Short answer: print on demand (POD) is allowed on Etsy, but the design must be yours and you must list the printing company as a production partner on your listings. Services like Printful, Printify and Gooten print and ship an item when an order comes in. Reselling ready-made products isn't allowed on Etsy.
Does Etsy allow print on demand?
Yes. Etsy defines a production partner as a company or person, not part of your shop, that physically produces items from your own original designs from start to finish, such as a printing service, an apparel producer or an engraver. Items made with a production partner must follow Etsy's Creativity Standards, and the partner must be disclosed on the listings; buyers can see it in your shop's About section.
| Production partner type | What it does | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Print on demand (POD) | Prints and ships individual items only when ordered | Printful, Printify, Gooten |
| Cut-and-sew manufacturer | Produces sewn goods from your patterns | Local sewing studios |
| Contract manufacturer | Produces items to your specifications | Small-batch manufacturers |
| Specialized production service | Applies special techniques to your designs | Laser cutting, professional printers |
Etsy's print on demand rules
- The design must be yours: no one else's designs, characters or brands
- Add the production partner to the listing; new partners are added on Etsy.com, not in the app
- Update shipping locations to match where the partner ships from
- Use your About section to explain how you design and produce your items
- Listing photos must meet Etsy's image requirements
- Production partners can't be added to vintage or craft supply listings
Working with non-qualifying businesses to source products violates Etsy's reselling policies and can lead to penalties up to and including account suspension.
How to start print on demand on Etsy
- Validate demand: look at the searches your design serves and the competing listings.
- Choose a POD service and connect it to your Etsy shop; order a sample to check quality.
- Show your design on the product: a mockup or a real product photo.
- Add the partner as a production partner on the listing and set the shipping origin.
- Price for the partner's production and shipping cost plus Etsy's fees.
Pricing and profit for POD
With POD, most of your cost is the partner's product and shipping price. On top of that come Etsy's $0.20 listing fee, a 6.5% transaction fee on the item price plus shipping and the payment processing fee. Set a price that still leaves a profit after all of these.
Photos and listings
Buyers can't touch the item, so photos matter: show it in use, with scale and in each color option. Say what the item is first in the title and use all 13 tags.
Common print on demand mistakes
- Printing someone else's characters, logos or slogans
- Not disclosing the production partner
- Selling before seeing a sample
- Not matching shipping origin and times to the partner
- Pricing without counting Etsy's fees
Listimize's Product Images & Mockups feature creates images that show your design in different settings, which helps complete the photo set for POD listings.
FAQ
Is print on demand allowed on Etsy?
Yes, as long as the design is yours and you disclose the printing service as a production partner.
Which print on demand service is best for Etsy?
Etsy's own examples are Printful, Printify and Gooten. Before choosing, check product quality, production time and shipping options with a sample order.
Where do I disclose a production partner?
In the production partner field of the listing editor. Add a new partner on Etsy.com; it then appears as an option in the app too.