Trademark Class 6: Metal Goods

Trademark Class 6 plays a key role in protecting businesses that manufacture, sell, or work with metal goods and building materials. Whether you’re an industrial manufacturer, a hardware supplier, or a company producing metal home goods, knowing where your products fall in the trademark classification system is essential. In this post, we’ll break down what trademark class 6 includes, why it matters, and how to make sure your trademark application is on solid ground from the start.

What Are Trademark Classes and Why Do They Matter?

When you apply for a trademark, you have to choose which categories—or classes—your goods or services fall into. These trademark classes help the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) organize trademarks by industry and prevent confusion between similar marks used for different products.

There are 45 trademark classes in total—34 for goods and 11 for services. Choosing the right one is critical. If you choose incorrectly, your registration might be refused or offer you little protection. Understanding the right class, especially trademark class 6, is one of the first and most important steps in a successful trademark filing.

What Is Trademark Class 6?

The official definition of trademark class 6 is:

“Common metals and their alloys, ores; metal materials for building and construction; transportable buildings of metal; non-electric cables and wires of common metal; small items of metal hardware; metal containers for storage or transport; safes.”

To make that easier to understand, international class 6 includes raw or partly processed metals—like ores and alloys—as well as many finished products made primarily of metal. If you manufacture or sell anything made of common metal that doesn’t fall into a more specific class, it’s probably part of class 6.

Let’s break it down:

Raw and processed metal materials like sheets, bars, or powders for manufacturing or industrial use.
Metal construction materials like metal beams, piping, or tracks used in building projects.
Everyday hardware like bolts, screws, hinges, and brackets—items that help things function or hold together.
Prefabricated metal buildings like temporary structures, greenhouses, or animal cages.
Dispensing devices made of metal—for things like dog waste bags or queue tickets.
Art and containers made of metal that don’t fit better in other classes—like metal statues or all-purpose storage boxes.

What Doesn’t Belong in Trademark Class 6?

Some goods may seem like they belong in class 6 but don’t. Here’s a quick list to watch out for—and why they go elsewhere:

Chemicals and scientific metals (like mercury or bauxite): These are used for their chemical properties, not as materials—so they fall under Class 1.
Metal powders for arts and crafts: If you’re using metal in paint or printing, it belongs in Class 2.
Function-specific dispensers: A metal dog waste bag dispenser goes in Class 6. But if it’s a fluid dispenser for machines, that’s Class 7. Ticket machines with electronics? Class 9. Medical dispensers? Class 10.
Electric and non-metal cables: Electric = Class 9; non-electric and non-metal = Class 22.
Pipes used in plumbing or not made of metal: Depending on the material, these fall under Classes 11, 17, or 19.
Pet cages used at home: These go under Class 21 (household goods).
Goods made of metal, but defined by function: Hand tools (Class 8), paper clips (Class 16), furniture (Class 20), kitchen tools and household containers (Class 21).

It’s easy to misclassify, especially when metal is involved. That’s why trademark class 6 deserves careful attention.

Trademark Class 6 Fees: What to Expect

Every class you include in your trademark application comes with a fee. For the USPTO, that’s $350 per class, assuming you meet base requirements.

Most of the other fees you’ll pay along the way—like renewal or maintenance fees—are also per class. So, if you file under trademark class 6 and another class, you’ll pay for both.

It’s a good reason to work with an experienced trademark service to make sure you’re filing in the correct class(es) from the start.

Coordinated Classes for Trademark Class 6

Trademark protection doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Goods and services are often related, which is why the USPTO uses coordinated classes—groups of classes that might overlap with or be mistaken for each other.

For trademark class 6, the coordinated classes include:

Class 11 – Environmental control equipment
Class 17 – Rubber and plastic goods
Class 19 – Non-metal building materials
Class 20 – Furniture and household goods
Class 35 – Advertising and business services
Class 37 – Construction and repair services
Class 40 – Material treatment services
Class 42 – Scientific and technical services

Also relevant:

A – Goods certification marks
B – Services certification marks
200 – Collective membership marks

A full-service trademark research company should consider these when evaluating trademark class 6 to reduce the risk of conflicts with similar goods or services.

Why Trademark Class 6 Needs a Comprehensive Trademark Search

Goods in trademark class 6 often involve physical, industrial, or functional products that can overlap with other industries. That makes a comprehensive trademark search especially important.

This isn’t the same as a free USPTO database check.

A direct-hit search only looks for exact name matches. It ignores similar names with slightly different spellings, sounds, or meanings. And that’s a problem. The USPTO can reject an application if there’s a likelihood of confusion with an existing trademark—even if the names aren’t identical.

At TradeMark Express, we always begin with a free direct-hit search. If a trademark attorney finds the name unsuitable after a full review, we let you roll over your application to another name with no extra charge.

What’s in a Comprehensive Trademark Search?

A real trademark search should look at:

Federal and State databases: These include registered and pending trademarks filed with the USPTO and state agencies. Federal trademarks provide nationwide protection; state trademarks apply within a specific state.
Common law sources: Not all trademark rights are officially registered. Businesses using a name in commerce—even without a USPTO filing—can have legal rights. This search looks at domain names, business listings, online directories, news & media, and social handles.
Goods and services overlap: The search checks for not just identical goods, but related ones. Even if two products are different, they might be considered related if sold together, used by the same customers, or marketed in similar ways.
Similarity in appearance, sound, and meaning: Trademarks don’t have to be twins to cause conflict. We evaluate how names look, how they sound when spoken, and what they mean to the customer.

Bottom line? Don’t leave it to chance. Work with professionals who know how to dig deep.

Acceptable Specimens for Trademark Class 6

A trademark specimen shows how you’re actually using your trademark in business. For goods in class 6, this means you need to submit evidence showing the trademark alongside the physical product.

Examples of acceptable specimens include:

The product itself: A photo of metal hinges with your brand stamped into the item.
Labels or tags: A bolt package with a tag that lists product specs, UPC code, and your trademark.
Packaging: A box containing pre-fabricated metal ramps with your logo printed on the side.
Sales displays: A store counter display for metal containers, showing both the product and your brand.
Webpages: A screenshot of your website selling metal storage bins with your trademark, the product’s price, a shopping cart button, and the webpage URL and date visible.

Each specimen must connect the trademark clearly to the goods, not just display the name in isolation.

Ready to Trademark in Class 6?

Trademark class 6 covers a wide range of metal goods—from raw materials to finished products. Getting it right is about more than just checking a box. It’s about protecting your business, avoiding costly mistakes, and setting yourself up for long-term success.

At TradeMark Express, we help you navigate trademark class 6 and beyond. From direct-hit checks to full trademark searches and application preparation, we’ve got your back—so you can focus on building your business with confidence.

Ready to trademark your product in Class 6?
Let’s talk. Contact TradeMark Express today to get started with your comprehensive search & application preparation.

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Shannon Moore