Enter your patent's issue date and entity type. Get all three maintenance fee deadlines, grace period windows, current USPTO fee amounts, and a calendar export — no signup required.
| Entity Type | 3.5-Year Fee | 7.5-Year Fee | 11.5-Year Fee | Late Surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large Entity | $2,000 | $3,760 | $7,700 | $160 |
| Small Entity | $1,000 | $1,880 | $3,850 | $80 |
| Micro Entity | $500 | $940 | $1,925 | $40 |
Fees are set under 35 U.S.C. § 41(b). Small entity status requires a verified written assertion. Micro entity status requires meeting gross income, prior patent, and employer eligibility requirements under 35 U.S.C. § 123. The USPTO does not send reminders — missing a maintenance fee causes the patent to expire.
US utility patent maintenance fees are due at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years after the patent grant date. Each deadline has a 6-month grace period (with a surcharge). If the fee is not paid within the grace period, the patent lapses.
No. The USPTO sends no maintenance fee reminders. Approximately 50% of US utility patents lapse due to missed fees. You are solely responsible for tracking these deadlines. This calculator and the calendar export below can help.
Yes — within 2 years of the grace period deadline, you can file a petition to revive with an unintentional delay showing and pay the overdue fees plus a $850–$1,700 revival petition fee. After 2 years, revival is generally not available.
Small entity status applies to: for-profit companies with fewer than 500 employees (including affiliates), individuals (natural persons), and nonprofit organizations. Small entities pay approximately 60% of large entity fees for maintenance.
Micro entity status requires: qualifying as a small entity, not having been named as inventor on more than 4 prior US patent applications, not exceeding 3× the median US household income, and not being obligated to assign to a non-micro entity employer.
US utility patents expire 20 years from the earliest US filing date, or 17 years from grant for patents filed before June 8, 1995 — whichever is longer. Maintenance fees keep the patent in force during those 20 years. After expiration, no maintenance fees are owed.
No. Only US utility patents require maintenance fees. Design patents and plant patents have no maintenance fee requirements. International patents (PCT, EPO, etc.) have their own renewal fee schedules in each national phase jurisdiction.
Yes. Entity status can change between maintenance fee payments. If you no longer qualify for small or micro entity status, you must pay at the higher rate at the next maintenance fee window. Incorrectly claiming a lower entity status can affect patent enforceability.
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