Print on Demand Profit Calculator

With print-on-demand (POD), a third-party supplier prints and ships each item only when an order is placed. You set the retail price; the supplier charges you a base cost per item (printing plus product cost). Your profit is the difference between the retail price and the base cost, minus any platform or marketplace fees. There is no inventory risk because you only pay when you sell.

Base costs vary by product and supplier. Common examples: unisex t-shirt (Printful) $8-14; classic mug $7-10; canvas print $15-40; phone case $10-15; tote bag $9-13; poster $5-12. Premium products, larger sizes, and all-over-print designs cost more. Always check your specific supplier's current pricing as costs change.

Most POD sellers mark up 2x-3x the base cost. A 2x markup means a $10 base cost product sells for $20. After platform fees (typically 15-30% on marketplace platforms), a 2x markup may yield only 20-30% net margin. Selling through your own Shopify store with a Printful or Printify integration avoids marketplace fees and retains more margin.

Marketplace fees vary: Redbubble takes a base artist margin of roughly 20% of the retail price but you set a markup on top. Merch by Amazon pays a royalty of 13-37% of retail depending on the product. Etsy charges its standard fees (6.5% transaction + 3% + $0.25 payment processing). Your own website via Shopify charges payment processing only (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).

If you sell on a major marketplace like Etsy, Amazon, or Redbubble, the platform typically handles sales tax collection and remittance on your behalf as a marketplace facilitator. If you sell through your own website, you may have a sales tax nexus obligation in states where you have economic presence (generally $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions per year). Consult a tax professional about your specific situation.