MarkWatch

HomeTrademark Renewal Deadline: The Full USPTO Maintenance Schedule

Trademark Renewal Deadline: The Full USPTO Maintenance Schedule

Keeping a US trademark registered isn't a one-time filing — it's a recurring schedule of deadlines, each with its own grace-period cliff.

Find my Section 8 deadline →

The maintenance timeline

Between the 5th and 6th anniversary: file the Section 8 Declaration of Continued Use.

Between the 9th and 10th anniversary: file the combined Section 8 & Section 9 (Declaration of Use + Application for Renewal).

Every 10 years thereafter: file another combined Section 8 & 9 renewal.

Every deadline has a grace cliff

Each filing has a 6-month grace period after the on-time window closes, with an extra per-class fee. The real, irreversible deadline for each cycle is the END of that grace period.

For the first Section 8 that cliff is about 6.5 years; for the first renewal it is about 10.5 years; and so on. Miss any cliff and the registration is cancelled with no revival.

FAQ

How often do I have to renew a US trademark?
After the first Section 8 (5–6 years), you file a combined Section 8 & 9 between the 9th and 10th year, then every 10 years thereafter. Each has a 6-month grace period.
What is the difference between Section 8 and Section 9?
Section 8 is a declaration that the mark is still in use; Section 9 is the renewal of the registration. From the 9–10 year filing onward they are filed together.

⚠️ Not legal advice. Verify deadlines with the USPTO. Dates are computed from public USPTO TSDR records and may lag or contain errors. Confirm your Section 8 window and grace-period cliff in your official USPTO records before relying on this.

Related