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Patent renewal fees in the United States: costs, due dates and grace period

You pay patent renewals in the United States to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, in USD, up to year 20. You pay nothing until the office grants your patent. Miss a due date and you get a 6-month grace period, with a surcharge set by your entity size.

Currency
USD
Maximum term
20 years
Grace period
6 months
Pre-grant annuities
None
United States
Official websitePatent search
Phone
+1 571 272 1000
Email
radhelpdesk@uspto.gov
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Renewing IP globally in 230+ jurisdictions

What are the patent renewal due dates in the United States?

United States counts annuities from the grant date, and the amount depends on which patent year you are entering. You pay nothing while the application is still pending.

First renewal

The first renewal falls due 42 months after the grant date, payable to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

For example, if the grant date is 2022-01-20, then the first annuity must be paid by 2025-07-20.

Every year after

Renewals in the United States are not annual. Two more maintenance fees follow the first, each due four years after the one before it, and nothing is payable in the years between.

For example, if the first annuity was paid due on 2025-07-20, then the subsequent renewal will be due on 2029-07-20.

ExamplePatent filed 15 Mar 2020, granted 20 Jan 2022
Filed
2020-03-15
Nothing due yet
Granted
2022-01-20
Annuities start after grant
First payment due
2025-07-20
42 months after grant
Two more payments
2029-07-20 & 2033-07-20
four years apart, three in total
Term ends
2040-03-15
20 years from filing

Official patent renewal fees by year in the United States

Official fees payable to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, by patent year, in USD.

Official renewal feesLast verified 4 Sep 2026 · source: Local patent office
YearOfficial fee (USD)Small entity (USD)Micro entity (USD)
32,150860430
74,0401,616808
118,2803,3121,656
Full term · years 3–1114,4705,7882,894

In the United States, the renewal fee will vary depending on the entity size of the applicant. The smaller the entity, the lower the renewal fee. The different entity sizes and the fee schedule for all entity sizes can be found on this page.

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Official fee, then local agent, service, transaction and FX markup.

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Official fee Service

The same official fee plus one flat service fee.

Proportions are illustrative. Your exact figures, per patent, per year, arrive by email.

Missed a patent renewal deadline in the United States?

A six-month grace period runs from the day after the due date. You can still pay the renewal fee with a surcharge set by your entity size, and the patent continues without interruption. Once the grace period closes, the patent lapses.

If you miss a renewal due date of 31 March 2026, the patent enters the grace period on 1 April 2026. Settle the renewal fee and the surcharge by 30 September 2026 to keep the patent in force.

Grace period
6 months
Surcharge
By entity size
After that
Patent lapses

Patent renewal fees in other jurisdictions

The same schedule, deadlines and grace rules, in the jurisdictions we are asked about most.

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Renewal fees, due dates and grace period.

France

France

Renewal fees, due dates and grace period.

Germany

Germany

Renewal fees, due dates and grace period.

China

China

Renewal fees, due dates and grace period.

European Patent Office (EPO)

European Patent Office (EPO)

Renewal fees, due dates and grace period.

United States

United States

Renewal fees, due dates and grace period.

Looking for a different jurisdiction?

Patents, trademarks and designs in other countries and regions.

Other IP renewals in United States

Patents aren't the only rights that lapse without renewal. United States also protects trademarks and designs. Each on its own schedule and fee scale.

Trademarks

Renewal deadlines, grace periods and official fees for trademark registrations in United States.

Trademark renewal guide

Designs

Official fees and renewal terms for registered industrial designs, jurisdiction by jurisdiction.

Browse design renewals

1. What do I pay while the application is pending?

Nothing. You pay no annuities in the United States while your application is pending. Payments start once the office grants your patent.

2. When can I pay the renewal fee?

Up to 6 months before the due date, and no earlier. Send it earlier and the office rejects the payment.

3. Can I renew a patent after missing a due date?

Yes. You get a 6-month grace period, starting the day after you miss the due date. Pay the renewal fee plus a surcharge inside that window and your patent stays in force. Your entity size sets the amount. Miss the window too and the patent lapses.

4. How long does a patent last?

Up to 20 years from the filing date, as long as you pay every annuity on time. Stop paying and it lapses at the end of the grace period that follows the last due date.

Patent renewal FAQ

What happens to an Albanian patent before it has been granted?

There are no annuities due in Albania before the patent is granted. Once the patent has been granted, annuities must be paid annually in accordance with the rules described above under the section Due Dates.

When can I pay the renewal fee in Albania?

At present, the opening of the renewal payment window in Albania has not been officially specified. Consequently, we are unable to confirm the earliest date on which the renewal fee can be paid.

Can I renew a patent after I miss a renewal due date?

Yes, it is possible to renew an Albanian patent after its renewal due date. If you fail to pay the renewal fee before the due date, a grace period of 8 months is given wherein the renewal fees can still be settled. When entering the grace period you will incur a surcharge fee to be settled along with the renewal fee. If you wish to maintain the patent, both the renewal fee and the surcharge fee will have to be settled.

For example, if a patent has a renewal due date of 2021-05-31 and the due date is missed, the patent will enter the grace period from 2021-06-01. After this point both the renewal fee and the surcharge fee will need to be settled by 2022-01-31. Failure to pay these fees before the surcharge due date will result in the patent lapsing.

How long do patents last in Albania?

A patent will stay in force for 20 years in Albania from the filing date if successfully renewed in accordance with the rules described above. If the patent is not renewed, it will lapse by the end of the grace period measured from the latest renewal due date.

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Automate IP renewals
Fully automate your intellectual property renewals
Upgrade your current setup to our fintech solution and enjoy the effortless IP renewals.
IP management software
Your personalized patent software
Your platform enables you to utilize auto-renewal options, real-time tracking, budget and forecasting, transparent invoicing, and more.
Guaranteed savings icon
Save up to 50% on your costs
We have never been presented with an invoice more cost-effective than ours, therefore we offer 100% price guarantee.
Secure data management
Renewal expertise and security
Our patent expert team serves more than 2500+ patent holders from 40+ countries. All of our data handling procedures are thorough, and all security measures are taken to comply with data regulations.