What Is a Trademark Class?
Understanding the Nice Classification system.
A trademark class is a category of goods or services under the international Nice Classification system, used by the USPTO and many trademark offices worldwide to organize applications.
Why classes exist
Trademark protection isn't automatically "everything a brand does" — it's tied to specific goods or services. Classes create a standardized way to describe and categorize what an application actually covers, which also makes searching for potential conflicts more precise.
How classes affect fees
The USPTO charges its government filing fee per class. If your application covers goods or services in more than one unrelated class, you'll pay the fee for each class involved — see our USPTO fees page for worked examples.
Examples of common classes
| Class | Typical coverage |
|---|---|
| 25 | Clothing, footwear, headwear |
| 30 | Certain food products, bakery and confectionery items |
| 35 | Certain business, advertising and retail services |
| 41 | Education and entertainment services |
| 42 | Technology and software-related services |
These examples don't cover every possible product or service — the USPTO's own classification resources list the full range.
Not sure which class fits your business? See our companion article, How to Choose the Right Trademark Class, or our full classes page.