How Much Does It Cost to Trademark a Logo in 2027?

Richard Marshall October 7, 2026 11:24 pm

For a US business planning for 2027, the current federal trademark application fee starts at $350 per class of goods or services. That is the government filing fee for one logo application meeting the base requirements—not a guaranteed total price for registration.

Your total can rise if you need multiple classes, hire an attorney, incur application surcharges, or file before you begin using the logo in commerce.

2027 budgeting note: The fees below were checked against current USPTO information in October 2026. They provide a planning baseline, not a guarantee of the fees that will apply in 2027. Verify the schedule before filing.

Logo Trademark Costs at a Glance

Most business owners need to separate three expenses: the application fee, professional services, and later filings.

Cost ItemCurrent Fee or Budget Treatment
Base federal application under Section 1 or 44$350 per class
Certain missing required application informationAdditional $100 per class
Using the free-form goods/services identification fieldAdditional $200 per class
Excess identification characters when free-form text is usedAdditional $200 per extra 1,000-character block or portion beyond the first 1,000, per class
Amendment to Alleged Use or Statement of Use$150 per class
Statement of Use extension request$125 per class, per request
Attorney or filing-service workSeparate provider quote
Logo designSeparate creative expense
Future registration maintenanceSeparate fees due later

These figures concern federal US filings. State registration and international protection involve different procedures and costs.

The base government fee is not higher simply because your trademark includes a design.

A logo is generally filed as a special form mark, which represents the specific design or stylized presentation you submit. A standard character mark concerns wording without a claim to a particular font or design.

The main cost drivers are the number of applications, the classes covered, the filing basis, and any additional requirements.

A complex-looking logo does not automatically cost more to file. However, legal review of design conflicts or other issues may affect professional fees.

Logo creation and trademark registration are also separate services. Paying a designer does not include a federal trademark application unless your agreement explicitly says so.

Why the Number of Classes Changes Your Cost

Trademark classes organize goods and services into categories. You pay the base fee for each class included in an application.

Classes in One Logo ApplicationBase Government Fee
One class$350
Two classes$700
Three classes$1,050
Four classes$1,400

For example, a business applying for its logo for coffee beans and mugs may need two classes. Adding café services may require another class.

The descriptions must match what you actually offer or genuinely intend to offer under the applicable filing basis.

Do not choose fewer classes merely to reduce the fee if that omits important goods or services. Equally, avoid adding unrelated categories without a proper basis.

How Much Does It Cost to Trademark a Logo Before Launch?

If you have not begun qualifying use in commerce, an intent-to-use application may be appropriate.

Its base application fee is the same, but you must later establish use before registration. That means budgeting for an allegation-of-use filing and possibly extension requests.

One-Class Intent-to-Use Budget

ScenarioCalculationGovernment Total
No extension needed$350 application + $150 use filing$500
One extension needed$350 + $125 + $150$625
Three extensions needed$350 + $375 + $150$875
Five extensions needed$350 + $625 + $150$1,125

These examples assume no surcharges, professional fees, disputes, or other paid filings.

After a Notice of Allowance, you ordinarily have six months to submit a Statement of Use or request an extension. Up to five six-month extensions are available, subject to their requirements.

Filing early may fit your brand strategy, but a delayed launch can add costs.

Should You Trademark the Logo and Name Separately?

A logo containing your name is one composite mark. Filing that design does not automatically produce a separate standard character registration for the name.

If you decide to apply separately for the wording and the logo, each application carries its own fees.

Filing PlanClasses per ApplicationCombined Base Fees
Logo onlyOne$350
Name and logo in separate applicationsOne each$700
Logo onlyTwo$700
Name and logo in separate applicationsTwo each$1,400

Separate applications serve different protection goals. They may be useful when the name is central to recognition, and the visual design could change.

Review your priorities before filing. Significant logo changes generally cannot simply replace the original drawing within the same application, so filing a design you expect to overhaul can create additional expense.

What Extra Application Charges Should You Watch For?

The base fee assumes that you meet the relevant application requirements.

Missing Required Information

Certain missing information can trigger an additional $100 per class.

Review the applicant details, filing basis, and other required fields before submission. Paying a surcharge does not remove the obligation to address outstanding requirements.

Free-Form Goods or Services Descriptions

Using the free-form identification field instead of selecting entries directly from the Trademark ID Manual triggers an additional $200 per class.

Custom wording may sometimes be appropriate. However, check whether an accurate existing entry meets your needs before writing your own description.

Never select an inaccurate description simply to avoid the charge.

Excess Characters

When free-form text is used, an identification exceeding 1,000 characters triggers another $200 for each additional 1,000-character block or portion, per class.

Spaces and punctuation count. In that class, selected manual entries also count toward the identification length.

For example, one class with 1,001 identification characters incurs $400 in identification-related charges: the $200 free-form fee plus a $200 excess-character fee.

With the $350 base fee, that filing totals $750 before other charges.

How Much Do Attorney Services Add?

There is no fixed USPTO price for private legal work. Attorney fees depend on the provider, scope, class count, and complexity.

A quote may cover some or all of the following:

  • A clearance search and assessment of conflicts.
  • Review of the logo and applicant ownership.
  • Selection of goods, services, and filing basis.
  • Application preparation and submission.
  • Routine communications during examination.
  • Responses to particular office actions.

Ask what is included and what will be billed separately.

A low advertised price may cover form preparation while excluding government fees, a substantive search, or responses to refusals.

Illustrative calculation: If a provider quotes $1,000 for a defined one-class engagement, adding a $350 government fee produces a $1,350 starting budget. This illustrates how to calculate a quote; it does not mean $1,000 is a standard market rate.

US-domiciled applicants may file without an attorney. Foreign-domiciled applicants must generally use a US-licensed attorney in USPTO trademark matters.

Can You Trademark a Logo Yourself to Save Money?

A US-domiciled applicant can submit an application through Trademark Center without hiring an attorney.

For a straightforward one-class, use-based application meeting the base requirements, the initial government cost can be $350.

The savings come with responsibility for the legal and filing decisions. You must identify the correct owner, review conflicts, describe the goods or services accurately, and provide appropriate evidence when required.

An available company name, domain, or social handle does not establish trademark availability.

A search should consider potentially conflicting wording and design elements, not just identical logos. The USPTO database is important, but comprehensive clearance may require reviewing unregistered uses too.

Does an Office Action Mean Another Government Fee?

An office action is a notice identifying a refusal or requirement. Responding does not automatically create a new government filing fee.

However, an attorney may charge for the response, depending on your agreement and the issue involved. Extensions, appeals, petitions, or other procedures may have their own government fees.

Do not assume an application package covers every future dispute or refusal. Ask the provider to explain the scope before paying.

Government application fees generally are not refunded simply because the application is refused. Filing pays for examination; it does not guarantee registration.

What Does Logo Trademark Maintenance Cost?

Trademark protection involves ongoing responsibilities after registration.

For an ordinary US registration, current government fees include:

Maintenance FilingOrdinary Filing WindowCurrent Fee
Section 8 declarationBetween years five and six$325 per class
Combined Sections 8 and 9 filingBetween years nine and ten$650 per class
Subsequent combined Sections 8 and 9 filingsEvery ten years afterward$650 per class at current rates

These are future expenses, not amounts normally paid with your initial application. Fees may change before your maintenance deadline.

Optional filings, professional assistance, grace-period charges, and other circumstances can add costs. Madrid-based US registrations have a different maintenance framework.

How to Reduce Avoidable Logo Trademark Expenses

Lower costs begin with good preparation.

  • Finalize the design: Avoid filing a logo you already intend to replace.
  • Search before investing: Review conflicts before ordering large quantities of branded materials.
  • Confirm the owner: Check the legal entity that should own the application.
  • Identify the right classes: Match the filing to your goods and services.
  • Use accurate manual entries where suitable: This can avoid free-form charges.
  • Compare complete quotes: Separate legal work, government fees, and later filings.
  • Plan for launch timing: Include potential use filings and extensions.
  • Track deadlines: Missed deadlines can create extra filings or loss of the application.

The cheapest advertised package may not provide the help your situation requires. Compare scope alongside price.

Frequently Asked Questions

The current base federal application fee is $350 for one class when the application meets the requirements. Additional filings or services can increase the total.

Are the 2027 logo trademark fees confirmed?

This guide uses fees verified in October 2026 as a planning baseline. Check the current USPTO schedule when filing in 2027.

Does a logo cost more to trademark than a business name?

Not simply because it is a design; base fees depend on classes and applications; separate name and logo applications each require payment.

Does the $350 fee guarantee registration?

No. It pays for the application process. A refusal or other issue can prevent registration, and fees generally are not refunded.

Is logo design included in trademark registration costs?

Usually, these are separate expenses. Confirm whether any provider package includes creative design, legal review, and government filing fees.

Will I pay every year to keep the trademark?

Ordinary federal registration does not require an annual renewal fee. Required maintenance falls at specific intervals, and continued use and compliance matter.

Build Your 2027 Budget Around the Full Filing Plan

For 2027 planning, start with the current $350-per-class base fee. Then account for separate applications, legal help, potential surcharges, and intent-to-use filings.

Before committing, decide which logo you want to protect, what it identifies, who owns it, and whether your quote includes government fees.

A clear filing plan gives you a more useful budget than a single advertised price.

This article covers general US federal trademark information. Fees reflect information checked in October 2026 and may change. It is not legal advice.

Let's grow your business today!