What Are the Best Print on Demand Products to Sell on Etsy?
You've decided to start an Etsy POD shop. You're ready. You're motivated. You're excited.
And then you hit the question that stops so many in their tracks:
What should I actually sell?
So you do what anyone would do—you Google it.
"Best POD products to sell on Etsy."
You watch some videos and read some top product lists and you want to sell it ALL!
You have a list of ideas 37 products deep. And with that list comes a feeling of overwhelm.
Many people let that stop them. They don't know what to sell, so they don't sell anything at all.
But here's what those articles and videos don't tell you:
You can't sell everything. Not all at once, anyway.
When you're first starting, you need to choose just ONE product.
Just candles. OR just blankets. OR just tumblers.
Pick one. And go deep.
It doesn't have to be like this forever (though it could). But you shouldn't add a second product until you've actually mastered creating and selling the first one.
And that, my friends, takes time.
How much time? That depends on a lot of variables. But for me, it was 11 months before I added my second product type.
So now you're probably thinking, "Great, Melis—so what should my ONE starting product be?"
And that's where product validation comes in.
You take that list you have—no matter how long or short—and you run a few top contenders through a validation process.
Because before you commit months of your life to creating hundreds of designs for one product, you need to make sure:
People are actually searching for and buying this product
You can make enough money on each sale to make it worth your time
You're genuinely excited about selling it
So let's break down the factors we need to consider when choosing our first product.
But an important note before we dive in:
No product will be perfect across every single factor. The goal isn't to find something that checks every box—it's to understand the trade-offs you're making and choose a product with more strengths than weaknesses.
One "no" doesn't automatically disqualify a product. But if you're getting multiple red flags? That's when you should reconsider.
The 6 Key Areas to Consider When Choosing Your First POD Product
Before you commit, run your top product ideas through a simple validation check. You’re looking for balance — something people actually want, that you can profit from, and that you’ll enjoy creating for.
Here are six areas to focus on as you decide:
Market Fit – Do people actually buy this product on Etsy? Is it often purchased as a gift? A strong market fit means consistent demand across different occasions and niches.
Differentiation Potential – Can you make it stand out? Some products allow for easy personalization or creative design twists that help you avoid getting lost in a sea of lookalikes.
Profitability - Is the base cost low enough to leave room for a 30–40% margin? Check what similar products sell for and whether you can stay competitive and make a real profit.
Production Practicality – Is your print provider reliable? Are shipping times reasonable? Is the print area large enough to show off your designs? Practical details matter more than you’d think.
SEO & Sales Potential – Are there clear keywords and a healthy number of searches for this product type? You want something popular, but not so saturated that your listings vanish in the crowd.
Personal Excitement – Finally, do you love it? You’ll be designing, marketing, and talking about this product a lot. Pick something you’d genuinely buy, gift, or feel proud to sell.
Now that you know what to look for, it's time to actually validate your product ideas. I've created a step-by-step Product Validation Checklist that walks you through exactly how to research each of these factors for any product you're considering. Link to product validation checklist
