When applying to register a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), you must identify the specific goods or services associated with your trademark and place them in the appropriate trademark class.
There are 45 international trademark classes: Classes 1–34 generally cover goods, while Classes 35–45 cover services. Choosing the correct trademark class is an important part of preparing a strong trademark application because your registration does not automatically protect a name or logo for every possible product or service.
Instead, the scope of a trademark registration is tied to the goods and services identified in the application.
What Are USPTO Trademark Classes?
The USPTO uses the international Nice Classification system to organize goods and services into 45 different classes.
Trademark classes make it easier to categorize the enormous range of products and services offered by businesses. For example, clothing generally falls in Class 25, restaurant services in Class 43, and many software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings in Class 42.
Some businesses need only one trademark class. Others may need several, depending on the goods and services they offer under the trademark.
Below are 25 common trademark classes businesses frequently encounter.
Common Trademark Classes for Goods
Trademark Classes 1 through 34 cover goods. If your business manufactures or sells physical products—or certain types of downloadable digital products—your trademark application may fall into one or more of these classes.
| Class | Category | Common Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Class 9 | Electronics & Software | Downloadable software, mobile apps, computers, electronics, and scientific instruments |
| Class 12 | Vehicles | Cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, and certain vehicle parts |
| Class 14 | Jewelry | Jewelry, watches, precious metals, and clocks |
| Class 15 | Musical Instruments | Guitars, pianos, drums, and other musical instruments |
| Class 16 | Paper & Printed Goods | Books, magazines, stationery, printed materials, and paper goods |
| Class 18 | Leather Goods & Bags | Handbags, backpacks, luggage, wallets, and certain leather goods |
| Class 21 | Household Goods | Kitchen utensils, drinkware, cookware, containers, and household items |
| Class 25 | Clothing | Shirts, pants, jackets, hats, footwear, and other apparel |
| Class 28 | Toys & Sporting Goods | Toys, games, sporting equipment, and exercise equipment |
| Class 29 | Processed Foods | Meat, dairy products, processed fruits and vegetables, and certain prepared foods |
| Class 30 | Staple Foods | Coffee, tea, baked goods, candy, spices, pasta, and many other food products |
| Class 32 | Non-Alcoholic Beverages & Beer | Water, soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit beverages, and beer |
| Class 33 | Alcoholic Beverages | Wine, spirits, and most alcoholic beverages other than beer |
| Class 34 | Tobacco & Smokers’ Articles | Tobacco, smoking articles, and certain related products |
Common Trademark Classes for Services
Trademark Classes 35 through 45 cover services. Businesses providing services rather than selling products generally look to these classes when preparing a trademark application.
| Class | Category | Common Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Class 35 | Advertising & Business | Advertising, marketing, business consulting, retail store services, and online retail store services |
| Class 36 | Financial & Insurance | Banking, financial services, insurance, and real estate services |
| Class 37 | Construction & Repair | Construction, installation, maintenance, and repair services |
| Class 38 | Telecommunications | Telecommunications, electronic messaging, broadcasting, and transmission services |
| Class 39 | Transportation & Storage | Shipping, transportation, storage, delivery, and travel arrangement services |
| Class 41 | Education & Entertainment | Education, training, entertainment, publishing, and certain podcast and media services |
| Class 42 | Technology & Scientific Services | SaaS, software development, IT services, scientific research, and technology consulting |
| Class 43 | Restaurants & Hospitality | Restaurants, cafés, catering, hotels, and temporary accommodations |
| Class 44 | Medical & Healthcare | Medical services, veterinary services, beauty care, and certain healthcare services |
| Class 45 | Legal & Personal Services | Legal services, security services, and certain personal and social services |
These descriptions are only general examples. The precise wording used to identify your goods or services in a trademark application is extremely important.
The USPTO’s Trademark ID Manual contains searchable descriptions of goods and services and their corresponding international classes.
How Do I Choose the Right Trademark Class?
Choosing a trademark class is not simply about identifying your general industry. You need to determine the specific goods or services provided under your trademark.
For example, a clothing brand that sells shirts may file in Class 25. But if the same company also operates an online retail store featuring clothing from multiple brands, its retail store services may fall in Class 35.
Likewise, a technology company could potentially encounter several different classes depending on how its software is provided.
The key question is not simply, “What type of business do I have?” Instead, ask:
“What specific goods or services are customers receiving under this trademark?”
Goods vs. Services: Why the Difference Matters
One of the most common sources of confusion in trademark applications is the distinction between selling a product and providing a service.
For example, selling clothing under a brand generally involves Class 25. Operating a retail store that sells clothing, however, may involve Class 35.
The distinction can be particularly important for software.
Downloadable software generally falls within Class 9, while providing temporary use of non-downloadable software or SaaS generally falls within Class 42.
How the software is delivered and used can therefore affect the appropriate trademark classification.
Can a Trademark Be Registered in More Than One Class?
Yes. A trademark application can cover goods and services in multiple classes.
For example, a business might sell:
- Branded clothing in Class 25
- Downloadable software in Class 9
- Online retail store services in Class 35
Those goods and services may potentially be included in a multi-class trademark application.
Each additional class generally requires an additional USPTO filing fee, so identifying the classes that actually matter to the business can be an important part of developing an efficient trademark filing strategy.
Does a Trademark Class Determine the Scope of Protection?
Trademark classes are important, but the class number alone does not define the entire scope of a trademark owner’s rights.
The actual goods and services identified in the application matter greatly, as does the relationship between the parties’ goods or services when evaluating potential trademark conflicts.
Two trademarks do not automatically coexist simply because they are registered in different classes. Likewise, being in the same class does not necessarily mean two trademarks conflict.
Trademark rights and likelihood-of-confusion analyses are more nuanced than simply comparing class numbers.
What Happens If I Choose the Wrong Trademark Class?
Choosing the wrong class or inaccurately describing the goods and services can create significant problems with a trademark application.
After an application is filed, applicants generally cannot broaden the identification of goods or services beyond the scope of the original application. Depending on the mistake, correcting the problem may be difficult or impossible without filing a new application.
This is one reason it is important to identify the appropriate goods, services, and classifications carefully before filing a trademark application.
Frequently Asked Questions About USPTO Trademark Classes
How many trademark classes are there?
There are 45 international trademark classes under the Nice Classification system. Classes 1–34 cover goods, and Classes 35–45 cover services.
What is the most common trademark class?
There is no single class that is right for every business. Some frequently encountered classes include Class 25 for clothing, Class 35 for business and retail services, Class 41 for education and entertainment, and Class 42 for technology and SaaS services.
The appropriate class depends on the specific goods or services associated with the trademark.
Can I trademark the same name in multiple classes?
Potentially. A single trademark application can identify goods and services in multiple international classes. Each class generally requires a separate USPTO filing fee.
However, filing in more classes does not automatically give a trademark owner unlimited rights in the name.
Do I need to register my trademark in every class?
No. Trademark applicants generally should identify the classes corresponding to the goods and services they actually use—or have a bona fide intention to use—the trademark with.
Filing unnecessarily broad applications can increase costs and may create other problems.
What trademark class is clothing?
Most clothing, footwear, and headwear falls under International Class 25.
What trademark class is a website or online store?
There is no single “website” trademark class. The appropriate classification depends on what the website actually provides.
For example, online retail store services generally fall under Class 35, while certain SaaS platforms may fall under Class 42. The content or services offered through the website determine the appropriate classification.
What trademark class is software?
It depends on how the software is provided.
Downloadable software and mobile apps generally fall in Class 9.
Software as a Service (SaaS) and temporary use of non-downloadable software generally fall in Class 42.
Does the USPTO charge a filing fee for each trademark class?
Yes. USPTO trademark application fees are generally assessed per class. A multi-class application will therefore usually cost more in government filing fees than an application covering only one class.
Because USPTO fees and filing requirements can change, applicants should check the USPTO’s current fee schedule before filing.
Find the Correct USPTO Trademark Class
Selecting the correct trademark class is only one part of preparing a trademark application. Applicants must also accurately identify their goods and services, conduct appropriate trademark clearance research, select the proper filing basis, and submit acceptable specimens when required.
A mistake in classification or in the description of goods and services can delay an application—or potentially require a new filing.
For a complete overview of trademark classifications, visit the USPTO’s Goods and Services information page. To search specific descriptions of goods and services, use the USPTO Trademark ID Manual.
