When filing a trademark application, the Trademark Office will require that you choose at least one international trademark class to identify the types of products or services that you plan to provide under your mark. The classifications help in organizing and categorizing the trademarks for easier management and identification. This article will provide a comprehensive list of the 45 different international classes available to you, with a brief description of the types of products or services that each one covers.
One thing to keep in mind is that the international classifications 1 through 34 all cover products, whereas trademark classes 35 through 45 all cover services. So if you plan to sell a product with your trademark, you should concentrate on trademark classes 1-34. If you plan on providing services instead, you should focus on trademark classes 35-45. (You may also want to check out our explanation on trademarks vs service marks.)
Without further ado, here are the international trademark classes with descriptions and examples of each:
International Trademark Classes for Products:
CLASS 1: CHEMICALS
This first class generally covers chemicals used in industry, science, and photography, as well as in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. Examples of common products found in this class include compost, certain additives for the food industry, potting soil, fertilizers, plant food, soil amendments, fabric protectants, industrial chemicals, and adhesives and glues for industrial and commercial use. It also includes artificial resins and unprocessed plastics.
CLASS 2: PAINTS
This class generally covers paints, colorants, and preparations used for protection against corrosion. Examples of common products found in this class include paints, varnishes, and lacquers; preservatives against rust and against deterioration of wood; colorants; mordants; raw natural resins; metals in foil and powder form for painters, decorators, printers, and artists; dyestuffs for clothing; and colorants for foodstuffs and beverages.
CLASS 3: COSMETICS AND CLEANING PREPARATIONS
This class generally covers cleaning preparations and toilet preparations. Examples of common products found in this class include bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use; cleaning, polishing, scouring, and abrasive preparations; soaps; perfumery, essential oils, cosmetics, and hair lotions; dentifrices; skin care products; and hair care products.
CLASS 4: LUBRICANTS AND FUELS
This class generally covers industrial oils and greases, fuels, and illuminants. Examples of common products found in this class include industrial oils and greases; lubricants; dust absorbing, wetting, and binding compositions; fuels (including motor spirit) and illuminants; and candles and wicks for lighting.
CLASS 5: PHARMACEUTICALS
This class generally covers pharmaceuticals and other preparations for medical or veterinary purposes. Examples of common products found in this class include pharmaceutical and veterinary preparations; sanitary preparations for medical purposes; dietetic food and substances adapted for medical or veterinary use, food for babies; dietary supplements for humans and animals; plasters, materials for dressings; material for stopping teeth, dental wax; disinfectants; preparations for destroying vermin; fungicides, herbicides; sanitary preparations for personal hygiene, other than toiletries; deodorants other than for human beings or for animals; dietary supplements, intended to supplement a normal diet or to have health benefits; meal replacements, dietetic food, and beverages, adapted for medical or veterinary use; and cigarettes without tobacco, for medical purposes.
CLASS 6: METAL GOODS
This class generally covers unwrought and partly wrought common metals as well as simple products made of them. Examples of common products found in this class include common metals and their alloys; metal building materials; transportable buildings of metal; materials of metal for railway tracks; non-electric cables and wires of common metal; ironmongery, small items of metal hardware; pipes and tubes of metal; safes; goods of common metal not included in other classes; ores. Soldering preparations are also included in this class.
CLASS 7: MACHINERY
This class generally covers machines, machine tools, motors, and engines. Examples of common products found in this class include machines and machine tools; motors and engines (except for land vehicles); machine coupling and transmission components (except for land vehicles); agricultural implements other than hand-operated; incubators for eggs; automatic vending machines; parts of motors and engines (of all kinds); and electric cleaning machines and apparatus.
CLASS 8: HAND TOOLS
This class generally covers hand-operated implements used as tools in the respective professions. Examples of common products found in this class include hand tools and implements (hand-operated); cutlery; side arms; razors; cutlery of precious metals; and electric razors and clippers (hand instruments).
CLASS 9: ELECTRICAL AND SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS
This class generally covers electrical and scientific products. Examples of common products found in this class include: scientific, nautical, surveying, photographic, cinematographic, optical, weighing, measuring, signalling, checking (supervision), life-saving and teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus and instruments for conducting, switching, transforming, accumulating, regulating or controlling electricity; apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images; magnetic data carriers, recording discs; compact discs, DVDs and other digital recording media; mechanisms for coin-operated apparatus; cash registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment, computers; computer software; fire-extinguishing apparatus; apparatus and instruments for scientific research in laboratories; apparatus and instruments for controlling ships, such as apparatus and instruments for measuring and for transmitting orders; protractors; punched card office machines; all computer programs and software regardless of recording media or means of dissemination, that is, software recorded on magnetic media or downloaded from a remote computer network.
CLASS 10: MEDICAL APPARATUS
This class generally covers medical apparatus, instruments, and articles. Examples of common products found in this class include surgical, medical, dental, and veterinary apparatus and instruments; artificial limbs, eyes, and teeth; orthopedic articles; suture materials; special furniture for medical use; hygienic rubber articles; and supportive bandages.
CLASS 11: ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL APPARATUS
This class generally covers products that control the environment. Examples of common products found in this class include apparatus for lighting, heating, steam generating, cooking, refrigerating, drying, ventilating, water supply, and sanitary purposes; air conditioning apparatus; bedwarmers, hot water bottles, warming pans, electric or non-electric; electrically heated cushions (pads) and blankets, not for medical purposes; electric kettles; and electric cooking utensils.
CLASS 12: VEHICLES
This class generally covers vehicular products. Examples of common products found in this class include vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air, or water; motors and engines for land vehicles; couplings and transmission components for land vehicles; and air cushion vehicles.
CLASS 13: FIREARMS
This class generally covers firearms and pyrotechnical products. Examples of common products found in this class include firearms; ammunition and projectiles; explosives; and fireworks.
CLASS 14: JEWELRY
This class generally covers precious metals, goods in precious metals not included in other classes, and, in general, jewelry, clocks, and watches. Examples of common products found in this class include precious metals and their alloys and goods in precious metals or coated therewith; jewelry, precious stones; horological and chronometric instruments; imitation jewelry and jewelry of precious metal and stones; cuff links and tie pins.
CLASS 15: MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
This class generally covers all types of musical instruments. Examples of common products found in this class include pianos and their accessories; musical boxes; and electrical and electronic musical instruments.
CLASS 16: PAPER GOODS AND PRINTED MATTER
This class generally covers paper, goods made from paper, and office supplies. Examples of common products found in this class include, paper, cardboard, and goods made from these materials; printed matter; bookbinding material; photographs; stationery; adhesives for stationery or household purposes; artists’ materials; paint brushes; typewriters and office supplies (except furniture); instructional and teaching materials; plastic materials for packaging; books and manuals. Office requisites and printing blocks are also included in this class.
CLASS 17: RUBBER GOODS
This class generally covers electrical, thermal, and acoustic insulating materials and plastics, for use in manufacturing in the form of sheets, blocks, and rods. Examples of common products found in this class include rubber, gutta-percha, gum, asbestos, mica, and goods made from these materials; plastics in extruded form for use in manufacture; packing, stopping, and insulating materials; flexible pipes, not of metal. Synthetic materials are also categorized under this class.
CLASS 18: LEATHER GOODS
This class generally covers leather, leather imitations, travel goods not included in other classes, and saddlery. Examples of common products found in this class include leather and imitations of leather, and goods made of these materials; animal skins, hides; trunks and traveling bags; umbrellas and parasols; walking sticks; whips, harnesses, and saddlery. Bags for wrapping also fall under this classification.
CLASS 19: NONMETALLIC BUILDING MATERIALS
This class generally covers non-metallic building materials. Examples of common products found in this class include building materials; non-metallic rigid pipes for building; asphalt, pitch, and bitumen; non-metallic transportable buildings; monuments, not of metal; semi-worked woods (for example, beams, planks, panels); veneers; building glass (for example, floor slabs, glass tiles); glass granules for marking out roads; letter boxes of masonry. Materials for building, such as concrete and stone, are also included.
CLASS 20: FURNITURE AND ARTICLES NOT OTHERWISE CLASSIFIED
This class generally covers furniture and its parts and plastic goods, not included in other classes. Examples of common products found in this class include furniture, mirrors, picture frames; goods of wood, cork, reed, cane, wicker, horn, bone, ivory, whalebone, shell, amber, mother-of-pearl, meerschaum and substitutes for all these materials, or of plastics; metal furniture and furniture for camping; bedding (for example, mattresses, spring mattresses, pillows); looking glasses and furnishing or toilet mirrors; registration number plates not of metal; letter boxes not of metal or masonry.
CLASS 21: HOUSEWARES AND GLASS
This class generally covers small, hand-operated utensils and apparatus for household and kitchen use as well as toilet utensils, glassware, and articles in porcelain. Examples of common products found in this class include household or kitchen utensils and containers; combs and sponges; brushes; brush-making materials; articles for cleaning purposes; steel wool; unworked or semi-worked glass; glassware, porcelain and earthenware; utensils and containers for household and kitchen use, for example, kitchen utensils, pails, pans of iron, of aluminum, of plastics or of other materials, small hand-operated apparatus for mincing, grinding, pressing, etc.; electric combs; electric toothbrushes; dish stands and decanter stands.
CLASS 22: CORDAGE AND FIBERS
This class generally covers rope and sail manufacture products, padding and stuffing materials, and raw fibrous textile materials. Examples of common products found in this class include ropes, string, nets, tents, awnings, tarpaulins, sails, sacks and bags (not included in other classes); padding and stuffing materials (except rubber or plastics); raw fibrous textile materials; cords and twines in natural or artificial textile fibers, paper or plastics.
CLASS 23: YARNS AND THREADS
This class generally covers yarns and threads, for textile use. Threads for textile use are essential in various manufacturing processes.
CLASS 24: FABRICS
This class generally covers textiles (piece goods) and textile covers for household use. Examples of common products found in this class include: textiles and textile goods, not included in other classes; bed covers; table covers; and bedding linen.
CLASS 25: CLOTHING
This class generally covers clothing, footwear, and headgear. This also includes clothing for animals.
CLASS 26: FANCY GOODS
This class generally covers dressmakers’ articles. Examples of common products found in this class include lace and embroidery, ribbons and braids; buttons, hooks and eyes, pins and needles; and artificial flowers. Hair decorations and false hair are part of this class.
CLASS 27: FLOOR COVERINGS
This class generally covers products intended to be added as furnishings to previously constructed floors and walls. Examples of common products found in this class include carpets, rugs, mats and matting, linoleum and other materials for covering existing floors; and wall hangings (non-textile).
CLASS 28: TOYS AND SPORTING GOODS
This class generally covers toys and sporting goods. Examples of common products found in this class include games and playthings; gymnastic and sporting articles not included in other classes; decorations for Christmas trees; amusement and game apparatus adapted for use with an external display screen or monitor; fishing tackle; and equipment for various sports and games.
CLASS 29: MEATS AND PROCESSED FOODS
This class generally covers foodstuffs of animal origin as well as vegetables and other horticultural comestible products that are prepared for consumption or conservation. Examples of common products found in this class include meat, fish, poultry, and game; meat extracts; preserved, frozen, dried, and cooked fruits and vegetables; jellies, jams, compotes; eggs; milk and milk products; edible oils and fats; and milk beverages.
CLASS 30: STAPLE FOODS
This class generally covers foodstuffs of plant origin prepared for consumption or conservation as well as auxiliaries intended for the improvement of the flavor of food. Examples of common products found in this class include coffee, tea, cocoa, and artificial coffee; rice; tapioca and sago; flour and preparations made from cereals; bread, pastry, and confectionery; ices; sugar, honey, treacle; yeast, baking powder; salt; mustard; vinegar, sauces (condiments); spices; ice; beverages with coffee, cocoa, chocolate or tea base; cereals prepared for human consumption (for example, oat flakes and those made of other cereals).
CLASS 31: NATURAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
This class generally covers land products not having been subjected to any form of preparation for consumption, live animals and plants as well as foodstuffs for animals. Examples of common products found in this class include: grains and agricultural, horticultural, and forestry products not included in other classes; live animals; fresh fruits and vegetables; seeds; natural plants and flowers; foodstuffs for animals; malt; raw woods; raw cereals; fertilized eggs for hatching; and live mollusca and crustacea. Fresh herbs are also categorized under this class.
CLASS 32: LIGHT BEVERAGES
This class generally covers non-alcoholic beverages, as well as beer. Examples of common products found in this class include beers; mineral and aerated waters and other non-alcoholic beverages; fruit beverages and fruit juices; syrups and other preparations for making beverages; and de-alcoholised beverages.
CLASS 33: WINES AND SPIRITS
This class generally covers wines and spirits. Examples of common products found in this class include all alcoholic beverages (except beers).
CLASS 34: SMOKERS’ ARTICLES
This class generally covers tobacco, smokers’ articles, matches, and tobacco substitutes.
International Trademark Classes for Services:
CLASS 35: ADVERTISING AND BUSINESS
This class generally covers services rendered by persons or organizations principally with the object of (1) help in the working or management of a commercial undertaking, or (2) help in the management of the business affairs or commercial functions of an industrial or commercial enterprise, as well as services rendered by advertising establishments primarily undertaking communications to the public, declarations or announcements by all means of diffusion and concerning all kinds of goods or services. Examples of common services found in this class include advertising; business management; business administration; office functions; the bringing together, for the benefit of others, of a variety of goods (excluding the transport thereof), enabling customers to conveniently view and purchase those goods; such services may be provided by retail stores, wholesale outlets, through mail order catalogs or by means of electronic media, for example, through web sites or television shopping programs; services consisting of the registration, transcription, composition, compilation, or systematization of written communications and registrations, and also the compilation of mathematical or statistical data; services of advertising agencies and services such as the distribution of prospectuses, directly or through the post, or the distribution of samples. This Class may refer to advertising in connection with other services, such as those concerning bank loans or advertising by radio.
CLASS 36: INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL
This class generally covers services rendered in financial and monetary affairs and services rendered in relation to insurance contracts of all kinds. Examples of common services found in this class include: insurance; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs; services relating to financial or monetary affairs comprise the following: (a) services of all the banking establishments, or institutions connected with them such as exchange brokers or clearing services; (b) services of credit institutions other than banks such as co-operative credit associations, individual financial companies, lenders, etc.; (c) services of “investment trusts,” of holding companies; (d) services of brokers dealing in shares and property; (e) services connected with monetary affairs vouched for by trustees; (f) services rendered in connection with the issue of travellers’ cheques and letters of credit; hire or lease-purchase financing; services of realty administrators of buildings, i.e., services of letting or valuation, or financing; services dealing with insurance such as services rendered by agents or brokers engaged in insurance, services rendered to insured, and insurance underwriting services. This category is essential for financial services.
CLASS 37: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR
This class generally covers services rendered by contractors or subcontractors in the construction or making of permanent buildings, as well as services rendered by persons or organizations engaged in the restoration of objects to their original condition or in their preservation without altering their physical or chemical properties. Examples of common services found in this class include: building construction; repair; installation services; services relating to the construction of buildings, roads, bridges, dams or transmission lines and services of undertakings specializing in the field of construction such as those of painters, plumbers, heating installers or roofers; services auxiliary to construction services like inspections of construction plans; services of shipbuilding; services consisting of hiring of tools or building materials; repair services, i.e., services which undertake to put any object into good condition after wear, damage, deterioration or partial destruction (restoration of an existing building or another object that has become imperfect and is to be restored to its original condition); various repair services such as those in the fields of electricity, furniture, instruments, tools, etc.; services of maintenance for preserving an object in its original condition without changing any of its properties. Storage of materials used in construction is an integral part of this class.
CLASS 38: TELECOMMUNICATIONS
This class generally covers services allowing at least one person to communicate with another by a sensory means. Such services include those that: (1) allow one person to talk to another, (2) transmit messages from one person to another, and (3) place a person in oral or visual communication with another (radio and television). Examples of common services found in this class include telecommunications and services which consist essentially of the diffusion of radio or television programs.
CLASS 39: TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE
This class generally covers services rendered in transporting people or goods from one place to another (by rail, road, water, air, or pipeline) and services necessarily connected with such transport, as well as services relating to the storing of goods in a warehouse or other building for their preservation or guarding. Examples of common services found in this class include transport; packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement; services rendered by companies exploiting stations, bridges, rail-road ferries, etc., used by the transporter; services connected with the hiring of transport vehicles; services connected with maritime tugs, unloading, the functioning of ports and docks and the salvaging of wrecked ships and their cargoes; services connected with the packaging and parceling of goods before dispatch; services consisting of information about journeys or the transport of goods by brokers and tourist agencies, information relating to tariffs, timetables and methods of transport; services relating to the inspection of vehicles or goods before transport.
CLASS 40: TREATMENT OF MATERIALS
This class generally covers services not included in other classes, rendered by the mechanical or chemical processing or transformation of objects or inorganic or organic substances. Examples of common services found in this class include treatment of materials; services relating to the transformation of an object or substance and any process involving a change in its essential properties (for example, dyeing a garment); consequently, a maintenance service, although usually in Class 37, is included in Class 40 if it entails such a change (for example, the chroming of motor vehicle bumpers); services of material treatment which may be present during the production of any substance or object other than a building; for example, services which involve cutting, shaping, polishing by abrasion or metal coating.
CLASS 41: EDUCATION AND ENTERTAINMENT
This class generally covers services rendered by persons or institutions in the development of the mental faculties of persons or animals, as well as services intended to entertain or engage the attention. Examples of common services found in this class include education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities; services consisting of all forms of education of persons or training of animals; services having the basic aim of the entertainment, amusement, or recreation of people; presentation of works of visual art or literature to the public for cultural or educational purposes.
CLASS 42: COMPUTER AND SCIENTIFIC
This class generally covers services provided by persons, individually or collectively, in relation to the theoretical and practical aspects of complex fields of activities; such services are provided by members of professions such as chemists, physicists, engineers, computer programmers, etc. Examples of common services found in this class include scientific and technological services and research and design relating thereto; industrial analysis and research services; design and development of computer hardware and software; the services of engineers who undertake evaluations, estimates, research, and reports in the scientific and technological fields; scientific research services for medical purposes.
CLASS 43: HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS
This class generally covers services provided by persons or establishments whose aim is to prepare food and drink for consumption and services provided to obtain bed and board in hotels, boarding houses, or other establishments providing temporary accommodation. Examples of common services found in this class include services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation; reservation services for travelers’ accommodation, particularly through travel agencies or brokers; and boarding for animals.
CLASS 44: MEDICAL, BEAUTY AND AGRICULTURAL
This class generally covers medical care, hygienic and beauty care given by persons or establishments to human beings and animals; it also includes services relating to the fields of agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. Examples of common services found in this class include medical services; veterinary services; hygienic and beauty care for human beings or animals; agriculture, horticulture, and forestry services; medical analysis services relating to the treatment of persons (such as x-ray examinations and taking of blood samples); artificial insemination services; pharmacy advice; animal breeding; services relating to the growing of plants such as gardening; services relating to floral art such as floral compositions as well as garden design.
CLASS 45: PERSONAL AND LEGAL
This class generally covers personal and legal services. Examples of common services found in this class include legal services; security services for the protection of property and individuals; personal and social services rendered by others to meet the needs of individuals; services rendered by lawyers to individuals, groups of individuals, organizations, and enterprises; investigation and surveillance services relating to the safety of persons and entities; services provided to individuals in relation with social events, such as social escort services, matrimonial agencies, funeral services.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully, this article has provided a useful overview of all of the different international trademark classes available to all trademark applicants. If you have any questions about selecting the appropriate classes for your trademark application, please feel free to call us at 1-866-618-2517 or contact us online.
