What Is Nice Class 27?
Nice Class 27 is the trademark classification for carpets, rugs, and floor and wall coverings. It covers carpets and rugs, mats and matting, linoleum and other floor coverings, artificial turf, and non-textile wall coverings such as wallpaper. The class is conceptually about coverings applied to an existing structure — products that go on top of a floor or wall rather than forming part of the building itself.
That concept explains why carpets and wallpaper share a class: both are coverings laid over a finished surface. Class 27 sits between the soft textiles of Class 24 and the structural building materials of Class 19, and the boundaries with both are where floor-covering brands need to take care when filing.
What Class 27 Covers
- Carpets, rugs, and area rugs
- Mats, matting, and doormats
- Linoleum and resilient floor coverings
- Vinyl and non-textile floor coverings
- Artificial turf and grass coverings
- Wallpaper and non-textile wall coverings
- Bath mats and floor mats
- Gymnasium and play-surface coverings
Exclusions: textile fabric and bed linen are Class 24; tiles, stone, and building flooring materials are Class 19; furniture is Class 20; and textile wall hangings are Class 24 rather than Class 27. The line between a "covering for an existing structure" (Class 27) and a "building material" (Class 19) is the most important one here.
Boundary note: Carpet is Class 27, but ceramic or stone floor tiles are Class 19. The distinction is that Class 27 covers products laid over a finished floor, while Class 19 covers building materials that form the floor or structure itself. A flooring brand selling both carpet and tile needs both classes.
The Class 24 / 27 / 19 Boundaries
Floor-covering brands sit between three classes. Soft textile goods like fabric and bed linen are Class 24; coverings laid over floors and walls are Class 27; and structural flooring materials like tile and stone are Class 19. A home-furnishings or flooring company with a broad range may file across several. Our Class 24 guide covers the textile side and our Class 20 guide the furniture side of a complete home range.
Notable Brands in Class 27
- Mohawk — one of the largest flooring and carpet brands, anchoring a deep Class 27 portfolio
- Shaw — carpet and flooring marks across residential and commercial lines
- Rug and area-rug brands — design-driven home-furnishing marks
- Wallpaper and wall-covering brands — non-textile covering marks
Common Filing Mistakes
- Filing floor tiles in Class 27: ceramic and stone tiles are building materials in Class 19.
- Filing textile fabric in Class 27: fabric and bed linen are Class 24.
- Filing wall hangings in Class 27: textile wall hangings are Class 24.
- Single-class filing for a broad range: flooring brands often need Class 27 and Class 19.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is carpet in Class 27 or Class 24?
Carpet and rugs are in Class 27 as floor coverings, not Class 24. Class 24 covers textile fabric, bed linen, and similar soft textile goods. Even though carpet is made of fibers, it is classified as a floor covering in Class 27 because it is laid over an existing floor.
What's the difference between Class 27 and Class 19 for flooring?
Class 27 covers coverings laid over a finished floor — carpet, rugs, linoleum, and vinyl. Class 19 covers building flooring materials that form the floor itself, like ceramic tile, stone, and hardwood building products. A flooring brand selling both carpet and tile needs both classes.
Is wallpaper in Class 27?
Yes. Wallpaper and non-textile wall coverings are in Class 27, grouped with floor coverings under the concept of coverings applied to existing structures. Textile wall hangings, by contrast, are in Class 24 as textile goods.
Where does artificial turf go?
Artificial turf and artificial grass coverings are in Class 27 as floor and surface coverings. Natural grass seed and living plants, by contrast, are in Class 31. The classification depends on whether the product is an artificial covering or a living natural product.
Search Class 27 Before You File
Carpet, rug, and floor-covering names overlap across the Class 24 / 27 / 19 boundaries, so clearance should span them. Use tmarkmetric to browse registered Class 27 trademarks, see which names are taken, and search the broader registry before you commit. File across the right classes for a broad flooring or home range.