How much it costs to trademark a logo in the U.S. depends on filing fees, class count, and whether you use an attorney. The USPTO base application filing fee is $350 per class if the application meets the base requirements. If you file one class, your government fee starts at $350. If you file more than one class, the fee rises with each class.
That answer matters for startups and business owners because logo protection isn’t a single flat price. A simple filing can stay relatively lean. A broader filing can climb fast once the mark covers more goods or services, or once the application needs extra handling during examination.
The Total Cost to Trademark a Logo in the U.S.
The total cost to trademark a logo in the U.S. includes government fees, possible add-on fees, and attorney fees if you hire counsel. The USPTO states that the cost depends on the application basis, the number of classes, and whether the application requires additional review or maintenance later on.
A basic logo filing starts with the base fee per class. For one class, that is $350. For two classes, that is $700. The USPTO uses the same class-based structure for goods and services in Section 1 and Section 44 applications.
If your logo covers more than one line of business, the number of classes drives the budget. A clothing brand may stay in one class. A brand that also sells related services may need another class. That second class adds another government fee.
Breaking Down the USPTO Base Filing Fee ($350 per class)
The USPTO base filing fee is $350 per class for a Section 1 or Section 44 application that meets the base requirements. This fee structure applies per class of goods or services.
That means the real question is not only whether you want to trademark a logo. The real question is how many classes your filing needs. One class keeps the government cost at the lowest entry point. Two classes double the base fee. Three classes raise it again.
Logo Mark vs. Word Mark: Should You File Together or Separately?
A logo mark protects the design. A word mark protects the name. Those filings solve different problems, so the budget changes depending on what you want to protect.
If you file only the logo, you protect the visual design, but not the brand name in the same broad way. If you file only the word mark, you protect the name more broadly, but not the exact look of the logo. Many brands file both when they want stronger coverage around the brand identity. That usually means more than one filing, which increases cost.
The smart move depends on the business plan. A founder launching a brand with a stable logo and a stable name may want both. A business with a logo still in flux may start with the word mark first, then file the logo later once the design settles.
Why Filing Them Separately Doubles the Cost (But Increases Protection)
Filing separately can double the cost because each application carries its own filing fee structure. If you file one application for the name and another for the logo, you pay twice at the government level. That raises the upfront budget.
The tradeoff is protection. Separate filings can give you broader coverage across the name and the design. That matters when the logo changes over time or when the brand name becomes more valuable than the visual treatment. A business owner should budget for both the short-term filing cost and the long-term brand value.
The Hidden Costs: Add-On Fees and Office Actions
The USPTO also charges additional fees in some cases. You may owe extra fees if the application does not meet base requirements, uses custom identifications of goods or services, or includes lengthy identifications. The USPTO also charges additional fees for intent-to-use filings later in the process.
Those add-ons matter because they can turn a simple filing into a more expensive filing without warning. A business owner who wants a clean budget should account for those possibilities before filing.
“Intent to Use” Surcharges and Custom Description Fees
If you file on an intent to use basis, you will need additional filings and fees before registration can issue. The Office also charges $150 per class for an amendment to allege use or statement of use, and $125 per class for an extension request, according to the current fee page.
The USPTO also charges a $200 per class fee when an applicant uses the free form text box instead of the Trademark ID Manual for the identification of goods or services. This rule encourages applicants to use the ID Manual and submit more complete applications.
DIY vs. LegalZoom vs. Hiring a Trademark Attorney
DIY filings keep you closest to the government fee, but they also place the burden on you to choose the right class, use acceptable ID Manual language, and answer any Office Action without help. The USPTO charges extra fees when an application lacks required information, uses free-form text instead of the ID Manual, or includes lengthy identifications. Those mistakes can push a cheap filing into a more expensive one.
A filing service can reduce the filing burden, but it does not replace legal strategy. A trademark attorney can clear the mark, choose the filing structure, handle office actions, and decide whether the logo, the word mark, or both deserve protection. That legal work adds cost, but it can also reduce the risk of filing the wrong application or paying to fix preventable mistakes.
If your brand matters, the real comparison is not DIY versus attorney. It is short-term savings versus long-term protection.
Post Registration: Budgeting for Trademark Maintenance Fees
Registration does not end the budget. The USPTO requires maintenance filings to keep a trademark alive, and those filings carry their own fees. You must file the first declaration of use in the sixth year after registration, then keep filing at regular intervals. It also states that every 10 years you must file a declaration of use or excusable nonuse plus a renewal, and those two filings total $650 per class if filed on time.
The maintenance budget matters because a logo filing can look inexpensive at the start and become more expensive over time. A single class registration can be manageable. A multi-class brand with a long life cycle will need maintenance money built into the plan from day one. The smartest budget treats registration and maintenance as one brand protection expense, not two separate surprises.
The post How Much to Trademark a Logo in the U.S.: Filing Fees and Hidden Costs first appeared on Traverse Legal.