A design patent costs $520 to $2,600 in USPTO fees
A design patent protects how a product looks. Filing takes three fees, filing, search and examination, which total $1,300 regular, $520 small entity or $260 micro entity. If allowed, the issue fee adds the same again: $1,300, $520 or $260.
Design patent fees (regular / small / micro)
| Basic filing fee | $300 regular / $120 small / $60 micro |
|---|---|
| Search fee | $300 regular / $120 small / $60 micro |
| Examination fee | $700 regular / $280 small / $140 micro |
| Issue fee (if allowed) | $1,300 regular / $520 small / $260 micro |
| Each extra 50 sheets over 100 | $450 regular / $180 small / $90 micro |
| Filing, search and exam, regular | $1,300 |
|---|---|
| Filing, search and exam, micro | $260 |
| Through issue, regular | $2,600 |
| Through issue, small | $1,040 |
| Through issue, micro | $520 |
The USPTO schedule lists no maintenance fees for design patents. Source: USPTO fee schedule, effective January 19, 2025, last revised August 14, 2026.
What this price covers
A utility patent covers how something works. A design patent covers only its looks, which is why the fees are set differently.
What changes your price
- Your fee level. Small entities pay 40 percent of the regular fee and micro entities pay 20 percent, if they qualify.
Ways to pay less
- Check small or micro entity status before paying the regular fee.
How we got these numbers
Every fee on this page comes from the USPTO fee schedule. Each fee has three levels: the regular fee, the small entity fee and the micro entity fee. Small and micro entity status have their own rules, set out in 37 CFR 1.27 and 1.29. The USPTO says a false small or micro entity claim can bring a penalty of at least three times the fee that was not paid. Where we show a total, we only add up the USPTO's own fees. We do not add our own guesses, and patent attorney or agent fees are not included. We last checked the schedule on September 26, 2026.
Common questions
How much is a design patent?
$2,600 in USPTO fees through issue at the regular rate, $1,040 small, $520 micro.
Do design patents have maintenance fees?
The USPTO fee schedule lists none.