The complete list of all 45 trademark classes under the Nice Classification — 34 for goods and 11 for services — with what each covers, how to choose the right class for your business, and what multi-class filing costs.
A trade mark is not protected in the abstract. It is protected for particular goods or services, grouped into 45 classes under the Nice Classification — classes 1 to 34 for goods and classes 35 to 45 for services. Filing in the wrong class produces a registration that does not cover what you actually sell.
Goods — Classes 1 to 34
| Class | Covers |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chemicals for industry, science and agriculture; unprocessed plastics; manures |
| 2 | Paints, varnishes, lacquers; preservatives against rust; colorants; raw natural resins |
| 3 | Cosmetics, perfumery, essential oils; soaps; cleaning and polishing preparations; dentifrices |
| 4 | Industrial oils and greases; lubricants; fuels and illuminants; candles and wicks |
| 5 | Pharmaceuticals; medical and veterinary preparations; dietetic food for medical use; sanitary preparations; disinfectants |
| 6 | Common metals and their alloys; metal building materials; small items of metal hardware; safes |
| 7 | Machines and machine tools; motors and engines except for land vehicles; agricultural implements |
| 8 | Hand tools and implements, hand-operated; cutlery; side arms; razors |
| 9 | Scientific and electronic apparatus; computers and computer software; downloadable apps; recorded media; eyewear |
| 10 | Surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus and instruments; orthopaedic articles |
| 11 | Apparatus for lighting, heating, cooking, refrigerating, drying, ventilating and water supply |
| 12 | Vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water; parts and fittings |
| 13 | Firearms; ammunition and projectiles; explosives; fireworks |
| 14 | Precious metals; jewellery, precious and semi-precious stones; horological and chronometric instruments |
| 15 | Musical instruments; music stands and conductors' batons |
| 16 | Paper and cardboard; printed matter; stationery; bookbinding material; artists' materials; instructional material |
| 17 | Unprocessed and semi-processed rubber, gutta-percha, gum, asbestos and mica; plastics in extruded form; packing and insulating materials; flexible non-metal pipes |
| 18 | Leather and imitations; trunks, travelling bags, handbags; umbrellas and parasols; saddlery |
| 19 | Non-metallic building materials; rigid non-metal pipes; asphalt, pitch and bitumen; non-metal monuments |
| 20 | Furniture, mirrors, picture frames; unworked or semi-worked bone, ivory, shell, amber; goods of wood, cork, cane and plastics |
| 21 | Household and kitchen utensils and containers; combs and sponges; brushes; glassware, porcelain and earthenware |
| 22 | Ropes and string; nets; tents and awnings; sails; sacks; padding and stuffing materials; raw fibrous textile materials |
| 23 | Yarns and threads for textile use |
| 24 | Textiles and substitutes; household linen; curtains of textile or plastic |
| 25 | Clothing, footwear and headgear |
| 26 | Lace and embroidery, ribbons and braid; buttons, hooks and eyes, pins and needles; artificial flowers; hair decorations |
| 27 | Carpets, rugs, mats and matting; linoleum and other floor coverings; non-textile wall hangings |
| 28 | Games, toys and playthings; video game apparatus; gymnastic and sporting articles; decorations for Christmas trees |
| 29 | Meat, fish, poultry and game; preserved, frozen, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables; eggs; milk and dairy; edible oils and fats |
| 30 | Coffee, tea, cocoa; rice, pasta and noodles; flour and cereal preparations; bread, pastry and confectionery; spices; sauces; sugar, honey, salt |
| 31 | Raw and unprocessed agricultural, aquacultural, horticultural and forestry products; fresh fruits and vegetables; live animals; seeds and natural plants; foodstuffs for animals |
| 32 | Beers; non-alcoholic beverages; mineral and aerated waters; fruit beverages and juices; syrups |
| 33 | Alcoholic beverages except beers; alcoholic preparations for making beverages |
| 34 | Tobacco and substitutes; cigarettes; smokers' articles; matches |
Services — Classes 35 to 45
| Class | Covers |
|---|---|
| 35 | Advertising; business management and administration; office functions; retail and wholesale services; e-commerce marketplaces |
| 36 | Financial, monetary and banking services; insurance; real estate services |
| 37 | Construction services; installation and repair services; mining, oil and gas extraction |
| 38 | Telecommunications services |
| 39 | Transport; packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement |
| 40 | Treatment of materials; recycling; air purification; printing services; food and drink preservation |
| 41 | Education; training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities; publishing |
| 42 | Scientific and technological services and research; industrial analysis; design and development of computer hardware and software; software as a service; platform as a service |
| 43 | Services for providing food and drink; restaurants and catering; temporary accommodation |
| 44 | Medical services; veterinary services; hygiene and beauty care; agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture and forestry services |
| 45 | Legal services; security services for the physical protection of property and individuals; personal and social services |
Choosing the Right Class
The governing question is what you supply to the customer, not what you use internally.
- A company selling downloadable software as a product files in class 9.
- A company providing software as a service files in class 42. Many businesses need both.
- An e-commerce marketplace providing the platform files in class 35, because it is providing retail services — not in the class of the goods being sold on it.
- A clothing brand files in class 25 for the garments, and often class 35 as well for its retail operation.
- A restaurant files in class 43; if it also sells packaged sauces it needs class 30 for those.
- A fintech providing financial services files in class 36, and typically class 42 for the underlying technology platform.
- An edtech business files in class 41 for the education services and class 9 or 42 for the software.
Protection is confined to the classes you file in. A registration in class 25 for clothing does not stop someone using the same mark for restaurant services in class 43. Deciding classes is a commercial decision about where you operate now and where you credibly intend to operate, not a formality.
Multi-Class Filing and Fees
An application can cover several classes, but the fee is charged per class. The official fee per class is ₹4,500 for an individual, startup, small enterprise or sole proprietor filing online, and ₹9,000 per class for other applicants filing online. Physical filing attracts higher fees.
The concessional fee is worth securing before you file. Udyam registration or DPIIT startup recognition halves the per-class fee. On a four-class application that is a difference of ₹18,000, and Udyam registration is free and takes minutes. Obtain it first, then file.
Common Mistakes
- Filing only in the class of your product and omitting class 35, when you also run retail or a marketplace.
- Filing too broadly in classes you have no intention of using, which invites non-use cancellation after five years and wastes fees.
- Confusing class 9 and class 42 for software — downloadable product versus service delivered online.
- Assuming a class covers everything within a broad heading. The specification of goods and services within the class matters as much as the class number.
- Filing in the class of goods sold on your platform rather than class 35 for the platform service itself.
Related Guides
- Trademark Registration Checklist
- Trademark Objection Guide — how to respond
- IP India portal how-to guide
Key Facts About Trademark Class Guide
- Applies in: All states across India, under the relevant central law.
- Mode: Mostly online via the official government portal.
- Typical timeline: Ranges from a few days to a few weeks depending on the case.
- Non-compliance: May attract penalties, interest or late fees.
- Expert help: TaxClue completes the entire process end to end for you.
How many trademark classes are there?
45 under the Nice Classification — classes 1 to 34 for goods and classes 35 to 45 for services. A trade mark is protected only for the goods or services in the classes it is registered in.
Which class should a software company file in?
Class 9 for downloadable software supplied as a product, and class 42 for software provided as a service or for design and development services. Many software businesses need both, because they supply in both forms.
Over 90% of compliance penalties in India arise from missed due dates — timely handling can save businesses thousands of rupees each year.
Trademark Class Guide: a key compliance topic in Indian tax and corporate law that businesses and individuals must understand to remain compliant.