How do I choose the right trade mark classes?

Corven guide, 6 October 2026

Start from the goods and services you actually sell or plan to sell, and choose the classes that cover them. A registration protects only the goods and services selected in the application, so the class and the wording inside it matter more than the number of classes.

How classification works

Section 34(1) of the Trade Marks Act 1994 requires goods and services to be classified under a prescribed system of classification. Under section 34(2), any question about which class goods or services fall into is decided by the registrar, and that decision is final.

Getting the scope right

GOV.UK's classification guidance gives the example of a clothing brand: clothing falls in class 25, so an application in class 25 alone covers clothing but not handbags, which fall in class 18. A second application would be needed to protect the mark for handbags. The same guidance points out that a registered mark can be revoked if it is not used for five years, which is a reason not to claim goods and services you have no plan to offer.

Cost per class

According to GOV.UK, an online application costs £205 including one class, and £60 for each additional class.

This guide is general information about the law of England and Wales. It is not advice on your situation.