Registering a copyright costs $45 to $65 online in 2026
The US Copyright Office charges $45 to register one work online if you are the only author, you own it, and it was not made for hire. Most other online claims use the Standard Application, which costs $65. Paper forms cost $125.
Copyright registration fees
| Single Application: one work, one author, same claimant, not made for hire | $45 |
|---|---|
| Standard Application, online | $65 |
| Paper filing (Forms PA, SR, TX, VA, SE) | $125 |
| Group of unpublished works | $85 |
| Preregistration of certain unpublished works | $200 |
| Supplementary registration to correct or add to a claim, online | $100 |
| Extra certificate of registration | $55 |
| Wrong form: Single Application refused, then refiled on the Standard Application | $110 |
|---|---|
| 5 works filed one at a time on the Standard Application | $325 |
The Copyright Office does not refund filing fees if a claim is refused. In March 2026 the Copyright Office proposed raising its fees. That is only a proposal. The fees on this page are the ones in effect today. Sources: US Copyright Office, Fees; US Copyright Office, Circular 4: Copyright Office Fees; Federal Register, Copyright Office Fees, proposed rule (March 20, 2026).
What this price covers
Copyright exists as soon as you create a work. Registering it creates a public record, and US works usually must be registered before you can sue for infringement. The fee is the government fee only. Filing services and lawyers charge on top.
What changes your price
- Who made it. The $45 price is only for one author who also owns the work.
- Made for hire. Work made for an employer uses the $65 Standard Application.
- Online or paper. Paper costs $60 more.
- How many works. Some groups of works can go on one application.
Ways to pay less
- File online. Paper costs $125 instead of $65.
- Check you qualify before choosing the $45 form. A refused claim means paying again.
- If you have many unpublished works, look at the $85 group option.
How we got these numbers
Every fee on this page comes from the US Copyright Office, the agency that sets it. Where we show a total, we only add up the agency's own listed fees so you can see the full amount in one place. We do not add our own guesses, and lawyer or filing service fees are not included. Fees can change, so check the agency's website before you pay. We last checked on September 26, 2026.
Common questions
How much does it cost to copyright something?
$45 or $65 online, or $125 on paper.
Who can use the $45 application?
One author who owns one work that was not made for hire.
Are copyright fees going up?
The Copyright Office proposed higher fees in March 2026, but the current fees still apply.