The international system that organizes every trademark into one of 45 classes — 34 for goods, 11 for services. Used by the USPTO and over 150 trademark offices worldwide.
Every trademark application filed at the USPTO must identify goods or services within one or more Nice Classification classes. Your filing fee, scope of protection, and enforcement rights all depend on which classes you select. Two identical marks can legally coexist if they cover different classes — which is why understanding this system is essential before filing.
The system was established in 1957 under the Nice Agreement and is maintained by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It divides all commercial activity into 34 goods classes (physical products, from industrial chemicals to tobacco) and 11 services classes (intangible services, from advertising to legal work). Each class page below shows live trademark counts, top filers, filing trends, and recent registrations — updated daily from USPTO data.
Physical, tangible products — things you can manufacture, ship, and sell. From chemicals and cosmetics to clothing and tobacco.
Intangible activities performed for others — advertising, finance, technology, hospitality, and professional services.
Filing fees, multi-class strategies, common mistakes, and a portfolio audit checklist — everything you need to select classes strategically.
Read the Strategy GuideThe Nice Classification is an international system maintained by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that organizes all commercial goods and services into 45 classes. Classes 1–34 cover goods (physical products), and Classes 35–45 cover services. Nearly every trademark office in the world — including the USPTO — uses this system to categorize trademark applications.
Trademark protection is class-specific. A registration in Class 25 (Clothing) gives you no automatic rights in Class 9 (Electronics). Two identical marks can legally coexist if they cover different classes of goods or services. Selecting the right classes determines the scope, cost, and enforceability of your trademark.
There are 45 classes total: 34 goods classes (covering physical products from chemicals to tobacco) and 11 services classes (covering everything from advertising to legal services). The system has been in use since 1957 and is updated annually by WIPO.
Yes. You can file a single application covering multiple classes, paying one filing fee per class ($350/class using pre-approved ID Manual descriptions). Multi-class filings are common — for example, a software company typically files in both Class 9 (downloadable software) and Class 42 (SaaS services).
Goods classes (1–34) cover physical, tangible products — things you can manufacture, ship, and sell. Services classes (35–45) cover intangible activities performed for others — consulting, entertainment, telecommunications, legal advice, and similar offerings. Many businesses need both: a clothing brand selling online needs Class 25 (goods: clothing) and Class 35 (services: online retail).
The most-filed classes at the USPTO are Class 35 (Advertising & Business Services), Class 9 (Electronics & Software), Class 41 (Education & Entertainment), Class 25 (Clothing & Footwear), and Class 42 (Software & IT Services). Class 35 leads because it covers retail store services — essential for any e-commerce business.
Start by listing every product and service you offer (or plan to offer) under your mark. Then match each one to its corresponding Nice Class using the USPTO ID Manual, which contains over 65,000 pre-approved descriptions. Using ID Manual language avoids the $200/class surcharge for custom descriptions. If your business spans multiple categories, you will need multiple classes.
Filing in the wrong class means your trademark may not protect the goods or services you actually sell. The USPTO examiner may issue an office action requiring you to amend the class or goods/services description. In some cases, you may need to file a new application in the correct class — losing your original filing date and priority.
Yes. The Nice Classification is used by over 150 countries and is the standard for international filings through the Madrid Protocol. Your class selections carry over directly when extending a U.S. trademark internationally, though specific goods/services descriptions may need adjustment for local requirements.
WIPO updates the Nice Classification annually, with a new edition taking effect each January 1. Updates may reclassify certain goods or services, add new entries (e.g., cryptocurrency-related services were added in recent editions), or clarify existing descriptions. The current edition is the 12th, in force since 2023.
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