Do you have an online business and need products to sell? You can create almost anything and put your brand on it without worrying where you'll store inventory. Print on demand is a popular way to create items your audience wants to buy without the burden of storage fees.
From tote bags to towels, it is easy to add your designs and branding to everyday products and sell them in your store.
What are print-on-demand products?
Print-on-demand is a way to sell customized, made-to-order products featuring your own designs or logo. It’s a form of dropshipping, which is a fulfillment method where the supplier or manufacturer ships the product directly to customers. You design the print-on-demand product, a customer orders it, and a third-party printing service produces and ships the order.
Because print-on-demand companies produce products to order, they don’t require payment until a sale has been made. This eliminates the need for retailers to buy and hold inventory, greatly reducing costs.
The best print-on-demand products
- Unisex t-shirts
- Personalized baby clothing
- Mugs
- All-over print hoodies
- All-over print yoga pants
- Engraved jewelry
- Posters
- Champion hoodies
- Tote bags
- Belt bags
- Stickers
- Backpacks
- Wall art
- Cushions
- Towels
- Phone cases
- Hats
- Face masks
- Bluetooth speakers
- Water bottles
- Socks
- Custom puzzles
1. Unisex t-shirts
Starting an online t-shirt business is a great idea at any time. Unlike seasonal wear like swimwear or sweaters, t-shirts are versatile and can be worn alone in warm weather or layered during the colder months.
With so many types of t-shirts available to print on demand, there’s lots of opportunity to cater to a niche audience. The most popular color for unisex t-shirts is black, a versatile choice that works well with various designs. As for graphics, ensure they’re distinctive and relevant to a target audience.
For example, LGBTQ+ lifestyle brand Passionfruit began by selling niche print-on-demand t-shirts with themed graphics. The brand quickly surpassed its targets and expanded its product line.
When selling any clothing online, include a sizing chart to help customers decide what to buy. Size chart apps are useful for adding accurate sizing to your product pages.
See how Asian-inspired apparel brand Immigen (which uses print on demand) prominently displays its size guide below its product descriptions:
2. Personalized baby clothing
People buy personalized baby clothing as gifts for births, baby showers, baptisms, and first birthdays. Custom items range from onesies featuring baby names to illustrated puzzles, like those sold by baby brand Caden Lane.
When selecting print-on-demand baby products to customize, check that the materials used are hypoallergenic and suitable for babies. Add a contact form to your online store, so customers can submit custom requests.
3. Mugs
Like apparel, mugs are a favorite print-on-demand product. Demand is year-round—with a peak during the winter holiday season.
Beyond the standard 11-ounce white mug, print-on-demand options include colorful cups with contrasting interiors, or trendy enamel mugs that resemble tin cups used for camping. These styles lend themselves well to creative designs and catchy slogans.
To create mugs that can be sold at a higher price point, consider limited edition art, textured finishes, or premium material like porcelain.
4. All-over print hoodies
Designers will find all-over print hoodies an exciting challenge. Unlike traditional print-on-demand hoodies that only allow for designs on the front and back, these products let you showcase your art on every part of the garment.
All-over print hoodies require more complex production processes, justifying a higher price tag. When pricing, apply strategies like price anchoring, where standard and luxury items are placed side by side, to encourage shoppers to opt for premium options.
Streetwear brands like Vapor95 utilize all-over print-on-demand products to create vibrant, eye-catching product lines that promote their brand wherever they’re worn.
5. All-over print yoga pants
As with hoodies, all-over print yoga pants feature designs that cover all areas. These leggings first became popular after people started wearing them to music festivals.
Novelty clothing brand Beloved sold $3,000 worth of merchandise a day, with an entire collection dedicated to all-over print yoga pants.
All-over print yoga pants are another ideal print-on-demand product for artists. Consider launching new designs each month to build buzz and drive repeat purchases.
Like hoodies, all-over print yoga pants need to be priced to accommodate increased production costs. Target a higher price point with unique designs customers can’t find anywhere else.
6. Engraved jewelry
Engraved jewelry is not only versatile and lightweight (making it ideal for shipping), it’s also a canvas for personalized designs. Engravings can be of text or images and applied to necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and charms.
There’s a large variety of print-on-demand jewelry. Consider circle and heart necklaces, as well as bar chain bracelets. Each style appeals differently, allowing for niche targeting.
Promote your jewelry brand through influencer marketing. If you don’t have a pre-existing audience, influencer collaborations can build awareness and trust for your brand.
Take inspiration from jewelry brand Nominal, which offers a range of products for men and women, including customizable “hometown” pieces.
7. Posters
You don’t have to create expensive oil paintings or abstract canvases to sell your art online. Instead, turn your designs into posters that are affordable for the masses.
Posters are ever-popular—as long as they are high quality. You might get away with a lower-resolution image for a t-shirt or mug, but printed posters are less forgiving. Make sure any pictures you print onto a poster are at least 300 dpi.
8. Champion hoodies
Sports clothing brand Champion is older than Adidas and Nike. Recently, it made a comeback, due largely to partnerships with influencers.
Capitalize on this resurgence by offering print-on-demand Champion-branded clothing. For a premium twist on items like the Champion hoodie, consider embroidered or even custom designs.
Embroidery not only enhances a garment’s appeal but increases its perceived value, allowing you to set higher prices compared to standard print products.
9. Tote bags
Tote bags are a straightforward print-on-demand item to design and add to your store. Illustrations are printed on a flat, rectangular surface, so it’s simple to adapt or repurpose designs from other items. Consider offering matching tote bags as an upsell or cross-sell with other products.
According to Google Trends, searches for “tote bags” are currently at a five-year-high, suggesting increased consumer demand.
Boba Love, for example, has a variety of print-on-demand products, including tote bags. Many of the designs are similar, with some repurposed from other products.
Consider offering your print-on-demand tote bags as a freebie or at a discounted rate with a minimum qualifying purchase. If you include a logo on your bags, they act as a marketing surface, spreading the word about your brand.
10. Belt bags
Belt bags are the modern incarnation of fanny packs. They come in various sizes, and have become a popular product over the past few years, thanks to their practicality and adoption by major fashion brands.
Some print-on-demand providers offer belt bags and fanny packs with all-over printing, so keep this in mind when designing your products. Something that works for a t-shirt or tote bag may need some tweaking before it’s appropriate for fanny packs.
As with other products in this list, creative designs increase the sense of uniqueness, which increases the perceived value. That means you can charge higher prices and make more money per sale.
11. Stickers
Stickers are an OG print-on-demand product that remains popular today. Create fun, appealing stickers that attract your audience’s eye. Many stores leverage the print-on-demand model to continuously update their sticker product line, with topical illustrations that reference movies, songs, and popular memes as a way to generate interest and encourage repeat customers.
For example, Urban General Store targets fans of Taylor Swift and the latest binge-worthy TV shows with an ever-changing collection:
12. Backpacks
Backpacks are another unique print-on-demand item you can sell in your ecommerce store. Try running back-to-school promotions for college and high school students. Or, you could advertise to parents with kids going into middle or elementary school. Print-on-demand dropshipping companies like Printfy offer various backpack options.
13. Wall art
Home décor items like wall art have always attracted buyers. Demand for wall art increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to rise, especially for personalized art.
If you’re an artist (or can curate popular images), wall art could be a good option for your online store. Take iLikeMaps, for example. The company sells various collections of maps in different styles, like art deco and chroma.
14. Cushions
Cushions are a versatile print-on-demand product that can be sold in any home décor ecommerce store. Traditional square or rectangular cushions serve as a blank canvas for unique illustrations, while all-over print cushions are ideal for patterned designs.
The availability of custom-shaped cushions from some suppliers opens up opportunities for personalized products. For instance, you could allow customers to order cushions shaped like their pets or other novelty requests.
15. Towels
White-label towels are another quality product to customize and sell online. You could create eye-catching beach towels, bath towels, hand towels, and more. Many print-on-demand offer towels in a range of materials like absorbent polyester and soft cotton blends that are durable for any use.
16. Phone cases
Starting a phone case business is straightforward when working with a print-on-demand company. Cases are cheap to produce, you can design them any way you want, and they offer high margins compared to items like jewelry or clothes.
People also always need phone cases, whether it’s for a new phone or because they’re looking for an upgrade. Demand for phone cases remains constant year over year, with spikes around the winter holiday season.
17. Hats
Hats are the perfect accessory for a casual look and everyday wear. You can print your designs on many different types of hats:
- Snapback
- Sandwich brim
- Baseball cap
- Trucker hat
- Custom knitted beanies
The options are plentiful, and demand for hats remains high throughout the year.
18. Face masks
Many people choose to wear face masks for various reasons, including to avoid air pollution. Print-on-demand mask options include those made from fabric or fitted polyester, as well as neck gaiters—a multifunctional garment. You can customize them with unique designs, logos, phrases, or colors.
19. Bluetooth speakers
Bluetooth speakers are another unique product that can be personalized and sold online. For example, print-on-demand marketplace Teelaunch offers several bluetooth speaker options, such as the Boxanne speaker.
20. Water bottles
Everyone needs to stay hydrated. That’s why as many as 69% of Gen Z adults regularly use a reusable water bottle.
You can sell water bottles for anywhere between $20 and $40. There are many types of bottles and tumblers to customize, from plastic tumblers with a straw to stainless steel insulated bottles.
21. Socks
Printed socks are one of the most popular items on Printfy’s product list—and for a good reason. They are fast and easy to produce. You can design many styles, including novelty, fashion, or colorful socks.
22. Custom puzzles
Print on demand makes it possible to create custom puzzles for customers, who often buy them as fun, unique gifts for birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries. Try offering a range of puzzle sizes and complexities to suit different skill levels, from simple designs for children to intricate artworks for adults.
Puzzles featuring personal photos or submitted illustrations make for a truly personalized shopping experience.
Designing your print-on-demand products
Creating your first print-on-demand design is a lot of fun. Best of all, you don’t have to be a designer.
Here are four ways to generate awesome designs for your products: create them yourself, hire someone, buy design templates, or use a mockup tool.
Create it yourself
If you have the vision and the creative passion, you can create your own print-on-demand designs. Use paid design software like Photoshop or Illustrator, or free alternatives such as Photopea, Pixlr, and Canva. In most cases, you’ll want to save your file as a PSD or transparent PNG in the highest resolution possible.
Bear in mind that each supplier may require specific image dimensions and formats. Dimensions may also vary depending on the product you’re designing for. The image dimensions for a mug versus a t-shirt will be different, for instance, as t-shirts are larger than mugs. Check these out before you go down the design rabbit hole.
Check out this list of paid and free photo editors.
Hire someone
There are a few ways you can find freelancers to work with:
- Freelance job sites, like Upwork or Fiverr
- Websites where artists publish their work and portfolios, like Behance, Dribbble, and DeviantArt
- Instagram hashtags related to graphic designers, such as #GraphicDesigner, #FreelanceDesigner, and #GraphicArtist
The cost of hiring a freelancer will vary depending on who you work with, as will the quality of the work. Typically speaking, the higher the price tag, the better the design. But this isn’t always the case, so it’s important to vet carefully.
Buy design templates
Another design option is to buy a template. Templates are cost-effective and easy to use, however, by using a template, you’ll likely lose exclusive rights to the design. So, you could be selling products very similar to those of other online merchants.
That said, templates are a great way to get designs to start selling quickly. Sites like Creative Market and GraphicRiver sell different kinds of graphic assets and templates you can use on all different types of products. Designious and Tshirt Factory specialize in t-shirt designs that range in price anywhere from $7 to $25.
Use a product mockup generator
A product mockup allows you to design products and produce images for product listings without needing to take real photos. Mockups are a realistic representation of your design that you can use in your ad creative, store, and product pages.
Create a mockup using a free tool, like these t-shirt mockup generators. Printful and many other print-on-demand partners offer free generators, and websites like Creative Market and GraphicRiver sell mockup templates for all types of products in different styles and formats.
With paid mockups, you can get more creative and specific. You can get mockups to show your products on models, in lifestyle shots, and by themselves on plain backgrounds. Templates cost anywhere from $9 to $40, depending on your needs.
How to price print-on-demand products
One disadvantage of the print-on-demand model is lower profit margins compared to purchasing products in bulk. But don’t let lower margins deter you from printing products on demand. You can still price to profit.
Your profit is the difference between what you sell your product for minus the cost of the product from your supplier.
So if you’re selling a t-shirt for $25 and your supplier charges you $7.50 for the product plus printing and packaging, your profit is $17.50.
To learn more about how to price your products competitively and at a price point that makes a profit, check out these resources:
How to market print-on-demand products
You’re just about ready to launch your store. Before you do, it’s important to button up a few key items as well as lay the groundwork for launch. These to-dos may not be required, but they’re highly recommended if you want a successful launch and business.
Product pages help you sell your product, but you need a number of other pages on your store to tell your story and sell your brand while establishing trust with your customers.
Before launching, you should have a few standard pages ready to go:
- An About Us page
- A Contact page
- A privacy policy and a terms and conditions, which you can generate within Shopify
- A refund policy
- A shipping policy
- An FAQ page addressing common questions and concerns your customers might have
But you must do more than simply use a website builder to create a website and expect people to come. You also need to drive traffic to it. Here are some places to start:
Paid advertising
With many of the paid advertising platforms, Facebook in particular, you can get started for as little as $5 per day. Targeting options allow you to set up highly effective campaigns designed to reach your ideal customer.
You can use paid advertising with:
- Facebook ads
- Instagram ads
- Pinterest ads and promoted pins
- Google Ads, which includes search ads, display ads, shopping ads, and YouTube ads
These platforms also provide you with fast results. For instance, you can see which ad drove a purchase within a few minutes of the sale.
Influencer marketing
Influencer marketing is a method of marketing where you tap into a person of influence with a following of people who respect and trust what they say. You pay an influencer a set fee to post your product on their social media for a set amount of time.
Influencers come in all forms, and you can find them almost everywhere. These 12 marketing platforms to find influencers are great places to start.
Influencers also come in all sizes, from micro-influencers with a few hundred or few thousand followers to massive influencers with millions of followers.
Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is a reward-based system that encourages partners to promote your products in exchange for a commission.
You can pay affiliate marketers a set fee for every sale they make or a percentage of each sale they get you.
What’s great about affiliate marketing is you only pay your affiliate after they make you a sale.
There are a ton of great affiliate sites you can post your offer on, like ShareASale, or you can create your own affiliate program.
Content marketing
Another traffic source you can tackle is content marketing. Content marketing consists of creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract new customers.
This can include:
- Posting blog articles on your website that relate to your business or product
- Designing infographics you can post to Pinterest
- Creating videos for your YouTube channel
- Posting consistently on your Instagram and Facebook page
- Starting your own podcast geared toward your target market
Although content marketing might not initially drive a large amount of traffic and sales, it helps support your other marketing efforts, and it’s a lot of fun to create the content. Unlike paid advertising, content marketing works best over a long time—consistency and commitment are key.
Benefits of print on demand
Sell without inventory
Print-on-demand transforms traditional business models by allowing you to sell products without owning physical inventory. This can mean significant cost savings as you avoid the pitfalls of unsold stock collecting dust in a warehouse.
This benefit also makes print-on-demand a good way to test new product ideas without financial risk. If a design doesn’t resonate with your audience, simply remove it from your store without any cost implications.
Sell unique products
The customization feature of print-on-demand services taps into the consumer’s desire for unique products, which can enhance customer loyalty. Each order is made individually, allowing for personal adjustments that can make a product stand out.
This level of personalization is hard to beat with pre-made inventory and is a huge draw for consumers looking for something bespoke.
Run a sustainable store
Environmental sustainability is another compelling advantage of print-on-demand. Traditional retail models often produce large quantities of waste through unsold products and materials. Since items in a POD model are made only when there’s a demand, it significantly cuts down on resource wastage.
This eco-friendly angle not only helps the planet but also resonates well with today’s environmentally conscious buyers.
Challenges with print on demand
Reliance on suppliers
Navigating the challenges of print-on-demand is crucial for your business success. The reliance on third-party suppliers for production and shipment can introduce issues like variable quality and inconsistent delivery times. These aspects might potentially undermine your brand’s reputation.
It’s essential to choose your POD partners carefully and monitor their service quality.
Lower profit margins
Profit margins in print-on-demand can be thinner compared to bulk buying, primarily due to higher costs per item. To combat this, focus on building a strong brand that can command higher prices.
Premium branding, coupled with quality designs and solid marketing messages, can justify higher price points and increase your overall profitability.
Increased competition
The accessibility of print-on-demand means you may face competition from other sellers producing their own versions of print-on-demand products.
To beat competitors, standing out is more crucial than ever. Invest in designs that connect with specific audiences and market your products with a strong brand to increase visibility.
The future of print on demand
As AI image generators and editing tools continue to evolve, they are opening up exciting possibilities for print-on-demand businesses. These tools produce a wide range of visuals in large quantities, with endless art styles and subjects, helping designers increase their output without losing detail or customization.
Today’s AI art platforms use a mix of text prompts, reference images, and manual tweaking to enable anyone to create something unique.
Before adding AI to your design toolkit, however, it’s important to understand the legal landscape surrounding AI-generated images. Currently, the rules about making money from AI-created art, such as by selling AI-enhanced print-on-demand products, are yet to be fully settled.
That said, AI art platforms like Midjourney allow creators to use their images commercially, as long as they follow the full terms of service and have a paid subscription.
If you have the commercial rights to the images you create on an AI platform, you could consider integrating this technology into your business. Here are some practical ways to use AI to enhance your designs and be at the forefront of print-on-demand:
- Create custom designs: Let your customers submit requests for custom print-on-demand products. Using AI, you could produce personalized designs at scale, providing a service that your competitors may not offer.
- Automate design variations: Try using AI as a design copilot, helping you generate multiple iterations of your designs. You could use these variations to refine your visuals, or adapt them for different products or product runs.
- Collaborate with digital artists: Partner with human artists to produce original designs, then use AI to create large, limited edition collections where each product contains unique artwork.
Start selling your print-on-demand products
Another great thing about print-on-demand is anyone can do it.
It doesn’t matter if you’re completely new to ecommerce or not tech-savvy, because it’s a great business model for introducing yourself to the world of ecommerce. All you need to do is sign up for an ecommerce platform, create a few designs, and upload them to your store.
Focus on products that drive traffic and sales, set your profit margins high enough so you have a budget for advertising, and invest in long-term marketing efforts and business strategies. It will take some time to learn exactly which designs and products your niche will love. Be patient, test multiple ideas, and learn from what hasn’t worked for you. And most importantly, have fun!
Illustration by Eugenia Mello
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Print-on-demand products FAQ
Is print on demand still profitable?
The print-on-demand business model is still profitable. You can earn between 15% and 20% profit margins on items, depending on how much you sell them for. There is little financial risk when creating a print-on-demand store because you don’t have to buy any inventory upfront.
What is the best website for print on demand?
The best websites for print-on-demand products are:
- Printful
- Printify
- Redbubble
- Zazzle
How do I start a print-on-demand company?
Set up an ecommerce website. Find in-demand products to sell. Create designs for the products. Build the product in an app like Printful or Printify. Upload it to your store’s product catalog. Market your store.
Does Etsy use print on demand?
Etsy does allow people to sell print-on-demand products. However, products must be made or designed by hand. Sellers must disclose printing partners they are working with to sell through POD on Etsy.
How much does it cost to start a print-on-demand business?
The cost to start a print-on-demand business is generally low, since there’s no need to purchase inventory upfront. Primary expenses include creating a website and initial marketing efforts. Get started by creating an online store using Shopify’s free trial.
What type of products can be sold through print on demand?
Print-on-demand services offer a diverse range of products that can be customized and sold. Popular items include apparel such as t-shirts and hoodies; accessories like hats, bags, and phone cases; home décor items such as posters, canvas prints, and mugs; and stationery, including notebooks and stickers.
