Nice Classification 2026: All 45 Classes Explained for Your Brand

Author: Antonio Blago

If you want to register a trademark, you will soon stumble upon a question: Which class do my products and services belong to? The answer is provided by the Nice Classification. It categorizes all goods and services into 45 classes, thereby determining what your trademark will be protected against later. In this guide, you will learn how the Nice Classification is structured, what Nice classes exist, how to find the appropriate ones, and what each additional class costs. It is aimed at anyone looking to start a business or build a new brand.

The Most Important Points at a Glance

• The Nice Classification is the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Registration of Marks (English: Nice Classification, abbreviated NCL).
• The Nice classes 1-45 are divided into 34 goods classes and 11 service classes.
• As of January 1, 2026, the 13th edition, the classification version 2026 (NCL 13-2026), is in effect.
• In the German registration, three classes are included in the registration fee, each additional class costs 100 euros.
• You can restrict the directory of goods and services after registration, but not expand it.

What is the Nice Classification and What is it Used For?

The Nice Classification is an international classification system for trademark registrations. Its name derives from the Nice Agreement, which was concluded on June 15, 1957, at a diplomatic conference in Nice. The Federal Republic of Germany is a contracting state to this agreement. The classification is managed by WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) in Geneva.

The purpose is simple: In trademark law, a trademark is never protected for everything, but only for specific goods and services. To ensure that trademark offices worldwide speak the same language, they use a common international classification with fixed goods and service classes. The Nice Agreement obligates the trademark offices of the contracting states to specify the class numbers to which the protected goods or services belong in official documents and publications.

For you as a founder, this means: The Nice classes determine where your trademark enjoys protection and where it may collide with older trademarks. A good trademark search therefore checks not only similar names but also similar classes.

Structure of the Nice Classification

The classification consists of several components published by the DPMA for each edition:

• Class Headings: brief overarching terms for each class, for example, "Clothing, Footwear, Headgear" for Class 25.
• Explanatory Notes: They describe what a class essentially contains and what is expressly excluded.
• Alphabetical List: all goods and service terms in alphabetical order, regardless of class.
• Class List: the same terms, organized by class.
• General Notes: rules for cases that cannot be clarified through the lists.

According to the official guidelines, you should always refer to the alphabetical list and the explanatory notes for the precise classification of a single good or service. The class headings alone only show the subject area.

Current Nice Classification: Classification Version 2026

The classification is continuously updated, and the classification version 2026 is not the last. An expert committee, in which each contracting state of the agreement is represented, has been meeting once a year since 2012 to decide on changes. Since 2013, a new version has been published every year, with a new edition appearing at larger intervals. Following the 12th edition (versions 2023 to 2025), the 13th edition, version 2026, was released on January 1, 2026. WIPO has already announced a version 13-2027 for the following year.

For your registration, the version that is in effect on the registration date counts. The DPMA also provides an overview of significant structural changes, i.e., which terms have changed classes. Older editions remain accessible on the DPMA website, which helps when examining older trademarks.

What Goods and Service Classes Exist in the Nice Classification?

The Nice classes 1-45 form the entire system: classes 1 to 34 concern goods, and classes 35 to 45 concern services. The following tables show the official class headings of the 13th edition, version 2026, in the German version of the DPMA.

Nice Classes for Goods: 1 to 34

Nice Classes for Services: 35 to 45

Some headings are abbreviated here. The complete wording along with explanatory notes can be found in the PDF "Class Titles and Class Division" from the DPMA.

Class Heading or Specific Term: What is the Difference?

The class heading only describes the subject area of a class. According to § 20 of the Trademark Regulation, you may use the overarching terms from the class headings, but only if they are clear and unambiguous. A general term does not protect all goods or services that are clearly covered by its literal meaning.

Since the ruling of the European Court of Justice "IP Translator" (C-307/10 of June 19, 2012), European trademark offices have reviewed the class headings. Five terms are considered too vague and are not permissible on their own. The common practice is described in the "Joint Communication" of the European offices. According to the DPMA, around 73,000 goods and service terms have been standardized in this process.

Practically, this means: It is better to write "Computer software for accounting" instead of a vague heading, and check if the term is listed in the alphabetical list.

How Does the Nice Classification System for Trademarks Work?

The system follows fixed rules that are stated in the general notes of the classification. For goods, the following applies:

• Finished goods are classified according to their function or purpose. A knife for cooking does not end up in Class 6 just because it is made of metal.
• Raw materials are classified according to the material they are made from.
• Combined products with multiple functions, such as a radio alarm clock, can fall into multiple classes. If a good has a primary purpose, that counts.
• Parts of a product belong to the same class only if they are usually not used for any other purpose.
• Containers that are adapted to their goods belong in the class of that good.

For services, they are classified according to the service area. Consulting and information fall into the same class as the service they relate to. Business consulting thus belongs in Class 35, financial consulting in Class 36. Rental follows the class of the service provided with the rented item.

Five Steps to the Right Class

1. Write down what you want to sell or offer today and in the coming years.
2. Search for each term in the alphabetical list of goods and services.
3. Read the explanatory notes of the found class, especially the part "This class does not include".
4. Formulate your directory clearly and unambiguously, organized by classes in the order of classification.
5. Check in the chosen classes if there are older, similar trademarks. You can get an initial overview by having your trademark checked.

Typical Cases from Founding Practice

• Software Startup: Downloadable software and apps are in Class 9. Software as a Service and Platform as a Service are explicitly mentioned in the explanatory note for Class 42.
• Fashion Brand: Clothing, footwear, and headgear belong in Class 25. Bags and luggage are in Class 18, jewelry in Class 14.
• Online Shop with Physical Products: The products themselves belong in their goods classes. Retail or online trade, as the assembly of goods for third parties, is a service of Class 35.
• Craft Business: Construction, installation, and repair work fall into Class 37. Material processing, such as welding or metal finishing as contract work, is in Class 40.
• Marketing Service Provider: Advertising, public relations, and search engine optimization for sales promotion belong in Class 35. Graphic design of advertising material, on the other hand, is in Class 42.

Class 35 or Class 42: Where is the Line for Online Services?

Class 35 includes advertising, marketing, business management, and office work. Class 42 includes technological services, such as programming, software design, and operating software as a service. An agency planning campaigns registers Class 35. A startup developing an online tool for campaigns and operating it as SaaS needs Class 42 and often Class 9 for a downloadable app.

Why is the Nice Classification Relevant for Trademark Registration?

According to § 32 of the Trademark Act, every application must include a directory of the goods or services for which registration is requested. The Trademark Regulation stipulates in § 19 that classification is based on the version of the Nice Classification that is in effect. Without classes, there is no registration in German trademark law.

The classes have three practical consequences:

• Scope of Protection: Your trademark is only protected for the registered goods and services.
• Costs: The number of classes determines the fees.
• Collision Risk: Whether an older trademark stands in the way of yours depends heavily on whether the goods and services are similar. The Nice classes are an important guideline for this, but not the sole criterion.

German Trademark or EU Trademark: Does the Same Classification Apply?

Yes. The DPMA and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) work with the same Nice Classification and a largely harmonized classification practice. Differences exist in fees and procedures, not in the classes themselves. How the German application process works step by step is explained in our article on DPMA Trademark Registration.

What Happens if I Choose the Wrong Nice Class When Registering a Trademark?

The DPMA decides on the classification itself if your information is not correctly classified (§ 21 Trademark Regulation). It also establishes a lead class on which the focus of the application lies. An incorrect class number is usually correctable. If this results in more than three classes, additional class fees apply.

A more dangerous situation is an incomplete directory. According to § 39 of the Trademark Act, you can restrict the directory at any time but cannot expand it. If you forget an important product, only a new application with a later priority can help. Similarly critical are vague terms: they will be objected to or protect less than you think.

How is the Nice Classification Related to the EUIPO and the DPMA?

The classification itself does not belong to any office. Three entities share the work:

• WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization): manages the agreement, oversees the expert committee, and publishes the English and French versions.
• German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA): publishes the German version, makes it binding for registrations in Germany through the Trademark Regulation, and decides on classification in case of doubt.
• European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO): uses the classification for the Union trademark and has established a harmonized database of permissible terms with national offices.

The international trademark registration through the Madrid System of WIPO also works with the Nice classes. According to the fee schedule of WIPO, each class from the fourth incurs an additional fee of 100 Swiss francs, unless individual country fees apply. The international trademark registration builds on a basic trademark, such as a German trademark. If you apply for it through the DPMA, it charges a national fee of 180 euros. How to keep track of your trademark after registration is described in the article on Trademark Monitoring.

What Costs Are Incurred Per Nice Class When Registering a Trademark?

According to the fee schedule of the DPMA (as of August 28, 2026), the following amounts apply:

For the Union trademark, the EUIPO charges a basic fee for the first class for an online application, a lower fee for the second, and a higher fee for each additional class. The current amounts can be found on the EUIPO fee page.

Can I Register My Trademark in Multiple Nice Classes at the Same Time?

Yes. An application can contain any number of classes. The goods and services must be listed by class and in the order of classification. At the DPMA, three classes are included in the base price, so it is worthwhile to consider the needs of the coming years right away. However, do not register classes that you do not use: a trademark that has not been seriously used for five years can be challenged.

Nice, Vienna, Locarno: Which Classification Applies When?

• Nice Classification: categorizes goods and services for trademarks.
• Vienna Classification: categorizes the visual elements of trademarks, such as animals or stars. It is based on the Vienna Agreement of 1973.
• Locarno Classification: categorizes designs, i.e., registered designs and models. It is based on the Locarno Agreement of 1968.

For a figurative mark, you therefore need the Nice classes for the area of protection, while the Vienna Classification only describes the logo.

Alphabetical List and Nice Classification Excel Download

The DPMA offers the following files for the 13th edition, version 2026, free of charge:

• the alphabetical list of goods and the alphabetical list of services as PDF,
• the list of goods and the list of services by class,
• the Nice Classification Excel download with the complete list of goods and services, valid from January 1, 2026,
• the overview of structural changes compared to the previous version.

The Excel file is well-suited for filtering: you search for a keyword and immediately see the appropriate class. The PDF lists, on the other hand, are practical for printing.

Nice Classification German-French

The English and French versions are published by WIPO in their online publication, where you can display two languages side by side. The DPMA refers to WIPO for these two languages. For your own comparison of the Nice Classification German-French, place the German DPMA list next to the French WIPO version. By using the six-digit base number of each term, you can find the same entry in both languages.

Practical Example (Fictional): A Coffee Brand Finds Its Classes

Lena is founding the fictional brand "Bohnenwerk". She roasts coffee, sells it in her own online shop, offers barista courses, and plans ceramic coffee mugs. Her directory looks like this:

• Class 30: Coffee, coffee beans, ground coffee.
• Class 21: Mugs made of ceramic.
• Class 35: Retail services on the internet regarding coffee and coffee accessories.
• Class 41: Conducting courses on coffee preparation.

These are four classes. With electronic registration, Lena pays 290 euros plus 100 euros for the fourth class. Before registration, she checks if there are similar names in these classes. How this works is described in our guide to Trademark Research Before Registration.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Nice Classification

In which countries does the Nice Classification apply?

It applies in all contracting states of the Nice Agreement, including Germany. The current list of contracting parties is maintained by WIPO. The EUIPO and the Madrid System also use it.

How often is the Nice Classification updated?

A new version is published every year on January 1. The expert committee of the contracting states at WIPO is responsible for this.

How does the Nice Classification differ from national systems outside the EU?

The classes are the same in all contracting states. Differences lie in the practices of the offices, i.e., in which terms they accept. Therefore, check the requirements of the respective office when applying abroad.

How can I find the appropriate class as a small business owner without a lawyer?

Use the alphabetical list of the DPMA, read the explanatory notes, and formulate concretely. In borderline cases or with high economic value, professional advice is worthwhile.

Procedure: How This Guide Was Created

All information comes from official sources: the pages and documents of the DPMA on the Nice Classification (13th edition, version 2026), the fee schedule of the DPMA, the WIPO pages on the Nice, Vienna, and Locarno classifications, as well as the Trademark Act and the Trademark Regulation on gesetze-im-internet.de. The class headings are taken from the PDF "Class Titles and Class Division" of the DPMA and are partially abbreviated. Review date: September 29, 2026. This article does not replace legal advice.

Sources

• German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA): Nice Classification
• DPMA: Nice Classification, 13th Edition, Version 2026, Class Titles and Explanatory Notes (PDF)
• DPMA: Classification Practice
• DPMA: Fees for Trademark Rights
• WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization): Nice Classification
• WIPO: Fee Schedule of the Madrid System
• European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO): Fees for the Union Trademark
• WIPO: Nice Agreement
• WIPO: Vienna Classification
• WIPO: Locarno Classification
• § 32 Trademark Act
• § 39 Trademark Act
• § 20 Trademark Regulation
• § 21 Trademark Regulation