From 1 April 2026, the UK IPO plans to increase its fees for patents, trade marks and designs, including renewal fees, by an average of 25%.
Trade mark fees haven’t changed in almost 30 years, whilst patent and design fees have remained static for nearly a decade.
The key changes
- Patent fees will rise by around 33%
- Trade mark fees will rise by around 23%
- Design fees will rise by around 24%
What this means for you
- Plan ahead and adjust your IP budget to account for these higher fees
- Renew existing rights early before 1 April 2026 to benefit from the current lower fees
- Consider whether to bring forward filing new IP rights to avoid paying the higher fees
Even after these increases, the UK IPO’s fees will remain low by international standards compared with many other major IP offices.
More information about these changes can be found here: New fees from 1 April 2026 for designs, trade marks and patents – GOV.UK
Richard Worthington
Partner
This publication is a general summary of the law. It should not replace legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances.
© Withers & Rogers LLP February 2026
