If you have recently filed a trademark application or are planning to file one, knowing what to expect in terms of timing can make a significant difference in how you plan your business, marketing, and brand protection strategies. The USPTO regularly publishes updated trademark processing wait times, and the most recent data reflects both encouraging progress and areas where delays remain a consideration for applicants and their counsel.

The average time between filing a new trademark application and receiving a first examining action is 4.2 months, which is ahead of the USPTO’s own target of 5.0 months. The average time from filing to either registration or abandonment is currently 9.8 months, also ahead of the 11.0 month target.

While these headline numbers are encouraging, the detailed processing time data tells a more nuanced story. Certain stages of the trademark process, including pre-examination for TEAS applications, intent to use extension requests, divisional requests, and amendments and corrections, are experiencing average wait times that significantly exceed the USPTO’s stated targets. Understanding where delays are occurring and why can help applicants and businesses make more informed decisions about filing strategy, timing, and brand launch planning.

We encourage all applicants, brand owners, and businesses managing trademark portfolios to review the full USPTO trademark processing wait time data for complete details on each stage of the examination and registration process.

USPTO trademark processing wait times

If you have questions about how current processing timelines may affect your trademark application, registration, or portfolio strategy, our trademark team is available to help you navigate the process and plan accordingly.