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
37.0 mo
Overall median
32.9 mo
Patents analyzed
1,239
Fastest domain
Mechanical Engineering
Slowest domain
Gene Editing
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 33.6mo
med 30.4mo
P25-P75: 22–42mo
n=326
Automotive
avg 34.1mo
med 33.2mo
P25-P75: 21–43mo
n=118
Semiconductors
avg 34.6mo
med 30.9mo
P25-P75: 22–43mo
n=209
Consumer Electronics
avg 35.5mo
med 31.7mo
P25-P75: 22–45mo
n=685
Clean Energy
avg 36.3mo
med 34.8mo
P25-P75: 24–45mo
n=101
Telecommunications
avg 36.5mo
med 31.4mo
P25-P75: 22–46mo
n=489
AI & Machine Learning
avg 37.1mo
med 35.4mo
P25-P75: 23–48mo
n=242
Software
avg 37.5mo
med 33.5mo
P25-P75: 22–47mo
n=527
Biotechnology
avg 41.7mo
med 35.4mo
P25-P75: 23–55mo
n=251
Pharmaceuticals
avg 43.5mo
med 36.3mo
P25-P75: 23–58mo
n=170
E-Commerce
avg 45.1mo
med 38.1mo
P25-P75: 28–57mo
n=102
Gene Editing
avg 46.9mo
med 51.3mo
P25-P75: 29–61mo
n=31
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) | 37.0 | 32.9 | 1,239 |
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.