The short answer
The Nice Classification is the international system that sorts all goods and services into 45 classes: classes 1 to 34 are goods and 35 to 45 are services. In Mexico, IMPI uses it for trademark filings: you pay per class, and your mark is only protected in the classes you applied for.
Classes by type of business
These are starting points, not recipes. Every business is different, and the description of goods within the class matters as much as the class itself.
| Your business | Usual classes |
|---|---|
| Restaurant, café or bar | 43 (service). If you sell packaged products: 29, 30 or 32 depending on the product |
| Clothing brand | 25 (clothing and footwear), 35 (store or online sales), 18 for bags or leather accessories |
| App or digital platform | 9 (downloadable app), 42 (software as a service), plus the class of the service the app provides |
| Cosmetics and personal care | 3; 5 for medicated products; 44 for beauty services |
| Beverages | 32 (beer, soft drinks, water, juices), 33 (tequila, mezcal, wine and other spirits) |
| Content creator or influencer | 41 (entertainment and content), 35 (advertising and promotion), 25 if you sell merch |
| Consulting firm or agency | 35 (business and marketing), 42 (technology or design), 45 (legal services) |
| School, courses or academy | 41; 16 for printed materials; 9 for downloadable courses |
| Clinic, practice or spa | 44; 5 if you sell your own products |
| Real estate | 36; 37 if you also build |
| Jewelry | 14; 35 if you run a store |
The packaging trap: if you register your hot sauce brand in class 16 because "it goes on the label," you've protected the paper, not the sauce. The class follows the goods or services you sell, not the medium the mark appears on.
All 45 Nice classes
| Class | What it covers | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Chemicals for industry, science and agriculture; fertilizers; industrial adhesives | Goods |
| Class 2 | Paints, varnishes, lacquers, colorants and inks | Goods |
| Class 3 | Cosmetics, perfumes, essential oils, non-medicated toiletries and cleaning products | Goods |
| Class 4 | Industrial oils and greases, lubricants, fuels, candles | Goods |
| Class 5 | Pharmaceutical and veterinary products, dietary supplements, disinfectants, sanitary products for medical use | Goods |
| Class 6 | Common metals and alloys, metal building materials, ironmongery, safes | Goods |
| Class 7 | Machines, machine tools and motors (except for land vehicles) | Goods |
| Class 8 | Hand tools and implements, cutlery, knives and razors | Goods |
| Class 9 | Scientific and electronic apparatus, computers, downloadable software and apps, phones, eyewear | Goods |
| Class 10 | Medical, surgical, dental and veterinary apparatus and instruments | Goods |
| Class 11 | Lighting, heating, cooling, cooking, ventilating and sanitary apparatus | Goods |
| Class 12 | Vehicles and apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water | Goods |
| Class 13 | Firearms, ammunition, explosives and fireworks | Goods |
| Class 14 | Precious metals, jewelry, costume jewelry and watches | Goods |
| Class 15 | Musical instruments | Goods |
| Class 16 | Paper, cardboard, printed matter, stationery, office requisites, paper packaging | Goods |
| Class 17 | Rubber, semi-processed plastics, insulating materials, non-metallic hoses | Goods |
| Class 18 | Leather, handbags, luggage, wallets, backpacks, umbrellas, leather goods for animals | Goods |
| Class 19 | Non-metallic building materials | Goods |
| Class 20 | Furniture, mirrors, frames and goods of wood, cork or plastic not included in other classes | Goods |
| Class 21 | Household and kitchen utensils, tableware, glassware, brushes | Goods |
| Class 22 | Ropes, nets, tents, tarpaulins, sacks and padding materials | Goods |
| Class 23 | Yarns and threads for textile use | Goods |
| Class 24 | Textiles, bed and table linen | Goods |
| Class 25 | Clothing, footwear and headwear | Goods |
| Class 26 | Lace, ribbons, buttons, zippers, false hair and artificial flowers | Goods |
| Class 27 | Carpets, rugs, mats, linoleum and wallpaper | Goods |
| Class 28 | Games, toys, video game consoles, gymnastic and sporting articles | Goods |
| Class 29 | Meat, fish, dairy, eggs, preserves, edible oils, processed fruit and vegetables | Goods |
| Class 30 | Coffee, tea, cocoa, bread, pastry, flour, cereals, spices, sauces, ice cream, tortillas | Goods |
| Class 31 | Unprocessed agricultural and forestry products, fresh fruit and vegetables, seeds, plants, animal feed | Goods |
| Class 32 | Beers, waters, soft drinks, juices and other non-alcoholic beverages | Goods |
| Class 33 | Alcoholic beverages except beers: tequila, mezcal, wine, spirits | Goods |
| Class 34 | Tobacco, smokers' articles, electronic cigarettes, matches | Goods |
| Class 35 | Advertising, business management and administration, retail and online store services | Services |
| Class 36 | Insurance, financial, banking and real estate services | Services |
| Class 37 | Construction, repair, maintenance and installation | Services |
| Class 38 | Telecommunications | Services |
| Class 39 | Transport, packaging, storage, distribution and travel arrangement | Services |
| Class 40 | Treatment of materials, printing, custom manufacturing | Services |
| Class 41 | Education, training, entertainment, events, sporting and cultural activities | Services |
| Class 42 | Scientific and technological services, software development, SaaS, design, web hosting | Services |
| Class 43 | Restaurants, cafés, bars, catering and temporary accommodation | Services |
| Class 44 | Medical, veterinary, beauty, hygiene, aesthetic and agricultural services | Services |
| Class 45 | Legal, security, personal and social services | Services |
An orientative summary based on the class headings of the Nice Classification (12th edition, current version). To file, each good or service must be described in the Spanish terminology IMPI accepts.
How to choose classes well
- Start with what you sell today and add what you'll launch in the next two or three years.
- Don't file in ten classes "just in case": after year three you'll have to declare use in each of them.
- Check related classes in your clearance search: IMPI can refuse your mark because of a similar one in a neighboring class.
- Do the math: each class is a separate fee. See the figures in trademark registration costs.
Frequently asked questions
How many Nice classes are there?
There are 45 classes: 1 to 34 are goods and 35 to 45 are services.
Which class does a restaurant go in?
Restaurant, café and bar services are in class 43. If you also sell packaged products under your brand, you need the class for those products (for example 29, 30 or 32).
Which class does an app go in?
A downloadable app goes in class 9 and software as a service in class 42. It's also worth protecting the class of the service the app provides, such as 39 for transport or 43 for food.
Do we pay for each class in Mexico?
Yes. Before IMPI each class is an application with its own fee.
Not sure which classes you need?
Tell us what you sell and how. We'll recommend the classes and draft the description in the Spanish terms IMPI accepts.
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