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Trademark Cost Calculator

Estimate USPTO filing fees, attorney costs, international registration, and the full 10-year maintenance schedule for your trademark.

⚖ Fees reflect 2024–2025 USPTO schedule. Attorney ranges are national averages. For legal advice, consult a licensed trademark attorney.

Quick start:

Your Trademark Details

TEAS Plus requires strict adherence to USPTO ID Manual. Most applicants qualify.

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Each class of goods/services requires a separate fee. Most small brands need 1–2 classes.

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See the International tab for a country-by-country breakdown.

Estimated Total First-Year Cost
$250
TEAS Plus · 1 class · with attorney · domestic
⏱ Est. registration time: 8–12 months
Cost Breakdown
$250
USPTO Filing Fee
$1,750–$4,500
Attorney Fees
Domestic Only
International Fee
$2,125
Total (Mid Est.)
$225
Year 5 Maintenance
$425
Year 10 Renewal
USPTO = Rate × Classes
Total = USPTO + Attorney + Intl
Madrid = $903 + $406/class + ~$200/country
Year-by-Year Trademark Costs

Bar shows annual cost at each milestone. Line tracks cumulative spend over 30 years of trademark ownership.

Chart: trademark costs by year (registration, year 5, year 10, year 20, year 30).
Maintenance Schedule

Missing any required filing results in cancellation of your trademark registration. Set calendar reminders.

Year Filing Required Cost Status
Madrid Protocol Cost Breakdown

The Madrid Protocol (administered by WIPO) lets you file one application in multiple countries. Fees are based on WIPO's 2024 fee schedule.

Madrid Protocol Route
vs. Direct National Filing
Note: Direct national filing costs vary widely by country and typically require local trademark attorneys in each jurisdiction ($1,500–$3,500/country in attorney fees alone).
Madrid Protocol — Key Facts

Coverage

130+ member countries covering 90%+ of global trade. Includes EU (as a single designation), US, China, Japan, UK, Canada.

Requirements

Must have a "basic" US trademark application or registration. You file through USPTO as your Office of Origin.

Maintenance

Madrid registrations renew every 10 years at WIPO (separate from US Section 8/9 filings). Each country may have additional local requirements.

Country Fees

Individual country fees range from ~$50 (developing nations) to $600+ (Switzerland, Japan). The $200 average reflects a typical mix of markets.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to register a trademark?

A basic US trademark registration costs $250–$600 per class in USPTO filing fees alone (TEAS Plus: $250, TEAS Standard: $350, Paper: $600). With an attorney (strongly recommended), add $1,000–$3,000 for preparation plus $750–$1,500 for responding to an office action if one is issued. Total first-year costs typically range from $250 (DIY, single class) to $4,500+ (attorney, multi-class).

Do I need an attorney to file a trademark?

You are not legally required to hire an attorney for US trademark registration, but it is strongly recommended. The USPTO rejects approximately 70% of applications filed without an attorney due to identification of goods/services errors, likelihood of confusion issues, or improper specimens. An attorney conducts a comprehensive clearance search, drafts proper class specifications, and responds to office actions — significantly improving your approval rate. Attorney fees typically range from $1,000–$3,000 for preparation.

How long does trademark registration take?

TEAS Plus applications typically take 8–12 months from filing to registration with no complications. TEAS Standard takes 10–14 months. Office actions (requests for additional information or refusals) can extend the process by 3–6 months per response cycle. International Madrid Protocol registrations take 18–24 months. Once registered, your mark is valid for 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely.

What is the difference between a trademark and a copyright?

A trademark protects brand identifiers — names, logos, slogans — that distinguish your goods or services in commerce. A copyright protects original creative works — books, music, art, software code — automatically at creation (registration strengthens enforcement). Trademarks must be actively used in commerce and renewed every 10 years. Copyrights last the creator's lifetime plus 70 years. Trademark registration costs $250–$600/class with USPTO; copyright registration is $35–$65 with the Copyright Office.

What are trademark maintenance fees and when are they due?

After registration you must pay periodic maintenance fees to keep your trademark active. Between years 5 and 6: file a Section 8 Declaration of Continued Use ($225/class online, $325 paper). Between years 9 and 10: file a combined Section 8 + Section 9 Renewal ($425/class online, $525 paper). After year 10, renewals are required every 10 years at $425/class online. Missing any deadline results in cancellation of your registration — set multiple calendar reminders starting 12 months before each deadline.