Locarno Classification for Indian Design Filings: 32 Classes
All 32 Locarno classes in one table, how India uses them for design filings, and how to pick the right class before you file.
Explainer · Designs · Last verified October 2026
Every design application in India needs a class, and a wrong class costs time. The Designs Office can object, ask you to amend, and delay your registration. India uses the Locarno Classification, the international system run by WIPO. This page lists all 32 classes in one place, explains how to pick the right one, and shows what to check before you file. Last verified October 2026.
- Locarno has 32 classes. India uses it for design filings under Rule 10 of the Designs Rules, 2001 (as amended in 2021).
- LOC 15 is in force since 1 January 2025. LOC 16 is the next edition.
- Classify by the article. Name the product first, then search WIPO LOCPUB.
- Do not confuse with Nice. Trademarks use 45 Nice classes. Designs use 32 Locarno classes.
01Why the class matters for a design filing
A design in India is registered for a specific article. You name the article, you pick the class, and the Designs Office checks both. If the article and class do not match, you may get an objection in the examination report.
The class also decides how others find your design. When a competitor searches the register for similar products, they search by class. A design filed in the wrong class is harder to find, for you and for them. That matters for novelty checks before filing and for infringement watch after registration.
So the class is not a formality. It is a small decision with a real effect on cost and timing.
Looking for trademarks?
Trademarks use a different system, the Nice Classification, with 45 classes. See our guide to Nice classes for Indian trademark filings. This page is only about designs.
02What the Locarno Classification is, and how India uses it
The Locarno Classification is the international system for classifying industrial designs. WIPO publishes it. It has 32 classes, and each class is split into subclasses. There is also an alphabetical list of more than 5,000 products, which helps you find where an article belongs.
India joined the Locarno Agreement in 2019. The Designs Rules, 2001 were amended in 2021, and Rule 10 now asks that articles be classified under the current edition of the Locarno Classification published by WIPO.
Two points from the Designs Act, 2000 help you read the class correctly. Section 2(a) defines an "article" as any article of manufacture, and includes a part of an article that can be made and sold separately. Section 2(d) defines a "design" as features of shape, configuration, pattern, ornament or composition of lines or colours applied to an article by an industrial process, which appeal to and are judged solely by the eye in the finished article. A design always attaches to an article. That is why the class follows the article.
You can check the official text and the current class lists on the WIPO Locarno pages and on the IP India website. We list both under Sources.
03All 32 Locarno classes
The table below gives the class number and the class heading in plain terms, with a few typical articles. For the full wording and every subclass, use WIPO’s LOCPUB tool.
| Class | Heading | Typical articles |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foodstuffs | Confectionery, biscuits, pasta, pet food shapes |
| 2 | Articles of clothing and haberdashery | Garments, footwear, headwear, buttons |
| 3 | Travel goods, cases, parasols and personal belongings, not elsewhere specified | Suitcases, bags, umbrellas, wallets |
| 4 | Brushware | Toothbrushes, brooms, paint brushes |
| 5 | Textile piece goods, artificial and natural sheet material | Fabrics, lace, sheet material |
| 6 | Furnishing | Chairs, beds, cabinets, carpets, curtains |
| 7 | Household goods, not elsewhere specified | Cutlery, crockery, kitchen utensils |
| 8 | Tools and hardware | Hand tools, locks, hinges, door handles |
| 9 | Packages and containers for the transport or handling of goods | Bottles, jars, cartons, bottle caps, packaging |
| 10 | Clocks and watches and other measuring instruments, checking and signalling instruments | Watches, meters, dials, alarm devices |
| 11 | Articles of adornment | Jewellery, ornaments, key rings, decorations |
| 12 | Means of transport or hoisting | Vehicles, bicycles, wheels, lifts, cranes |
| 13 | Equipment for production, distribution or transformation of electricity | Generators, transformers, switchgear, cables |
| 14 | Recording, communication or information retrieval equipment | Phones, computers, displays, screens, icons |
| 15 | Machines, not elsewhere specified | Pumps, motors, industrial machines |
| 16 | Photographic, cinematographic and optical apparatus | Cameras, lenses, projectors |
| 17 | Musical instruments | Guitars, drums, tablas, pianos |
| 18 | Printing and office machinery | Printers, typewriters, calculators |
| 19 | Stationery and office equipment, artists’ and teaching materials | Pens, notebooks, files, desk items |
| 20 | Sales and advertising equipment, signs | Display stands, signboards, vending fixtures |
| 21 | Games, toys, tents and sports goods | Toys, board games, sports equipment |
| 22 | Arms, pyrotechnic articles, articles for hunting, fishing and pest killing | Fishing gear, fireworks, traps |
| 23 | Fluid distribution equipment, sanitary, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment, solid fuel | Taps, sinks, radiators, fans, air coolers |
| 24 | Medical and laboratory equipment | Surgical tools, lab equipment, wheelchairs |
| 25 | Building units and construction elements | Tiles, bricks, panels, roofing |
| 26 | Lighting apparatus | Lamps, bulbs, lanterns, torches |
| 27 | Tobacco and smokers’ supplies | Lighters, ashtrays, pipes |
| 28 | Pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, toilet articles and apparatus | Tablet shapes, cosmetic containers, hair dryers |
| 29 | Devices and equipment against fire hazards, for accident prevention and for rescue | Fire extinguishers, safety gear |
| 30 | Articles for the care and handling of animals | Pet leashes, cages, animal feeders |
| 31 | Machines and appliances for preparing food or drink, not elsewhere specified | Mixers, juicers, coffee machines |
| 32 | Graphic symbols and logos, surface patterns, ornamentation, architectural and interior decoration | Surface patterns, ornamental designs, graphic symbols |
Some national practice also uses a "miscellaneous" Class 99. Check the current Designs Office practice before you rely on it.
04How to pick the right class
Follow these steps in order. They take ten minutes and can save months.
- Name the article first. Write down what the physical product is, in simple words. A water bottle, a phone cover, a lamp base.
- Search the alphabetical list. In WIPO’s LOCPUB, search the article name. It points you to a class and subclass.
- Read the class heading and notes. Some classes say "not elsewhere specified", which means a more exact class may exist. Use the more exact one.
- Classify by the article, not by the look. A decorative pattern printed on a fabric may sit in Class 5 or Class 32 depending on how you describe the article. Be clear about what you are claiming.
- Check for more than one class. A product and its packaging fall in different classes. A set of articles may need a different treatment.
- Search the register in that class. Look at similar registered designs before you file, so you know whether your design is new.
For what happens after registration, such as keeping the design alive, see design renewal and restoration in India.
05Common mistakes with Locarno classes
- Using Nice classes for a design. Nice (45 classes) is for trademarks. A design filing needs Locarno (32 classes).
- Picking a class by the brand, not the article. The class follows the product, not the company or its industry.
- Filing a logo as a design in the wrong class. A logo is usually protected as a trademark. A graphic symbol can be a design only if it is applied to an article. See Section 2(d) above.
- Using an old edition. Rule 10 refers to the current edition. Always check which edition is in force on the filing date.
- Ignoring the "not elsewhere specified" classes. These are catch-all classes. A better fit often exists.
06LOC 15 now in force, LOC 16 next
The 15th edition of the Locarno Classification, called LOC 15, came into force on 1 January 2025. WIPO says it has 32 classes with subclasses, and an alphabetical list of more than 5,000 products. It applies to international applications filed on or after that date.
WIPO revises Locarno on a regular cycle, so a 16th edition (LOC 16) is the next one to expect. We have not stated a date here because it must be confirmed on WIPO’s own page.
Practical tip: when a new edition arrives, class headings can be reworded and some articles can move between classes. Always search LOCPUB for the edition in force on your filing date.
07Where Claw fits
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
Picking the class is step one. If a design is later copied, the fight moves to court, and that is where research counts. Claw tracks cases, orders and hearings across 9,102 courts, benches and forums, with 30 crore+ judgments, Supreme Court records from 1950 and High Courts from 1990, and results in under 5 seconds, so you can see how courts have treated design infringement and cancellation in a given class. Claw does not use customer documents to train AI models.
Create a FREE Claw account to track design disputes and the judgments behind them. To search the wider body of law, see case search across Indian courts.
08Sources and further reading
Check every class against the primary source before you file. Last verified October 2026.
- WIPO Locarno Classification: wipo.int/classification-locarno
- WIPO LOCPUB (class headings and alphabetical list): locpub.wipo.int
- WIPO note on the 15th edition: Hague System news, LOC 15
- IP India (Designs Office): ipindia.gov.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
The class table above is a shortened summary. The WIPO text is the authority.
09Frequently asked questions
How many Locarno classes are there?
There are 32 classes in the current Locarno Classification, each with its own subclasses. WIPO also publishes an alphabetical list of more than 5,000 products to help you find the right class.
Which Locarno edition is in force?
LOC 15, the 15th edition, came into force on 1 January 2025 according to WIPO. LOC 16 is the next edition. Check WIPO for the date.
Does India use the Locarno Classification?
Yes. Rule 10 of the Designs Rules, 2001, as amended in 2021, asks that articles be classified under the Locarno Classification published by WIPO.
What is the difference between Locarno and Nice classes?
Locarno classifies articles for designs and has 32 classes. Nice classifies goods and services for trademarks and has 45 classes. They are separate systems for separate filings.
What if I file a design in the wrong class?
The Designs Office may raise an objection and ask you to correct it, which can delay registration. It also makes your design harder to find in register searches. Search the alphabetical list before you file.
Can Claw tell me which Locarno class to use?
No. Use WIPO LOCPUB for classification. Claw helps you track IP India registry matters for designs and IP litigation in Indian courts after you file. It does not track copyright registration.