Trademark Class 4: Fuels & Lubricants | Complete Filing Guide
Everything you need to file a trademark in Class 4. Covers fuels, lubricants, industrial oils, candles, and wicks.
Class 4 covers fuels, lubricants, industrial oils, and illuminants including candles. Oil companies, candle makers, and lubricant manufacturers file here.
What Class 4 Covers
Class 4 includes industrial oils and greases, fuels, and illuminating products. This class brings together energy products and candle products under one classification.
The class covers:
- Fuels - Gasoline, diesel, heating oil, natural gas, coal
- Lubricants - Motor oil, industrial lubricants, greases
- Industrial oils - Cutting oils, transmission fluid, hydraulic oils
- Illuminants - Candles, wicks, lamp oil
Included in Class 4
Fuels:
- Gasoline
- Diesel fuel
- Heating oil
- Natural gas
- Coal
- Petroleum
- Biofuels
Lubricants:
- Motor oil
- Engine oil
- Industrial lubricants
- Greases
- Transmission fluid
- Gear oil
Industrial Oils:
- Cutting oils
- Hydraulic oils
- Machine oils
- Technical oils
Illuminants:
- Candles
- Wicks for candles
- Lamp oil
- Wax for lighting
- Night lights (candle-type)
NOT Included in Class 4
These similar items belong in other classes:
- Aromatherapy candles (therapeutic claims) - Class 5 (Pharmaceuticals)
- Essential oils for fragrance - Class 3 (Cosmetics & Personal Care)
- Candle holders - Class 21 (Housewares)
- Lamps and lanterns - Class 11 (Environmental Control)
- Electric night lights - Class 11 (Environmental Control)
- Industrial chemicals - Class 1 (Chemicals)
Candles: Class 4 Classification
Candle companies file in Class 4. This includes:
- Scented candles
- Unscented candles
- Decorative candles
- Pillar candles
- Votive candles
- Tea light candles
- Birthday candles
- Religious candles
Note: The candle itself is Class 4, but candle holders and accessories are Class 21.
Common Goods Descriptions
Using pre-approved descriptions from the USPTO Trademark ID Manual avoids the $200 custom description surcharge.
Popular pre-approved descriptions for Class 4:
- Fuels
- Lubricants
- Industrial oils and greases
- Candles
- Wicks for lighting
- Motor oil
- Petroleum
- Lamp oil
Well-Known Marks in Class 4
These recognizable brands are registered in Class 4:
- Shell - Fuels and lubricants
- Mobil - Motor oils and lubricants
- Yankee Candle - Scented candles
- Castrol - Automotive lubricants
- Chevron - Fuels and motor oils
- Bath & Body Works - Candles
Filing Tips for Class 4
Specify Product Type
Be specific about your fuel or lubricant type:
- Good: "Motor oil for automobiles"
- Good: "Scented candles"
- Good: "Diesel fuel"
- Bad: "Energy products"
- Bad: "Petroleum products"
Candle Companies Consider Accessories
Candle companies often need multiple classes:
| What You Offer | Class |
|---|---|
| Candles | Class 4 |
| Candle holders | Class 21 |
| Decorative candle accessories | Class 21 |
| Home fragrance (non-candle) | Class 3 |
| Retail store services | Class 35 |
Specimens for Class 4
For Class 4 trademarks, acceptable specimens include:
- Product packaging showing the mark
- Product labels on candles or oil containers
- Website pages where products are sold
- Gas station signage (for fuel brands)
Related Classes
If you are filing in Class 4, you may also need:
- Class 1: Chemicals - Industrial chemicals
- Class 7: Machinery - Machinery (engines using fuels)
- Class 11: Environmental Control - Lamps and lighting fixtures
- Class 21: Housewares - Candle holders and housewares
Filing Fees
Current USPTO fees for Class 4 trademark applications (2025):
| Filing Type | Fee per Class |
|---|---|
| Electronic filing (ID Manual description) | $350 |
| Electronic filing (custom description) | $550 |
| Paper filing | $1,000 |
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