How Much Does a Trademark Cost in 2026?
Less than most founders fear, more than the filing fee alone. Here are the 2026 official-fee ballparks for the US, EU, and UK — plus the costs nobody budgets for.
The short answer
For a single name in a single class, expect government filing fees of roughly $350–$550 in the US, €850 in the EU, and £170 in the UK as of 2026. Hiring an attorney typically adds $500–$2,000 on top. One caveat before the details: these are official-fee ballparks that the offices revise periodically — always confirm the current numbers on the official fee pages linked below before you file.
Official fees by registry
USPTO (United States)
Base application: $350 per class. Surcharges of ~$100–$200/class apply if you write a custom goods/services description instead of picking from the USPTO's ID Manual.
Official USPTO fee page →EUIPO (European Union)
Online application: €850 for one class, +€50 for a second, +€150 each additional. One filing covers all 27 member states.
Official EUIPO fee page →UK IPO (United Kingdom)
Online application: £170 for one class, +£50 per additional class. Separate from the EU since Brexit — an EUTM no longer covers the UK.
Official UK IPO guidance →"Per class" is the multiplier that surprises people: fees scale with how many of the 45 Nice classes you file in. Most startups need one or two — our guide to trademark classes explains how to choose without overpaying.
DIY vs. hiring an attorney
Filing yourself means paying only the government fees. For a distinctive name with a clean search and an ID-Manual description, that's a reasonable path many bootstrapped founders take. An attorney-managed filing typically adds a flat $500–$2,000: what you're buying is judgment — a comprehensive search read by someone who knows what examiners flag, a goods/services description drafted to maximize protection without inviting refusal, and a steady hand if the USPTO sends an office action (attorney responses commonly run $200–$1,500 depending on complexity). A good rule of thumb: DIY the filing when the search is clean and the stakes are small; bring in an attorney the moment either stops being true. Note that applicants based outside the US are required to use a US-licensed attorney at the USPTO.
The $350 mistake: filing before searching
Here's the cost nobody puts in the budget: government filing fees are non-refundable. If an examiner refuses your application because a confusingly similar mark already exists, you don't get the money back — and refusals for likelihood of confusion are among the most common outcomes for unsearched filings. The conflict was sitting in the public register the whole time; a proper similarity search would have found it in seconds, for free. Check before you spend:
Search before you file — it's free
Check your name against live US trademark data with sound-alike matching, plus domains and social handles, before committing a non-refundable filing fee.
Ongoing costs: keeping the mark alive
A registration isn't a one-time purchase. In the US you'll file a Section 8 declaration of continued use between years five and six (a few hundred dollars per class) and a combined Section 8 + 9 renewal every ten years (ballpark $650 per class as of 2026). EUIPO and UK IPO registrations renew every ten years at roughly the price of a fresh application. None of this is onerous for a real business — but calendar the deadlines, because a lapsed registration can be canceled and the name reopened to others.
Budgeting it like a founder
Sequence the spend with the risk. First, check whether the name is actually available — free. Second, validate the trademark side properly with a similarity-aware trademark search or a full name check — also free. Only then put real money down: the filing fee once the name is clean, and an attorney when the situation has nuance. Founders who invert that order are the ones funding the non-refundable-fee statistics. And remember that entity registration and trademark registration are different protections — budgeting for one doesn't cover the other.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to trademark a name in the US?
- As of 2026 the USPTO's base application fee is $350 per class of goods or services, with surcharges (roughly $100–$200 per class) if you write a custom description instead of using the USPTO's pre-approved ID Manual wording. A typical one-class DIY filing lands around $350–$550; add attorney help and the total is commonly $950–$2,500. Always confirm current figures on the USPTO fee page.
- How much does an EU or UK trademark cost?
- Ballpark official fees as of 2026: an EU trademark (EUIPO, covering all 27 member states) starts at €850 for one class online, +€50 for a second class and +€150 for each class after that. A UK trademark (UK IPO) starts at £170 online for one class, +£50 per additional class. Both offices publish current fees on their official sites.
- Do I need a lawyer to file a trademark?
- US-based applicants can file themselves; foreign applicants filing at the USPTO must use a US-licensed attorney. For a straightforward name with a clean search, many founders file DIY. An attorney earns their fee when the search shows near-conflicts, when the goods/services description needs careful drafting, or when an office action arrives — responses are where DIY filings most often die.
- Is the trademark application fee refundable if I'm refused?
- No. Government filing fees are processing fees, not success fees — if your application is refused because of a conflicting mark, the money is gone. That's the strongest financial argument for running a proper similarity search before filing: a free 30-second check can protect a $350+ non-refundable fee.
- What does it cost to keep a trademark alive?
- Trademarks renew indefinitely as long as you keep using them and pay maintenance fees. US ballparks in 2026: a Section 8 declaration between years 5–6 (a few hundred dollars per class) and combined Section 8+9 renewal every 10 years (roughly $650 per class). EUIPO and UK IPO renewals run every 10 years at roughly the cost of a new application. Budget for these — a missed deadline can cancel the registration.
- How much does a trademark search cost?
- A basic identical-match search is free on every registry's website. Similarity-aware screening — the kind that catches sound-alike conflicts — is free on this page. A comprehensive professional search with an attorney's opinion letter typically runs $300–$1,500+, and is worth it right before you spend real money on a filing or a brand.
Keep reading
- How to Check If a Business Name Is Taken →
- Business Name vs. Trademark: What's the Difference? →
- Business Name Already Taken? What to Do Next →
- Trademark Classes Explained: The 45 Nice Classes →
- Run a free trademark search across USPTO, EUIPO & UK IPO →
- Check any name free — trademark risk, domains & social handles →