Patent Application Cost Estimator
Estimate total patent filing costs including USPTO fees and attorney charges.
See cost breakdowns for utility, design, and provisional patent applications.
How Patent Costs Are Estimated
Patent costs are not a single fee — they accumulate across filing, examination, prosecution, and maintenance stages. The total depends on patent type, jurisdiction, complexity, and whether you use an attorney.
U.S. Patent cost breakdown (2024 rates):
| Stage | DIY (Pro Se) | With Attorney |
|---|---|---|
| Provisional filing | ~$320 | $1,500–$3,000 |
| Non-provisional filing | $800–$1,600 | $8,000–$15,000 |
| Examination/prosecution | ~$400 | $2,000–$5,000 |
| Issue fee | ~$1,200 | Included above |
| Total to grant | ~$2,700 | $12,000–$25,000 |
USPTO fees are reduced by 60% for small entities (< 500 employees) and 80% for micro-entities (income below ~$213,000/year, no prior patents).
Maintenance fees (U.S. utility patents):
These are due at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years after grant.
- 3.5 year: ~$800 (small entity)
- 7.5 year: ~$1,800 (small entity)
- 11.5 year: ~$3,700 (small entity)
A patent left active for its full 20-year life costs roughly $6,000–$8,000 in maintenance alone (small entity rates).
International filing (PCT route):
Filing a PCT application to protect your invention internationally costs:
~$4,000–$5,000 in PCT fees + $1,500–$5,000 per country for national phase entry
Common targets: EU (€ via EPO), Japan, Canada, Australia, China — each adds $2,000–$8,000.
Estimation formula:
Total 20-year patent cost = Filing + Prosecution + Issue + Maintenance fees
For a U.S. small entity utility patent with attorney assistance, budget $15,000–$30,000 over the patent’s lifetime.