Two numbers decide what you pay: how many classes you file, and how clean the application is. Everything else in a Chinese trademark quote is either the government fee — public, fixed, identical at every agency — or the agency's own charge for search, filing and shepherding the file.
The short answer
For one mark in one class, filed electronically with a clean goods list, budget US$420–460 all in: roughly US$390 in agency fees plus the RMB 270 official fee (about US$38). Three classes with the Chinese-character version lands around US$1,600–1,800, because each class and each version is a separate application.
The official fees, in full
These are set by the state and have not changed since the 2019 fee reduction. They are the same whether you file through us, through a Shenzhen agency or through a law firm in Shanghai.
| Item | Amount (RMB) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application, electronic, per class | 270 | Covers up to 10 goods or services in that class |
| Each item beyond 10, per class | 27 | Charged per extra item, per class |
| Application, paper filing | 300 | Rare now; electronic filing is standard |
| Renewal, per class | 500 | Every 10 years, unlimited renewals |
| Late renewal surcharge | 250 | Within the 6-month grace period after expiry |
| Name or address change, per mark | 150 | Cheap now, expensive to skip later |
Fees are indicative and set by CNIPA; we bill them at cost with the official receipt attached.
What the agency fee buys
Our single-class filing is US$390. That covers a search with a written read-out, class and goods selection, preparing and lodging the application, the power of attorney, English summaries of every notice CNIPA issues, and monitoring to the certificate. The official fee sits on top at cost.
Across the market, agency fees for a straightforward Chinese filing run from about US$150 to US$600 per class. Below US$200 usually means filing only, with every later event charged separately. Above US$500 you are normally paying for a foreign law firm's China desk rather than for better work on the file.
| What you are buying | Typical range (US$) | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Search and class strategy | included / 0–120 | The cheapest way to avoid a US$300 refusal |
| Filing and POA handling | 150–350 | Includes checking the goods wording CNIPA accepts |
| Chinese-character version | 250–450 | Separate mark, separate official fee — and the name customers actually use |
| Office-action response | 250–500 | Most refusals are survivable; the 15-day clock is not |
| Opposition against a squatter | 800–1,500 | Cheaper than buying the mark back later |
The five things that move the number
- Classes. Each one is a separate application at RMB 270 official plus agency fee. Three classes is the practical minimum for a consumer brand.
- The Chinese-character version. If Chinese customers, staff or marketplace listings use a Chinese name for your brand, that name needs its own registration. It is the single most commonly skipped item and the one squatters exploit most.
- Items beyond ten. RMB 27 each. Not a reason to trim a list down to a mark that no longer covers your product, but worth knowing.
- Refusals. A response costs money and a review costs more. A search that flags the conflict before filing is what keeps this line at zero.
- Who files. Filing through a Madrid designation adds your home office's fee before CNIPA sees the file; a direct CNIPA filing usually costs less for a single country.
How China compares
Indicative official fees for a single class: China RMB 270 (about US$38), the United States US$350 per class, the European Union from €850 for the first class. China is the cheapest of the three by a wide margin — which is precisely why filing early costs so little and filing late costs so much.
Costs that are not in the quote — and should be
- Notarisation and legalisation: not required for a straightforward Chinese trademark application. If someone quotes for it, ask what document they think needs it.
- Translation: the goods list and the applicant's name must be in Chinese. This should be inside the agency fee, not a surprise line.
- Class 35: if you sell through marketplaces or run a store, you may need the retail-services class on top of your product class. It is the most contested class in China.
- Watching: an annual register watch in your classes costs a fraction of an opposition and is how most conflicts are caught in time.
What our quote looks like
A written quote, in English, sent before anything is filed: the classes we recommend and why, the official fee per class, our fee per class, and every optional item priced separately. If the search turns up a blocking mark we tell you before you pay, not after.
Frequently asked
Is the official fee the same at every agency?
Yes. The CNIPA application fee is set by the state and identical everywhere: RMB 270 per class for an electronic filing covering up to ten items, plus RMB 27 for each item beyond ten. Any quote that bundles it into a vague 'all-in' number is hiding the one part of the bill you can verify yourself.
Why do some agencies quote US$99 per class?
Usually because the price covers filing only. Office-action responses, the Chinese-character version of the mark, translation of notices and post-registration monitoring are billed separately when they become unavoidable, and a refusal is when you have the least leverage to negotiate.
Do I pay per class or per mark?
Both. China is one mark, one class: a wordmark used on clothing, cosmetics and retail services needs three applications and three official fees. Adding a Chinese-character version is a fourth application.
Are there any recurring costs after registration?
Renewal every ten years at RMB 500 per class, with a six-month grace period at a RMB 250 surcharge. Optional but sensible: a register watch in your classes, which is how most squatter filings are caught while they can still be opposed cheaply.
Can I claim the official fee back if the application is refused?
No. The official fee is not refundable, and a refusal does not return it. That is the real argument for a proper search before filing rather than after.
Get a costed quote for your mark, not a range
Send the brand name and the categories you sell in. We run a free CNIPA search, tell you how many classes you actually need, and send a written quote with official fees shown separately — usually within 48 hours.