You spent time, effort, and money getting your trademark registered. Now the maintenance deadlines are approaching, and the natural question is: what is the trademark renewal cost, and what exactly do you get for it?
Trademark renewal fees in 2026 are straightforward once you understand the filing structure. This guide breaks down every cost involved in keeping a trademark active, what happens if you miss a deadline, and how to calculate the true cost of maintaining your trademark over the long term.
Why Trademark Renewal Is Required
Trademarks Do Not Last Forever Automatically
The Maintenance Obligation
A registered trademark does not remain active simply because it exists. The USPTO requires trademark owners to file specific maintenance documents at set intervals to confirm the mark is still in active use and to formally renew the registration. Missing these filings results in the cancellation of the registration, and once cancelled, the protection is gone.
What You Are Paying For
Trademark renewal fees are not arbitrary charges. They serve as the mechanism through which the USPTO confirms that a trademark is still being actively used in commerce and is still owned by the registrant. The maintenance system is designed to prevent the trademark register from filling with abandoned marks that no longer reflect active brand use.
The USPTO Trademark Maintenance Filing Schedule
| Filing | When It Is Due | Purpose |
| Section 8 Declaration of Use | Between years 5 and 6 after registration | Confirms the trademark is still in active commercial use |
| Section 15 Declaration (optional) | After 5 years of continuous use | Achieves an incontestable status for stronger legal protection |
| Section 9 Renewal | Every 10 years from the registration date | Formally renews the trademark registration |
| Combined Sections 8 and 9 | At the 10-year anniversary | Satisfies both the use declaration and renewal in one filing |
| Grace period filing | Within 6 months after each official deadline | Late filing option with an additional surcharge per class |
Trademark Renewal Fees in 2026: The Complete Breakdown
Section 8 Declaration of Use
Filing Fees
The Section 8 Declaration confirms that your trademark is still being used in commerce. The USPTO filing fee for this document is $225 per class of goods or services when filed online through the TEAS system. Paper filing costs $325 per class. If you miss the official deadline but file within the six-month grace period, an additional $100 per class surcharge applies.
Section 9 Renewal
Filing Fees
The Section 9 Renewal formally extends your trademark registration for another ten years. The USPTO online filing fee is $325 per class. Paper filing costs $425 per class. Late filing within the grace period adds a $100 per class surcharge to whichever base fee applies.
Combined Section 8 and 9 Filing
Filing Fees
At the ten-year mark, most trademark owners file the Section 8 Declaration and Section 9 Renewal together. The combined online filing fee is $550 per class. Paper filing costs $750 per class. Late combined filing within the grace period adds a $200 per class surcharge.
Section 15 Declaration
What Incontestability Costs
The Section 15 Declaration is optional but highly valuable. Filing it after five years of continuous, uninterrupted commercial use grants the trademark incontestable status, which significantly strengthens its legal standing and limits the grounds on which competitors can challenge it. The USPTO fee is $225 per class online or $325 per class for paper filing.
Total Trademark Renewal Cost Over Ten Years
| Filing | Timing | Cost (TEAS Online, One Class) |
| Section 8 Declaration | Year 5 to 6 | $225 |
| Section 15 Declaration (optional) | After year 5 | $225 |
| Combined Sections 8 and 9 | Year 10 | $550 |
| Total required maintenance (one class) | Over 10 years | $775 without Section 15 |
| Total with Section 15 (one class) | Over 10 years | $1,000 |
What Happens If You Miss a Trademark Renewal Deadline?
The Grace Period
Six Months of Extended Time
The USPTO provides a six-month grace period after each official filing deadline. During this window, you can still file the required documents by paying the standard fee plus a $100 per class late surcharge. Your trademark registration remains active throughout the grace period, and filing during this window preserves your registration without any lapse in protection.
After the Grace Period
Cancellation and Its Consequences
If you miss both the official deadline and the six-month grace period, the USPTO cancels your trademark registration. Once cancelled, the registration cannot be reinstated through a simple payment. You would need to file a brand new trademark application, go through the full examination process again, pay new filing fees, and lose your original priority date.
Why Losing the Priority Date Matters
Your trademark’s priority date is the date your original application was filed. It establishes your legal standing against anyone who filed a similar mark after you. Losing that date through cancellation and refiling significantly weakens your position in any future dispute. The trademark renewal cost you pay to avoid this is always lower than the cost of a new application, plus the legal exposure that comes with losing seniority.
Multi-Class Trademark Renewal Costs
Every Class Is Charged Separately
How Multi-Class Fees Accumulate
Every trademark maintenance and renewal fee is charged per class of goods or services. If your trademark covers products in two classes, every filing cost doubles. Suppose it covers three classes; every cost triples. Before your first maintenance deadline, confirm exactly how many classes your trademark registration covers and calculate the total cost accordingly.
Multi-Class Cost Examples
- One class combined Section 8 and 9 (TEAS): $550
- Two classes combined Section 8 and 9 (TEAS): $1,100
- Three classes combined Section 8 and 9 (TEAS): $1,650
- One class combined Sections 8 and 9 with a grace period surcharge: $750
- Two classes combined Section 8 and 9 with a grace period surcharge: $1,500
Professional Fees for Trademark Renewal
Attorney and Filing Service Costs
What Professional Help Adds to the Trademark Renewal Cost
The USPTO fees above are government charges. If you work with a trademark attorney or a trademark filing service to manage your renewals, professional fees apply on top of the government costs. Attorney fees for managing a straightforward single-class maintenance filing typically range from $150 to $500, depending on the firm and the complexity involved.
When Professional Help Is Worth It
For straightforward renewals with no complications, filing independently through the USPTO’s TEAS system is manageable. Professional help becomes more valuable when your trademark covers multiple classes, when you need to submit specimens of use that demonstrate ongoing commercial activity, or when there are complications with your filing that require a formal response.
Final Thoughts
The trademark renewal cost in 2026 is predictable and manageable when you understand the filing schedule and plan ahead. For a single-class trademark, the required maintenance over ten years totals $775 in government fees, with the optional Section 15 Declaration adding $225 for a total of $1,000.
The cost of letting a trademark lapse through missed deadlines is always higher than the cost of renewing it on time. A new application, a lost priority date, and the legal exposure that comes with unprotected brand use add up to consequences that no renewal fee comes close to matching.
Trademark Tango helps brand owners stay on top of their trademark maintenance obligations with clear guidance and professional support at every stage. If your trademark renewal deadlines are approaching and you want to make sure everything is handled correctly, reach out to us today.
FAQs
1. How much does trademark renewal cost in 2026?
The USPTO filing fee for a Section 9 Renewal is $325 per class online. A combined Section 8 and 9 filing costs $550 per class. Late filings within the six-month grace period add a $100 per class surcharge to each filing.
2. How often do I need to renew a trademark?
A Section 8 Declaration of Use is required between years five and six after registration. After that, a combined Section 8 and 9 filing is required every ten years from the original registration date.
3. What happens if I miss my trademark renewal deadline?
There is a six-month grace period with a $100 per class surcharge. If you miss the grace period entirely, your registration is cancelled and cannot be reinstated. You would need to file a new application and lose your original priority date.
4. Is the Section 15 Declaration required for trademark renewal?
No, it is optional. However, it provides a valuable incontestable status after five years of continuous use, which significantly strengthens your legal position and makes the trademark harder for competitors to challenge.
5. Do trademark renewal fees increase if I have multiple classes?
Yes. Every trademark renewal and maintenance fee is charged per class of goods or services. A trademark covering three classes pays three times the per-class fee for every filing, so confirm your class count before calculating total renewal costs.
