The honest number for a properly handled federal trademark in 2026: $950–$2,000 per class, all-in, of which $350 is the USPTO's fee and the rest is attorney work — the search and strategy that make the filing succeed.
| Item | Typical 2026 cost |
|---|---|
| USPTO filing fee (per class) | $350 |
| Attorney clearance search & opinion | $300 – $800 |
| Attorney application preparation & filing | $500 – $1,200 |
| Typical total, one class | $950 – $2,000 |
| Office action response (if refused) | $400 – $2,000+ |
| DIY filing that gets refused, then rescued | Usually more than doing it right once |
The trap: the $350 DIY filing feels cheap until the refusal arrives. Roughly half of unrepresented applications hit office actions — and responding costs more than the search that would have prevented it.
Before spending anything, understand which protection you actually need — our trademark vs. copyright vs. patent guide maps it. Then read how to trademark a name for the step-by-step, or go straight to a free consultation with a licensed attorney in your market.
Describe your name, brand, or invention — hear back within one business day.
No. USPTO fees are $350 per class minimum. 'Free trademark' offers usually mean state filings or business-name registrations — neither gives you federal trademark rights.
The USPTO divides all goods and services into 45 international classes. You pay for each class you claim — a clothing brand that also sells online courses files in two classes and pays two fees.
Two reasons: real clearance searches catch conflicts before you spend the filing fee, and correctly drafted identifications avoid the refusals that sink DIY filings. USPTO-cited research puts the approval gap around 50% higher for represented filers.
No — filing mills type your answers into the form and accept no responsibility for conflicts or refusals. When the office action arrives, you're on your own or paying an attorney anyway, now with a weaker starting position.
The real process for trademarking a name in 2026: clearance search, classes, filing basis, USPTO examination, publication, and registration — with timelines and pitfalls at each step..
Read the guide →Patents cost $1,500–$5,000 for a provisional and $8,000–$20,000+ for an attorney-drafted utility application in 2026.
Read the guide →Trademarks protect brands, copyrights protect creative works, patents protect inventions.
Read the guide →