Provisional Patent Cost in 2026: Full Breakdown + 95% Cheaper Alternative
Provisional patents cost £2,000-£5,000 in the UK and $2,000-$5,000 in the US—and that's just the start. Here's the full cost breakdown, plus a faster, cheaper way to protect your IP that courts actually accept.
Quick Answer: How Much Does a Provisional Patent Cost?
But that's just the filing. The full patent costs £15,000-£50,000+ and takes 2-5 years.Skip to the cheaper alternative →
In This Guide
1. What Is a Provisional Patent?
A provisional patent application is a temporary placeholder that gives you 12 months to file a full patent. It establishes a "priority date"—the date from which your invention is timestamped.
What a Provisional Patent Does:
- Establishes a priority date (timestamp)
- Lets you use "Patent Pending" status
- Gives you 12 months to decide on a full patent
- Cheaper than a full patent application
What a Provisional Patent Doesn't Do:
- Grant any patent rights (it's not a patent)
- Get examined by the patent office
- Stop anyone from copying your invention
- Last beyond 12 months (expires if you don't file full patent)
Important: A provisional patent is not actually a patent. It's an expensive timestamp with a 12-month deadline. If you don't file a full patent within that window, your provisional expires worthless—and you've spent thousands.
2. Full Cost Breakdown (UK & US)
UK Provisional Patent Costs
| Item | DIY Cost | With Attorney |
|---|---|---|
| UKIPO filing fee | £50 | £50 |
| Patent attorney drafting | £0 | £1,500-£4,000 |
| Prior art search | £0-£500 | £500-£1,000 |
| Total | £50-£550 | £2,050-£5,050 |
US Provisional Patent Costs
| Item | Small Entity | With Attorney |
|---|---|---|
| USPTO filing fee | $160 | $160 |
| Patent attorney drafting | $0 | $1,500-$4,000 |
| Drawings (if needed) | $0-$200 | $200-$500 |
| Total | $160-$360 | $1,860-$4,660 |
* Small entity fees shown. Micro entities pay less; large companies pay more.
4. The 95% Cheaper Alternative: Blockchain IP Protection
Here's what most patent attorneys won't tell you: the main thing a provisional patent does is establish a timestamp—proof that your invention existed at a specific date.
You can get that same timestamp, with court-admissible evidence, for a fraction of the cost using blockchain technology.
How Blockchain IP Protection Works
Upload your documentation
Technical specs, designs, research notes—anything describing your invention.
Cryptographic fingerprint created
A unique hash proves this exact document existed—without revealing contents.
Recorded on public blockchain
Permanent, immutable timestamp that can't be altered or deleted.
Certificate issued instantly
Court-ready documentation proving your invention date.
Why This Works Legally
Blockchain evidence is increasingly accepted in courts worldwide:
- UK: Recognised under Civil Evidence Act 1995
- EU: Accepted under eIDAS Regulation
- US: Multiple states have blockchain evidence laws
- China: Courts accept blockchain evidence since 2018
"Blockchain evidence combines the best qualities for proving facts in court: it's created at the relevant time, cannot be tampered with, and can be independently verified without relying on the assertions of either party."
— UK Jurisdiction Taskforce, Legal Statement on Cryptoassets
5. Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Provisional Patent | Blockchain Timestamp |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £2,000-£5,000 | £10-£50 |
| Time to protect | Days to weeks | Seconds |
| Duration | 12 months (then expires) | Permanent |
| Disclosure required | Yes (becomes public) | No (stays private) |
| Geographic scope | Single jurisdiction | Global |
| Attorney required | Recommended | No |
| Follow-up costs | £15,000-£50,000+ for full patent | None required |
| Court admissible | Yes | Yes |
The Smart Approach
Use blockchain timestamps to protect your IP immediately. If your invention proves commercially valuable, you can still file a patent later. But you're not locked into a 12-month countdown or thousands in sunk costs.
6. When You Actually Need a Patent
Patents aren't always bad—they're just not always necessary. Here's when a patent might make sense:
Consider a Patent When:
- Your product can be easily reverse-engineered
- You need to license your technology to others
- Investors require patents for funding
- You need to block specific competitors in specific markets
- You have the budget for full protection (£50,000+)
Blockchain Protection Is Better When:
- Your innovation is a process, formula, or method
- You want to keep your invention secret
- You can't afford full patent costs
- Your IP can't be patented (software, business methods, data)
- You're at an early stage and want to preserve options
- You need protection that lasts beyond 20 years
Related Resources
7. Getting Started Today
Protecting your IP doesn't have to cost thousands. Here's how to get started with blockchain protection in minutes:
Ready to Protect Your IP?
Book a call with our team. We'll show you exactly how blockchain protection works—and protect your first piece of IP on the call, free.
Leave the call with court-ready IP protection documents
About immut: immut provides blockchain-based intellectual property protection for businesses, researchers, and innovators. Our platform creates permanent, court-ready proof of creation in seconds—at a fraction of the cost of traditional patents. Learn more at immut.io.