Nice Classification: The Complete Reference for All 45 Trademark Classes

Every trademark application in every major country starts with the same question: which Nice class? Pick wrong and your registration protects nothing. Pick too few and a competitor files the same mark in the class you missed. This is the reference guide that makes that decision simple.

Whether you're a founder registering your first trademark, an attorney advising a client on international filing strategy, or a developer building tools that handle trademark data, Nice classification is the system you need to understand. It determines what your trademark actually covers, how much you pay to file, and which existing marks could block your application.

What Is Nice Classification?

Nice classification is the international system for categorizing goods and services in trademark registrations. It divides everything that can be sold or offered into 45 classes: 34 for goods and 11 for services. When you file a trademark, you select the classes that match what your business actually sells. That selection defines the legal scope of your protection.

The system originates from the Nice Agreement, signed in 1957 in Nice, France, and administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Over 150 countries use it today, making it the closest thing to a universal language that trademark offices share.

The USPTO uses it. The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) uses it. WIPO's own Madrid Protocol system for international filings uses it. If you're filing a trademark anywhere in the world, you're almost certainly working with Nice classification.

WIPO publishes new editions every three years, with annual revisions in between. The current edition, often referenced as Nice classification 2026, is the 13th (NCL 13-2026), which took effect on January 1, 2026. Each update can reclassify specific goods or services, add new entries for emerging product categories, or refine class descriptions. The 13th edition introduced several notable reclassifications: corrective eyeglasses moved from Class 9 to Class 10, rescue and safety products moved from Class 9 to Class 12, and AI-as-a-service was formally incorporated into Class 42.

Why does this matter? Three reasons.

For lawyers and paralegals, Nice classification determines filing strategy. A single-class filing at the USPTO costs $350 in government fees. Each additional class adds that same amount. Advising a client to file in three classes versus one is a cost and coverage decision that starts with understanding what each class protects.

For founders and brand managers, your Nice class selection defines what your trademark actually covers. A registration in Class 9 (software) doesn't protect your consulting services. If a competitor uses your brand name for consulting, your Class 9 registration won't stop them. Understanding the classes up front prevents gaps that are expensive to fix later.

For developers building trademark tools, the nice_classes field appears in every trademark record. Search filtering, clearance logic, monitoring alerts, and filing workflows all depend on classification data. You can't build useful trademark software without it.

How Nice Classification Works

The 45 trademark classes split into two groups. Classes 1 through 34 cover goods: physical products, downloadable software, chemicals, clothing, food. Classes 35 through 45 cover services: advertising, education, legal services, software-as-a-service, restaurant services.

Each class has a heading, which is a short summary of what the class covers. Class 42's heading, for example, reads "Scientific and technological services and research and design relating thereto." But the heading is a summary, not a boundary. You don't file under a heading. You file with a specific description of your goods or services within that class.

This is where WIPO's alphabetical list comes in. It contains over 10,000 pre-approved terms that describe specific goods and services, each assigned to a class. "Downloadable mobile applications" is a pre-approved term in Class 9. "Providing temporary accommodation" is a pre-approved term in Class 43. Using terms from this list speeds up examination because the trademark office doesn't need to evaluate whether your description fits the class. Custom descriptions are allowed, but they can trigger an office action asking for clarification, which adds weeks or months to your timeline.

Filing across multiple classes is common. Most SaaS companies file in at least 2 to 3 classes. A company that makes a mobile app with a cloud backend and sells branded merchandise might file in Class 9 (the app), Class 42 (the cloud service), and Class 25 (the merchandise). Each additional class adds $350 in government fees at the USPTO, and most other offices follow a similar per-class fee structure.

Edition updates can shift where specific goods and services are classified. When WIPO publishes a new edition, a product that was in one class might move to another. The 13th edition moved corrective eyeglasses from Class 9 to Class 10, for example. Existing registrations aren't retroactively reclassified, but new applications must follow the current edition. This matters if you're working with historical trademark data: a record from 2005 reflects the classification rules of 2005, not today's.

Nice Classification List: Goods (Classes 1-34)

This is the complete trademark classes list for goods. For each class, you'll find what it covers, key inclusions, and the most common edge cases. These descriptions go beyond the official headings to explain what actually ends up in each class.

Class 1: Chemicals

Chemical products for industrial, scientific, and agricultural use. This includes adhesives for industrial purposes, fertilizers, fire-extinguishing compositions, and unprocessed plastics. Photo-developing chemicals fall here too. If it's a raw chemical or industrial compound, it's probably Class 1. Household cleaning chemicals go in Class 3, not here.

Class 2: Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers

Paints, coatings, and preservatives for wood and metal. Also includes colorants for food and beverages (dyes, not spices), artists' paints, and anti-rust preparations. Cosmetic paints like nail polish go in Class 3.

Class 3: Cosmetics and Cleaning Preparations

Soaps, perfumes, essential oils (when used for cosmetic purposes), cosmetics, hair lotions, dentifrices, and non-medicated toiletries. Also covers household cleaning and polishing preparations, laundry detergent, and abrasive cloths. The line between Class 3 and Class 5 is "medicated." If a cream treats a skin condition, it's Class 5. If it moisturizes, it's Class 3.

Class 4: Industrial Oils and Fuels

Lubricants, industrial greases, motor fuel, illuminants (candles, wicks), and biofuels. Cooking oils go in Class 29, not here. If it powers an engine or lubricates a machine, Class 4. If it goes on a salad, Class 29.

Class 5: Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceutical and veterinary products, dietary supplements, baby food, medical plasters, disinfectants, and pest control preparations. Anything sold with a medical purpose typically lands here. Non-medicated skincare goes to Class 3. Vitamins marketed as dietary supplements belong here.

Class 6: Common Metals

Metals and their alloys, building materials of metal, hardware of metal, pipes, safes, and metal ores. Includes items like metal chains, metal fittings, and metal wire. If the product is primarily made of common metal and used in construction or industry, it's Class 6. Precious metals go to Class 14.

Class 7: Machines and Motors

Machine tools, motors and engines (except for vehicles), agricultural implements, and incubators for eggs. Covers washing machines, 3D printers, generators, and industrial robots. The distinction: if it has a motor and isn't a vehicle, it's probably Class 7. Hand-operated tools (no motor) go in Class 8.

Class 8: Hand Tools

Hand-operated tools and implements. Knives, forks, spoons (cutlery), razors, and scissors. The key distinction from Class 7: no motor, no engine. A hand-cranked coffee grinder is Class 8. An electric coffee grinder is Class 7.

Class 9: Software, Electronics, and Scientific Instruments

This is the most-filed class at the USPTO, and it's easy to see why. Class 9 covers downloadable software, mobile apps, computer hardware, electronic publications, smart glasses, measuring instruments, safety helmets, and fire-extinguishing apparatus. It's enormous.

For tech companies, the critical items are: downloadable software applications, computer programs (downloadable), electronic data carriers, and pre-recorded media. If your software is downloaded or installed on a device, it belongs here. If your software runs as a hosted service, that's Class 42.

Most modern software companies file in both Class 9 and Class 42.

As of the 13th edition (NCL 13-2026), corrective eyeglasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses moved from Class 9 to Class 10. Smart glasses and other electronic optical instruments remain here.

Class 10: Medical Devices

Surgical, medical, dental, and veterinary instruments and apparatus. Includes prosthetics, hearing aids, massage apparatus, supportive bandages, baby bottles, and (as of NCL 13-2026) corrective eyeglasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses. The boundary with Class 5: if it's a substance you consume or apply, it's Class 5. If it's a device, it's Class 10.

Class 11: Lighting, Heating, Cooking Apparatus

Installations and apparatus for lighting, heating, cooling, steam generating, cooking, drying, ventilating, and water supply. Covers everything from flashlights to industrial furnaces, refrigerators, air conditioning units, and water purification systems. Kitchen appliances that cook food land here, not in Class 7 (unless they're primarily motors).

Class 12: Vehicles

Land vehicles, aircraft, and watercraft. Includes automobiles, bicycles, tires, motors and engines for land vehicles, and baby carriages. Vehicle parts and accessories are included. Motors for vehicles go here, not Class 7.

Class 13: Firearms and Explosives

Firearms, ammunition, projectiles, and explosives. Also includes fireworks and flares. A narrow class, but strictly defined.

Class 14: Jewelry and Watches

Precious metals, jewelry, precious stones, horological instruments (clocks, watches), and chronometric instruments. Costume jewelry is included. The distinction from Class 6: precious metals and their alloys go here; common metals go in Class 6.

Class 15: Musical Instruments

Musical instruments, music stands, and mechanical pianos. Sheet music goes in Class 16 (printed matter). Music recordings go in Class 9 (electronic media). This class is only the physical instruments.

Class 16: Paper and Printed Matter

Paper, cardboard, books, photographs, stationery, packaging materials of paper or cardboard, printing type, and teaching materials. Includes printed publications, calendars, posters, and greeting cards. Digital publications go in Class 9.

Class 17: Rubber and Insulation Materials

Rubber, gutta-percha, gum, asbestos, mica, and plastics in semi-processed form. Also covers packing and insulating materials, flexible hoses (non-metallic). This is the "raw materials that aren't metal or fabric" class.

Class 18: Leather Goods and Luggage

Leather and imitations of leather, trunks, suitcases, umbrellas, parasols, and walking sticks. Also covers animal skins, hides, and bags (handbags, backpacks, briefcases). Clothing made of leather goes in Class 25, not here.

Class 19: Building Materials (Non-Metal)

Building materials that aren't metal: wood, concrete, cement, glass (for building), asphalt, and stone. Includes transportable buildings and monuments. Metal building materials go in Class 6.

Class 20: Furniture

Furniture, mirrors, picture frames, and containers not of metal. Includes mattresses, pillows, and decorative items of wood, wax, or plaster. Office furniture goes here. The Class 20/Class 11 edge case: a decorative lamp is Class 11 (lighting apparatus), but the lamp's wooden base as a standalone furniture item would be Class 20.

Class 21: Household Utensils

Household or kitchen utensils and containers. Glassware, porcelain, ceramics, brushes, and cleaning articles. Includes cooking pots, drinking glasses, vases, and toothbrushes. Electric kitchen appliances go in Class 7 or 11, not here.

Class 22: Ropes, Textiles (Raw)

Ropes, string, nets, tents, awnings, tarpaulins, sails, and bags for packaging. Raw fibrous textile materials and padding. This is the "pre-fabric" class. Once it's woven into fabric, it goes to Class 24. Once it's sewn into clothing, Class 25.

Class 23: Yarns and Threads

Yarns and threads for textile use. A narrow class covering the intermediate materials between raw fiber (Class 22) and finished fabric (Class 24).

Class 24: Fabrics and Textile Goods

Textiles and substitutes for textiles. Includes bed covers, tablecloths, curtains, and household textile articles. Fabric by the yard goes here. Once it's shaped into clothing, it moves to Class 25.

Class 25: Clothing, Footwear, Headgear

One of the most commonly filed classes. Covers all clothing, shoes, and hats. Includes athletic wear, uniforms, and costumes. Branded merchandise (t-shirts, caps) filed by non-fashion companies lands here. Leather clothing is Class 25, not Class 18.

Class 26: Lace, Ribbons, Haberdashery

Lace, embroidery, ribbons, braids, buttons, hooks, pins, needles, and artificial flowers. Sewing notions and accessories. A narrow class for trimming and accessory items.

Class 27: Carpets and Rugs

Floor coverings, carpets, rugs, mats, linoleum, and wall hangings (non-textile). Textile wall hangings go in Class 24.

Class 28: Games, Toys, and Sporting Goods

Games, toys, playthings, video game apparatus, sporting articles, and Christmas decorations. Covers board games, playing cards, fitness equipment, and fishing tackle. Downloadable video games go in Class 9; the physical console or controller stays in Class 28.

Class 29: Meat, Fish, and Preserved Foods

Meat, fish, poultry, game, and preserved, frozen, dried, or cooked fruits and vegetables. Also covers dairy products (milk, cheese, butter), edible oils and fats, and prepared meals based on these ingredients. Fresh fruits and vegetables go in Class 31, not here.

Class 30: Coffee, Flour, and Confectionery

Coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, rice, flour, bread, pastries, confectionery, chocolate, ice cream, honey, seasonings, and sauces. Pantry staples and prepared foods that aren't meat/dairy-based. The Class 29/30 boundary: if the primary ingredient is meat, fish, or dairy, it's Class 29. If it's grain, sugar, or spice-based, it's Class 30.

Class 31: Agricultural Products and Live Animals

Raw agricultural products, live animals, fresh fruits and vegetables, seeds, natural plants, and animal feed. Unprocessed grains and malt. Once the food is processed, dried, or cooked, it moves to Class 29 or 30.

Class 32: Beers and Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Beers, mineral water, fruit juices, soft drinks, energy drinks, and non-alcoholic cocktails. The beer exception: beer is the only alcoholic beverage in Class 32. All other alcoholic drinks go in Class 33.

Class 33: Alcoholic Beverages (Except Beer)

Wines, spirits, liqueurs, and cocktails. Covers all alcoholic beverages except beer (which stays in Class 32). A common edge case: hard seltzer can fall in Class 32 or 33 depending on its base and alcohol content.

Class 34: Tobacco and Smokers' Articles

Tobacco and tobacco substitutes, cigarettes, cigars, electronic cigarettes, vaporizers, lighters, and ashtrays. Includes matches. With the growth of vaping products, this class has expanded significantly in recent filings.

Nice Classification List: Services (Classes 35-45)

Service classes are fewer than goods classes but individually much broader. A single service class can cover activities that span entire industries.

Class 35: Advertising and Business Management

The second most-filed class at the USPTO. Class 35 covers advertising, marketing, business management consulting, office functions, retail and wholesale services, data processing for business purposes, and online marketplace services.

If your company helps other businesses run their operations, market their products, or sell through a platform, Class 35 is relevant. E-commerce platforms, digital marketing agencies, business analytics tools, and online retail storefronts all file here. The class is broad enough that it overlaps with many businesses' secondary activities.

Class 36: Insurance and Financial Services

Insurance, banking, real estate, financial advisory services, fundraising, and financial analysis. Covers fintech applications, payment processing services, crowdfunding platforms, and cryptocurrency exchange services. If your product handles money or financial risk, check Class 36.

Class 37: Construction and Repair

Building construction, demolition, repair and maintenance of vehicles, machines, and buildings. Also covers installation services. This class is for the physical work of building and fixing things. Planning and design of buildings go in Class 42.

Class 38: Telecommunications

Broadcasting, transmission, and provision of telecommunications access. Covers internet service providers, streaming platforms (the transmission aspect), and messaging services. The content being streamed is Class 41 (entertainment) or Class 9 (recorded media). The transmission infrastructure is Class 38.

Class 39: Transport and Travel

Transport of goods and people, travel arrangement, packaging and storage. Covers logistics companies, ride-sharing services, freight forwarding, and tour operators. Delta Air Lines files here (transport services), distinct from Delta Faucet in Class 11.

Class 40: Material Treatment and Manufacturing

Treatment of materials: custom manufacturing, printing, food processing for others, textile treatment, and waste treatment. This class covers services where someone processes raw materials on your behalf. If you run a 3D printing service, that's Class 40. If you sell 3D printers, that's Class 7.

Class 41: Education and Entertainment

Education, training, entertainment, and sporting and cultural activities. Covers online courses, publishing, film production, event organization, fitness coaching, and gaming services (the experience, not the software). Universities, media companies, and event platforms file here.

Class 42: Scientific and Technological Services, SaaS

The third most-filed class and critical for any tech company. Class 42 covers software as a service (SaaS), cloud computing, website design, engineering consulting, scientific research, industrial design, and AI-as-a-service.

If your software runs on a server and users access it through a browser or API, the service component belongs in Class 42. The downloadable version of that same software goes in Class 9. Most tech companies file in both.

Class 43: Food and Drink Services

Restaurant services, catering, temporary accommodation (hotels, hostels), and bar services. If you serve food or drink to people, or provide a place to sleep, Class 43. The food itself is Classes 29, 30, or 31 depending on type. The service of preparing and serving it is Class 43.

Class 44: Medical and Veterinary Services

Medical, surgical, veterinary, and hygienic services. Covers telemedicine platforms, dental services, pharmacy services, and health counseling. Also includes agriculture, horticulture, and forestry services. The inclusion of agricultural services alongside medical ones is a historical quirk of the classification system.

Class 45: Legal and Security Services

Legal services, security services, licensing of intellectual property, personal and social services. Covers law firms, private investigation, fire safety consulting, and dating services. Also includes the licensing of software (as distinct from providing the software itself).

Choosing the Right Class for Your Trademark

Start with what you actually sell, not the class headings. The headings are summaries. They don't capture the full scope of what each class covers. A mobile fitness app isn't obviously "scientific instruments" (Class 9), but that's where downloadable software goes.

Here's the process that works, whether you're preparing a trademark application yourself or advising a client.

Step 1: List your actual goods and services. Be specific. Not "technology" but "downloadable mobile application for tracking workout routines" and "providing a cloud-based platform for personal fitness coaching."

Step 2: Search WIPO's alphabetical list. Look up your specific product or service description. WIPO's database at wipo.int assigns each approved term to a class. At the USPTO, the ID Manual is the equivalent resource with pre-approved descriptions.

Step 3: Check for common mistakes. The three most frequent errors:

• Too narrow. Filing only in Class 9 when your SaaS product also needs Class 42. If you don't cover the service component, a competitor could register your brand name for an identical cloud service.
• Too broad. Filing in 6 classes when you only operate in 2. Each class costs money, and maintaining registrations you don't use can lead to cancellation challenges later.
• Missing related classes. A clothing brand files in Class 25 (clothing) but not Class 35 (retail store services). A competitor opens a store with the same name, and the Class 25 registration doesn't cover retail services.

Step 4: Calculate the cost. At the USPTO, the base filing fee is $350 per class. For a typical three-class filing, you're looking at $1,050 in government fees alone, before attorney costs. International filings through the Madrid Protocol charge a basic fee (653 CHF) plus supplemental fees per class. Understanding how much a trademark costs helps you plan which classes are worth the investment.

Industry-Specific Guidance

Technology companies: Classes 9 (downloadable software), 35 (business management, online advertising platforms), and 42 (SaaS, cloud computing). Most tech companies need at least Classes 9 and 42.

E-commerce: Classes 25 (clothing, if applicable), 35 (online retail services, marketplace). Platform operators often add Class 42 for the technology underlying the marketplace.

Food and beverage: Classes 29 (dairy, meat, preserved foods), 30 (coffee, baked goods, sauces), 32 (non-alcoholic drinks), 33 (alcoholic drinks), and 43 (restaurant and bar services). A brewery selling beer in cans and operating a taproom might file in Classes 32 and 43.

Fashion: Classes 18 (handbags, luggage), 25 (clothing, footwear), and 35 (retail store services). Luxury brands often add Class 14 (jewelry) and Class 3 (perfumes). If your brand includes a trademarked logo, the same class selection applies to both the word mark and the design mark.

Professional services: Classes 35 (business consulting), 36 (financial services), 41 (education, training), 42 (technology consulting), and 45 (legal services). A management consulting firm that also offers training programs might file in Classes 35 and 41.

Cross-Class Conflicts and Related Classes

A common misconception: if your trademark is in a different class from someone else's, there's no conflict. That's not always true.

Identical marks can coexist in different classes. DELTA is a registered trademark for airlines (Class 39), faucets (Class 11), and dental products (Class 10). These businesses operate in such different industries that consumers are unlikely to confuse them.

But trademark offices also apply the related goods doctrine. If two marks are identical or similar and the goods or services are related, even in different classes, the examiner may refuse registration. "Related" means consumers might assume the products come from the same source.

Class pairings that examiners watch closely:

• Classes 9 and 42. Software products (Class 9) and software services (Class 42) are considered related. An identical mark in Class 9 for "downloadable project management software" could block your Class 42 application for "cloud-based project management platform."
• Classes 25 and 35. Clothing (Class 25) and retail clothing stores (Class 35) are related. A clothing brand and a retail chain with the same name will likely trigger a conflict.
• Classes 29 and 30. Processed foods overlap frequently. A mark registered for "frozen vegetable products" (Class 29) could conflict with "vegetable-based pasta sauces" (Class 30).
• Classes 41 and 42. Educational services and technological services overlap when the education is about technology. An online coding bootcamp (Class 41) and a SaaS development platform (Class 42) with the same name could conflict.

The practical takeaway: when you run a trademark clearance search, don't limit your search to the exact class you're filing in. Always search related classes. A hit in a related class can be just as problematic as a hit in your target class, and could escalate into a trademark infringement dispute.

Consult a trademark attorney for legal guidance specific to your situation. Cross-class conflict analysis requires evaluating the specific goods, channels of trade, and consumer overlap, and the outcome depends heavily on the facts.

Nice Classification by Country

All 150+ countries that use Nice classification share the same 45 classes, but they differ in how they implement the system. These differences matter when you're filing internationally.

Acceptable descriptions vary by office. The USPTO maintains the Trademark ID Manual, a searchable database of pre-approved goods and services descriptions. The EUIPO uses TMclass, which draws from a harmonized database shared by EU member state offices. A description approved by the USPTO may not be accepted by the EUIPO, and vice versa. When filing in multiple jurisdictions, you often need to tailor your description for each office.

Filing fees per class differ significantly across offices:

The EUIPO's fee structure is notable: the first class is the most expensive, but the second class costs only 50 EUR. This makes multi-class filings at the EUIPO more economical than at the USPTO, where every class costs the same.

Madrid Protocol classification objections are a common pain point for international filers. You file one application through WIPO designating multiple countries, but each designated country examines your classification independently. A description accepted by WIPO's central office might trigger an objection in Japan or Brazil, requiring you to refile or narrow your description in that country. The Madrid system simplifies the process, but it doesn't eliminate classification differences between national offices.

When expanding a filing internationally, always check the local office's classification guidelines before assuming your domestic description will be accepted. The TESS replacement search tools and WIPO's Global Brand Database can help you check existing registrations, but for accepted descriptions, you need each office's own database.

Working with Nice Classification Data via API

If you're building tools that handle trademark data, or if you want to explore the classification system without clicking through WIPO's website, an API can help.

Signa's Classifications endpoint lets you browse all 45 classes and their contents programmatically. List all Nice classes:

curl https://api.signa.so/v1/classifications/nice \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sig_live_..."

import Signa from '@signa-so/sdk';

const signa = new Signa({ apiKey: 'sig_live_...' });
const classes = await signa.classifications.nice.list();

for (const cls of classes.data) {
  console.log(`Class ${cls.number}: ${cls.heading}`);
}

Filter a trademark search by class to find only relevant results. Without class filtering, a common word returns thousands of marks. Narrowing to specific classes gives you actionable data:

curl https://api.signa.so/v1/trademarks/search \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sig_live_..." \
  -d '{
    "mark": { "text": "CloudForge", "strategies": ["exact", "phonetic"] },
    "filters": { "nice_classes": [9, 42] }
  }'

const results = await signa.trademarks.search({
  mark: { text: 'CloudForge', strategies: ['exact', 'phonetic'] },
  filters: { nice_classes: [9, 42] }
});

console.log(`Found ${results.total_count} results in classes 9 and 42`);

This is useful whether you're building a clearance search tool, automating trademark searches, or creating a filing workflow that guides users through class selection. For a deeper look at working with trademark data via API, see the developer's guide to trademark data.

Getting Nice Classification Right

Nice classification isn't glamorous. It's a 70-year-old bureaucratic system for sorting goods and services into numbered categories. But it determines whether your trademark actually protects your business, how much you pay to file, and whether an existing registration blocks your application.

The most expensive classification mistake is the one you discover after filing. A missing class means a gap in your protection. A wrong class means you paid for coverage you don't need. Both are avoidable with the right research up front.

Use WIPO's alphabetical list, the USPTO ID Manual, or the Signa API to verify your class selection before you file. And for anything beyond straightforward classification questions, consult a trademark attorney for legal guidance specific to your situation.

Explore all 45 Nice classes programmatically with the Signa Classifications API. Get your free API key at signa.so.