How to Search the USPTO Trademark Database Step-by-Step Guide

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) makes its trademark records publicly searchable for free through Trademark Search at tmsearch.uspto.gov, the cloud-based system that replaced the retired TESS tool. Run a search on registered and pending marks before filing a trademark application to identify conflicts early and avoid an office action down the line.

Updated July 2026

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Which Search Tool to Use

USPTO trademark research runs through one tool now: Trademark Search at tmsearch.uspto.gov. It replaced the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS), which the USPTO retired in November 2023, and it requires no account. Filing is a separate system: applications go through the Trademark Center, which replaced the older TEAS forms. Keep the two straight: Trademark Search is where you research a name, the Trademark Center is where you file one.

Trademark Search has two modes. The default keyword search covers most first-pass research: type a mark, filter to live registrations, and browse by classification. Expert mode carries forward the field-tag and boolean syntax TESS users relied on, including wildcards, goods-and-services and international-class tags, and design-code queries, so complex pattern searching did not disappear with TESS; it moved.

Step-by-Step: Basic Wordmark Search

Follow these steps to run a basic search for a wordmark in the USPTO trademark database:

Open Trademark Search Go to tmsearch.uspto.gov, or follow the trademark search link from USPTO.gov. No account is required to search.
Enter your search term Type the mark in the search bar. Search in lowercase; the system is not case-sensitive, but consistent lowercase avoids unexpected results.
Review search results The results list live and dead registrations. Focus on live marks in the same or coordinated class of goods and services.
Check the classification Trademark registration is class-specific. The USPTO uses the international trademark classification system (IC). Identify the coordinated class most relevant to your business before drawing conclusions.
Examine each conflicting mark Click through to read the description of goods and services, the filing date, and the current status. An office action history can signal how the USPTO has interpreted similar marks.

Beyond Exact Matches: Phonetic and Fuzzy Searches

A basic wordmark search only catches exact spelling matches. Trademark practice requires you to also look for marks that are confusingly similar, which means checking phonetic equivalents, plural forms, common misspellings, and translation equivalents if the word has a foreign-language meaning.

In Trademark Search's expert mode, field tags let you run more targeted queries. The pseudo-mark field captures simplified spellings the USPTO assigns to stylized marks. Design codes let you search logo elements. Commonly used field tags include GS (goods and services) and IC (international class). Field-tag syntax with boolean operators gives you control over complex searches that the basic keyword box cannot replicate.

For a first-pass phonetic and fuzzy screen without learning TESS syntax, the Name Check tool on this site runs exact, phonetic, and fuzzy matching against both the USPTO and EUIPO trademark registries automatically.

What the Search Does Not Tell You

Finding no results does not mean a trademark is available. Common-law trademark rights exist in the United States without registration, so a business actively using a mark in commerce may have enforceable rights that do not appear in any federal database. State-level registrations also sit outside the USPTO trademark database.

USPTO database searches are legal research tools, not clearance opinions. Whether a mark is available for your specific goods and services in your specific market is a question for a qualified trademark attorney. Use the search to inform that conversation, not to replace it. If your name search turns up borderline results, the right step is to get a professional opinion before filing a trademark application.

See also the guide to knockout trademark search for a practical framework on what to look for before committing to a name.

Faster First-Pass Screening

Running a full USPTO database search manually takes time, especially when you are evaluating multiple name candidates. This site's Name Check tool screens a name against US (USPTO) and EU (EUIPO) trademark registries with exact, phonetic, and fuzzy matching, and also checks .com domain availability at the same time. It is free and requires no login.

This is an automated registry search, not a legal clearance opinion. Use it as a first filter. Names that return significant conflicts in the USPTO or EUIPO databases should go to a trademark attorney for a proper opinion before you invest further in the name. If you are still generating candidates, the startup name ideas page can help you build a shortlist worth screening.

For teams building on top of trademark search programmatically, the site also exposes an HTTP API and MCP server at /mcp that supports US and EU trademark screening, .com availability checks, and name generation as callable tools.

Questions, answered

Can I do a TM search myself?

Yes. The USPTO's trademark records are publicly searchable for free through the Trademark Search system at tmsearch.uspto.gov, with no account required. A self-search is a useful first step, but it does not substitute for a trademark attorney's clearance opinion, especially before filing.

Is there a database of trademarks?

Yes. The USPTO maintains a searchable database of all US federal trademark registrations and applications, available at USPTO.gov. The European Union equivalent is the EUIPO database. Neither database covers common-law marks or state-level registrations, so they do not represent the full universe of potentially conflicting marks.

How do I check a TM status?

Look the mark up in the USPTO's Trademark Search at tmsearch.uspto.gov; each record shows whether the mark is live, dead, registered, or pending. For a specific application, the TSDR (Trademark Status and Document Retrieval) system gives the full status and document history by serial or registration number.

Can I do a trademark search for free?

Yes. Searching the USPTO's records through Trademark Search at tmsearch.uspto.gov is free and requires no account. The Name Check tool on this site also provides free automated screening against USPTO and EUIPO registries, with exact, phonetic, and fuzzy matching, plus a .com domain check, at no cost and with no login required.

What is a trademark?

A trademark is a word, phrase, logo, or other symbol that identifies the source of goods or services and distinguishes them from those of competitors. In the United States, trademark rights arise from use in commerce. Federal registration with the USPTO strengthens those rights and creates a public record of ownership.

How much does it cost to register a trademark?

Since the USPTO's January 2025 fee restructure, a trademark application carries a $350 base fee per class of goods or services, with per-class surcharges for custom free-form descriptions or incomplete information. Costs rise with additional classes and attorney fees if you hire a trademark attorney to prepare and prosecute the application. Check USPTO.gov for the current fee schedule before filing.

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Trademark results are an automated database search against the USPTO and EUIPO registries, not legal advice and not a clearance opinion. Registries change daily; results are dated. Before filing, have counsel run full clearance.