Keeping a patent alive costs up to $14,470 in maintenance fees
Utility patents need three maintenance payments to stay in force. At the regular rate they are $2,150 at 3.5 years, $4,040 at 7.5 years and $8,280 at 11.5 years. That is $14,470 in total, $5,788 for a small entity or $2,894 for a micro entity.
Maintenance fees (regular / small / micro)
| Due at 3.5 years | $2,150 regular / $860 small / $430 micro |
|---|---|
| Due at 7.5 years | $4,040 regular / $1,616 small / $808 micro |
| Due at 11.5 years | $8,280 regular / $3,312 small / $1,656 micro |
| Late payment within six months, each | $540 regular / $216 small / $108 micro |
| Petition for delayed payment, up to one year late | $2,260 regular / $904 small / $452 micro |
| Petition for delayed payment, over one year late | $3,000 regular / $1,200 small / $600 micro |
| All three, regular | $14,470 |
|---|---|
| All three, small entity | $5,788 |
| All three, micro entity | $2,894 |
Pay within the six-month late window and you add a surcharge. After that, a patent expires unless a petition to accept late payment is granted. Source: USPTO fee schedule, effective January 19, 2025, last revised August 14, 2026.
What this price covers
Maintenance fees rise over time on purpose. The USPTO charges more as a patent gets older, so owners drop patents they no longer need.
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.
- Timing. Late payments add $108 to $540 or more.
Ways to pay less
- Diary all three due dates the day the patent is granted.
- Before each payment, ask if the patent still earns its keep. Many owners let weak patents lapse.
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 are patent maintenance fees?
$2,150, $4,040 and $8,280 at the regular rate.
What is the total?
$14,470 regular, $5,788 small, $2,894 micro.
What if I pay late?
Within six months, add a surcharge of $108 to $540.