Trademark Classes Cheat Sheet Australia: 45 Classes

By Hollie Ford · 2026-05-19

There are 45 trademark classes under the Nice Classification system used in Australia. Classes 1 to 34 cover goods and Classes 35 to 45 cover services. When you file a trademark application with IP Australia, you need to pick at least one class and specify exactly what goods or services your mark will cover. Get it wrong or miss a critical class and you can end up with gaps in your protection, examination objections, or a registration that simply does not cover what you need. Getting this right from the start saves time, money, and legal headaches.

For a comprehensive overview, see our How to Register a Trademark in Australia.

In Summary

• Australia uses the Nice Classification system, currently in its 13th edition, which divides all goods and services into 45 classes, with 34 covering goods and 11 covering services.
• You must nominate at least one class when filing a trademark application with IP Australia, and each additional class incurs an extra government fee.
• Most product-based businesses need 1 to 3 classes. Choosing too few leaves gaps in protection, while choosing too many wastes money.
• The class you need is determined by what you sell or do, not what industry you are in or what your business name is.
• Common traps include filing in the wrong class entirely, using descriptions that are too broad or too narrow, and forgetting to cover future product lines.
• IP Australia's TM Headstart service can flag classification issues early, but it is not a substitute for strategic advice on class selection.
• This cheat sheet gives you a plain-English summary of all 45 classes with real-world Australian examples to help you self-assess before speaking with a trade marks attorney.

Not sure which classes you need? Get in touch with our team for a quick, obligation-free conversation about your filing strategy.

Context

Why trademark classes exist

When you apply to register a trademark in Australia, you are not simply protecting a name or logo in the abstract. You are claiming exclusive rights to use that mark in connection with specific goods or services. Trademark classes are the framework that organises those goods and services into standardised categories, so that IP Australia and every other trademark office in the world can assess, search, and register marks consistently.

Australia adopted the Nice Classification, established by the Nice Agreement of 1957, as its official system. The current 13th edition groups every conceivable product and service into 45 classes. This is the same system used across 96 contracting parties, which means getting your classification right in Australia also lays the groundwork for any future international filings.

Why this matters

If you design and sell jewellery, your trademark belongs in Class 14, which covers precious metals, jewellery, and horological instruments. If you also run jewellery-making workshops, that service falls in Class 41 (education and training). Miss the second class and a competitor could legally offer workshops under your exact brand name.

We see this kind of issue regularly. A natural skincare company came to us recently having registered their trade mark 10 years ago on a very narrow specification. Half the products they were actively selling were not covered by their registration at all. We have since refiled, but that means new fees, a later priority date, and a decade of vulnerability they did not know they had.

"Classification is where I see the most expensive mistakes," says Hollie Ford, Registered Trade Mark Attorney. "A business owner files in one class based on a guess, pays the government fee, waits months and then discovers their core product line isn't even covered. Fixing it means a fresh application with fresh fees and a later priority date."

The real cost of getting it wrong

The consequences of poor class selection include:

• Gaps in protection. Competitors can use an identical or confusingly similar mark in the classes you failed to cover.
• Wasted fees. Each additional class adds to IP Australia's government fee, so filing in classes you do not need is money down the drain.
• Delayed registration. Incorrect or overly broad class descriptions trigger examination objections, adding months to the process.
• Weaker enforcement. Your strongest rights cover the goods and services you actually registered, plus closely related ones. If a competitor operates in an area you never covered, your ability to stop them is far weaker.
• Non-use exposure. Registering in classes you do not actually trade in leaves those parts of your registration vulnerable. Anyone can apply to remove unused goods or services after the relevant period, and you would have to oppose that and prove genuine use

This guide exists to bridge the gap between IP Australia's official classification resources and the practical decisions a product business owner needs to make before filing.

The Resource

The table below is a plain-English summary of all 45 Nice Classes with real-world examples relevant to Australian product and service businesses. Use it as a starting point to identify which classes may apply to your business — then confirm your selection with a trademarks professional before you file.

Goods classes (Classes 1–34)

Services classes (Classes 35–45)

If you sell physical products and offer services like workshops, consulting, or online courses, you almost certainly need classes in both the goods and services sections. Don't assume a single class covers everything your business does.

Want to check your classification before you file? Book a free trademark search and we'll confirm exactly which classes and descriptions suit your business.

How to Use It

Identifying the right trademark classes for your business does not require a law degree, but it does require a methodical approach. Follow these four steps before you file.

Step 1: List everything you sell (and plan to sell)

Write down every product you currently sell and every service you currently provide. Then add any products or services you plan to launch in the next 2 to 3 years. Be specific. "Skincare" is not enough. Break it down: cleanser, moisturiser, lip balm, body oil.

Why future plans matter: you cannot add new classes to an existing registration after it is granted. If you launch a clothing line 18 months after registering your skincare brand in Class 3 only, you will need a brand new application with fresh fees to cover Class 25.

Step 2: Match each item to a class using the table above

Go through your list item by item and use the reference table to identify the most likely class. Some products seem obvious (clothing, Class 25), while others are deceptive:

• Downloadable recipe e-books sit in Class 9 (electronic publications), not Class 16 (printed matter).
• Protein powder sits in Class 5 if it is formulated and marketed as a dietary supplement, or Class 30 if it is a general food product. This distinction matters and is worth confirming with your attorney before you file.
• A subscription box service requires Class 35 (retail services) for the service element, plus the relevant goods class for the products inside.

Step 3: Check for overlaps and traps

Review your shortlist for these common traps:

Step 4: Confirm with a professional before you file

Self-assessment is a powerful first step, but classification strategy involves nuances that are not always visible in a summary table. A registered trade mark attorney can:

• Verify that your chosen class descriptions align with IP Australia's accepted terminology.
• Identify classes you may have overlooked.
• Draft descriptions that are broad enough to protect you but specific enough to survive examination.
• Advise whether a multi-class application or separate applications are more cost-effective for your situation.

Understanding the fees

Your class selection directly affects the cost of your application. The fee overview below is based on IP Australia's current standard filing fees, verify the current figures at ipaustralia.gov.au before relying on them as fees are subject to change.

Fees shown are government fees only (GST-free) and are current as of the date of publication. Check IP Australia's fee schedule for the latest figures. Professional fees for attorney services are separate.

Most product businesses file in 1 to 3 classes. Paying for a class you genuinely need is an investment. Paying for a class you do not need is waste.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many trademark classes are there in Australia?

There are 45 trademark classes in Australia. Classes 1 to 34 cover goods and Classes 35 to 45 cover services. Australia uses the internationally recognised Nice Classification system, currently in its 13th edition, which is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Which trademark class do I need for my product?

The class you need depends on what you actually sell, not your industry label. A skincare brand files in Class 3 (cosmetics). A skincare brand that also sells vitamins needs Class 3 and Class 5 (dietary supplements). Use the reference table above to match each of your products and services to a class, then confirm your selection with a registered trade mark attorney before filing.

Can I file a trademark in multiple classes at once?

Yes. IP Australia accepts multi-class applications, which means you can cover several classes in a single filing. Each additional class incurs an extra government fee. A multi-class application receives one registration number, which can simplify administration, but a trade marks professional can advise whether multi-class or separate applications better suit your commercial strategy.

What happens if I file in the wrong class?

If you file in the wrong class, one of two things happens. IP Australia may raise an objection during examination, requiring you to amend or refile, adding weeks or months to your timeline. Alternatively, your application may proceed and be registered, but your registration will not actually cover the goods or services you intended to protect. In that scenario you effectively have a certificate that does not do what you need it to do, and you will need a fresh application to fix the gap.

Do I need Class 35 if I sell products online?

Usually no. Class 35 covers retail and wholesale services, meaning the service of bringing together and selling other people's products, as a department store, marketplace, or reseller does. If you sell your own branded products through your own website, your trade mark protection sits in the classes that cover those products themselves, for example Class 25 for clothing or Class 3 for skincare. Selling online does not create a separate need for Class 35.

Can I add more classes after my trademark is registered?

No. Once a trademark is registered, you cannot add new classes or expand the scope of goods and services. You would need to file a new application covering the additional classes. This is why it is important to think about your product roadmap before your first filing. Covering a future product line now is significantly cheaper than filing a second application later.

What is the difference between Class 29 and Class 30 for food products?

Class 29 covers processed foods including meat, fish, dairy, preserved fruits and vegetables, oils, and fats. Class 30 covers staple foods including coffee, tea, sugar, flour, bread, pastries, sauces, condiments, and spices. If your food business spans both categories, for example a gourmet brand selling both cheese and crackers, you will likely need both classes.

Should I use IP Australia's TM Headstart service?

TM Headstart is a pre-filing service offered by IP Australia that gives you an early indication of whether your trademark is likely to face objections. It can flag classification issues before you commit to a full application. However, TM Headstart is a preliminary assessment and is not a substitute for strategic advice on class selection, description drafting, or broader brand protection strategy.

At Signify IP, we will often recommend TM Headstart where there is a grey area, for example where the mark has some distinctiveness concerns or sits close to an existing registration and we want an early read from IP Australia before committing to a full filing. For straightforward applications where the mark is clearly distinctive and the classes are clean, a standard application is usually the more efficient path. And where there is an obvious conflict, TM Headstart is unlikely to change the outcome. Many business owners use TM Headstart in addition to professional advice, not instead of it.

Ready to protect your brand in the right classes? Enquire now to speak with one of our trademarks team about your filing strategy — no obligation, no jargon.

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This information is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. Trademark classification can involve complex judgements that depend on your specific circumstances. We recommend consulting a Registered Trade Mark Attorney before making filing decisions.