On this page
- 01Key takeaways
- 02How much do stock images cost for a website?
- 03What about icons and fonts?
- 04Why do copyright claims cost so much?
- 05Stock or real photos?
- 06When are free images the right choice?
- 07What does this look like in practice?
- 08Image licence checklist
- 09Next step
- 10Sources and further reading
- 11Frequently asked questions
Key takeaways
Stock images for a small business website typically cost £0 to £30 each on standard licences, or £100 to £500 a year on subscriptions, with premium images costing more. Fonts range from free to a few hundred pounds. The bigger cost risk is using unlicensed images: copyright claims commonly demand hundreds of pounds per image.
- Standard stock image: about £0 to £30.
- Stock subscription: about £100 to £500 a year.
- Font licence: free to a few hundred pounds.
- Unlicensed image claim: often hundreds of pounds.
Want your site's image licences checked? Message us on WhatsApp.
Chat on WhatsApp →How much do stock images cost for a website?
Stock images cost about £0 to £30 each on standard licences from mainstream libraries, or £100 to £500 a year on subscriptions, based on typical published prices. Free libraries exist, with their own terms. Exclusive or premium images can cost far more.
What about icons and fonts?
Icons and fonts are often free under open licences, but premium sets and some brand fonts need paid licences, sometimes priced by website traffic. Check the licence covers web use and your expected visitors. Self-hosting fonts can also help page speed.
- Free open-licence fonts and icons.
- Premium font licences, sometimes traffic-based.
- Icon sets: free to about £100.
Want licence costs listed for your site? Message us on WhatsApp and we will discuss your requirements.
Chat on WhatsApp →Why do copyright claims cost so much?
Copyright claims cost so much because rights holders track image use and demand licence fees plus damages. Copyright protects photos automatically, and using one without a licence, even unknowingly, can bring a claim. Keep a record of every licence.
Stock or real photos?
Real photos of your team, work and premises usually build more trust than stock images, which buyers often recognise. Stock suits abstract concepts or gaps. A small photo shoot can replace many stock images and avoid licence tracking.
When are free images the right choice?
Free images are right when their licence clearly allows commercial use and you record where each came from. Avoid images taken from search results or social media, which are rarely licensed for your use.
What does this look like in practice?
At Global Bridge Labs (GBL), a UK cleaning company received a claim for a photo a previous designer had copied from search results. Settling it cost more than a year of stock subscription. They replaced every stock image with photos from a half-day shoot and kept a licence log.
Image licence checklist
- Record the source and licence of every image.
- Check fonts are licensed for web use.
- Avoid images from search results.
- Use real photos where they build trust.
- Budget for a stock subscription if needed.
- Ask designers for their licence records.
Next step
List every image on your site and where it came from. Replace any you cannot trace to a licence.
Message us on WhatsApp for an image licence log template, or book a 30-minute consultation.
Chat on WhatsApp →Sources and further reading
- How copyright protects your work · GOV.UK
- Google Images SEO best practices · Google Search Central
- Understanding SC 1.4.5: Images of Text · W3C
Frequently asked questions
How much do stock photos cost for a website?
Standard stock photos typically cost about £0 to £30 each, or £100 to £500 a year on a subscription, from mainstream libraries. Premium or exclusive images cost more. Free libraries offer commercial-use images, but check each licence and keep a record of where every image came from.
Can I use images from Google on my website?
Generally not. Most images found through search are protected by copyright, and using one without permission can lead to a claim for licence fees and damages. Use images you own, licensed stock or free images whose licence clearly allows commercial use, and keep records.
Do I need to pay for fonts on my website?
Not always. Many high-quality fonts are free under open licences that allow web use. Some premium and brand fonts need paid web licences, sometimes priced by monthly visitors. Check the licence before using a font, especially one supplied by a designer from their own collection.
Written by
Global Bridge Labs (GBL) is a UK–Sri Lanka partner for social media, websites and BPO. Everything here comes from client delivery, not theory.
