India uses the international Nice Classification, which divides all goods and services into 45 trademark classes: classes 1 to 34 for goods and 35 to 45 for services. You pay a separate fee for every class you apply in, so pick the classes that match what you actually sell, plus anything you genuinely plan to sell soon.
What are trademark classes?
A trademark protects a name for particular goods or services, not for everything. To keep this manageable, goods and services are sorted into numbered classes. Section 7 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 tells the Registrar to follow the international classification, and Rule 20 of the Trade Marks Rules, 2017 points to the current edition of the Nice Classification published by WIPO. WIPO releases a new version every year, in force from 1 January.
One application can cover several classes (Section 18(2) and Rule 23), but the fee is charged per class.
Trademark class list: goods (classes 1 to 34)
| Class | What it covers, in plain words |
|---|---|
| 1 | Industrial and farm chemicals, fertilisers, industrial adhesives |
| 2 | Paints, varnishes, colourants, printing inks |
| 3 | Cosmetics, soaps, perfumes, essential oils, cleaning products |
| 4 | Industrial oils, lubricants, fuels, candles |
| 5 | Medicines, supplements, medical preparations, disinfectants |
| 6 | Metals, metal hardware, metal building materials |
| 7 | Machines, motors, power tools, electric kitchen machines |
| 8 | Hand tools, cutlery, razors |
| 9 | Electronics, computers, phones, downloadable software and apps |
| 10 | Medical and dental equipment |
| 11 | Lighting, heating, cooling, cooking and water appliances |
| 12 | Vehicles and their parts |
| 13 | Firearms, ammunition, fireworks |
| 14 | Jewellery, precious metals and stones, watches |
| 15 | Musical instruments |
| 16 | Paper, printed matter, stationery, paper packaging |
| 17 | Rubber, plastics for manufacturing, insulation |
| 18 | Leather goods, bags, luggage, umbrellas |
| 19 | Non-metal building materials such as cement, tiles and timber |
| 20 | Furniture, mirrors, non-metal containers |
| 21 | Kitchen and household utensils, glassware, crockery |
| 22 | Ropes, nets, tents, sacks, raw fibres |
| 23 | Yarns and threads |
| 24 | Fabrics, bed and table linen, curtains |
| 25 | Clothing, footwear, headwear |
| 26 | Lace, buttons, ribbons, artificial flowers, hair accessories |
| 27 | Carpets, mats, floor coverings, wallpaper |
| 28 | Toys, games, sports equipment |
| 29 | Meat, fish, dairy, edible oils, preserved fruit and vegetables |
| 30 | Tea, coffee, rice, flour, spices, bakery items, sweets, ice cream |
| 31 | Fresh fruit and vegetables, grains, seeds, plants, animal feed |
| 32 | Non-alcoholic drinks, juices, mineral water, beer |
| 33 | Alcoholic drinks other than beer |
| 34 | Tobacco, smokers' articles, matches |
Trademark class list: services (classes 35 to 45)
| Class | What it covers, in plain words |
|---|---|
| 35 | Advertising, business management, office work, retail and online store services |
| 36 | Banking, insurance, finance, real estate |
| 37 | Construction, installation, repair |
| 38 | Telecom and online communication services |
| 39 | Transport, delivery, storage, travel booking |
| 40 | Treatment of materials, custom manufacturing, printing |
| 41 | Education, training, coaching, entertainment, events, sport |
| 42 | IT and software development, SaaS, design, scientific research |
| 43 | Restaurants, cafés, catering, hotels and other stays |
| 44 | Medical, beauty, salon and wellness services, farming services |
| 45 | Legal, security, social networking and matchmaking services |
These summaries are simplified, and the official class headings are longer. The trademark class finder lets you search by product or service, with examples and related classes.
Which trademark class should I choose?
| If you run... | Usually consider |
|---|---|
| A clothing brand selling online | 25 (clothing) and 35 (online retail) |
| A packaged masala or tea brand | 30 |
| A cloud kitchen or restaurant | 43, plus 29 or 30 if you sell packaged food |
| A skincare or herbal cosmetics brand | 3, and 5 for medicated products |
| An app or SaaS startup | 9 (downloadable software) and 42 (software as a service) |
| A coaching or edtech business | 41, plus 9 if you sell a downloadable app |
| A jewellery brand | 14, plus 35 for your stores |
These are starting points, not rules. The right answer depends on exactly what you sell.
A simple way to decide:
- List what you sell today, products and services separately.
- Add what you genuinely plan to launch soon.
- Find the class for each item using the class finder.
- Mark the related classes where a copycat would hurt you (for a food brand, a café using your name).
- Budget per class and prioritise.
How much does each extra class cost?
The official application fee on Form TM-A is charged per class:
| Applicant | Online | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Individual, startup or small enterprise | ₹4,500 per class | ₹5,000 per class |
| Everyone else | ₹9,000 per class | ₹10,000 per class |
These are official fees from the First Schedule to the Trade Marks Rules, 2017, as listed on IP India's forms and fees page. Check the current fee on IP India's website before filing. A trademark agent's professional fees are extra. Every class also has to be renewed every ten years, at the official renewal fee of ₹9,000 per class online; see trademark renewal in India.
Is filing in more classes always better?
No. More classes mean more fees now and at every renewal, and a mark you never use for some goods can later be challenged for non-use (Section 47). File where you trade or genuinely plan to, and watch the related classes instead of filing in all of them.
Common trademark class mistakes
- Filing only in class 35 for products. Retail services don't cover the products themselves.
- Forgetting software. Apps usually need class 9, and online platforms often class 42 as well.
- Copying a vague description. Unclear wording can draw an objection. Describe what you actually offer; see trademark objection vs opposition.
- Watching only your own class. Copycats don't always choose your class number.
Can someone use my brand name in another class?
Sometimes, yes. If the goods or services are unrelated and your mark is not well known, another business may register the same word in a different class. If the goods are related and buyers could be confused, you can oppose. Our guide to deceptively similar trademarks explains how that is judged, and the similarity checker gives a quick first read.
A BrandKavach watch covers up to three classes per brand, so you can include the neighbouring classes that matter most to you. Learn more in our guide to trademark watch in India.
General information only, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
How many trademark classes are there in India?
45. India follows the international Nice Classification, with classes 1 to 34 for goods and 35 to 45 for services.
What is the government fee per trademark class in India?
The official fee for Form TM-A is ₹4,500 per class online for individuals, startups and small enterprises, and ₹9,000 per class online for everyone else, as per the First Schedule to the Trade Marks Rules, 2017. Check the current fee on IP India's website; professional fees are extra.
Can I register one trademark in multiple classes?
Yes. Section 18(2) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 allows a single application for several classes, but the fee is charged for each class.
Which trademark class covers online selling?
Class 35 covers retail and online store services. Your products sit in their own classes, such as class 25 for clothing, so many sellers file in both.
Which class is for software and mobile apps?
Downloadable software and apps fall in class 9. Software offered online as a service (SaaS) and software development fall in class 42.
Related guides
Sources
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check dates in the official Trade Marks Journal and speak to a trademark agent or advocate about your own case.