangement, tree planting, and weed killing.
Class 45 – Personal and legal. Legal services such as those provided by lawyers and legal assistants; security services like security guard services and monitoring of security systems; personal services including dating services, chaperoning, pet sitting, and house sitting; social services such as funeral and burial services, religious services, and genealogical services; rental services for items like clothing and fire alarms; emergency and safety services like firefighting and personal bodyguard services
How to Use the USPTO Trademark ID Manual Search Tool
For more clarification use the Trademark ID Manual search tool provided by the USPTO to find specific examples for each class. Here’s how you can do it:
- Visit the ID Manual Search Page: Access the search tool directly at
USPTO ID Manual. - Enter Search Terms: Use the search bar to enter keywords related to the goods or services you’re interested in. For example, for Class 1 (Chemicals), you might search for “polymers” or “biochemicals”.
- Filter by Class: You can filter your search results by the class number to narrow down to specific examples relevant to your query.
This manual is a useful resource for identifying acceptable identifications of goods and services for use in trademark applications and registrations, organized by international class numbers. Each class provides a broad categorization of goods or services under which more specific items are listed.
