Trademark Classes Explained

What Are Trademark Classes?

The Nice Classification divides goods and services into 45 classes: 34 for goods (1–34) and 11 for services (35–45). Every application must identify specific classes. You pay a separate filing fee for each.

Why Classes Matter for Searching

Two marks can coexist if used with unrelated goods. "DELTA" is registered by an airline, a faucet manufacturer, and a dental products company. But classes are not bright-line boundaries — the USPTO regularly finds confusion between marks in different classes when goods are "related."

Coordinated Classes

The USPTO identifies groups of classes commonly considered related. Class 25 (clothing) is coordinated with Class 18 (bags), Class 14 (jewelry), and Class 35 (retail). A mark in Class 18 for handbags could block your Class 25 application for clothing.

Common Classes for Small Businesses

Class 25 (clothing), Class 35 (business services, retail), Class 41 (education, entertainment), Class 42 (technology services), Class 43 (restaurants, hospitality), Class 9 (software, electronics).

Identifying Your Class

Use the USPTO's Trademark ID Manual — a searchable database of pre-approved goods and services descriptions assigned to specific classes. Using ID Manual descriptions can reduce your filing fee.