Where To Sell Your T-Shirt Designs Online?

There are many websites that allow users to design and sell their own t-shirts. Some of the most popular platforms include Amazon, Etsy, Redbubble, eBay, Wix, and Shopify. These websites offer various features, such as print-on-demand services, global reach, customization options, and integration with ecommerce platforms. When choosing a platform, it is important to consider factors such as audience reach, cost structure, ease of use, and customization options. Additionally, there are other websites like Bonfire, Teespring, Zazzle, and Cafepress that offer similar services with their own unique pros and cons.

Custom t-shirt printing

There are several websites that allow you to create and sell custom t-shirts, each with its own unique features, fees, and ease of use. Here are some of the most popular platforms:

Etsy:

Etsy is a global online marketplace known for handmade, vintage, and custom products, making it ideal for selling unique and creative t-shirts. It offers a personalized storefront, a vast customer base, and a strong sense of community. However, there is significant competition, and fees can add up.

Shopify:

Shopify is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that enables individuals and businesses to create their own online stores. It offers extensive customization, scalability, and an extensive app marketplace. However, there are monthly subscription fees and transaction fees, and setting up a store can be technically challenging.

EBay:

EBay is one of the world's largest online marketplaces, offering auction-style and fixed-price selling options. It provides massive audience reach, seller protections, and ease of use. However, there is intense competition, and the cost of selling on eBay, including insertion fees, final value fees, and payment processing fees, can be complex and accumulate quickly.

Wix:

Wix is a user-friendly website builder that allows individuals and businesses to create custom websites. Its e-commerce platform can be seamlessly integrated, offering extensive customization and marketing tools. However, there are subscription costs, limitations on the more affordable plans, and scalability issues for larger businesses.

Bonfire:

Bonfire allows you to design and sell t-shirts online without inventory. It offers a free online store, custom apparel options, and the ability to set your selling prices and profit margins. Bonfire handles printing, shipping, and payouts, taking a standard transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 for payments made through credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

Printful:

Printful is a print-on-demand website that allows you to create and sell custom t-shirts online. It offers a wide selection of t-shirt models and colours, as well as a free Design Maker tool with countless design elements. Printful handles production, storage, and delivery, and charges start at $8.85 per t-shirt.

Teespring:

Teespring is a good choice for beginners, with affordable base costs and an online design tool. It also offers the Teespring Boosted Network, which includes automated promotional tools and integration with marketplaces like eBay and Amazon. However, there is a limited time frame to sell each design, typically between 3 and 21 days.

Redbubble:

Redbubble is a global platform that handles production and fulfilment for artists and designers, applying print-on-demand technology across over 70 merchandise categories. Creators set their own margins above base product costs, and payouts are processed monthly with a $20 minimum account balance.

When choosing a platform, consider factors such as audience reach, fees and profit margins, ease of use, integration with print-on-demand services, and customization options. These factors will impact your success and help you establish a competitive online t-shirt business.

Print-on-demand websites

• Teespring: Teespring is an excellent choice for newbies as the base costs are fairly affordable. If you don’t know how to use professional design software, you can customise templates from their library with an online design tool. The main downside is that you have a limited time to sell a design, which can be set to last between 3-21 days.
• Zazzle: Zazzle is used by huge players like DC Comics and Disney to sell their merchandise. The platform automatically adapts the size and format so that when shirts are printed, they look as intended. Customers can change designs to their liking, like fonts and shirt colours, which can raise the price and your earnings.
• Cafepress: With Cafepress, you can sell via their online marketplace or create your own online T-shirt store. In a marketplace, you get a 10% commission from the pre-set selling price. In a shop, you are in charge of setting the price of your custom products.
• Redbubble: Redbubble operates globally, so its website is available in several languages. There is a vast range of custom products you can sell, including stationery and home decor. However, the product base price depends on the delivery address, so calculating the cost and your earnings upfront can be difficult.
• Merch by Amazon: Merch by Amazon gives you access to the biggest store in the world. It is not a standalone website but a print-on-demand program that exists inside Amazon. It is not easy to sign up for as you have to request an invitation and be approved first.
• Society6: Society6 is primarily focused on art prints and is the only item you can set your own price for. All other products have a default markup of 10%. This means that prices may be higher compared to some of the other T-shirt selling websites.
• Spreadshirt: Spreadshirt offers the choice between selling over a virtual marketplace and setting up an online shop. Setting up an online shop with Spreadshirt allows you to customise your layout with colours and fonts to match your brand.
• Threadless: Threadless has a large social media following and is one of the first online T-shirt pioneers and big brand names. They tend to keep a tight grip on their style and the type of designs they publish. The upload and listing process for Artist Shops is pretty straightforward.
• Printful: Printful works as the 'backend' for your store, handling the printing, packing and shipping of a product to your customers on demand. They consistently produce great-quality prints and have more integrations than anyone else, which are constantly being added to. They also offer additional features like inside labels and pack-ins, which allows you to look much more professional for an additional fee.
• Printify: Printify works with various printing 'partners' across the world to produce and deliver goods. They have competitive prices and a broad range of providers and products.
• Gelato: Gelato is a quality option for posters and prints with fast printing. They deliver to more than 200 countries and have local printers in more than 30 countries to optimise global shipping.

Pros and cons of different t-shirt design websites

There are many websites that allow you to design and sell T-shirts. Here is a list of some of the most popular platforms, along with their pros and cons:

Teespring:

Pros: An excellent choice for beginners, as it offers affordable base costs and an online design tool to customise templates. It also has the Teespring Boosted Network, which includes automated promotional tools and integration with marketplaces like eBay and Amazon.

Con: You have a limited time to sell a design (campaign).

Zazzle:

Pros: It is used by major companies like DC Comics and Disney, and automatically adapts the size and format of designs to ensure they look as intended when printed. Customers can change designs to their liking, which can increase the price and your earnings.

Con: None listed.

Cafepress:

Pros: You can sell via their online marketplace or create your own store. In a marketplace, you get a 10% commission from the pre-set selling price. In your own store, you set the prices.

Con: None listed.

Redbubble:

Pros: Operates globally and offers a wide range of custom products, including stationery and home decor.

Con: The product base price depends on the delivery address, which can make calculating costs and earnings difficult if selling worldwide or nationwide.

Merch by Amazon:

Pros: Amazon Best Seller Rank can help you determine popular designs and styles.

Con: More exclusive than other platforms—you need to submit an application and be accepted. You are initially limited to 25 designs.

Society6:

Pros: Well-established, with lots of traffic and an easy-to-use interface. Has solid quality control, so it's a good option for more complex or expensive designs.

Con: Prices are higher compared to other websites, with a default markup of 10% on most products.

Spreadshirt:

Pros: Offers the choice of selling via a virtual marketplace or setting up an online shop. When setting up an online shop, you can customise the layout with colours and fonts to match your brand.

Con: None listed.

Threadless:

Pros: The best website for selling T-shirt designs if you don't have experience managing online stores. You can activate settings so that Threadless manages your shop's pricing and promotions.

Con: You can't automatically start selling T-shirts online—you need to submit a design and be upvoted by the community to join.

CustomCat:

Pros: If you're looking to make a real business out of selling T-shirts, CustomCat has a monthly subscription that gets you 20-40% on your products, increasing profit margins.

Con: Not ideal if you're only looking for occasional extra income, as prices are somewhat higher and profit margins might be lower.

Printify:

Pros: One of the biggest T-shirt design websites, with a high-quality mockup generator and consultation from marketing experts. Offers a Premium Plan subscription for discounted prices and access to Printify Connect for customer service support.

Con: The cost of products is higher.

Printful:

Pros: Super easy to use. You can create your own store or connect an existing one.

Con: Has a limited offering compared to other platforms.

SPOD:

Pros: This POD platform is powered by Shopify, so the integration is seamless. Has a strong focus on sustainability and supporting local printers.

Con: Production costs may be higher.

Printful:

Pros: No setup fee. Extensive customization options. True-to-life mockup opportunity. Bulk orders start at 25 T-shirts.

Con: None listed.

Printify:

Pros: Free design tool. AI image generator. No minimum or maximum order. You can print on the back or sleeve of T-shirts and customize their neck labels. Premium subscriptions can save you up to 20% on each T-shirt in your order.

Con: No standard T-shirt quality or fulfillment and delivery service. Bulk order starts at 60.

Custom Ink:

Pros: Offers expert support. Has a vast collection of fonts, images and clip art. Allows you to upload designs and print on selected T-shirt styles, necklines, brands, fabrics and sizes. Offers different customization methods, including direct-to-garment digital printing, screen printing and embroidery.

Con: The website can be overwhelming to navigate due to the many options.

Underground Printing:

Pros: Vast collection of T-shirt styles and materials. Easy-to-use design studio with hundreds of customizable templates. Provides a team of designer experts to help with customization. Offers lightning two-day delivery for certain T-shirts.

Con: Requires you to email support for bulk order information. Delivery can take up to 12 days.

VistaPrint:

Pros: Easily navigable interface for experts and beginners. Accepts multiple image and file formats. Comprehensive collection of T-shirt materials, including cotton, silk, rayon, polyester and spandex. Offers backside printing for full-colour prints.

Con: Colours and brands are fewer than other websites. VistaPrint's three- to four-day express shipping is not available for T-shirts.

Costs and profit margins

Fees and Profit Margins:

• Flat Monthly Fee: Some platforms charge a flat monthly fee, which can be a significant overhead, especially for new businesses or those with slim margins. It's important to consider this fixed cost when deciding on a platform, as it will impact your profitability.
• Percentage of Sales: Other platforms may take a percentage of each sale, which can affect your profit margins. This model is more flexible, as you only pay when you make a sale, but it can also mean giving up a larger portion of your revenue.
• Profit Margins: Custom t-shirt business profit margins typically range from 30% to 50%. A good profit margin for custom t-shirts starts at 30%. To increase your profit margin, consider tactics like choosing premium-quality t-shirts, combining multiple printing areas, or offering embroidery for a premium look.
• Start-up Costs: When launching your online t-shirt business, consider the initial costs involved. Some platforms may have sign-up or application fees, while others might require investments in IT infrastructure or marketing to get started.
• Transaction Fees: Most platforms will charge a transaction fee, which can range from 2.4% to 2.9% or more, depending on the payment method. These fees can eat into your profit margins, so be sure to factor them into your pricing strategy.
• Listing Fees: Platforms like Etsy charge a listing fee for each item you put up for sale. This can be a small amount, such as $0.20 per item, but it's an additional cost to consider when pricing your t-shirts.
• Payment Processing Fees: In addition to transaction fees, some platforms may charge payment processing fees, which can vary depending on the payment method (credit card, PayPal, etc.). These fees are usually a small percentage of the sale price plus a flat fee.
• Shipping Charges: Shipping charges can vary across platforms, and some may offer discounted shipping rates or include shipping in the listing fee. Consider the impact of shipping costs on your overall profitability, especially if you're selling internationally.
• Additional Expenses: Be mindful of other potential costs, such as subscription fees, chargeback fees, and costs associated with using third-party apps or integrations. These expenses can quickly add up, so carefully calculate your profit margins to ensure profitability.

Pricing Strategy:

• When setting the price for your custom t-shirts, it's essential to consider both production costs and your desired profit margin. Typically, the sale price is 2-3 times higher than the production cost. For example, if it costs $10 to make a t-shirt, you might sell it for $20 or $30. This pricing strategy ensures that the price feels reasonable to customers while still allowing you to turn a profit.
• Keep in mind that the base costs of producing a t-shirt can vary depending on the model, customization techniques chosen, and any additional features like custom labels.
• Some platforms, like Redbubble, allow creators to set their own margins above the base product costs to reach their desired retail pricing. This flexibility can help you control your profit margins and pricing strategy.

Platform Comparison:

• Teespring: Teespring is known for its affordable base costs, making it an excellent choice for beginners. They also offer the Teespring Boosted Network, which includes automated promotional tools and integration with marketplaces like eBay and Amazon. However, you have a limited time to sell each design, typically between 3 and 21 days.
• Zazzle: Zazzle is a popular platform used by major brands like DC Comics and Disney. It offers design customization options for customers, which can increase the price and your earnings. However, there is limited information on the fees and profit margins associated with using Zazzle.
• Cafepress: Cafepress offers two selling options: a marketplace where you earn a 10% commission on the pre-set selling price, or creating your own online store where you set the prices. Cafepress gives you control over pricing but may require more knowledge of SEO and marketing.
• Redbubble: Redbubble handles production and fulfillment for artists and designers, eliminating upfront inventory risks and investments. Creators set their profit margins above base product costs, and payouts are processed monthly with a low minimum account balance of $20. However, the product base price depends on the delivery address, making it challenging to calculate costs and earnings upfront if selling worldwide.
• Merch by Amazon: This platform is more exclusive, requiring an application to join. It offers access to Amazon's massive customer base and tools like Amazon SEO optimization and Sponsored Brands to increase visibility. However, Amazon exerts more control over branding and customer data, and there may be restrictions on customization options.
• Society6: Society6 is an established platform with high traffic and an easy-to-use interface. It primarily focuses on art prints, and all other products have a default markup of 10%, which can result in higher prices compared to other t-shirt selling websites.
• Printful: Printful is a simple and reliable t-shirt design selling website. You can create your own store or connect an existing one. They offer premium-quality products, and you only pay for product fulfillment and shipping, setting your own profit margins. Printful also provides branding options, such as custom apparel labels and packaging inserts.
• CustomCat: CustomCat may be better suited for those seeking to make a thriving t-shirt business rather than occasional extra income. While it has higher prices, you can pay a monthly subscription to get 20-40% profit on your products, potentially increasing your profit margins.
• Printify: Printify is one of the biggest t-shirt design websites, offering features like a high-quality mockup generator and marketing expert consultations. However, it also has higher product costs, and you can subscribe to a Premium Plan for discounted prices and access to customer service support for order-related issues.

When deciding on a platform, carefully consider the costs and profit margins involved. Evaluate the fees, transaction charges, and potential earnings to determine which platform aligns best with your financial goals and business strategy.

Marketing strategies for t-shirt sales

There are several websites that allow you to sell your t-shirt designs, such as Teespring, Zazzle, Cafepress, Redbubble, Merch by Amazon, Society6, Spreadshirt, Threadless, CustomCat, Printify, Printful, and SPOD. Many of these platforms are print-on-demand (POD) websites, which means they handle the printing and shipping for you.

Now, here are some marketing strategies for t-shirt sales:

Define your goals and priorities

Firstly, you need to define what success looks like. This could include increasing sales revenue, generating more traffic to your store, boosting brand awareness and engagement, developing more SEO-friendly content, and bringing more value to your customers.

Research your audience

Understanding your customers is crucial. Researching your audience will help you determine the appropriate pricing for your products, know where to post your content, learn how your niche communicates, identify the main issues customers face, and locate your overlapping competition. Creating a buyer persona, or a profile of your ideal customer, can be helpful.

Build a trustworthy brand

Developing a strong brand identity is essential. This includes defining your brand's vision, values, and messaging. Ensure that your messaging is concise and consistent across all platforms and marketing materials. Visual elements, such as your logo, product photos, use of colours, text, formatting, and the people running the business, should all convey a solid theme that aligns with your brand.

Leverage social media

Social media is a powerful tool for promoting your t-shirt business. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok offer paid advertising options that can help increase your reach and target specific audiences. Utilise these platforms to showcase your products, engage with your customers, and build your brand.

Focus on a specific niche market

Instead of catering to a broad audience, focus on a specific niche market. This will allow you to develop a strong brand and target a defined audience. For example, you could create t-shirts related to a specific topic, such as childcare, and use targeted Facebook ads to reach your desired demographic.

Utilise content marketing

Content marketing is a powerful way to attract and retain customers. This includes creating valuable and relevant content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience. You can utilise various mediums, such as blog posts, YouTube videos, infographics, and social media posts, to engage your customers and drive traffic to your website or online store.

Take advantage of viral trends

Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and create t-shirt designs that capitalise on them. For example, if cryptocurrency is a hot topic, consider creating t-shirts related to Bitcoin or Cardano. By jumping on viral trends, you can increase the relevance and popularity of your products.

Offer additional services

Providing additional services and products can enhance your customers' experience. Consider offering custom t-shirt packaging, fulfilment, order management, and shipping services. You can also expand your product line to include other custom items such as bags, caps, mugs, and other personalised items.

Monitor and adjust your strategy

Finally, remember that your marketing strategy should be flexible and adaptable. Regularly analyse the results of your campaigns and be prepared to make changes to reach different audiences. This could include adjusting your product pricing, trying new sales strategies, or targeting new markets.

Frequently asked questions