A US trademark application costs $350 per class of goods at the USPTO, plus surcharges of $100 to $200 per class if the application is incomplete or uses custom descriptions. Intent-to-use filings add $150 per class to prove use. An EU trade mark costs €850 for one class. Attorney fees are extra and vary.
A US trademark application costs $350 per class of goods or services at the USPTO, the fee in force since January 18, 2025. Surcharges of $100 to $200 per class apply when the application is missing information or uses a custom description of the goods, and intent-to-use applications pay a further $150 per class when you prove use. An EU trade mark costs €850 for one class. Attorney fees come on top and vary widely.
This guide breaks down the official fees in the US, the EU and through the Madrid Protocol, explains what drives attorney costs, and answers the question most online sellers start with: why Amazon Brand Registry and other marketplace programs ask for a trademark. All fees below were checked on the offices' own pages in September 2026. Fees change, so confirm them before you file.
US trademark fees since January 2025
On January 18, 2025, the USPTO replaced its two application tiers (TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard) with a single base fee, and moved initial applications to its Trademark Center filing system. The fee now depends on how complete your application is.
| Fee (per class, filed online) | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Base application | $350 | Every application under Section 1 or 44 |
| Insufficient information surcharge | $100 | Required information is missing at filing |
| Custom identification surcharge | $200 | Goods or services not taken from the USPTO's ID Manual |
| Extra description length | $200 | Each additional 1,000 characters of free-form description |
| Statement of use or amendment to allege use | $150 | Intent-to-use applications, once the mark is in use |
| Extension of time to file a statement of use | $125 | Each extension request |
Paper filings cost more: the USPTO lists $850 per class for a paper base application.
The cheapest application is a complete one
Choose your goods and services from the USPTO's ID Manual instead of writing your own, and fill in every required field before you file. That keeps a one-class application at $350.
What "per class" means
Goods and services are grouped into 45 international classes. Clothing is one class, bags another, cosmetics another. Each class you cover pays its own fee. A brand selling apparel and backpacks under the same name files in two classes and pays at least $700.
Filing on intent to use
If you have not started selling under the mark, you can file on an intent-to-use basis. The application is examined, but it only registers once you file a statement of use ($150 per class), and each extension of the deadline costs $125 per class. Budget for both if your launch date is uncertain.
Keeping a US registration alive
A registration does not last on its own. You keep it by using the mark and filing maintenance documents.
| Filing (per class, online) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Section 8 declaration of use (between years 5 and 6) | $325 |
| Combined Section 8 and 15 declaration | $575 |
| Ten-year renewal combined with Section 8 declaration | $650 |
| Section 15 declaration of incontestability, filed alone | $250 |
Attorney fees
Official fees are only part of the cost. Many applicants use a trademark attorney for the clearance search, the description of goods, the filing basis and any office action the examiner issues. Attorney fees are set by each firm and range from flat fees for a simple filing to hourly billing for contested matters, so compare written quotes for the same scope.
Two rules affect whether you need one:
- US-domiciled applicants can file on their own. The USPTO does not require an attorney.
- Applicants domiciled outside the US must be represented by a US-licensed attorney, under a USPTO rule in effect since August 2019.
Amazon's IP Accelerator program connects brands with vetted law firms that offer trademark services at rates Amazon describes as competitive, and it opens Brand Registry while the application is pending.
Watch for trademark scams
After you file, your details are public, and private companies send official-looking notices asking for fees. The USPTO warns about these solicitations. Pay fees only through the USPTO, or through the attorney you hired.
International options
EU trade mark (EUIPO)
A single EU trade mark covers every EU member state. The EUIPO fees for an online application are:
| Classes | Fee |
|---|---|
| First class | €850 |
| Second class | €50 |
| Third and each further class | €150 each |
An EU trade mark lasts ten years and can be renewed for further ten-year periods. EUIPO fees are not refundable, so check the classes before you pay.
The Madrid Protocol (WIPO)
The Madrid System, run by WIPO, lets you file one international application, in one language and with one set of fees, designating the countries or regions you want. It covers 133 countries through its 117 members. You need a home application or registration first, called the basic mark, from an office that is a Madrid member.
- Basic fee: 653 Swiss francs, or 903 Swiss francs if the mark is in color.
- Designation fees: for each member you designate, either a complementary fee of 100 Swiss francs or an individual fee set by that country, plus supplementary fees for classes beyond three. Individual fees vary widely, so use WIPO's fee calculator.
- Office of origin fee: if you file through the USPTO, it charges a $100 transmittal fee online.
For a period after registration, currently five years, the international registration depends on the basic mark: if the home mark falls, the international one falls with it. WIPO members have discussed shortening this period, so check the current rule.
If you manufacture in China or sell on Alibaba's platforms, a Chinese registration matters in particular. Our guide to registering your trademark in China explains why.
Why marketplaces ask for a registered or pending mark
Marketplaces act on intellectual property reports, and they need a quick way to check that the person reporting owns the right. A registration number from a government office gives them that.
Amazon Brand Registry is the clearest example. Its requirements are:
- An active registered trademark, or a pending application, from the government trademark office of a country with an Amazon store.
- A word mark, or an image mark that contains words, letters or numbers.
- The brand name or logo permanently affixed to your products or packaging.
Enrollment itself is free. Our guide to what Brand Registry covers explains the tools it unlocks and what it does not do.
Other programs work the same way in practice: a report is stronger when it cites a registration number and the country that issued it. Without one, you may still be able to report copied photos under copyright, but trademark and counterfeit claims become much harder.
A simple budget for a first trademark
| Scenario | Official fees |
|---|---|
| US, one class, ID Manual description, mark already in use | $350 |
| US, two classes, intent to use, one extension | $350 x 2 + $150 x 2 + $125 x 2 = $1,250 |
| EU trade mark, two classes | €850 + €50 = €900 |
| Madrid filing from a US base, black and white mark | 653 Swiss francs + designation fees + $100 USPTO transmittal |
Add attorney fees if you use counsel, and the cost of a clearance search before you file. Registration is the first step of a wider plan: our guide to brand protection for growing brands covers what comes next.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. A trademark attorney can tell you which classes and countries fit your business.
How Valigard helps
A trademark is what lets you enforce, and Valigard helps you find what to enforce against. It searches marketplaces worldwide, or up to 10 countries you choose, for listings that reuse your official product photos, and keeps the evidence for each one: URL, price, seller details and a saved, timestamped copy of the page. The reporting guides tell you what each marketplace asks for, including whether proof of rights is needed.
Valigard does not monitor trademark office filings and does not file trademarks or reports for you. See pricing for how searches are billed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to trademark a name in the US?
The USPTO base application fee is $350 per class of goods or services, filed online through Trademark Center. Surcharges apply if information is missing ($100 per class), if you write your own description instead of using the ID Manual ($200 per class), or for each extra 1,000 characters of description ($200 per class).
Do I need a trademark to sell on Amazon?
No. You can sell on Amazon without one. You need a trademark to enroll in Amazon Brand Registry, which gives access to its reporting and brand tools. Amazon accepts a registered trademark or a pending application from the trademark office of a country with an Amazon store.
Can I file a trademark myself without a lawyer?
If you are domiciled in the US, yes: the USPTO does not require an attorney. Applicants domiciled outside the US must be represented by a US-licensed attorney. Many applicants still use one, because errors in the description or the basis for filing can be costly to fix.
How much does an international trademark cost?
Through WIPO's Madrid System, the basic fee is 653 Swiss francs, or 903 for a mark in color, plus a fee for each country or region you designate. The designation fees vary widely, so use WIPO's fee calculator. You also need a home application or registration first.
How long does a trademark last and what does renewal cost?
A US registration can last indefinitely if you keep using the mark and file maintenance documents. The five-year Section 8 declaration costs $325 per class, and the ten-year renewal filed with a Section 8 declaration costs $650 per class. An EU trade mark lasts ten years and can be renewed.
Sources
- USPTO: Trademark fee information
- USPTO: Fee schedule
- WIPO: Madrid System fees and payments
- EUIPO: Fees and payments
- Sell on Amazon: Amazon Brand Registry
Last reviewed 27 Sep 2026. Marketplace procedures change; check the official pages before you file. This guide is general information, not legal advice.