Choosing a profitable niche is one of the first (and most important) decisions you’ll make when starting a dropshipping business.
Focusing on the right dropshipping niche will enable you to build an engaged community and sell items that your audience will love. With the right niche, you’ll spend less on ads and be able to target only those customers looking for products like yours.
So, what’s the best way to decide on a niche? Should you follow your heart or the most recent market trends? We’re here to help you find out.
In this blog post, we’ll lay out exactly what you should know about dropshipping niches to make the right move for your store. This means everything from free research tools and the most popular dropshipping niches this year to awesome dropshipping product ideas—it’s all here. Let’s dive in.
Unfortunately, many online store owners overlook this step when setting up their businesses. They’ll only remember when it comes time to prepare their marketing strategy, or worse, when the orders aren’t rolling in as expected and they need to step back to see what went wrong.
Whether that’s the case for you, or you’re (luckily) reading this article at the beginning of your journey, there’s one thing you should understand very clearly about niches: it isn’t about the product or service, but the people who use it.
Everything you do, from product choices to promos, must be done with your audience in mind. Once you start thinking about their wishes and needs, you’ll have a better understanding of the direction you need to take. In fact, it’s often much easier if you’re coming from a place of personal experience or reflecting on what you yourself like to buy. Keep reading to find out more.
Think about who you are and what you like
Before you grab a pen to take notes on stats and technical tips to start building your successful dropshipping business, makea list of topics, themes, or styles that genuinely move you.
Although it’s not mandatory to select a niche that you have an emotional connection with, doing so could simplify your job. Belonging to your niche will give you the superpower of knowing your audience from within. At the same time, you’ll feel more motivated to keep working at your business when things don’t go exactly as planned.
Once you have the list, it’s time to look for data to find the best dropshipping niche for you.
Use research tools to get to know your audience
Not sure which dropshipping niche to go with? Relying on solid research is another great way to find a profitable niche.
There are a ton of excellent research tools that’ll provide you with valuable insights about different niche options. You’ll be able to determine if there’s a demand for your niche, how saturated the market is, and any relevant trends.
Let’s see what you can use to get all the info you need on the right niche for your new business.
Google Trends
The easiest way to check the most recent trends on the internet is definitely through Google Trends.
Besides being super user-friendly, this free tool provides graphics that show how search interests evolve over time. Why is this important? Because you want to jump into a niche that has a growing audience, not a decreasing one.
Here’s an example: after looking into some terms, it seems that “wellness” could be a good niche if I’m starting an online business in the US. I used Web Searches in All Categories within the past 5 years in the United States. Again, you have to supply the ideas, but Google Trends will help you narrow down what’s trending now, and what’s projected to increase in popularity over time.
Source: Google Trends
If you’re planning to sell in other markets or worldwide, you can adjust the settings of your research. You can even check the search intent for your niche on Youtube. In this case, note that “wellness” still seems pretty popular.
Source: Google Trends
Google Trends can also tell you the sub-regions where your dropshipping niche could be more successful and offer inspiration for your marketing strategy through Related Topics and Related queries.
Source: Google Trends
Pro tip: keep in mind that some topics and products may be seasonal, which means that depending on the time period you’re looking at, you may see different results.
Google Keyword Planner
In addition to your Google Trends report, you should also take a look at Google Keyword Planner to see what people have been searching for on Google. This tool will help you understand how your niche looks for products related to your online store.
So put on your detective hat and play around! All you have to do is search for words or phrases related to your dropshipping niche and the products you want to sell. Then, it’ll help you find relevant keywords associated with your business and show you how often they’ve been searched for over time.
You can also use the Planner to sharpen your ad campaigns. It provides bid estimates for each keyword, which allows you to optimize your advertising budget.
To get the most out of this tool when planning your ad campaign, pay attention to match types (use the exact-match option), search locations (focus on your selling regions), and long-tail variations (longer, more specific terms with lower volume search queries that can attract more visitors to your store).
Pro tip: if there are many variations related to the term you’re researching, you’re on the right track. It means that the particular dropshipping niche you’re exploring has many opportunities for success. For example: leggings, yoga leggings, custom leggings, push-up leggings, leggings with pockets, etc.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs is a paid search engine optimization (SEO) tool, mostly used by marketers to optimize content. But you can use it for broader purposes, too—such as looking for profitable dropshipping niches in 2023.
With Ahrefs, you can gain a deeper understanding of your chosen niche, your competitors, and your target audience. That allows you to identify opportunities, potential gaps, and areas where you can stand out in the market.
One of Ahrefs’ key features is its powerful keyword research tool. It helps you find relevant keywords with high search volumes, giving insights into products or services that potential customers are actively looking for.
Here’s what I came up with when researching the term “wellness.”
Source: Ahrefs
Understanding the keywords that resonate with your audience can provide insights into their preferences, pain points, and desires. With this knowledge, align your products, marketing messages, and overall strategy to better appeal to your customers.
Furthermore, the tool also helps you analyze market trends, seasonal demand, and emerging interests in your industry.
Pro tip: Ahrefs Top Pages feature shows you the most successful pages on a website, revealing which content or products perform best and attract the most traffic. Explore your competitors’ Top Pages to identify their most successful products and content, giving you insights into what works best for your audience. By understanding their successes, you can improve your own offerings and your market strategy.
Online marketplaces
Exploring online marketplaces is a savvy move that won’t cost you a dime. These platforms offer valuable insights into your target audience, competitors, and product opportunities.
Online marketplaces attract a diverse range of customers, giving you a better understanding of your potential buyers. You’ll also get real-time data on product demand, sales trends, and customer preferences, keeping you ahead of the competition.
First, choose online marketplaces that match your target audience. Some of the industry leaders are Amazon, eBay, and Etsy.
Next, use the search and filter features to spot top-selling products, trends, and customer demand. This will help you discover potential product opportunities.
In the example below, I searched for the term “wellness,” marking “physical items” and “top customer reviews” in the filters. You can also choose a delivery location if you plan to only sell products in a specific region. That way, you’ll be able to find trending products in that area.
Source: Etsy
Last, dive into customer reviews of products similar to what you plan to offer. Pay attention to recurring themes and complaints to understand customer pain points and needs. Take note of what customers like or dislike so you can improve your offer and win over your target audience.
Pro tip: join online marketplace seller forums and social media groups to get valuable insights from experienced sellers, useful tips, and discussions about current market trends.
Now that you have all the tools to pick the perfect dropshipping niche for your ecommerce business, the process should go smoothly. But I bet you’d love to have a ready-to-use list of the best dropshipping niches right now, yes?
That’s why our marketing team has done some extra homework. Based on our expert insights and Printful customer behavior, we’ve rounded up the best dropshipping niches this year.
Challenge: try to guess as many as you can and tally up your correct answers in the end.
Clothing
Since the pandemic, online clothing shopping has skyrocketed. Many people prefer shopping for clothes online because it’s convenient. You can explore various options right from your home, making it super easy to find your perfect style, size, and favorite brands.
Source: Statista
Retail ecommerce revenue in the US keeps growing and has no signs of slowing down. It’s estimated to reach $1.230B in 2023, with clothing being the top category for online purchases.
That makes apparel an excellent product category to find profitable dropshipping niches in. To narrow it down even further, the bestselling dropshipping products in this category are women’s clothing and sportswear.
Women’s clothing
The women’s apparel industry is expected to grow annually by 2.89% from 2023 to 2027, according to Statista. That makes women’s clothing one of the best niches to go after.
With an ever-growing demand for trendy clothing, there’s an opportunity for you to tap into different styles and find the one that best suits your business.
Examples of fresh dropshipping niches in the women’s clothing category:
The pandemic didn’t only change people’s habits, it changed their sense of style too—athleisure is here to stay. Most of us wanted to feel comfortable, yet ready for a business call or a midday workout, all at the same time. The solution? Sweatshirts and leggings! They never fail.
With a little help from influencers who’d wear their hoodies in every new Reel or TikTok challenge, the concept and term athleisure quickly became a thing.
Big brands took advantage of it, which generated interesting partnerships between major companies like Louis Vuitton and the NBA, Prada and Adidas, or Dior and Nike. Check out the growth in searches for the term on Google and see how it remains consistent through 2023.
Source: Google Trends
So, it’s only natural that sportswear gets a spot on our list as one of the most profitable categories for dropshipping niches this year.
And it’s impossible to speak about sportswear without bringing leggings into the conversation. Love them or hate them, leggings are a staple in any sportswear collection. They’re comfortable, versatile, and can be worn anywhere: from the gym to a fun girls’ night out.
Are leggings a great niche? Definitely, just take a look at these successful brands focusing on leggings—Preggo Leggings and Cool Chick Leggings. While Preggo Leggings focuses on maternity gear, Cool Chick Leggings offers fun all-over print options.
Pro tip: once you’ve gotten your dropshipping business off the ground, it’s a good idea to use branded dropshipping to strengthen your brand identity. Add custom labels, custom packaging, and unique pack-ins to your orders to give a more cohesive look and feel to your branding.
Source: Printful
Shoes
Moving on to accessories, there’s none as high in demand as shoes. Why? Simple—everyone needs them! Whether it’s a casual stroll or a formal event, people are always on the hunt for the perfect pair. With an array of styles, from sneakers to heels, you have lots of options to choose from and add to your store.
Statistics show that shoes are the second most popular item to buy online. That makes them an excellent dropshipping niche. And if you’re planning to sell clothing as well, the two will complement each other nicely.
Bags are essential accessories for everyone, whether it’s a stylish handbag, a sturdy backpack, or a practical travel duffle. More than just practical pieces, they’re also fashion statements people love to flaunt.
The bag type diversity allows you to cater to various fashion preferences and lifestyles, ensuring a wide customer appeal. Plus, the demand for bags remains consistent year-round, unlike seasonal products.
Take a look at some bag ideas to start selling on your ecommerce store:
Hats are versatile accessories that always stay in style. From baseball caps to beanies, fedoras to sun hats, there’s a hat for every occasion. Whether it’s a sunny day or a winter chill, hats serve a practical purpose while adding a touch of style to any outfit.
One of the most common questions about dropshipping niches is which is better: going for a broad niche to reach more customers or sticking to a specific niche to build a stronger brand.
The more specific you get, the more chances you have to thrive in niche markets. However, selecting a very specific niche market or products that don’t have a high search volume isn’t always the right business strategy.
For example, the fact that accessories are one of the most popular dropshipping niches right now doesn’t mean that you’ll have a profitable store if you sell all sorts of accessories. It’s probably better to hone in on one idea (custom scrunchies, for example) than to tackle it all.
It sounds tricky, I know. But if you really want to start selling accessories, here’s a growing, profitable niche you could safely try: car accessories. Let’s take a look at some stats together.
Source: Vantage Market Research
The global car accessories market was valued at $442.21B in 2022 and is expected to grow annually by 6.3% until 2030.
Source: Google Trends
To have a closer look at the US market, we checked Google Trends. As you can see in the graphic above, the search interest looks steady, so it’s definitely a niche to check out if you want to launch a dropshipping business.
Examples of dropshipping products in the car accessories niche:
Seat covers and floor mats
Air fresheners
Puncture repair kits
GPS navigators
Cameras and parking sensors
Phone holders
Interested in more ideas? Check the search results for “car accessories” on some marketplaces, and don’t forget to set up your selling country/region.
On Amazon, for instance, car headrests and baby car mirrors are shown as best sellers in Germany. In the US, cleaning products and phone holders are among the platform’s greatest hits.
Source: Amazon
Smartphone accessories
In the world of accessories, phone accessories deserve their own section as one of the best dropshipping niches.
A report by Market Decipher shows that the global smartphone accessories market is projected to reach a market value of over $139M by 2027. No surprise there, given the increasing digitalization of our world and the widespread use of smartphones.
Examples of smartphone accessories for your dropshipping store:
You don’t need to be a parent to know that when the stork brings a baby, it also brings lots of expenses. Even before they’re born, families need to prepare for the new addition.
During a baby’s first months, they’ll need diapers, clothes, a car seat, a stroller, etc. And the list can go on and on.
Being a mother myself, I’m not surprised that baby products are among the most popular buys on Amazon. It’s also a great dropshipping niche.
If you believe this is the perfect niche for you and want to sell related products, here are some tips: 1. don’t underestimate the importance of product quality and 2. think of ways to motivate customers to leave reviews.
Although this advice is valid for all dropshipping niches, it’s especially relevant here. When it comes to little ones, customers are even more careful about what they’re purchasing online.
Some top-selling ideas for the baby products category:
Although some go to greater lengths than others, most of us want to look and feel good. The fact is that people are spending more money on health and beauty products than ever before.
The beauty industry was worth $483B in 2020 and grew to $511B in 2021. The prediction is that it’ll reach $716B by 2025. Overall, the combined health and beauty market revenue surpasses $564B, and the personal care market is the most popular for dropshipping products in this segment.
Pro tip: if you want to stand out from competitors, go with eco-friendly products. One out of four consumers prefers eco-friendly skincare brands. It’s also worth targeting younger customers as it’s a large and growing market. In 2022, 36% of consumers that shopped for beauty products online were millennials, and 35%—Gen Z.
Studies show that a pleasant work environment, whether working remotely or on-site, boosts motivation, promotes teamwork, and increases productivity. In that line, office products can make your work life easier and help bring joy to daily tasks. So it’s no surprise that the tools that help people excel at their jobs are in high demand.
Google Trends agrees. Office products became even more popular in 2020 (when many of us were forced to set up our offices at home). But even now, as many employees have returned to offices, interest in stationery products is still high. This is great news if you’re thinking about focusing on office supplies for your dropshipping business.
From the very first commercial arcade game Computer Space to Minecraft fever, a lot has happened to make the gaming industry what it is today. Video games and online gaming have grown exponentially in popularity and it’s become a top niche for dropshipping products. Plus, gamers are a great target audience for one crucial reason: their passion.
When you pick a niche that has passionate users, you have a gold mine on your hands. Passion drives interest and action, and ultimately, generates sales. Just imagine what a global community of 3.07B gamerscan do.
Source: Finances Online
With that type of following, it’s no wonder that revenue for the video game segment is expected to reach $384.90B this year. And if you think there’s not much more room for expansion, think again—the market volume is projected to reach $521.6B by 2027. The largest sub-niche? Mobile games, with a current market size of $286.5B.
Some of the most profitable dropshipping products in the gaming niche:
I don’t know if it’s all the time we spent at home during lockdown or the amount of DIY tutorials popping up on social media, but lately, it seems that many of us are feeling inspired to have our own Extreme Makeover: Home Edition moment.
That could explain the growth in tool sales. Even the ecommerce platform Shopify identified tools as some of the best dropshipping products to sell online this year.
Of course, you’ll need a focused approach and good marketing strategy to generate some brand recognition, since you’ll be competing with big companies like The Home Depot and Sears. A good angle could be to concentrate on people who have full-time jobs and just a few hours in the weekend to work on their home improvements, instead of professional contractors.
Pro tip: choose easy-to-comprehend vocabulary and think of your customers’ pain points when working on your visuals and product descriptions. Make your dropshipping niche even more specific by targeting a specific audience (e.g., tools for women or tools for elderly people).
Source: Amazon
Profitable dropshipping products in the tools niche:
Screwdrivers
Drill bit sets
Gardening scissors
Weed pullers
Folding knives
Complete tool sets
Kitchen and home products
You don’t have to break down walls to make your home more comfortable or beautiful. Just scroll for a few minutes on Pinterest, and you’ll see the power of redecorating. New furniture and some fresh home & living items can do wonders for a space.
Making your home as cozy as possible isn’t the only thing that came out of spending so much time at home during lockdown. More and more people are also getting into cooking, which has expanded the possibilities of the kitchenware market. In fact, during the Coronavirus pandemic, 50% of respondents in the US said they were interested in learning more about cooking. More than that, 54% said they were cooking more and 36% said they now cook at home daily. It’s clear that when choosing a dropshipping niche, kitchen and home products are solid contenders.
Examples of kitchen and home products for your dropshipping store:
How many of your friends and relatives have a dog, cat, bird, or fish? According to a recent survey, 66% of households in the US have a pet.
Source: American Pet Products Association
If you’re one of them, I don’t have to tell you how much people spend on their pets. But here’s the data: in 2022, a whopping $136.8B was spent on pet products and services. In case that’s not enough of a reason for this to make the list of best dropshipping niches, check out Google Trends:
Source: Google Trends
They say we shouldn’t put all our eggs in one basket, but these numbers may have just convinced you that this niche is your golden goose. Let’s take a look at some interesting products you can dropship for pet lovers.
Suggested best dropshipping products in the pet supplies niche:
So now that we’ve seen some great dropshipping niche ideas, it’s time to check out the competition. In The Art of War, Sun Tzu says that “if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” Applying that wisdom to the dropshipping battlefield, the message is: “get to know your competitors.”
By researching established companies who are already working in your chosen niche, it’s possible to get relevant information about your audience, specific products, and useful suppliers. In some cases, you might even learn that you’re trying to enter a saturated market niche. If so, don’t hesitate to pivot and find a new one.
Most dropshipping stores rely on organic traffic to attract new users, so the best way to find out who’s vying for your potential customer’s attention is by behaving like one. Use search engines to look for the products you’re thinking about selling and assess the search results.
Here are some things you should evaluate
Customers compare prices—and so should you.Create a sheet with any products you want to sell online and write down your competitors’ prices for each of them. This way, when you define your pricing strategy, you’ll know that you’re offering competitive deals. Learn more about How to Price Your Products Online to make sure you get it right.
Competitor product descriptions and visuals
What kind of dropshipping products do they sell? What keywords do they use to describe them? What do their mockups look like? Think critically about what examples you’d use as inspiration and what you’d do differently.
Competitor website quality
A smooth user experience is the key to a successful online business. You can have top-quality products, attractive prices, amazing visuals, and a killer SEO strategy, but if the website is too slow or the payment gateway fails during the checkout, it’s all in vain.
In fact, research shows that 70% of consumers admit that a page’s speed impacts their purchasing decisions. Learn from your competitors’ mistakes and ensure a high-quality experience for customers visiting your website.
Competitor SEO
If you came across particular competitors during your search, it means they’re doing something right in terms of search engine optimization (SEO). Review their content and list which keywords they’re using and where else they were mentioned. Use that wisdom to build your own SEO strategy.
Customer reviews
You can learn a lot from what people say about your competitors, and I’m not just talking about their store and product reviews. It’s also about who their audience is and what they value. Pay special attention to any criticisms—another business’s weakness can be your brand’s strength.
Marketing tactics
Last but not least, be sure to analyze the marketing strategies and tactics for brands that work in the same niche as you. Do they have social media accounts? What kind of content do they publish? Do they do email campaigns? Do they run Facebook Ads? For this last one, check the Facebook Ads Library.
Choose the best dropshipping niche for your business
Congrats! Now you’re up to speed on everything related to dropshipping niches and how to find the perfect one for your online store. It’s time to turn that knowledge into profit.
If you start from scratch, make sure to use the research tools we’ve discussed to confirm if the niche you’ve chosen is in demand and has potential. Focus on the most profitable dropshipping niches on our list and think of products that’ll make sense for your business.
Gabriela is a creative copywriter, professional blogger, and passionate content marketer with experience in publicity agencies and international companies. She loves sharing her ideas and new trends to bring inspiration to everyone around her.
Gabriela is a creative copywriter, professional blogger, and passionate content marketer with experience in publicity agencies and international companies. She loves sharing her ideas and new trends to bring inspiration to everyone around her.
