Is Print-On-Demand Profitable in 2025? An In-Depth Guide

Want to start a print-on-demand business but unsure if it’s profitable in 2025? Experts predict the market will grow from $12.96 billion in 2025 to $102.9 billion by 2034, showing there’s still plenty of room for both new and existing businesses to thrive.

In this guide, we’ll explore whether POD is truly profitable and what it takes to succeed this year.

Is a Print-On-Demand Business Profitable?

Yes! Print-on-demand is still a profitable business model in 2025. With the right niche, quality custom products, and a smart marketing strategy, you can make money. If you partner with a reliable POD service, you can grow your business without worrying about inventory costs.

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• Where To Get Print-on-Demand Designs: Buy or Create
• Best Work From Home Ideas You Can Start Today

Is Print on Demand Still Worth It?

Yes, starting a print-on-demand business is still worthwhile in 2025. It’s a low-cost business model that lets you start an online store without many expenses. This lowers your financial risk, making it easy to test different designs and products.

Here’s why POD is still worth it:

• Low Startup Costs: There is no upfront cost, as you only pay for a product after a customer buys it.
• No Inventory or Shipping: Your POD partner handles everything from production, printing, packing, and shipping.
• Market Demand is High: The demand for personalized and unique products is growing.
• Flexible Side Hustle or Full-time Biz: POD is perfect for making money while working around a full-time job or for building a full-scale business.
• Can Scale with Automation and Ads: You can easily grow your business using tools that automate tasks and run targeted ads to find new customers.

Print-on-Demand Profit Margin Strategies

POD profit margins vary by product, niche, and pricing. Many sellers see average profits of around 20%. Some stores even reach 30% or more on best-selling POD items. 

But given that only 24% of POD stores remain standing long-term, you must remain persistent and consistent with your efforts.

Here are five key strategies that can help you boost your POD profit margins:

Design Unique Products People Want

When your designs are original and unique, people will pay more for them. Find a specific niche and create designs that your target audience likes. Research best-selling items on Etsy, Shopify, and other ecommerce platforms. 

Check Product Quality Before Selling

Before you start selling, order a sample for yourself. This way, you can see how the design looks, how the material feels, and if it’s made well. When customers are happy with your products, they are more likely to return for more. 

Create a Strong Brand Identity

Having a brand that people remember helps you charge more for your products. Use the same style in your designs and ads. This makes your store look professional and trustworthy, so customers come back to buy more.

Promote Your Store to the Right Audience

You won't make money if the right people don't know your store exists. Find out where your target audience spends time online and market to them directly. Use social media, run targeted ads, or collaborate with influencers to promote your brand.

Set Prices that Make you Money

Underpricing your print-on-demand products can result in lower profit margins. So, set realistic prices for your products. Calculate all your costs, including the product cost, platform fees, and marketing, and then add the desired profit margin. 

Is Print-on-Demand Oversaturated?

No, while POD is competitive, it’s not too saturated to profit from. Many people try POD because it's easy and affordable to start. 

Most of the sellers also offer similar products like t-shirts, drinkware, and phone cases, with generic designs. This can make it hard to stand out. But if you narrow your focus and offer better products, you can easily find your place.

Here’s how you can thrive in the competitive POD market:

• Find a profitable POD niche, like fitness or travel, to target a specific audience
• Create high-quality, custom designs 
• Improve your product photos and mockups
• Provide excellent customer service and fast shipping

Also Read:

• Podbase vs Redbubble: Best POD Platform
• How to Start an Ecommerce Business Without Money

How to Make Money With Print-on-demand in 2025?

Earning from print-on-demand takes more than creating the designs. You need to build a strong brand, understand your target audience, and know how to reach them.

Here’s how to make money with print-on-demand:

Research The Market

Market research allows you to make smart product and marketing decisions. It also helps you identify your competitors and spot opportunities. So, you need to know who to sell to, what they want, and where the demand lies. 

Here’s how to do it:

• Pick a few niches to test, such as hobbies, jobs, pet owners, fandoms, causes, local pride, and trending micro-communities.
• Use Google Trends, Etsy or Amazon searches, social tags, and community groups to spot trends and what people search for.
• Search marketplaces like Etsy, Shopify, and WooCommerce for top sellers. Study your competitors’ prices, designs, and reviews to identify gaps you can fill.

Choose Winning Products

The goal is to select products with both high demand and good profit margins. Your chosen products should also align with your specific niche. 

Here are some of the best-selling POD product categories you can try:

• Apparel: T-shirts, hoodies
• Tech Accessories: Custom phone cases, laptop cases
• Home Decor: Wall art, throw pillows, blankets
• Stationery: Notebooks, planners, stickers
• Drinkware: Mugs, water bottles, tumblers

Select the Best POD Provider

Your POD provider affects product quality, delivery speed, and customer satisfaction. All these factors determine your print-on-demand income, so you need to choose wisely. 

Here’s what to look for when choosing a POD company:

• Product Catalog: Check if the POD service provides products that align with your niche and target customers.
• Product Quality: Order samples from several companies to compare product, material, and print quality.
• Shipping and Fulfillment: Look for a provider with quick delivery times and reasonable shipping costs.
• Branding Options: Some POD providers like Podbase, allow you to add custom branding to packaging, packing slips, or tear-away tags.
• Pricing: Compare the base prices of products since they will directly affect your profit margin.
• Integrations: Determine if the platform integrates with the best ecommerce platforms like Etsy and Shopify.

Create Converting Designs

A good design is what sells well. To make money online with POD, you need to create eye-catching designs that people would want to buy.

Follow these tips to create great designs:

• Keep your design simple and clear by focusing on one main idea
• Match the niche tone — funny, bold, minimal, or vintage
• Use design tools like Canva or Adobe Photoshop to create high-quality designs
• Use large, simple fonts to improve readability

Sell on a Profitable Platform

Every channel has its strengths and weaknesses. So, select a platform that aligns with your business goals and target market.

Here are the main options to consider:

• Build Your Own Store: Selling POD products on Etsy, Shopify, or WooCommerce gives you total control over your brand, customer experience, and pricing.
• Selling on a Marketplace: Platforms like Redbubble already have millions of shoppers, so you can show your designs to a large audience. But you’ll have less control, and you’ll compete with many sellers.

Invest in Effective Marketing Strategies

Marketing allows you to connect with potential customers, increase brand awareness, and communicate your products’ benefits. It allows you to position your product as a solution to your audience’s pain points.

Here’s how to effectively market your products online: 

• Use Social Media Marketing: Showcase your products in lifestyle settings on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. Post short videos, behind‑the‑scenes reels, and niche memes.
• Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with niche influencers to reach targeted audiences quickly.
• Utilize Email Marketing: Offer a small discount in exchange for potential customers’ emails and send them launch, restock, and cart recovery emails.

Also Read:

• How to Start a 3D Printing Business From Home Profitably
• Best AI Tools for Entrepreneurs to Scale Smarter

Most Profitable Print-on-Demand Products for 2025

To profit from print-on-demand, you need to choose the best-selling products in the market. We’ve listed some of the most profitable POD products to help you narrow down your choices:

Custom Apparel (T-Shirts and Hoodies)

Personalized clothing, especially t-shirts and hoodies, remains a top POD category year after year. It was the leading category representing 62.38% of all POD sales in 2024, as shown below:

Most people have at least one hoodie or t-shirt in their wardrobes. And they love personalizing them to show off their personalities, sense of humor, and passions. 

As a result, these products are always in demand. Here are some unique business ideas to try:

• Niche tees (hobbies, professions, micro-cultures)
• Seasonal hoodies (holidays, festivals)
• Bundle matching tees + hoodies to increase average order value

For instance, Teespring, now Spring, specializes mostly in t-shirts and hoodies. The platform partners with content creators, influencers, and artists who sell apparel to their followers. 

Tech Accessories (Phone Cases and Laptop Cases)

Custom tech accessories, such as phone cases and laptop cases, offer a great profit margin. With over 7.4 billion smartphones in use worldwide, it’s no surprise that related accessories are in high demand. 

Consumers are willing to invest in accessories that protect their devices and reflect their style. 

You can sell:

• Slim and protective phone cases
• Sustainable and eco-friendly cases
• Printed laptop sleeves and tablet cases

Podbase, for instance, is known for tech accessories. The platform offers custom phone cases, wireless chargers, laptop sleeves, and more.

Drinkware (Mugs and Tumblers)

Mugs, tumblers, and water bottles are some of the most profitable POD products because people use them daily. 

They’re also popular gift items for birthdays, holidays, and other special moments. Plus, they are low-cost items to produce, so you can have a healthy profit margin. 

Here are some creative ideas you can try:

• Ceramic mugs with personalized photos, quotes, and inside jokes
• Insulated stainless tumblers 
• Travel mugs and custom flasks for niche audiences
• Seasonal gift sets (mug + coaster + gift box)

See how SwagMagic offers a variety of drinkware options, including ceramic mugs, travel mugs, and tumblers.

Wall Art and Home Decor (Posters, Canvas, and Pillows)

Most people love making their living spaces feel more personal and comfortable. Custom wall art pieces and home decor items are perfect print on demand products for this. 

These items also have a high perceived value. This means you can price your products without losing profit or scaring customers off. 

Here’s what you can offer:

• Posters and framed digital art prints in multiple sizes
• Canvas prints and metal prints for premium buyers
• Throw pillows, duvet covers, tapestries 

For example, Society6 is a marketplace specifically for artists. It’s a great place to sell your art and home decor products.

Fashion Accessories (Jewelry, Bags, and Footwear)

The clothing and accessories stores market is expected to grow from $1449.9 billion in 2025 to $1855.7 billion by 2029.

Products like jewelry, bags, and socks let customers complete their look. They also hold great emotional value, making them perfect gifts for loved ones.

Here’s what you can sell to make great profits:

• Engraved necklaces, bracelets, and name pieces
• Canvas totes, printed crossbody bags, backpacks with bold art or branding
• Custom socks with quirky designs and holiday themes

For instance, JetPrint offers a wide catalog of customizable fashion accessories.

Also Read:

• Best Automated Business Ideas to Start
• How to Price a Product in 2025 (Without Losing Profit)

Summary

So, is print-on-demand worth it in 2025?

Yes, it can be. While there's a lot of competition, you can succeed by being creative and strategic. Just focus on finding a specific niche, creating unique and high-quality designs, and building a strong brand.

Then, pair your designs with products your audience genuinely loves and market them on the right platforms. With persistence, your POD store can grow into a profitable and reliable source of income in 2025.