Trademark Class 6: Common Metals
Class 6 covers common metals and alloys, ores, metal building materials, transportable metal buildings, metal hardware, metal containers and safes. Steel traders, hardware makers and fabricators file here.
What class 6 covers
Class 6 of the Nice Classification covers: “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.”” This is the official heading in the current edition, NCL 13-2026, in force since 1 January 2026.
WIPO’s explanatory note says class 6 mainly covers unwrought and partly wrought common metals, including ores, and certain goods made of common metals. It includes building materials such as pipes and tubes, small hardware like bolts, screws and nails, prefabricated metal houses, and metal goods with no specific function, such as boxes and statues.
Section 7 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 has the Registrar classify goods in line with this international system. Here is the catch: a metal product that has its own function, such as a tool or furniture, is classed by function, not metal.
Common goods in class 6
Metals and building materials
- Steel, aluminium and other common metals
- Metal pipes, tubes and sheets
- Metal doors, frames and gates
Hardware
- Bolts, nuts, screws and nails
- Hinges and door fittings of metal
- Non-electric metal locks
Structures and storage
- Prefabricated metal buildings
- Metal containers for storage or transport
- Safes
What is not in class 6
Metal goods with their own job sit in other classes:
| Goods | Correct class |
|---|---|
| Hand tools | Class 8 |
| Electric cables | Class 9 |
| Sanitary pipe fittings | Class 11 |
| Paper clips | Class 16 |
| Furniture | Class 20 |
| Kitchen utensils and household pet cages | Class 21 |
| Non-metal cables | Class 22 |
Who usually files in class 6
Steel and metal traders
Stockists and makers of bars, pipes and sheets with a house brand.
Hardware and fittings makers
Manufacturers of fasteners, hinges, locks and door fittings.
Fabricators and container makers
Makers of prefabricated sheds, metal containers, safes and lockers.
Tips before filing
Search the register in class 6
Run a search on the IP India register in class 6 and nearby classes. The free search at tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in takes one class at a time.
Class by function, not by metal
A steel almirah is furniture, a steel spanner is a tool and a steel tiffin is a kitchen utensil. Only goods with no other home stay in class 6. Say a Faridabad hinge maker starts selling steel cabinets. The cabinets are furniture, so they need class 20.
Write a specification you will actually use
List the goods you sell or plan to sell, in the Registry’s wording. Goods you never sell can be removed for non-use under Section 47 after five years on the register.
File Form TM-A and watch the examination
File online in Form TM-A. If the examiner raises an issue, a clear reply to the examination report keeps the application moving.
Frequently asked questions
Are steel kitchen utensils and steel furniture in class 6?
No. Kitchen utensils go to class 21 and furniture goes to class 20, even when made of steel. WIPO classes metal goods by function where they have one, and only leaves goods without a specific function, such as metal boxes, in class 6. A steel company that also makes utensils needs class 6 and class 21. We sort your range before filing.
Do I need classes other than class 6?
You need another class only if the brand covers goods outside class 6. A single application can cover several classes under Section 18(2) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, with the fee paid per class. A hardware brand that also sells hand tools adds class 8, one selling electric locks looks at class 9, and one selling steel furniture adds class 20.
What is the government fee to file a trademark in class 6?
The fee is ₹4,500 per class if you e-file as an individual, startup or small enterprise, and ₹9,000 per class for everyone else. Each class is charged separately, so class 6 plus one more class means two fees. We confirm your category before filing, so you pay the right amount.
Can I file in class 6 before I start selling?
Yes. Section 18(1) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 lets you apply for a mark that is used or proposed to be used. You file on a “proposed to be used” basis, and your application date fixes your place in the queue. Anyone filing a similar mark later stands behind you. Once sales begin, keep invoices and labels as proof of use.
How long does a class 6 registration last?
A registration lasts ten years and can be renewed every ten years without limit under Section 25 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The ten years run from the application date, not the certificate date. Renewal is filed in Form TM-R, and a missed expiry can still be fixed within one year through surcharge or restoration.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
| Form TM-A, per class | E-filing | Paper filing |
|---|---|---|
| Individual, startup or small enterprise | ₹4,500 | ₹5,000 |
| All other applicants | ₹9,000 | ₹10,000 |
Official IP India fees, charged per class.
Ready to begin?
Send us your metal or hardware range and we will sort the classes, search the register and file your class 6 application.