The USPTO ID Manual: How to Select Goods and Services for Your Trademark

Every trademark application requires a description of the goods or services the mark will cover. Get it right and your application moves forward smoothly at the lowest filing cost. Get it wrong and you face office actions, surcharges, and delays that can add months and hundreds of dollars to the process. The ID Manual trademark tool is the most important resource for getting it right, and many applicants underuse it.

The Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual (ID Manual) is the USPTO's searchable database of tens of thousands of pre-approved descriptions for goods and services, organized by the 45 international Nice Classification classes. Using it correctly is no longer just a best practice -- since January 2025, it is the difference between a $350 filing fee and a $550 one.

This guide walks through how the ID Manual works, how to search it effectively, and how to avoid the mistakes that trigger office actions and unnecessary costs.

Why the ID Manual Matters: The $200/Class Incentive

On January 18, 2025, the USPTO restructured its trademark fee system. The old two-tier approach -- TEAS Plus at $250/class and TEAS Standard at $350/class -- was eliminated. In its place is a single $350/class base application fee with a surcharge system that penalizes applicants who do not use the ID Manual.

The math is straightforward. An applicant filing in three classes who uses ID Manual descriptions pays $1,050. The same applicant using custom descriptions pays $1,650 -- a $600 difference for a single application.

Cost savings are only part of the picture. ID Manual entries avoid the $200 surcharge and most wording objections, though an examiner can still object, for example if a fill-in entry is completed vaguely or the goods do not match your specimen.

For a full breakdown of every fee change in the 2025 restructuring, see our guide on USPTO Fee Changes Explained: How to Avoid Surcharges.

Understanding the Nice Classification System

Before diving into the ID Manual itself, it helps to understand the classification system that organizes it. The Nice Classification is an international system maintained by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that divides all goods and services into 45 classes.

• Classes 1 through 34 cover goods (physical products)
• Classes 35 through 45 cover services

Every trademark application must identify at least one class, and you pay a separate filing fee for each class you include. Your description of goods and services, not the class number, sets the scope of your registration: a registration for clothing (Class 25) does not automatically cover electronics (Class 9).

The 13th Edition: What Changed in 2026

The 13th edition of the Nice Classification took effect on January 1, 2026, replacing the 12th edition that had been in use since 2023. It changed the class headings in eight classes: 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 26, and 29. The USPTO adopted the changes in a Federal Register rule published on October 2, 2025.

The change most likely to affect filers is a move between classes: spectacles, sunglasses and contact lenses now belong in Class 10, not Class 9. The ID Manual's old Class 9 entries for eyeglasses and sunglasses are marked deleted, and new Class 10 entries replace them.

Key Nice Classes by Industry

Note that a single product can span multiple classes. A software company offering a downloadable app (Class 9), a web-based platform (Class 42), and training services (Class 41) would need three classes at $350 each.

How to Search the ID Manual: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

The ID Manual is available at idm-tmng.uspto.gov. It is a free, public tool that requires no account or login. Here is how to use it effectively.

Step 1: Start With Commercial Terms

Search using the ordinary words consumers would use for your product or service, not legal or technical jargon. If you sell coffee mugs, search "coffee mugs" -- not "ceramic beverage receptacles." The ID Manual is built around common commercial language.

Step 2: Try Spelling and Spacing Variations

The search finds most plurals on its own (it matches word stems, so "test" also finds "tests" and "testing"), but spacing and hyphens can still matter. The entry for key chains, for example, is written as two words, so search both "keychain" and "key chain." Wildcards help too: "?" stands in for one character ("gr?y" finds gray and grey) and "" for several ("paint" finds paint, painting and paintball).

Step 3: Narrow by Class

If you already know your Nice class, use the Advanced Search to limit results to that class. Advanced Search can also filter by an entry's status and effective date.

Step 4: Sort Results Strategically

The default sort order is "relevance," set by the USPTO's search algorithm, and it does not always surface the best match first. Try sorting by "Class" to group results by classification, or by "Description" for an alphabetical view. Switching sort methods often reveals entries you would have missed with the default.

Step 5: Check Each Entry's Status

Every entry carries a status letter. "A" (added) and "M" (modified) entries are generally acceptable; an "M" entry usually has a note explaining the change. "X" entries are examples of acceptable wording, often more detailed than you need. "D" entries have been deleted and are generally not acceptable, so read the note and search for the replacement.

Two Types of ID Manual Entries

The ID Manual contains two kinds of entries, and confusing them is a common source of office actions.

Exact Entries

These are complete, ready-to-use descriptions. Select them from the ID Manual search inside Trademark Center with no changes. Pasting the same words into the free-form box instead still costs $200 per class. For example:

• "Restaurant services" (Class 43)
• "Key chains" (Class 14)
• "Online retail store services featuring software" (Class 35)

Fill-In Entries

These contain curly-bracket placeholders where you must supply specific information about your goods or services. For example:

• "Downloadable mobile applications for {indicate function of software, e.g., managing bank accounts, editing photos, making restaurant reservations, etc. and, if software is content- or field-specific, the content or field of use}" (Class 9)
• "Consulting services in the field of {specify, e.g., pet, business, etc.} training" (Class 41)

You must replace everything within the curly brackets with a concrete, accurate description of your actual goods or services. The brackets and placeholder text must not appear in your final application. Submitting an identification with {specify} or {indicate} still in place will draw an office action, and filling in the blank with wording the entry does not allow can trigger the $200 free-form surcharge.

TMIDSuggest: When the ID Manual Does Not Have What You Need

With tens of thousands of entries, the ID Manual covers most goods and services. But if your product or service is genuinely novel or niche, you may not find a matching entry.

In that case, you have two options:

1. Use a custom free-form description and accept the $200/class surcharge. This is the faster route when time is critical.

2. Propose a new entry by emailing tmidsuggest@uspto.gov. Your proposed identification must be concise (25 words or fewer). The USPTO reviews each suggestion and tells you whether it was accepted, rejected or accepted in a modified form. If accepted, the entry becomes available to all applicants.

The TMIDSuggest process takes time, so it is not a solution for applications with tight filing deadlines. But for businesses that file frequently in a specialized niche, getting your terminology into the ID Manual can save $200 per class on every future filing.

Six Common Mistakes That Trigger Office Actions

The goods-and-services identification is one of the most frequent sources of office actions. If you receive one, our TMEP Office Action Response Strategies guide covers proven tactics for overcoming refusals. Here are the six mistakes that trip up applicants most often.

1. Using Overly Broad or Vague Language

Terms like "miscellaneous goods," "services in connection with," or simply "software" will draw an objection. The USPTO requires specificity about the type, function, and delivery method of your goods or services. "Computer software" alone is never sufficient.

Fix: Use the ID Manual to find the most specific pre-approved entry that matches your actual goods. If none fits exactly, model your custom description on the specificity level of ID Manual entries.

2. Not Specifying Software Delivery Method

The USPTO requires software applicants to designate whether their product is prerecorded (available on physical media), downloadable, or provided as software-as-a-service (SaaS). This distinction determines which Nice Classification class applies -- downloadable software falls in Class 9, while SaaS typically falls in Class 42.

Fix: Always specify the delivery method. If your software is available in multiple formats, you may need to file in multiple classes.

3. Copying Competitor Descriptions Verbatim

Reviewing competitor filings for language examples is reasonable, but copying a description word-for-word is dangerous if it does not match your actual goods or services. If you do not actually offer everything listed in a copied description, your registration could be vulnerable to cancellation.

Fix: Use competitor filings for inspiration, but tailor every word to what you actually sell.

4. Trying to Expand the Description After Filing

The USPTO does not allow broadening or fundamentally changing an identification after the application is filed. You may narrow the scope -- for example, amending "Fresh citrus fruit" to "Fresh citrus fruit, namely lemons and oranges" -- but you cannot expand it.

Fix: Think carefully about your full product line before filing. It is better to include slightly broader (but still accurate) ID Manual language up front than to discover later that your description is too narrow.

5. Choosing a Broad Term When a Narrow One Is More Accurate

Selecting a broader category seems like a good strategy for wider protection, but it can backfire. If your specimen does not match the stated goods, you face a specimen refusal. For example, a seller of vinyl wrap for car bodies who picks "tinted plastic films for use on vehicle windows" will have a specimen that does not support the identification.

Fix: Your identification must match what you actually sell and what your specimen shows.

6. Leaving Fill-In Placeholders in the Application

Submitting an application with {specify} or {indicate} still in the identification -- directly pasted from an ID Manual fill-in entry -- draws an office action.

Fix: Double-check your final application to confirm all placeholder text has been replaced with actual descriptions.

Strategic Tips for Selecting Goods and Services

Beyond avoiding mistakes, there are affirmative strategies that strengthen your filing.

Think broader within the ID Manual. When your product line may expand, choose a pre-approved entry that covers the broader category. Filing "Bottoms as clothing" instead of just "pants" provides protection if you later add skirts or shorts -- while still using a pre-approved entry at the $350 rate.

Check multiple classes. Many products and services span more than one class. A software company might need Class 9 (downloadable software), Class 35 (retail services), and Class 42 (SaaS). Identifying all relevant classes before filing prevents costly follow-up applications.

Use the ID Manual before filing to estimate costs. Since each class costs $350, knowing how many classes you need gives you an accurate budget before you commit. For a comparison of filing platforms, see our TEAS Plus vs Trademark Center guide.

Monitoring Your Classifications After Filing

Selecting the right goods and services is only the first step. Once your mark is registered, competitors filing similar marks in the same Nice classes may create likelihood-of-confusion conflicts or dilute your brand. Tools like GleanMark help trademark owners monitor new filings in their classes and receive alerts when potentially conflicting marks appear, so you can take action early.

Monitoring also informs future filings. If your business expands into new product lines, reviewing current ID Manual entries for those categories ensures you file with pre-approved language from day one.

Key Takeaways

The ID Manual is not a bureaucratic formality -- it is a practical tool that directly affects your filing costs, the speed of your application, and the strength of your trademark protection. Here is what to remember:

1. Use the ID Manual to save $200 per class. Pre-approved entries cost $350/class; custom descriptions cost $550/class.
2. Search with variations. Spacing, hyphenation, and plural forms all affect results.
3. Understand the two entry types. Exact entries are copy-and-paste ready; fill-in entries require you to replace the placeholders.
4. Be specific and accurate. Your identification must match your actual goods or services and be supported by your specimen.
5. Check the 13th edition Nice Classification. Effective January 1, 2026, it updated eight class headings and moved spectacles, sunglasses and contact lenses from Class 9 to Class 10.
6. Use TMIDSuggest for novel products. Email tmidsuggest@uspto.gov to propose new entries (25 words or fewer).
7. Never expand after filing. You can narrow your identification but not broaden it. Plan ahead.

The goods and services identification is one of the few parts of a trademark application where preparation directly saves money and prevents delays. Spending thirty minutes with the ID Manual before filing is one of the highest-return investments in the entire trademark process.

Fees, ID Manual entries and the Nice changes checked against USPTO sources on October 12, 2026.