Patent Intelligence · Prosecution Time
How long does a patent take?
From filing to grant: actual data on prosecution times across 12 technology domains, filing years 2000–2020, and major patent offices worldwide.
Overall avg
37.8 mo
Overall median
33.5 mo
Patents analyzed
911
Fastest domain
Mechanical Engineering
Slowest domain
E-Commerce
Filing-to-Grant Lag by Technology Domain
Sorted fastest to slowest (by average months). P25–P75 band shown on bar. Median tick shown separately.
Mechanical Engineering
avg 33.4mo
med 29.9mo
P25-P75: 22–43mo
n=276
Semiconductors
avg 35.6mo
med 31.6mo
P25-P75: 23–44mo
n=146
Automotive
avg 35.9mo
med 33.7mo
P25-P75: 22–43mo
n=78
Consumer Electronics
avg 36.6mo
med 33.2mo
P25-P75: 23–46mo
n=518
Clean Energy
avg 36.8mo
med 34.9mo
P25-P75: 23–44mo
n=70
AI & Machine Learning
avg 37.9mo
med 36.7mo
P25-P75: 25–50mo
n=185
Telecommunications
avg 38.8mo
med 32.8mo
P25-P75: 23–49mo
n=325
Gene Editing
avg 39.5mo
med 34.9mo
P25-P75: 18–56mo
n=15
Software
avg 39.8mo
med 35.9mo
P25-P75: 25–50mo
n=380
Biotechnology
avg 42.3mo
med 34.8mo
P25-P75: 23–53mo
n=152
Pharmaceuticals
avg 43.1mo
med 33.7mo
P25-P75: 23–53mo
n=113
E-Commerce
avg 46.2mo
med 39.9mo
P25-P75: 29–58mo
n=94
Prosecution Time Trend by Filing Year (2000–2020)
Patents filed more recently may not be granted yet, so 2021+ is excluded. Historical trend reflects USPTO backlog changes.
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
Patent Office Speed Comparison
Sorted fastest to slowest.
| Office | Avg (mo) | Median (mo) | n |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (USPTO) | 37.8 | 33.5 | 911 |
Why do software patents take longer?
Software claims often require more back-and-forth with examiners on §101 eligibility (Alice/Mayo). The USPTO software art unit backlog grew sharply 2012-2018, pushing prosecution times to 30+ months.
Why are mechanical patents faster?
Mechanical claims are well-established in prior art and eligibility law. Examiners have clearer prior art databases and less §101 controversy. Typical prosecution: 18-24 months.
How do you accelerate prosecution?
Track One prioritized examination (fee-based) cuts average to 6-12 months. Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) speeds up PCT applications. After final rejection, appeal or RCE extends timelines.