If you’ve been dreaming of starting your own business but feel overwhelmed by the idea of managing inventory, handling shipping, or investing heavily upfront, Etsy Print on Demand (POD) might just be the perfect solution. 

What is Etsy Print on Demand?

Etsy print-on-demand (POD) is a highly profitable business model where sellers can create and sell custom products without the need to keep inventory. When a customer places an order, the POD provider handles the production and shipping directly to the buyer. 

Essentially, this model operates similarly to drop shipping on Etsy. This approach allows sellers to focus on designing and marketing their products, while their print-on-demand partners take care of the manufacturing, packaging, and delivery. 

As a result, it’s a low-risk way to offer custom items without worrying about inventory management. With over 96 million active buyers and 8.3 million sellers on Etsy, the platform continues to thrive. Etsy generated $2.74 billion in revenue in 2023, marking a 7% year-over-year increase. Many sellers have already adopted this model because of these advantages. 

But the question remains: is it still a good option for 2025? We’ll explore that in the next section.

Is Etsy Print-on-Demand Profitable in 2025?

It’s possible to make money on Etsy with print-on-demand. Your profitability will largely depend on the uniqueness of your designs, the quality of your products, and the effectiveness of your marketing. 

To increase your profit margins, focus on controlling costs, improving your SEO strategy, and putting money into advertising.

1. Production costs:

To assess your business’s profitability, you must first consider production costs. These are the expenses involved in creating your products:

• Product Base Price: This is the cost of the blank item before your design is added, varying depending on the type of product you sell.
• Fulfillment Costs: These cover adding your design to the product, which can differ based on your POD partner and technique (printing or embroidery). The number of designs or placement may increase the cost.
• Packaging: While some POD providers include packaging in their pricing, custom packaging adds an extra cost.

2. Etsy fees:

Etsy charges several fees to consider when pricing your products:

• Listing fees: $0.20 per item, charged when you create a listing. It expires in 4 months, requiring renewal for another $0.20.
• Transaction fees: Etsy takes 6.5% of the total sale price, including shipping.
• Payment processing fees: These vary by country. In the US, it’s 3% of the sale price plus $0.25 per transaction.

3. Average profit margins:

Your Etsy profit margins depend on your niche, product type, and customer willingness to pay. To calculate your margin, research competitor prices and understand your product’s value. 

For example: If a custom notebook sells for $20 and costs $12, your profit is $8, giving you a 40% margin. Offering added value, like eco-friendly materials or customization, can justify higher prices and improve margins. Success depends on pricing, cost control, and attracting customers.

How do you sell print on demand on Etsy?

Selling print-on-demand on Etsy allows you to create custom products without holding inventory. It’s a low-risk way to start an online business by utilising Etsy’s large customer base.

1. Finding Your Etsy Niche: 

• Find your niche: Reduces competition and targets an underserved market. Use Etsy’s search bar: Explore product ideas and refine them with specific keywords.
• Check product potential: Analyze top sellers, reviews, and trends to understand what’s popular.
• Research beyond Etsy: Use Google Trends and Etsy’s Keyword Tool to gauge broader demand.
• Study competitors: Look at their listings, pricing, and customer feedback to identify gaps and opportunities.

2. Choose Reliable Print-on-Demand Partners for Etsy:

Choose a print-on-demand supplier with a diverse product range, high quality, competitive pricing, and fast production times (3-5 days). Ensure they offer global shipping or multiple locations for affordable, timely delivery.

Here are the top three Print-On-Demand Companies to choose

• Printful: Printful offers a wide range of high-quality products, including apparel from brands like Gildan and American Apparel. They provide various printing options like direct-to-garment, cut and sew, and embroidery. Additional customizations may come with extra fees. Printful also sells non-apparel items such as mugs, bedding, pillows, and posters.

•  Printify: Printify is another top print-on-demand platform for Etsy, offering a unique approach by partnering with over 90 printing factories worldwide, including in the US, Europe, Canada, and Australia. Unlike Printful, they don’t operate their factories but manage all orders through their platform. With Printify, you can customize a vast range of products, from clothing and home goods to niche items like scented candles and yoga mats.

• Galeto: Gelato is an excellent choice for Etsy sellers seeking a dependable print-on-demand supplier with round-the-clock customer support. Along with offering a broad selection of high-quality products, Gelato ensures top-notch buyer assistance, helping sellers build trust and loyalty with customers—crucial for long-term success. Plus, Gelato doesn’t charge any upfront or subscription fees, making it an affordable option for sellers.

3. Set Up Your Etsy Print-on-Demand Business:

• Open your Etsy account: If you don’t already have an Etsy account, go to Etsy’s homepage and click “Sign Up” to create an account. If you already have one, simply log in. Having an Etsy account is essential to open a shop and start selling.
• Set Up Shop Preferences: Select your shop’s language, country, and currency. These preferences will define the language of your listings and the currency in which you will be paid for your sales. Choose options that align with your target market.
• Setting Up and Launching Your Etsy Print-on-Demand Shop: Once your Etsy shop is created, upload your designs, use mockup tools, and optimize your listings with detailed descriptions, keywords, and tags. 

Price products by factoring in costs and fees for a competitive edge. Set up Etsy Payments for secure transactions and configure shipping options based on your POD provider’s rates. Review everything and launch your shop. To attract customers, promote your store via social media, Etsy ads, and SEO, while engaging with your audience to build loyalty.

4. Optimizing Product Listings for Etsy Success

1. Upload Photos & Video:
   • Use at least 5 photos (up to 10) from different angles.
   • Ensure image sizes are at least 1,000 pixels square.
   • Follow Etsy’s image guidelines for best results.
2. Choose Thumbnail Image:
   • The first image you upload is the default thumbnail.
   • You can drag another image to replace it for better representation in search results.
3. Add Listing Details:
   • Include a title, product description, and category.
   • Reference Etsy Help Center articles for additional guidance.
4. Describe Listings:
   • Write detailed descriptions and add relevant tags.
   • Specify whether the product is physical or digital.
5. Learn Etsy SEO:
   • Understand how Etsy’s search algorithm works to optimize your titles, descriptions, and tags for better visibility.
6. Use Multichannel Listing Tools:
   • Consider using tools like LitCommerce to manage listings across both Etsy and other platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce.

Top 5 Best-Selling Print-on-Demand Products on Etsy

1. Custom T-shirts: The revenue for t-shirt sales in 2024 is roughly $45.52 billion, and the market is growing by more than 3% each year. T-shirts are consistently one of the top sellers on Etsy, as they offer endless customization options. You can create shirts with funny sayings, personalized quotes, or graphics related to specific hobbies, professions, or pop culture trends.

From classic crew necks to trendy oversized styles, there’s a wide variety to cater to every buyer. The key to success is finding a niche, such as pet lovers, fitness enthusiasts, or people looking for custom event shirts (e.g., weddings, reunions).

2. Mugs: Custom mugs are popular for both personal and gift purposes. Sellers often personalize mugs with names, funny quotes, or inspirational messages, making them perfect for birthdays, holidays, and special occasions like anniversaries or graduation. The options are endless, from classic ceramic mugs to travel mugs and even novelty designs that cater to specific hobbies or interests like coffee lovers, teachers, or pet owners.

3. Tote Bags: Tote bags are popular for their versatility and eco-friendly appeal. Custom designs range from minimalist prints to bold graphics, making them perfect for carrying groceries, books, or everyday items. They’re also great gifts for special occasions like birthdays or weddings, and targeting specific niches like fashion or pets can help attract a dedicated audience.

4. Posters and Prints: Custom posters and prints are popular for home décor, appealing to buyers looking to personalize their space. From family portraits to motivational quotes and seasonal designs, these items offer endless creative possibilities and can be marketed for various occasions and trends.

5. Hoodies and Sweatshirts: Hoodies and sweatshirts are cozy, customizable items popular in colder months. With options like funny sayings, logos, or embroidered patches, they’re trendy and perfect for gifts or corporate events, especially in oversized or vintage styles.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Etsy print-on-demand is a low-risk and profitable business model that allows you to create and sell custom products without the hassle of inventory management.

By selecting the right POD provider, optimizing your product listings, and strategically pricing your items, you can tap into Etsy’s massive customer base. Success in this model depends on your ability to create unique designs, offer quality products, and effectively market your store. With the right approach, Etsy print-on-demand offers great potential for growth and long-term success.

FAQs on Etsy Print on Demand

1. What is Etsy print-on-demand?

Etsy print-on-demand (POD) is a business model where sellers create custom designs for products, and a third-party provider prints, packages, and ships those products directly to customers. This eliminates the need for inventory management.

2. How does print-on-demand work on Etsy?

Once you upload your designs to Etsy and receive an order, the print-on-demand provider handles production and shipping. The order is fulfilled directly from the POD supplier to the customer, while you manage your shop and market your products.

3. What types of products can I sell on Etsy with print-on-demand?

You can sell a wide variety of products, including custom t-shirts, mugs, posters, tote bags, hoodies, phone cases, and more. You can choose the product categories that best suit your designs.

4. Is Etsy print-on-demand profitable?

Yes, Etsy print-on-demand can be profitable if you manage costs well, offer unique and high-quality designs, and optimize your listings for search. Profitability depends on factors like product quality, pricing, and marketing.

5. What are the fees involved with Etsy print-on-demand?

Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee, a 6.5% transaction fee on the sale price (including shipping), and payment processing fees. The print-on-demand provider also charges for production, printing, and shipping costs.