15 Best things to sell on Etsy in 2026 to make money

Etsy is a global marketplace built for the stuff shoppers can’t find anywhere else – handmade crafts, jewelry, vintage items, and personalized gifts. And with millions of buyers hunting for original, high-quality products every day, there’s plenty of room to carve out your niche.

Still figuring out what to sell on Etsy to make money? In this guide, we’ll look at 15 of the best things to sell on Etsy, plus real examples of successful Etsy shops to inspire you.

15 Best items to sell on Etsy

Wondering what to sell on Etsy to make money? Here are 15 product categories that consistently perform well.

1. Custom t-shirts 

Custom t-shirts are the go-to item for first-time Etsy sellers. The global custom t-shirt market is valued at $5.16 billion and is on track to reach $9.82 billion by 2030, with Etsy being a major platform driving that growth.

Here’s why custom t-shirts keep trending on Etsy: 

• Broad appeal. Businesses, sports teams, families, and individual shoppers all buy them.

• Endless design angles. Pop culture references, social causes, hobbies, and inside jokes all sell well. 

• Low barrier to start. No inventory or upfront costs needed when you use Print on Demand. 

Need inspiration? Check out our list of next-level t-shirt design ideas. 

Successful shop example: Up2ournecksinfabric is one of the top Etsy sellers for apparel. Its product listings cover t-shirts, hoodies, and kids’ clothing, often bundled as family offers – a smart way to lift average order value.

Source: Up2ournecksinfabric

Read also: Is Etsy Print on Demand profitable?  

2. Embroidered items

Embroidery sits between mass-produced apparel and fully handmade clothes. Buyers love the texture and premium feel they can’t get from printed apparel, and they’re happy to pay more for these high-quality products. 

Types of embroidered items sold on Etsy: 

• Hand embroidery. Hoop art, embroidered denim, and custom-stitched portraits.

• Machine embroidery. Monogrammed towels, baby blankets, and small-batch personalized gifts.

• Print-on-demand embroidery. Hats, polos, and tote bags with embroidered logos or symbols.

Personalization is where embroidery earns its margin. Initials, monograms, wedding dates, and pet portraits sell well because each piece feels custom-made.

If you’re using print-on-demand embroidery, keep in mind that embroidery files have stricter design limits than print. Fine detail doesn’t translate well, so bold, clean artwork and text work best.

Successful shop example: ShopatBash focuses on personalized gifts and party favors, with embroidered totes, sweatshirts, and robes leading its catalog. 

Read also: Best-selling embroidery items on Etsy: What’s trending?

3. Artwork and prints

Etsy is one of the most popular online marketplaces for buying original art and custom designs, making it a strong fit for photographers, illustrators, and independent artists looking to reach buyers.

Common formats that sell:

• Canvas prints and framed posters. Higher price point, ideal for statement wall art. 

• Unframed paper prints. Lower price point, lighter shipping, easier to scale.

• Greeting cards. Budget-friendly options that bring in repeat customers.

• Digital art pieces. Buyers can print them at home, and there’s no fulfillment on your end.

Successful shop example: Creative entrepreneurs like LazyBeamArte sell illustrated work across multiple tiers – paper prints, notecards, and printable digital downloads – so one design can attract buyers with different budgets.

Read also: How to sell prints on Etsy (easy guide) 

4. Stickers

If you’re wondering what items sell best on Etsy, custom stickers are one of the safest bets for a new shop. The data backs this up – the global custom sticker printing market is worth around $1.6 billion and is on track to reach $2.9 billion by 2030.

People use them to personalize water bottles, laptops, phone cases, and bikes. Plus, many buy them in bulk to decorate notebooks and organize to-do lists – a popular Etsy niche.

Why sell stickers on Etsy:

• Cheap to make. No heavy packaging, no high shipping fees.

• Easy to bundle. Sell sticker packs, themed sets, or mystery bundles to lift order value.

• Wide audience. Planner fans, crafters, and pet owners buy them for fun, and small business owners buy them as packaging inserts and thank-you slips.

Successful shop example: CAMoonlightDesigns is a one-person shop specializing in meme and animal designs. It sells vinyl stickers, sticker sheets, and digital SVG cut files.

5. Digital downloads

Digital products are among the top things that sell on Etsy. These are downloadable files like printable wall art, wedding invitation templates, or spreadsheets that buyers can use right away. There’s no waiting on shipping, and they’re often sold at a lower price than physical equivalents.

The best part about digital items is that you can create one file and sell it unlimited times with no inventory, packaging, or fulfillment. Your only recurring expense per sale is Etsy’s transaction fee and payment processing fees through Etsy Payments.

How to create digital products to sell on Etsy:

1. Pick a niche with proven demand. Search Etsy with your idea and check how many items the top listings have sold. Strong sales signal real buyer interest.

2. Create your file with the right software. For spreadsheets and budget templates, use Google Sheets or Excel. For printables and invitations, Canva works well. 

3. List the file on Etsy. Have clear mockups, file format details, and usage rights. For a full walkthrough, read our guide on how to sell digital products on Etsy.  

Successful shop example: PlannerKate1 built one of Etsy’s top-selling shops on printable planner inserts and stickers. 

6. Handmade jewelry

If you look at any list of top Etsy shops, you’ll notice that among what sells the most on Etsy is jewelry. 

Shoppers come here for original, handcrafted items they can’t find in retail stores. It’s also one of the most flexible niches in the handmade category, with room for everything from minimalist gold necklaces to bold statement rings using semi-precious stones.

Tips for selling handmade jewelry on Etsy: 

• Personalized items drive sales. Buyers treat custom-engraved pendants, birthstone rings, and name necklaces as meaningful gifts.

• Photos do the selling. Jewelry is small and detail-heavy, so well-lit close-ups that show the true color and scale are important here. 

• A clear aesthetic builds repeat buyers. Shoppers follow jewelry shops with a recognizable style, so picking one lane – dainty and minimal, chunky and colorful, vintage-inspired – beats trying to sell everything.

Successful shop example: CaitlynMinimalist has ranked among the top Etsy sellers for years, built almost entirely on delicate, personalized pieces like custom name necklaces.

Read more: How to start a jewelry business: Step-by-step guide

7. Vintage items

Vintage is one of the few categories where you don’t need to make anything to sell on Etsy. The platform built a whole marketplace around retro pieces, and demand keeps climbing. 

And with more consumers shopping sustainably, the US secondhand apparel market is projected to reach $78.8 billion by 2030 – growing nearly four times faster than the broader retail apparel market.

What is considered vintage on Etsy?

To list an item as vintage on Etsy, it must be at least 20 years old. Etsy can ask you to back that up – where you sourced the piece, how you dated it, and details like the designer, fabric, or hardware. 

Successful shop example: VINTAGEASSAULT is an Etsy Star Seller built on ‘80s and ‘90s fashion finds, like sports jerseys, snapback hats, grunge-era t-shirts, and bomber jackets.

Read also: How to make vintage t-shirts without using aging techniques 

8. Wedding supplies

Etsy is where couples go to find wedding accessories and party decorations they can’t get in other marketplaces. The audience is large, motivated, and ready to spend on personalized items such as custom wine tumblers, coasters, bridal robes, and decorative cake toppers.

Tips for selling wedding supplies on Etsy:

• Pick a clear shop name. Wedding shoppers browse dozens of stores, so a memorable shop name tied to your niche helps you stand out.

• Deliver great customer service. Weddings are high-stakes purchases. Fast replies and careful packaging earn five-star reviews, attracting more buyers.

• Bundle for the whole party. Matching sets for the bridal party – robes, tumblers, or tote bags – raise your average order value.

Successful shop example: ModParty is a one-stop shop for wedding supplies, selling personalized accessories for brides and bridesmaids, flower girl gifts, and bridal showers.

9. Kids’ and babies’ clothing

With baby clothes, you can count on steady, repeat demand. Kids grow fast, and parents, grandparents, and gift-givers keep buying. 

Design ideas that sell in this category:

• Animals, ABCs, and bright patterns. Simple, colorful designs that appeal to kids and parents alike.

• Funny puns for the parents. Remember that adults do the buying – playful visuals like an “Ice Ice Baby” onesie land well.

• Milestone and announcement pieces. Think pregnancy reveals, “big sibling” t-shirts, first-birthday outfits, and matching family sets.

• Personalized names and birth details. Custom name onesies and birth-stat designs make popular keepsake gifts.

Successful shop example: MinimaKids sells custom kids and baby apparel, offering gift-ready products for everything from baby announcements to birthdays.

Read also: How to start a kids’ clothing line: Key steps for beginners

10. Phone cases

People swap phone cases based on the mood, season, or trend, which keeps demand high and repeat purchases flowing. 

Etsy is excellent for selling phone cases. Shoppers come to the platform for designs they can’t find in big-box stores, so a clear style and a specific niche matter more than broad appeal. 

There’s room to grow, too. The global phone case market is expected to reach $53.33 billion by 2033, fueled by online shopping and demand for unique designs.

Tips for selling phone cases on Etsy:

• Cover the popular models. List your designs for the current iPhone, Samsung, and Google Pixel models so buyers can actually find their fit.

• Include lifestyle photos. Show the case in hand or in a bag, not just a flat product shot, so that shoppers can picture it on their own phone.

• Release cases in collections. Group phone case designs by theme, so a buyer who likes one is more likely to browse and buy another.

Successful shop example: hardwoodcase is a family-run shop selling handcrafted wood and wood-resin phone cases for dozens of phone models – a clear example of how one distinctive material can carve out a niche in a crowded category.

11. Candles

Candles are one of the best-selling items on Etsy and are easy to bundle with other wellness items. Sellers who perform best position them as gifts rather than generic home decor – a candle made for a specific person or moment beats a generic scent.

A few ways to stand out:

• Design for a niche buyer. “Nurse graduation,” “new home,” or “30th birthday” candles outsell plain ones because shoppers are buying for a specific person.

• Optimize listings by answering questions before they’re asked. List the scent, burn time, and wax type, and show the candle styled on a shelf or nightstand so buyers know what they’re getting.

• Lean into seasonal demand. Candles spike around the holidays, Mother’s Day, and Valentine’s Day, so release themed scents and gift options ahead of time.

With Printful, you can sell candles with custom labels and skip the equipment and inventory entirely.

Successful shop example: JamesWax is a Star Seller built entirely on personalized soy candles, organized around special occasions – proof of how far one product can go when every listing targets a specific buyer.

12. Craft supplies 

Etsy is known for handmade items, but plenty of shoppers come here to buy materials to make things themselves. 

Popular craft supplies on Etsy include specialty yarns, beads, custom fabric prints, scrapbooking materials, and jewelry-making kits.

How to build a profitable business in this niche:

• Stock what big-box stores don’t. Hand-dyed yarn, rare beads, or small-batch fabric give crafters a reason to choose you over a chain store.

• Follow crafting trends. Supplies for macramé, pottery, candle-making, and other popular techniques attract new customers searching for specific projects.

• Pick a shop name that signals your craft. This helps buyers find you when their stock runs low.

Successful shop example: Beadboat1 ranks among the most popular Etsy shops, selling products that customers buy in bulk to create their own handmade pieces.

13. Bags

Bags are an easy sell because they offer a quick way for shoppers to refresh an outfit without buying a whole new one.

Tips for selling bags:

• Start with custom tote bags. They’re cheap to produce and a low-risk way to test which of your designs sells.

• Time new releases to the calendar. Bag demand climbs around back-to-school season, so plan new launches a few weeks ahead.

• Keep up with trends. For example, Etsy’s spring and summer trend report shows searches for embroidered straw bags have increased by a striking 20,000%, and embroidered bags are up 77% among Gen Z shoppers.

With Printful, you can sell tote bags, weekender bags, backpacks, fanny packs, crossbody bags, and more on Etsy – all without holding inventory. 

Successful shop example: BohoCanvasTOTE is a Star Seller built on personalized canvas totes – like birth-month florals and custom names – showing how one bag type and a strong niche can carry an entire shop.

Read more: Fresh tote bag design ideas

14. Mugs

Coffee and tea drinkers love to collect mugs, which makes them a reliable repeat purchase. A well-designed niche mug can easily become a favorite in someone’s morning ritual, and that personal angle is what gets it added to a cart.

What mugs sell best on Etsy?

A few mug designs sell well on Etsy:

• Personalized designs with names, initials, daily affirmations, or birth flowers.

• Ceramic or stoneware with hand-painted florals, thumb rests, or woodland leaf imprints.

• Humorous mugs with relatable quotes or pop culture references.

Successful shop example: KinderPlanetCompany sells retro-style illustrated mugs, proving how a strong, recognizable art style turns a simple item into a collectible.

Read also: How to sell mugs on Etsy: Your guide to success 

15. Pet supplies

Pet owners are a reliable market – 42.6% of US households own a dog, and 32.6% own a cat. Here are the best-selling products in the pet supplies category: 

• Custom ID tags and collars. Engraved or printed with a pet name and owner contact info, often reordered as pets grow or collars wear out.

• Bandanas and apparel. Seasonal and holiday designs that owners buy for photos and special occasions.

• Personalized portraits and keepsakes. Illustrated prints, ornaments, and memorial pieces that turn into custom wall art or gifts.

• Food and treat accessories. Personalized bowls, placemats, and treat jars based on different pet breeds.

Successful shop example: LuckyTags is a family-run Etsy seller focused entirely on custom pet ID tags, silent slide-on tags, and waterproof collars. 

How to find the best items to sell on Etsy

Source: Etsy

Before you sell on Etsy, confirm there’s demand for your shop ideas. Here are five ways to see what’s gaining traction in your niche.

Etsy’s own trend tools

Etsy offers a few free resources for spotting top-selling items before you commit:

• Trends page. A snapshot of product categories and styles Etsy shoppers are gravitating toward.

• Seller Handbook. Etsy publishes seasonal trend reports here, breaking down rising search terms by category.

• Marketplace Insights. Shows which keywords and styles are climbing right now, so you can stock your Etsy shop with high-quality products people are actively searching for.

Etsy’s search bar

Start typing a keyword into Etsy’s search bar, and it autocompletes with popular related searches, the same way Google does. 

Type a broad term for your niche and note the autocomplete suggestions. They reflect what buyers across the Etsy marketplace search for most. Our Etsy SEO guide covers how to turn those terms into titles and tags that rank.

Social media platforms

Social platforms surface trends early, often before they peak on Etsy. Use these to catch ideas while they’re still rising:

• Instagram Reels can reveal which products are getting shared and saved.

• TikTok Creator Search Insights shows what people search for on the app, pointing to rising product demand.

• Pinterest Trends tracks seasonal and emerging searches, useful for planning launches ahead of demand.

Google Trends

Google Trends tracks how interest in a search term changes over time. Here’s how to put it to work:

• Enter a product term and check whether interest is climbing, flat, or fading. 

• Compare two ideas side by side to see which has steadier demand.

• Filter by region to find where a product is most popular, which helps with targeting.

Competitor research

Studying other online sellers in your niche is one of the fastest ways to spot what works:

• Browse successful shops and note their bestsellers, repeated styles, and popular variations.

• Use research tools like eRank and EverBee to see estimated sales and top keywords for any Etsy shop or listing.

• Adapt, don’t copy. For instance, personalized name necklaces may be popular, but adding your own twist – a different material, font, or theme – helps you stand out rather than blend into a crowded market.

Read also: Product research for Print on Demand: Find your bestseller 

So, what can I sell on Etsy to make money?

Even after knowing what to sell on Etsy to make money, you still need to compete with other sellers. 

To stand out on the Etsy marketplace, sell high-quality items with original designs, and pick a low-competition niche where it’s easier to get noticed. From there, listen to your customers and tweak your range as you go.

Ready to start? Design your own custom products with Printful, then connect your shop through our Etsy integration to sell without holding inventory. 

Read also:

• How to sell Print on Demand on Etsy: Step-by-step

• Trending Etsy niches to explore

• Trending Etsy shop ideas for new sellers