How much does it cost to file a patent with the USPTO?
For a large entity, USPTO filing, search, and examination fees total roughly $1,820 (2024). Small entities pay 50% and micro entities pay 75% less. Attorney drafting and prosecution fees usually add $8,000 to $15,000 for a utility patent, making professional fees the largest expense.
What are small entity and micro entity discounts?
A small entity (independent inventor, small business with fewer than 500 employees, or nonprofit) pays 50% of most USPTO fees. A micro entity pays 75% off, but must also meet a gross income limit (under about 3x median household income) and have filed fewer than 4 prior applications. Misclaiming these discounts can jeopardize the patent.
What are excess claim fees at the USPTO?
The USPTO allows 20 total claims and 3 independent claims in the base fee. Each claim over 20 costs $100 (large entity) and each independent claim over 3 costs $480, both reduced for small and micro entities. Multiple dependent claims carry an additional fee. Keeping claim counts lean reduces filing cost.
Is a provisional patent application cheaper?
Yes. A provisional application only costs about $300 (large entity) and holds your priority date for 12 months, but it is never examined and expires unless you file a non-provisional within a year. It is a common low-cost way to establish an early filing date before incurring full drafting costs.