🎨 Step-by-Step Guide to Earning from Icon Sets for Designers
🧠 Introduction
Icons are everywhere — websites, apps, infographics, social media posts, software, and user interfaces. Designers and developers constantly need quality, consistent icon sets for their creative projects. If you have a knack for design, creating and selling icon sets is one of the smartest and most scalable ways to earn money online.
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned designer, this article will walk you through a simple and effective method to earn a steady income by designing and selling icon packs in 2025.
🚀 Why Selling Icon Sets is a Great Business Idea
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| 📦 Reusable Product | One icon set can sell hundreds or thousands of times |
| 🌍 Global Demand | Designers, marketers, developers always need icons |
| 💻 Low Startup Cost | Just a laptop and design software needed |
| ⏳ Passive Income | Create once, sell forever |
| 📈 Scalability | More sets = more sales = growing income |
You don’t need to be a big design agency — even freelancers and students are earning well with high-quality icon sets.
🔍 What Are Icon Sets?
An icon set is a collection of graphical symbols that represent actions, objects, ideas, or categories. These sets are usually sold in vector (SVG, AI), PNG, and font formats, and are used by:
- UI/UX designers
- App developers
- Web designers
- Bloggers and marketers
- Presentation creators
🪜 Step-by-Step Guide to Earn from Icon Sets
✅ Step 1: Learn the Basics of Icon Design
Before jumping in, you need to understand what makes a great icon:
🎯 Key Principles of Icon Design:
- Simplicity: Easy to recognize, even at small sizes
- Consistency: Uniform stroke width, corner radius, size
- Scalability: Vector-friendly for any screen size
- Visual Balance: Centered and clean alignment
- Style Matching: All icons in one set should share a style (e.g., outline, filled, flat, 3D)
🛠️ Recommended Tools:
- Figma (Free)
- Adobe Illustrator
- Affinity Designer
- Sketch (for macOS)
- Inkscape (Free & Open Source)
📘 You can start with free tutorials on YouTube, Coursera, or Skillshare.
✅ Step 2: Decide on a Style and Theme
There are many icon styles. Choose one and stick with it for each set.
🎨 Popular Styles in 2025:
- Outline icons
- Filled icons
- Duotone icons
- Hand-drawn icons
- 3D icons (especially popular for apps and startups)
- Pixel icons (for retro-style games)
🧠 Icon Set Ideas:
- E-commerce icons
- Social media icons
- Education and learning icons
- Technology and gadgets
- Food and drinks
- Medical and health
- Finance and banking
- Weather icons
💡 Start small: a 50-icon set in one theme and style is ideal for your first product.
✅ Step 3: Create the Icon Set
Now it’s time to design. Let’s break it down.
✍️ Icon Creation Tips:
- Use a 24×24 or 32×32 grid (most platforms support this size)
- Maintain consistent stroke widths (e.g., 2px or 1.5px)
- Align icons perfectly — use guides
- Avoid too much detail; think of clarity at small size
🧩 Common File Formats:
- SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)
- PNG (Raster for previews)
- AI or EPS (Editable formats)
- Icon font (Optional — use IcoMoon or Fontello)
- Figma file (Bonus)
🗃️ Name your icons properly (e.g.,
shopping-cart.svg,calendar.svg).
✅ Step 4: Prepare Your Files for Sale
A clean, professional package increases buyer trust and sales.
📦 What to Include in Your Icon Pack:
- Organized folders by file type (SVG, PNG, AI, etc.)
- Preview images (mockups, flat grid, zoomed-in view)
- “ReadMe.txt” file with license terms
- Licensing options (Basic: personal & commercial use; Extended: for reselling)
🖼️ Tools for creating previews:
- Figma or Canva (for banners)
- Mockups of the icons used in websites or apps
🎁 Consider offering multiple versions (e.g., filled and outline) to add more value.
✅ Step 5: Decide Where to Sell Your Icon Sets
You can sell icons on multiple platforms for maximum exposure.
🏪 Best Marketplaces to Sell Icons:
| Platform | Commission | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Market | 40%–60% | Large designer audience |
| Envato Elements / GraphicRiver | 33% | High traffic |
| Gumroad | 90%+ | Full control, sell from your own link |
| Etsy | 95% | Great for design assets and bundles |
| UI8 | 70%–80% | Popular with UI designers |
| Iconfinder | 50% | Specifically for icons |
| DesignBundles.net | 75% | Low competition niche |
| Your own website | 100% | Total control and branding |
🚀 Pro Tip: Sell on multiple platforms unless a platform requires exclusivity.
✅ Step 6: Set the Right Pricing
Pricing depends on your icon set’s size, quality, and use cases.
💰 Pricing Strategy:
| Icon Set Size | Recommended Price |
|---|---|
| 20–50 icons | $5–$10 |
| 50–100 icons | $10–$25 |
| 100–300 icons | $25–$50 |
| Bundle (multiple styles/themes) | $50–$100+ |
🔒 Offer both:
- Personal license: for individual projects
- Commercial/Extended license: for businesses or reselling use
💵 Use psychological pricing (e.g., $9 instead of $10).
✅ Step 7: Promote Your Icon Set
Creating is only half the work — marketing is key to selling.
📣 Free Promotion Strategies:
- Share on Twitter/X with relevant hashtags:
#uidesign #icondesign - Create a Behance case study
- Publish Instagram carousel posts showing previews
- Create short YouTube reels or TikToks of the design process
- Submit to design directories (e.g., UIdeck, ProductHunt, DesignerHangout)
📩 Email Marketing (Optional):
- Build a list using freebies or lead magnets
- Use platforms like ConvertKit or Mailchimp
🌍 Build a personal brand and become known as an “icon expert”.
✅ Step 8: Keep Updating & Launch New Sets
Once your first set is live:
- Add bonus icons or styles (free updates = more customer love)
- Create themed bundles (e.g., “Startup Pack” with 500 icons)
- Offer seasonal sets (Valentine’s, Christmas, New Year icons)
🧩 Bundle example:
- “Mega UI Icon Pack”: 300+ icons in outline, filled, duotone
- Bonus: Figma file + usage guide
📈 More products = more chances to earn passively.
✅ Step 9: License Your Icons to Businesses
Once your work gains traction, approach businesses for custom or exclusive licenses.
🤝 Ideas:
- UI/UX agencies
- SaaS product owners
- App developers
- Branding consultants
Create a pricing sheet offering:
- Non-exclusive rights (multiple buyers allowed)
- Exclusive rights (one-time buyout, higher price)
💼 Licensing can generate hundreds or thousands of dollars per client.
✅ Step 10: Track Sales, Feedback, and Improve
Keep an eye on:
- Which icon sets sell the most
- Customer feedback and suggestions
- Market trends and design styles
📊 Use platform analytics and social feedback to decide your next design.
📘 Continuous improvement = long-term success and recurring revenue.
💸 Example Income Potential
| Revenue Source | Monthly Potential |
|---|---|
| Gumroad Sales (100 downloads @ $10) | $1,000 |
| Etsy Sales (50 sales @ $15) | $750 |
| Creative Market (60 downloads) | $600 |
| Licensing to Companies (2 clients) | $1,000–$3,000 |
| Bundle Sales (20 buyers @ $50) | $1,000 |
💰 Estimated total monthly income: $3,000–$5,000+
⏳ Earnings grow as your catalog grows.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why It’s a Problem |
|---|---|
| Inconsistent styles | Reduces trust and usability |
| Low resolution or no vectors | Limited usability |
| Poor file organization | Frustrates buyers |
| No license terms | Leads to legal issues |
| Pricing too low | Devalues your work |
✅ Focus on quality, clarity, and presentation to stand out.
🛠️ Tools and Resources
- Design: Figma, Illustrator, Inkscape, Sketch
- Preview Mockups: Canva, Artboard Studio
- Conversion Tools: IcoMoon (for icon fonts), SVGOMG (optimize SVG)
- Selling Platforms: Gumroad, Etsy, Creative Market
- Licensing Templates: Creative Commons, Docracy
📘 Final Checklist Before You Start
✅ Learn icon design principles
✅ Choose a style and niche
✅ Design in consistent format (SVG, PNG, etc.)
✅ Package your icon sets cleanly
✅ Set the right prices
✅ Publish on marketplaces
✅ Promote across social media
✅ Expand with bundles and updates
✅ Offer licensing to businesses
✅ Monitor and improve
🏁 Conclusion
Creating and selling icon sets for designers is one of the most rewarding digital design businesses in 2025. With creativity, consistency, and smart marketing, even a single set can earn you income for years.
Remember, you’re not just selling icons — you’re saving time and effort for other creators.
🎯 So start today. Design. Upload. Sell. Earn. Repeat.