USPTO Fees: How Much Does a US Patent Really Cost?
Did you know filing a US patent can easily top $2,000 if you don’t know the numbers? Most inventors get surprised by the hidden charges that pop up after the initial filing. Knowing the fee breakdown upfront helps you plan, avoid surprises, and keep your project on track.
Understanding the Main USPTO Fee Categories
The USPTO groups its costs into four buckets: filing, search, examination, and post‑grant fees. Filing fees cover the basic paperwork and vary by the type of application—utility, design, or plant. Search fees pay for the USPTO’s prior‑art search, while examination fees fund the examiner’s review. After a patent is allowed, issue and maintenance fees keep it alive for up to 20 years.
Tips to Keep Your Patent Costs Low
First, claim small‑entity status if you qualify. It slashes most fees by 50 % and is available to independent inventors, startups, and nonprofits. Second, use the USPTO’s online fee calculator before you submit anything. It shows the exact amount you’ll owe based on page count, claim count, and whether you need excess claims fees.
Filing fees start at $75 for a provisional application and $320 for a basic utility filing if you’re a small entity. Large entities pay $150 and $640 respectively. Adding extra pages or claims quickly bumps the cost, so keep your specification tight and claims focused.
Search fees are $150 for a small entity and $300 for a large entity on a utility application. If you file a design patent, the search fee drops to $50 for a small entity. Remember, the search fee is mandatory and comes due with the filing fee, so budget for both together.
Examination fees follow a similar pattern: $400 for small entities and $800 for large ones on a utility patent. Design patents are cheaper—$200 for a small entity. If the USPTO issues a restriction requirement, you may need to pay additional fees, so watch the correspondence closely.
Once the USPTO allows your patent, you’ll face issue fees ($1,000 small entity, $2,000 large entity) and then maintenance fees at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years. Skipping a maintenance payment lets the patent lapse, which can be a strategic move if the market changes.
Pro tip: combine multiple related inventions into a single application where possible. This can reduce the total number of filing and examination fees, but don’t overload the application—excess claims trigger extra fees fast.
Bottom line: know the fee schedule, claim small‑entity discounts, and use the USPTO fee calculator. Armed with these basics, you’ll spend less time worrying about costs and more time building your invention. Check out the articles on this tag for deeper dives into each fee type and real‑world budgeting examples.
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