Patent renewal costs explained: fees, savings & transparency

Patents don’t last forever. To keep them in force, inventors and companies must pay renewal fees regularly, often for up to 20 years. Missing just one patent renewal deadline means the patent lapses permanently, and the invention falls into the public domain where competitors are free to use it without restriction.

The challenge is that patent renewals aren’t just a formality; they represent a major expense. 

According to WIPO, they can account for as much as 75% of a patent’s lifetime costs. And because invoices are often packed with confusing categories and hidden charges, many IP holders managing global portfolios end up paying far more than they should.

In this guide, we will break down each cost category related to a patent renewal, and show where hidden fees usually appear. We’ll compare industry problems and explain how, in an ideal setup, optimising your patent renewal costs can make the process transparent and significantly more cost-effective for your patent portfolio.

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Summary of key insights

• Patent renewal costs = official fees + non-official fees.
• Official fees: rising over time, varying by jurisdiction (USPTO vs EPO vs Asia).
• Non-official fees: transaction, local agent, service, and currency markups.
• Law firms often outsource patent renewals, adding a middlemen to their processes which causes double charges
• PatentRenewal.com ensures flat service fees, fair agent pricing, minimal markups, and refunds on unused funds.
• IP holders could save up to 50% with the right IP renewal service provider compared to traditional providers.

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The two major patent renewal cost categories

Patent renewal costs fall into two major categories:

• Official fees: Set by patent offices, unavoidable, and publicly available.
• Non-official fees: These are added by providers to cover services, payments, and risk management. They can vary a lot based on the company you choose to work with.
  

The critical point is that patentees must consider the total cost of a patent renewal. Often, IP renewal service providers offer lower service fees that seem attractive, but when total patent renewal costs (official + non-official) are compared, their total costs are overall higher. Without full transparency, customers end up overpaying.

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Official patent renewal fees

Official fees are the baseline cost that every patent holder or company must pay in the local currency. They typically rise over time, but the exact rules depend on the jurisdiction. Patent offices use different systems for setting patent renewal fees, and this creates variations worldwide.

For example:

• United States: Patent maintenance fees are due at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years after grant. Large entities pay from $2 150 up to $8 280 while small and micro entities benefit from discounted rates.
  
• Europe (EPO and national offices): At the European Patent Office, patent annuities are due annually from year 3 onward, starting at €690 and rising to €1 775 by year 10 (as of 2025). National renewals can differ, in Slovakia, for instance, year 3 costs around €80, increasing to about €800 by year 20.
  
• Japan (Asia): Japan calculates patent renewal fees by year and number of claims. In year 4, the base fee is JPY 10 300 plus JPY 800 per claim, meaning a patent with 11 claims would cost about JPY 19 100 to renew.

Since patent offices can adjust their official fees at any time, often on a yearly basis, keeping track of the latest schedules is essential for accurate budgeting.

You can find an updated database of official patent renewal fees in jurisdictions worldwide on our website. Filter easily by country, review renewal rules, and check direct links to patent offices alongside the official fees.

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Transaction fees in patent renewals

Transaction fees or bank fees are the costs of transferring official payments to patent offices. Typically, they range around €2–3 per payment.

Industry problem:
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Many providers still rely on outdated, expensive international banking methods. Across large portfolios, this quickly adds up.

PatentRenewal.com’s solution:

We partner with multiple digital payment providers to secure the lowest transaction fees available and pass these savings directly to customers.

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Local agent fees in patent renewals

In some jurisdictions, patent offices only accept patent renewal fee payments through a local representative (local agent / local patent attorney). The actual requirement for a representative and their qualifications depend on the jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions requiring agents include Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Poland.

Industry problem:

• Many providers continue using local agents even in countries where direct payment is now possible out of convenience, unnecessarily inflating renewal costs.
• Local agent fees can also vary significantly depending on jurisdiction and annuity year.

PatentRenewal.com’s solution:

• We've eliminated local agent fees in ALL jurisdictions where they are not legally required. Meaning we pay patent renewal fees directly to patent offices in more than 90% of cases.
• We ensure that customers never pay for unnecessary intermediaries.
• Where agents are unavoidable, our renewals team regularly checks market rates and actively negotiates the best possible rates with trusted local partners.

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Patent renewal service fees

The service fee represents the IP renewal service provider’s cost of carrying out the patent renewal on your behalf. It covers the entire operational process required to keep your patents active without risk. 

Industry problem:‍

Many IP owners and companies rely on law firms, but most firms outsource patent renewals to external providers (IP renewal service providers, like PatentRenewal.com).  The problem is that their customers are in most cases not aware of this outsourcing.

This means customers are effectively charged twice: once to the law firm and once indirectly to the outsourced service provider. In addition, service fees are often tiered by patent annuity year or jurisdiction and buried in invoices, making them difficult to identify.

PatentRenewal.com’s solution:‍

We charge a flat, upfront service fee per renewal. This single fee covers everything you need:

• Successful renewal and ongoing monitoring of your patents.
• Access to a digital platform with custom reporting, forecasting and portfolio oversight.
• Personal customer support whenever you need assistance.
• A bulletproof patent renewal process, ensuring deadlines are never missed.
• IP renewal expertise to provide a 100% risk-free renewal across different jurisdictional rules.

No double charges. No surprise add-ons. Just transparent pricing and complete peace of mind.

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Currency markups in patent renewal costs

Patent renewal fees must be paid in local currencies, meaning exchange rates come into play. Providers apply a markup to cover fluctuations.

Industry problem:‍

Many providers charge 5-30% markups, often hidden in invoices. Usually they apply an exchange rate that is far worse than the actual market rate, meaning customers pay significantly more than necessary. 

What is more, this category is often not even broken down on the invoice, so you cannot see in numerical terms how much you are actually paying. On top of that, unused deposits are frequently kept as pure profit, leaving customers paying for money that never goes toward patent renewals.

PatentRenewal.com’s solution:

We apply only an average of 1-2% deposit to cover real currency fluctuations, and unlike most providers, we always refund the unused balance. You only pay for what is necessary, and nothing more.

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Why total patent renewal costs matter

Many providers in most cases highlight their service fees to appear cost-effective. 

But the truth is that patent renewal costs are made up of several parts, and savings in one area can easily be offset by hidden charges in another.

This is why the only number that really matters is the total renewal cost. If you can’t see every fee clearly, it’s impossible to know whether you’re actually saving money.

At PatentRenewal.com, we emphasize the true total cost of patent renewal. Customers see every fee category clearly (official fees, transaction fees, local agent costs, service fees, and currency handling), so they can compare providers fairly and avoid hidden patent renewal fee charges.

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Common questions on patent renewal costs

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Why do patent renewal costs increase over time?

Patent renewal fees generally increase as a patent gets older, but the rules vary widely from country to country. Some offices apply annual fee increases, others charge in intervals, and some even adjust costs based on the number of claims. 

The result is the same: the longer you keep a patent, the more you pay. That’s why it’s so important to understand each jurisdiction’s rules and track costs carefully especially for patents you plan to hold for 10+ years.

What happens if I don’t pay patent renewal fees?

If renewal fees are missed, the patent lapses. Some offices allow a grace period with surcharges (e.g., EPO offers 6 months). Once this period passes, the patent rights are lost permanently.

Can I reduce my patent renewal costs?

Yes,  by using transparent IP renewal providers you can see significant differences. PatentRenewal.com helps customers save up to 50% by eliminating unnecessary local agent fees, keeping service fees flat, minimizing transaction costs, and refunding unused currency deposits.

Do design and utility model renewals cost the same as patents?

Not exactly. Designs and utility models often have shorter lifespans and different renewal schedules. Costs are typically lower than patents but still accumulate over time.

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How to save on your patent renewal costs

Patent renewals are an unavoidable part of protecting your intellectual property, but that doesn’t mean you should be overpaying. Hidden service fees, unnecessary local agent charges, and inflated currency markups often make renewals far more expensive than they need to be.

At PatentRenewal.com, we’ve built a system that puts transparency first. With a flat renewal service fee, the lowest possible costs, our customers regularly save up to 50% compared to other providers.

Take the first step today and use our free online IP renewal cost calculator to get a transparent and optimal renewal cost calculation for your uploaded IP data or whole portfolio.