One of the most common questions asked is how long it takes to obtain a trademark registration. Of course, there are almost too many variables that can affect the length of the registration process. The time required can depend on the actions of the applicant (filing basis, waiting until the last day to respond to an office action), the actions of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (number of office actions issued) or even the actions of third parties (letters of protest and trademark oppositions). As such, only general guidelines can be provided.
In short, if everything goes smoothly (no office actions, no oppositions), a trademark filed based on use in commerce could register as quickly as seven months. Likewise, if everything goes smoothly, a trademark filed based on intent to use in commerce could receive a notice of allowance as quickly as seven months (it is then up to the applicant to file the statement of use as quickly as possible to receive the registration).
However, most applications will receive at least one office action. This usually adds approximately eight months to the process, meaning most applications will take at least 15 months to register. However, if multiple office actions are issued or a trademark opposition is filed, the registration process could take years.
In this regard, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has published a series of charts detailing the approximate time involved in the registration process. The charts can be found at this link.