China uses the Nice classification: 45 trademark classes, with classes 1 to 34 covering goods and classes 35 to 45 covering services. Choosing the right class is the single most important decision in a China filing, and it is where we see the most avoidable mistakes.
The 45 classes in one minute
Each class groups similar goods or services. A single application covers one class with up to 10 goods or services included in the official fee of 270 RMB (about $39). Every item above 10 adds 27 RMB (about $4) in CNIPA’s own fee; through us each extra item is $10, which includes it. If you sell in more than one category, you usually need more than one class.
| Goods (1-34) | Services (35-45) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Chemicals | 35 | Advertising and business management |
| 02 | Paints and varnishes | 36 | Insurance and financial affairs |
| 03 | Cosmetics and cleaning preparations | 37 | Building construction and repair |
| 04 | Lubricants and fuels | 38 | Telecommunications |
| 05 | Pharmaceuticals | 39 | Transport and storage |
| 06 | Common metals | 40 | Material treatment |
| 07 | Machines and machine tools | 41 | Education and entertainment |
| 08 | Hand tools | 42 | Scientific and technological services |
| 09 | Scientific and electrical apparatus | 43 | Food and drink services |
| 10 | Medical instruments | 44 | Medical and veterinary services |
| 11 | Lighting and heating apparatus | 45 | Legal and social services |
| 12 | Vehicles | ||
| 13 | Firearms and fireworks | ||
| 14 | Jewellery and clocks | ||
| 15 | Musical instruments | ||
| 16 | Paper and office supplies | ||
| 17 | Rubber and plastics | ||
| 18 | Leather goods | ||
| 19 | Building materials | ||
| 20 | Furniture | ||
| 21 | Household utensils | ||
| 22 | Ropes, nets and tarpaulins | ||
| 23 | Yarns and threads | ||
| 24 | Textiles and bed linen | ||
| 25 | Clothing, footwear and headgear | ||
| 26 | Lace, buttons and fasteners | ||
| 27 | Carpets and mats | ||
| 28 | Games and sporting goods | ||
| 29 | Foodstuffs of animal origin | ||
| 30 | Coffee, tea, bakery and convenience foods | ||
| 31 | Agricultural and fresh products | ||
| 32 | Beers and beverages | ||
| 33 | Alcoholic beverages | ||
| 34 | Tobacco and smokers’ articles |
Why the wrong class is expensive
A common mistake in class selection: clothing brands file in class 35, which covers services and retail, not garments. The application gets refused, the official fee is not refunded, and the brand pays twice to file again in class 25. Worse, before the correct filing, a squatter can register the same name in class 25 and block the brand entirely.
How to choose your classes
- List every product or service you actually sell, plus what you plan to sell in two years.
- Map each product to its class. Common ones: clothing class 25, cosmetics class 3, software class 9 and 42, retail and advertising class 35.
- Check what classes competitors and potential copycats file in.
- If a product genuinely spans classes, file both rather than gamble.
What a professional class review adds
Mapping products to classes is mechanical; deciding between similar classes and reading conflict results is not. Our trademark service includes a full search with a class-by-class risk rating before you pay official fees. If you are unsure which class fits your product, send us your product list and we will recommend the classes in your quote.
