How Much Does It Cost to Trademark a Name in 2026? (USPTO Fees, Hidden Costs & Cheaper Alternatives)

The short answer: the US government charges $350 per class of goods or services to file a trademark application electronically in 2026. That's the floor — not the ceiling.

The realistic answer depends on how many classes you need, whether you avoid the surcharges that silently inflate that $350, whether you file yourself or use a professional, and how long you plan to keep the trademark alive. Most founders end up spending somewhere between $700 and $3,500 in year one once all costs are counted.

This guide maps every cost, explains exactly how to avoid the hidden ones, and gives you real scenarios so you can budget — not guess.

What Are the Current USPTO Trademark Filing Fees in 2026?

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) charges a base application fee of $350 per international class, filed electronically via their TEAS system. This replaced the old TEAS Plus ($250) and TEAS Standard ($350) two-tier structure — there is now one base fee regardless of how you describe your goods or services.

Paper applications cost $850 per class. There is almost never a reason to file on paper.

If your business covers one category — say, a software product in Class 42 — your government filing fee is $350. If you also sell branded clothing (Class 25), that's another $350, for a total of $700 in government fees alone.

What Are the Hidden USPTO Surcharges (and How Do You Avoid Them)?

This is where most DIY filers get burned. The USPTO added several surcharge triggers that can add $100–$400 per class on top of your base fee:

In practice: A founder who types a custom description like "software platform for managing intellectual property portfolios including monitoring, alerts, and reporting tools for small businesses" instead of using the ID Manual's pre-approved "Software as a service (SaaS)" triggers the $200 free-form surcharge immediately. That turns a $350 filing into a $550 filing — per class.

The fix: Before you write a single word of your goods/services description, open the USPTO's Trademark ID Manual and search for your category. Pick an approved description. Done.

What Are the Total Costs: Real Scenarios for Founders

Generic ranges ($350–$5,000+) don't help you budget. Here are concrete scenarios for common founder types.

Scenario 1: Solo Founder, One Name, One Class (SaaS or Digital Product)

You're launching a SaaS product. You want to trademark the name. You sell software services only.

DIY is cheapest upfront but carries real risk. If you get an Office Action refusal (which happens in roughly 70–80% of all applications, mostly minor but sometimes serious), responding adds $300–$1,500 in attorney time on top of your original spend.

Scenario 2: Creator Brand — Name + Logo, Physical + Digital Products

You sell branded merchandise and digital courses. You need Class 25 (clothing) and Class 41 (education/courses). You want to file both a word mark (name) and a design mark (logo).

• 2 word mark applications × 2 classes = $1,400 in gov fees
• 2 design mark applications × 2 classes = $1,400 in gov fees
• Attorney to handle all four filings: $2,000–$4,000
• Realistic year 1 total: $4,400–$6,400

Most creators in this position start with just the word mark in their two core classes and add the logo registration in year 2. That's a sensible budget strategy.

Scenario 3: E-commerce Seller Targeting Amazon Brand Registry

Amazon Brand Registry requires a registered trademark (or one pending). Most Amazon sellers need Class 25 (clothing), Class 28 (toys/games), or Class 35 (retail services) depending on their product category.

• 1 class, basic attorney filing: $1,200–$1,800 in year 1
• Registration typically takes 8–14 months from filing
• You can apply for Brand Registry with a pending application, not just a registered one

The key insight here: file as early as possible, because the 8–14 month clock starts from your filing date, not your launch date.

What Does Trademarking a Name Actually Cost Over 10 Years?

This is what almost no guide tells you. A trademark isn't a one-time cost. To keep it alive, you must pay:

For one trademark, one class, assuming no complications, the true 10-year cost is approximately $1,150–$1,500 in government fees alone — not $350.

Add attorney time for each filing step and you're looking at $2,000–$4,000 over a decade for a single clean registration handled professionally.

Do You Need a Lawyer to Trademark a Name?

You don't legally need one if you're domiciled in the US. But here's the honest breakdown:

DIY makes sense when:

• Your name is clearly distinctive (invented word, not descriptive)
• You've done a thorough trademark search and found no conflicts
• You're comfortable using the USPTO's Trademark ID Manual for descriptions
• You understand you'll need to respond to Office Actions yourself if they come

Online services ($200–$500 above gov fees) make sense when:

• You want help with forms but don't expect complications
• You understand these services typically just submit your information — they won't represent you if you receive a refusal

A trademark attorney ($800–$2,500+ above gov fees) makes sense when:

• You're in a competitive name space (tech, fashion, food/beverage)
• Your name is somewhat descriptive and may face a likelihood-of-confusion refusal
• You have multiple classes or plan to file internationally
• You can't afford to lose the government filing fee on a rejected application

Community reality check from trademark forums: Services offering $49–$99 to "file your trademark" are essentially self-filing services — they copy your answers into a government form you could submit yourself. They will not represent you if you get an Office Action. Many founders who used these services ended up paying more in attorney time to fix errors than they saved upfront.

Name vs Logo: Which Should You Trademark First?

If budget is limited, trademark the name first. Here's why:

• Your name is what customers search for, remember, and reference
• A word mark protects the name in any font, color, or style — broad protection
• A design mark (logo) protects only that specific design — if you rebrand, protection narrows
• Your logo is likely to evolve; your name is less likely to

File the name first in your primary commercial class. Add the logo and secondary classes as revenue grows.

What Happens If Your Trademark Is Rejected?

You don't automatically lose your fee — but you may lose time and money. When the USPTO issues an Office Action (a formal refusal or request for clarification), you have three months to respond.

Types of Office Actions:

• Non-substantive (missing info, specimen issues): Usually fixable for free or low cost
• 2(d) likelihood of confusion: Requires arguing your mark is sufficiently distinct from an existing registration — attorney recommended, adds $500–$1,500
• 2(e) descriptiveness refusal: Your name is too descriptive of what you sell — can require proving acquired distinctiveness, which is difficult and expensive

If the application is finally refused after response, the government filing fee is not refunded. This is why a clearance search before filing matters.

What About US vs UK vs International Trademark Costs?

For most early-stage founders, file in your primary commercial market first. International protection becomes essential once you're generating meaningful revenue in multiple territories or face cross-border infringement risk.

When to Trademark — and What to Avoid

When to file:

• Before launch, if your name is distinctive and you've searched for conflicts — filing date establishes priority
• Once your name is final — don't trademark a name you're still testing
• Before Amazon Brand Registry, product launches, or investment rounds

What to avoid:

• Filing without a trademark clearance search — you may be walking into a conflict you can't win
• Using cheap "TMing services" expecting attorney-level protection
• Filing too many classes speculatively — every class is another $350 and another 10-year maintenance obligation
• Using a free-form goods/services description instead of USPTO ID Manual terms — the $200 surcharge is entirely avoidable

Next Steps

Before you file, run through this checklist:

1. Search first — check the USPTO TESS database and common law sources for your name
2. Identify your classes — what do you actually sell today? File only for those
3. Use the USPTO ID Manual — pick pre-approved descriptions to avoid the $200 surcharge
4. Decide: DIY, service, or attorney — based on how distinctive your name is and how much you can afford to lose if it's rejected
5. File electronically — never by paper ($850 vs $350)
6. Budget for maintenance — the 5–6 year and 10-year fees are not optional if you want to keep protection

A trademark is one of the most valuable assets a brand can own. The question isn't whether to file — it's whether to file smart.