There are thousands of print-on-demand niches out there — but which one should you choose? Pick from these 5 high-paying niches.
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If you want to sell on Etsy, the niche you choose can make or break your success. That being said, with thousands of different niches out there, choosing the right one is no easy task.
The good news is that we’ve done the hard work for you. We’ve curated a list of 5 top-performing niches on Etsy that you should seriously consider. Along the way, you’ll see real product examples with income reports to keep you inspired.
But first, let’s dive into why Etsy is ideal for starting a print-on-demand business.
What Is Etsy?
Etsy is a global marketplace for handmade goods (think personalized necklaces and hand-knitted scarves). With 92 million active buyers, it’s an ideal platform for entrepreneurs to sell print-on-demand (POD) products without the need for a standalone website or costly ads.
Etsy also makes it very simple to sell on their platform. Their integrations with POD suppliers, such as Printify, allow you to run the business semi-passively.
Once your Etsy shop is linked to Printify, they receive order notifications and handle printing, packaging, and shipping directly to your customer’s address. It’s a completely hands-off process from their warehouse to your customer.
But even with these benefits, one of the most important things on Etsy is the niche you pick. And while there are hundreds of niches, not all are equal.
For example, some niches are trends. Some are only seasonal. Some are even barely profitable. That’s not to say they aren’t good niches, but it’s not worth putting time and energy into something with little return.
That’s why we made this article. To showcase 5 trusted niches to profit from, whether you’re a newbie or seasoned seller. You’ll learn why each niche has made the list, real examples of successful products, and insider tips on how to maximize profits.
Niche #1: Funny Gifts
Who likes to laugh? Almost everyone, right? And that’s what makes funny gifts a top niche to consider.
Not only do people like to laugh, but we want to make others laugh too. Our joy is rooted in the anticipation of a reaction, and funny gifts virtually guarantee a response!
That’s why sweatshirts like the one below are a top seller on Etsy. According to Alura, a trusted product research app for Etsy sellers, this product has made an estimated $58,120.
We’ve found that funny puns combined with free vintage photos are currently high in demand. You can find vintage photos using free websites such as Wikimedia and Free-Images.
Sell them as physical products or digital downloads that people can print at home. For example, this photo from the prohibition era has made $600 in a month on Etsy. And when sold as a printable download, pulls in an extra $400.
Demand for this niche isn’t going anywhere, too. According to Google Trends, funny gifts are steadily growing, with demand typically peaking during holiday periods like Christmas, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day.
But, what if you aren’t the funniest guy in the room? Creating jokes is easy when you’re naturally witty, but most of us aren’t!
In this case, A.I tools like ChatGPT can help to generate puns that can be potentially used for your products. Here’s an article that demonstrates exactly how to do this.
Niche #2 — Wild Flowers
Wildflowers are up there as one of the most lucrative niches on Etsy. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but look fantastic on almost any custom product.
A clear example is this floral-designed sweatshirt. Alura estimates that it’s made over $4,600 in a month.
But, what if you prefer to sell digital products instead? This can be just as profitable.
For example, take these nine downloadable floral posters that customers can print from their computer. Since launching, Alura estimates that this product has made over $300,000.
Whichever route you take, the flower niche is an ideal space to make real profits.
What’s the long-term sales outlook for this niche?
Google Trends indicates that search interest for wildflowers peaks during spring. If you’re into seasonal sales, then spring can be a perfect time to launch your products for maximum profits.
While search interest is steadily rising for wildflowers, it usually peaks during spring. If you’re looking to take advantage of seasonal holidays, then spring is something to keep an eye on.
If the wildflower niche sounds interesting, research top-selling products to recreate. Find ways that you can make the design more appealing — for example, changing the font and graphics or cross-niching. Then use a graphic design app such as Canva to recreate them to list and sell on Etsy.
Niche #3: Pets
Whether you own one or not, you have to admit that pets are adorable creatures. And there’s nothing more heart-warming to pet owners than a personalized gift that reminds them of their furry friend.
Which is why people love this dog-themed sweatshirt — it’s estimated to have earned over $80,000 in one month.
Digital downloads can be equally profitable in this niche. For example, this Etsy shop sells digital pet gifts. One of their bestsellers is a printable photo of a pet, earning over $8,500 CAD monthly.
One of the keys to Etsy success is knowing how to offer personalized products. These are products that are personally crafted for the receiver, usually with a name or image. Customers send these details to the seller, who adds them to the product design.
And thanks to A.I, the process for personalizing products is easier than ever before. Where in the past you’d have to hire a professional designer to create your own designs, you can now leverage AI for the same job, and in some cases, get even better results.
Personalized products also come with bigger profits. For example, a custom mug on Etsy typically sells for $25, while on Printify, you can get the exact same mug for $3.56.
Alura’s profit calculator shows that after fees are deducted, it would leave a profit margin of 75%. As of speaking, that’s 45% more than the highest profit margin across all industries (29.4%).
Analyzing the two most popular pets on Google, dogs and cats, it’s clear that interest has held steady over time. This is terrific news for any person keen on this niche.
Niche #4: Holidays
Holidays are the best excuse to treat a loved one. Most holidays only happen once a year, so people are willing to spend more money on gifts than usual.
This Mother’s Day sweatshirt, where children and grandchildren’s names are intertwined with flower stems, is a prime example. It’s made an estimated $8,000 in a month.
Sellers are making thousands of dollars by offering their own variations on this trend, including t-shirts, sweatshirts, and mugs.
Any holiday presents a glaring opportunity to earn money on Etsy. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Halloween are all major holidays to test.
Google Trends data reveals that interest in holiday-related products typically starts to rise about a month before the holiday itself. For example, we can see that demand for Mother’s Day starts to grow in February, a month before the actual day. To maximize your earnings in this niche, ensure your products are ready well in advance.
Niche #5: Weddings
Weddings are expensive affairs, and that is why many couples seek out affordable and customizable solutions for their big day. This is where Etsy sellers come in by offering printable wedding products.
One of the most popular products to sell are printable wedding invitations. Instead of buying thousands of physical invitations, couples can simply print them at home. This helps them save on shipping and production costs.
Aside from wedding amenities, gifts for newlyweds or engaged couples are another popular option to try. These can range from custom photos and posters to candles, mugs and even throw blankets.
For instance, consider this funny candle for newlyweds, which has generated over $89,000 in sales on Etsy. A clear testament to the profitability of wedding-related products.
According to Google Trends, the wedding niche has shown a clear upward trend in interest each year. This, combined with the increasing popularity of DIY wedding products, suggests that we can expect even higher demand in the future.
Ready to Find a Niche?
If you’re looking to earn money on Etsy, these five niches provide a great opportunity to earn money.
By leveraging trends, customization, and the power of digital products, you can tap into these niches and turn your Etsy venture into a thriving business.
That being said, building a successful Etsy business requires dedication, creativity, and a willingness to adapt to changing trends.
Consider a niche that appeals to you, then think of which products you can turn into real profit. Take inspiration from our examples while using Etsy to uncover even more high-profit products that you can sell online.
