How Much Does a Trademark Cost in 2026? Full Breakdown
Updated November 5, 2026
Short answer: For one U.S. class in 2026, expect about $350 in USPTO base filing fees if your application meets the requirements, plus attorney or filing-service fees, and — if you filed intent-to-use — another $150/class Statement of Use fee later. A Markavo attorney-filed Basic application is $549 all-in to file ($99 attorney + $450 government line per class). Renewals and Office Actions add more.
Markavo is a trademark law firm. Licensed attorneys prepare and file your application — you can meet them on our About page. This guide prices the real path: government fees first, then attorney fees, then the costs people forget until the USPTO asks for more.
Quick answer: what a U.S. trademark costs in 2026 (one class)
| Stage | Typical USPTO / gov fee | Typical attorney or service fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| File application | $350 base (Sections 1 / 44) | Markavo Basic $99 → $549 all-in* | Surcharges possible (below) |
| Statement of Use (intent-to-use) | $150/class | Markavo $125 | Or AAU at same USPTO fee |
| 6-month SOU extension | $125/class | Markavo $125 | Up to five extensions |
| Substantive Office Action response | Usually $0 USPTO | Markavo $149 flat | DIY services often $599+ |
| Years 5–6 Section 8 declaration | $325/class | Markavo renewal $299 + gov | Grace period +$100/class |
| Combined Section 8 + 9 (10-year) | $650/class | Markavo renewal $299 + gov | Grace period +$100/class |
*Markavo bills $450 government fees per class on new U.S. applications (fee note below). Sources: USPTO trademark fee information, USPTO 2025 fee summary, Markavo U.S. trademarks, Markavo price list (updated Feb 19, 2026). Confirm before you pay.
USPTO filing fees in 2026 (TEAS Plus is gone)
On January 18, 2025, the USPTO replaced TEAS Plus ($250) and TEAS Standard ($350) with one base application fee of $350 per class for Section 1 and Section 44 applications. Older blog posts that still quote TEAS Plus are out of date — including our previous fees article.
Base fee
- $350 per class when the application meets the base requirements
- Two classes = $700; three = $1,050, and so on
- Madrid / Section 66(a) filings through WIPO use a different fee ($600/class for the U.S. designation as of the 2025 WIPO-side change)
Surcharges that can raise the filing bill
Most complete applications pay only the base fee. Extra fees apply when the application is incomplete or uses free-form goods/services text:
| Surcharge | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Insufficient information | $100/class | Required information missing |
| Free-form ID (not from ID Manual) | $200/class | Custom goods/services wording in the free-form box |
| Excess characters | $200 per extra 1,000 characters / affected class | Free-form ID longer than 1,000 characters |
Source: USPTO additional fees / fee information.
Practical tip: Using Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual entries keeps most applicants at the $350 base. Free-form IDs and incomplete filings are how a “$350” application becomes $550+ before any attorney fee.
Attorney and filing-service fees (what you pay on top)
Government fees are only half the story. Someone still has to clear conflicts, draft the ID, prepare specimens or intent-to-use strategy, and file.
Markavo attorney-filed packages (one class)
| Plan | Attorney fee | Government line | All-in to file | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $99 | $450/class | $549 | Attorney filing + direct-conflict search |
| Standard | $149 | $450/class | $599 | Adds AI comprehensive search, C&D + assignment templates |
| Attorney Plus | $399 | $450/class | $849 | Adds phone consult, rush, lifetime docketing |
Every plan includes a U.S. attorney preparing and filing the application. Details: markavo.com/us-trademarks.
Fee note on Markavo’s $450 government line: The USPTO base electronic fee is $350/class. Markavo charges $450/class so counsel can use Trademark ID Manual descriptions (historically fewer refusals) and cover that attorney time. It is itemized separately from the attorney fee — not a hidden upsell after a teaser price.
Online filing platforms (for fair context)
Online trademark platforms often advertise a low package price plus “applicable fees.” As of late 2026:
- Trademark Engine Basic is commonly $49 + about $350 USPTO + $100 account setup ≈ $499 all-in to file for one class (TE help on cost)
- LegalZoom attorney-led trademark packages are often listed around $899 + USPTO fees ≈ $1,249 all-in to file
Those paths can work. They are not the same as hiring Markavo attorneys listed on the About page. Price Statement of Use and Office Actions before you choose on the filing teaser alone — see the November 4, 2026 all-in comparison and Markavo U.S. trademarks.
Intent-to-use costs after you file
If you file under Section 1(b) intent-to-use, registration waits until you prove use in commerce.
| Filing | USPTO fee (electronic) | Markavo attorney fee |
|---|---|---|
| Statement of Use (SOU) or Amendment to Allege Use (AAU) | $150/class | $125 |
| Request for 6-month extension to file SOU | $125/class | $125 |
You can request extensions (generally up to five) before the SOU deadline. Each extension is a separate USPTO fee. Use-based (Section 1(a)) filings skip the SOU if the specimen is accepted at filing — but they still pay the same base application fee up front.
Office Actions: the cost most “cheap filing” quotes skip
An Office Action is the USPTO examiner’s written refusal or requirement. Procedural fixes are sometimes cheap; likelihood of confusion, descriptiveness, and specimen problems are not.
- Markavo: $149 flat for a guaranteed Office Action response (price list) — no advisory-plan gate to see the price
- Many online services: substantive responses often start at $599 or sit behind tiered packages / membership plans
If your mark is distinctive and clear of conflicts, you may never see this bill. Budget for it anyway — one refusal can erase the savings from a $49 teaser.
Renewals and maintenance (keeping the registration alive)
Registration is not forever. USPTO electronic maintenance fees as of the 2025 fee rule:
| Filing | USPTO fee |
|---|---|
| Section 8 (or 71) declaration of use, years 5–6 | $325/class |
| Grace period surcharge | $100/class |
| Combined Section 8 + Section 15 (incontestability) | $575/class |
| Combined Section 8 + Section 9 (10-year renewal) | $650/class |
| Section 15 alone | $250/class |
| 10-year renewal grace period | $100/class |
Markavo renewal attorney fee: $299 + government fees ($325/class on the price list for renewal gov fees). Source: USPTO fee information, Markavo price list.
Miss the grace period and the registration can be canceled or expire. Docket the deadlines when you register — Attorney Plus includes lifetime docketing reminders.
Other common fees (quick list)
| Item | USPTO fee (electronic, typical) |
|---|---|
| Petition to revive abandoned application | $250 |
| Petition to the Director | $400 |
| Letter of protest | $150 |
| Request to divide an application | $100 per new application created |
| Extension of time to respond to a pre-registration Office Action | $125 |
| Assignment recordation (USPTO) | See current schedule; Markavo assignment service $199 + $40 gov |
Opposition or infringement disputes are separate engagements and are not “filing package” work.
Example budgets (one class, 2026)
Use-based filing, clean examination, Markavo Basic
File $549 → registration. Later: Section 8 around years 5–6 ($299 + $325 gov ≈ $624). Rough first-decade government + Markavo attorney path without refusals: filing + one Section 8 cycle.
Intent-to-use filing, one SOU, no Office Action, Markavo Basic
File $549 + SOU $125 + USPTO $150 = $824 to registration (before renewals).
Intent-to-use + one SOU + one substantive Office Action, Markavo Basic
$549 + $275 SOU + $149 OA ≈ $973.
Same path on a teaser-priced platform can climb past $1,300+ once SOU and a $599+ Office Action stack on — which is why all-in math beats headline package prices.
Timeline: when the money leaves your account
- Day 0 — File: USPTO base ($350/class, plus any surcharges) + attorney/service fee
- Months later — Examination: possible Office Action response fee
- If ITU — before registration: SOU ($150/class USPTO) or extensions ($125/class each)
- Years 5–6: Section 8 declaration ($325/class)
- Every 10 years: combined Section 8 + 9 ($650/class)
Exact examination timing varies with USPTO pendency. Status lives in TSDR — use the official record, not a screenshot from a third-party dashboard.
FAQ
How much does a trademark cost in the U.S. in 2026?
Plan on $350 per class USPTO base filing fee, plus attorney or platform fees. Markavo Basic is $549 all-in to file one class. Intent-to-use adds $150/class for the Statement of Use (plus any attorney fee). Renewals start at $325/class USPTO for the Section 8 declaration.
Is TEAS Plus still $250?
No. TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard ended January 18, 2025. There is one $350/class base fee, with optional surcharges for incomplete or free-form applications.
Why do some sites still say $49 or $250?
$49 is usually a service teaser, not the USPTO fee. $250 is the old TEAS Plus number. Always add government fees and post-filing costs.
Does “how much does a trademark cost” include Mexico or WIPO?
This guide is U.S.-focused. Mexico (IMPI) and Madrid filings are separate fees and processes — see Markavo Mexico trademarks for the Mexico path.
Do I need a lawyer?
You can file yourself. An attorney reduces ID mistakes, specimen problems, and surprise surcharges, and handles Office Actions at a known flat fee. Markavo’s model is attorney-filed at published flats — not hourly billing and not a DIY portal.
Are USPTO fees refundable if the mark is refused?
Generally no. Paying the filing fee does not guarantee registration.
Bottom line
In November 2026, a realistic one-class U.S. trademark budget starts at $350 USPTO + counsel or platform fees to file, then adds Statement of Use, possible Office Actions, and Section 8 / renewal maintenance. Markavo’s attorney-filed Basic path is $549 all-in to file, $125 SOU attorney fee, and $149 for a guaranteed Office Action response — with government fees itemized, not buried behind a teaser.
Ignore outdated TEAS Plus numbers. Price the full path. Then file with counsel you can actually call.
CTA: Get an attorney-filed flat fee on markavo.com/us-trademarks. Meet the attorneys at markavo.com/about.