For Etsy, Shopify and eBay POD shops
Print on demand profit calculator
See your print on demand profit margin after the supplier's base cost, shipping, platform fees and ads.
Rates checked October 6, 2026
Picking a platform fills in its standard US fee rates. You can still edit them.
Results update as you type.
Your saved defaults are loaded.
The sale
What the customer pays.
Your listing price.
Many POD sellers offer free shipping and price it in.
Print-on-demand costs
What your supplier and ads cost per sale.
Blank item plus printing, from your POD supplier.
What the supplier charges to ship it to your customer.
Ad spend ÷ sales.
Design, mockups or samples spread across sales.
Fees & volume
Platform fees and how many you sell.
All percentage fees combined.
All fixed fees combined.
Used for the monthly profit figure.
Profit per sale
—
Where the money goes
Full breakdown
Every amount for one sale, with its share of the total.
| Item | Amount | Share |
|---|
Print on demand profit margins
With print on demand, a supplier makes and ships each item only after it sells. You avoid stock, but the supplier's base cost is far higher than bulk production, so margins are tighter than they look. A $28 t-shirt with a $12.50 base cost and $4.75 shipping has already lost more than 60% of its price before any platform fee or ad.
Worked example: a $28 t-shirt on Etsy
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Retail price (free shipping) | $28.00 |
| Base product | $12.50 |
| Supplier shipping | $4.75 |
| Advertising | $1.50 |
| Etsy fees (9.5% + $0.45) | $3.11 |
| Profit per sale | $6.14 (21.9% margin) |
At 40 sales a month that's $245.60. The break-even retail price is $21.22.
How to improve POD margins
- Price for the product, not the blank. Buyers pay for the design. Test higher prices on your best sellers.
- Compare supplier base costs and shipping for the exact item. Differences of a dollar or two change the margin a lot.
- Sell bundles. Supplier shipping for a second item is often much lower than for the first.
- Watch your ad cost per sale. On a $6 profit, $3 of ads halves what you keep. The ROAS calculator shows your limit.
- Disclose your production partner. Etsy allows items you design that a partner produces, as long as the partner is listed.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good print on demand profit margin?
Many POD sellers aim for 20–35% net margin after base cost, shipping, fees and ads. Below about 15%, refunds and reprints can quickly wipe out profit.
How do I calculate print on demand profit?
Take the price the customer pays, then subtract the supplier's base cost, supplier shipping, platform fees and ad cost per sale. Divide the result by the price for your margin.
Is print on demand allowed on Etsy?
Yes, for items you design. Etsy asks you to list the production partner that makes them.
Should I offer free shipping on POD products?
Often yes, with the supplier's shipping built into the price. Fees are the same either way, because platforms charge on shipping too.