16 Print-on-demand statistics and trends you can’t miss in 2026

Knowing the latest print-on-demand (POD) statistics helps sellers answer some big questions – is the print-on-demand industry still worth it, and where is it heading next?

If you’re planning to launch, scale, or fine-tune your POD business, solid data matters. You need numbers to inform decisions about your customized products, pricing, platform choice, and growth strategy – not guesses.

This list of print-on-demand statistics for 2026 breaks down what’s driving demand, competition, sustainability, and profitability today. 

1. The global print-on-demand market is growing at a 26% compound annual growth rate (CAGR)

POD isn’t slowing down – it’s picking up speed.

The global print-on-demand market size is currently valued at $12.96 billion and is projected to climb to $102.99 billion by 2034. That equals a 26% CAGR, putting POD among the fastest-growing segments of the eCommerce landscape.

Source: Precedence Research

This growth comes from a simple shift in consumer behavior. Buyers want personalized and unique products, faster delivery, and less waste. Print on Demand checks all three boxes. 

Products are only made after a sale, which means lower upfront costs, no leftover inventory, and far less guesswork compared to traditional manufacturing. 

What this means for you: For sellers, POD makes it easier to test ideas and follow trends while growing an online business. As the print-on-demand market expands, brands that launch quickly, stay consistent, and respond to customer preferences will gain a competitive edge.

2. North America leads the global POD market

North America holds the largest share of the print-on-demand market, accounting for 36% of the global total. The region benefits from a strong eCommerce infrastructure, high online shopping adoption, and close proximity to fulfillment and production facilities. 

Many established print-on-demand services, including Printful, operate in North America, which helps sellers deliver faster shipping and more consistent product quality.

For merchants selling to a US-based audience, this regional strength translates into smoother fulfillment and a better customer experience.

While North America leads today, other regions are gaining momentum. Asia-Pacific is projected to grow the fastest, with a 24.8% POD industry growth rate – driven by rising internet access, mobile shopping, and broader eCommerce adoption.

Source: Grand View Research

What this means for you: Working with print-on-demand platforms that offer a global production network helps you fulfill orders closer to your customers – helping to fuel faster growth. 

Learn more: Is Print on Demand profitable?

3. In the US, growing demand for personalized products is driving the POD market

The US personalized gifting market was valued at $9.69 billion and is projected to reach $14.56 billion by 2030, growing at a 7% CAGR. 

Categories like custom clothing, home decor, wall art, and personalized t-shirts are driving this significant growth. Consumer interest continues to shift toward more meaningful, custom products that feel personal rather than mass-produced.

Source: Printful

Unique and personalized products work especially well for seasonal events. Buyers gravitate toward items that feel thoughtful, expressive, and made for specific moments – from holidays to everyday gifting. 

This shift favors print-on-demand services, where products are made to order, and customization doesn’t require bulk production or upfront inventory.

What this means for you: Personalized gifts sell. With Printful, you can take advantage of these print-on-demand statistics by letting customers add names, initials, or special messages to your products. 

Learn more: Customized product examples: Going beyond the ordinary

4. 80% of consumers say they’re willing to spend more for sustainable products

And just how much more? On average, consumers are ready to spend 9.7% more on eco-friendly products. 

Sustainability trends go hand in hand with the print-on-demand model. Since products are made only after an order is placed, POD avoids overproduction and excess inventory. This is a sharp contrast to fast fashion and traditional manufacturing. 

Fewer unsold items mean less waste, making POD a more sustainable option for brands looking to align with rising consumer demand. 

Source: Printful

What this means for you: If applicable, use sustainable Print on Demand as part of your brand story to show customers how your products are made more responsibly.

Valuable read: What is sustainable fashion, and can I dress cool while the earth is on fire?

5. Sustainable clothing is on track to become a $24.99 billion global market by 2035 

Globally, the sustainable clothing segment is valued at $10.09 billion and is projected to reach $24.99 billion by 2035, growing at a 9.49% CAGR. 

Shoppers also favor eco-conscious apparel they can use regularly, with shirts, leggings, yoga pants, and shorts leading demand for everyday wear. 

With large fashion brands looking the other way, these print-on-demand statistics signal that now’s a great time to revisit your marketing messaging and see how it can cater to this growing audience.

What this means for you: Sustainable clothing is here to stay. With Printful, you can filter products by eco-friendliness, making it easier to cater to evolving consumer preferences. 

6. The average monthly search volume for “Print on Demand” is 132.7K searches

Source: Semrush

Every month, the keyword “Print on Demand” is Googled 132,700 times worldwide. Since the US is the biggest print-on-demand market, it’s also where people search for it the most – 33,100 times a month.​

This signals a rising interest in on-demand fulfillment methods as demand shifts toward faster and more adaptable eCommerce models.

7. Apparel, home decor, drinkware, and accessories lead POD product trends

Year after year, apparel leads print-on-demand sales. POD helps online sellers adapt to emerging trends – from popular designs and patterns to color schemes – without the high cost of mass production.

Home decor is another top-selling category, with a projected 28% CAGR through 2034. As more shoppers personalize their living spaces, made-to-order items like wall art, posters, cushions, and home accessories continue to gain traction. 

What this means for you: Focusing on proven categories like apparel and home decor gives your store a strong foundation. From there, drinkware and accessories offer room to experiment with designs, bundles, and seasonal drops without increasing complexity.

Check out our customer Millian Couture, who started a clothing brand and made their debut in New York Fashion Week with print-on-demand products: 

8. The top trending print-on-demand apparel products are t-shirts, sportswear, and leggings

While print-on-demand companies have expanded into other techniques and products, custom t-shirts continue to lead apparel sales. And judging by other Printful bestsellers like leggings, sportswear, and hoodies, it’s clear people still favor laid-back, comfortable fashion.

Read also: T-shirt design trends

Source: Printful

What this means for you: T-shirts, sportswear, and leggings are easy to design and familiar to shoppers, making them ideal for testing new ideas. Once you find designs that sell, you can expand into other, trending POD products.

9. Most print-on-demand sellers target profit margins between 20%-40%

These print-on-demand profit margins give sellers enough room to cover fees and marketing in 2026, without sacrificing flexibility for discounts or growth.

That said, the exact percentage varies. Depending on the product, niche, and perceived value, some print-on-demand sellers report profit margins as low as 10% for competitive basics, while others reach 50% or more on premium, personalized, or niche products.

What this means for you: Price your products in a way that supports your business growth without scaring customers away. As your brand grows, you can raise margins by offering personalization, premium materials, limited-edition designs, or product bundles.

10. There are around 228K print-on-demand stores right now around the world

POD is no longer a niche model. With over 228K POD-powered stores active globally, it’s a go-to way for brands to sell custom products without holding inventory.

What this means for you: With POD, the barrier to entry is low. You can launch quickly, test product ideas, and validate demand without committing to bulk production or upfront stock.

11. Fewer than 1 in 4 retail businesses stay active long term

Roughly 25% of new retail businesses remain active over the long term, with survival rates declining year after year as competition and operating costs increase.

While this data reflects physical and online retail stores as a whole, it mirrors what happens in POD. Getting started is easy, but staying active requires more than just launching products.

What this means for you: To increase your POD business’s success rate, make sure to narrow your niche and stay responsive to what customers want. A clear focus makes it easier to stand out in a crowded market and build a brand people recognize and trust.

12. Promotional products saw 1.45% growth, proving demand for branded merch remains steady

Promotional products – commonly known as swag – are a massive niche in POD. The most popular category is wearables, with 93.9% of promo orders focused on items like t-shirts and hoodies.

If apparel doesn’t suit your company’s merch idea, there are other strong options. Drinkware accounts for 61.2%, while bags and travel accessories follow at 38.8%.

Source: Printful

What this means for you: These print-on-demand statistics show that branded merch isn’t a passing trend. With Printful and MerchShare, you can help businesses offer on-demand merch that employees are happy to wear, without dealing with bulk orders or leftover stock.

13. The most successful POD stores add 7 new products to their store monthly

Regular product launches give sellers more opportunities to test designs, niches, and formats – and see what actually resonates with buyers. Brands like Whiskey Riff, for example, release new designs frequently, using audience feedback and sales performance to guide decisions.

Small, consistent updates make it easier to double down on winners and quietly phase out products that don’t perform.

Source: Whiskey Riff

What this means for you: Treat POD as a testing engine. Launch often, learn fast, and let real sales data shape your next move.

14. Direct-to-garment printing (DTG) is growing at a 11% CAGR

The most popular POD technique, DTG, is set to reach $9.1 billion by 2035. It’s widely used because it supports detailed designs, has no minimum order requirements with POD, and offers quick production – making it a strong fit for apparel-focused stores.

Plus, brands like Kornit continue to improve DTG with faster, more efficient, and more sustainable printing technology, helping it scale with demand.

While DTG is the most common printing technique, sublimation printing follows closely – growing at a 10.88% CAGR.

Source: Printful

What this means for you: Try different printing techniques to see what fits your products and audience best. DTG works well for clothing, while sublimation can be a strong option for all-over prints and non-apparel items.

15. Around 13% of all Shopify stores use print-on-demand apps

Today, over 368,000 Shopify stores use at least one print-on-demand app, out of roughly 2.85 million active Shopify stores worldwide.

This adoption comes down to simplicity. For Shopify print-on-demand sellers, the platform’s app ecosystem makes it easy to connect an online store to a POD service, automate fulfillment, and offer product personalization – without a complex setup.

What this means for you: These print-on-demand statistics highlight why Shopify remains a strong starting point for print-on-demand businesses. If you’re still weighing your options, check out our comparison of eCommerce platforms.

16. Online shopping now accounts for over 23.5% of global retail sales

Fueled by mobile buying habits and technological advancements, online shopping is becoming the default way people buy. At the same time, the global B2C eCommerce market value is projected to reach $5.5 trillion in the coming years. 

What this means for you: You don’t need a physical storefront to build a real business. Selling online gives you global reach, lower overhead, and the flexibility to launch and scale on your terms.

Recapping print-on-demand statistics in 2026 – what’s next?

These print-on-demand statistics show one clear thing – POD is no longer just a side hustle model. It’s a fast-growing, competitive space in the eCommerce industry. The key trends and data from this list are hard to ignore:

• The global POD market is scaling rapidly.

• There is a high consumer demand for sustainability and personalization.

• Apparel and home decor dominate the digital printing industry. 

• Profitability depends on smart pricing, testing, and focusing on niche markets. 

• eCommerce platforms like Shopify and POD apps have made launching print-on-demand businesses more accessible than ever.

If you’re ready to turn momentum into action, sign up for Printful to sell custom products without inventory risk. Take advantage of the biggest print-on-demand trends in 2026 and build a scalable business with confidence. 

Read next: Is Print on Demand worth it in 2026?