Planning a European patent application? The EPO charges additional fees for every patent claim beyond the 15th and the costs rise steeply from claim 51 onward. Enter your claim count below to see your total excess claims fee, broken down by tier.
Claims 1-15 are free. Fees apply from the 16th claim at €290 each, rising to €720 each beyond the 50th.
A: The EPO applies a tiered fee structure to patent applications with more than 15 claims. The first 15 claims are included in the standard filing fee. From the 16th claim, a fee of €290 applies per claim up to the 50th. From the 51st claim onward, the fee rises to €720 per claim. These excess claims fees are separate from the search fee, examination fee, and designation fees.
A: There is no universal answer. Claim count is a strategic decision that depends on the technology, the scope of protection needed, and the budget available. A well-structured set of 15 to 25 claims can provide strong protection in many cases. Applications with 40 or more claims are common in complex technologies but carry significant additional cost. IP Asset’s patent attorneys can advise on the right structure before you file.
A: Yes. Claims can be amended during examination, and excess claims fees paid for claims subsequently deleted may be partially refunded in some circumstances. However, restructuring a claim set after filing takes time and may limit your options. The most cost-effective point to review claim count is before the application is filed.
A: The current fee schedule came into effect in April 2026 under EPO Decision CA/D 9/25. Fees are set in euros and are reviewed periodically by the EPO Administrative Council. Always verify the current schedule at epo.org before filing.
Smart claim drafting can cut costs significantly without narrowing your protection. Contact the team to discuss your strategy.
