How long does it take to get a trademark?

The right question to ask is not how long it takes to get a trademark, because you have basic trademark rights in a mark as soon as you start using it. At that time, you obtain certain common law rights which protect your mark in the narrow geographic area where you are using the mark. However, you can get substantially stronger rights by registering your trademark, either with a state agency or, preferably, federally with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Obtaining a state registration is a relatively straightforward process, and although the time involved varies from state to state, it should take about one year. Obtaining a federal registration can take longer, on the order of eighteen months to several years, depending upon how the Patent and Trademark Office handles the application and whether there are any oppositions to your application.