15 Print-On-Demand Niches for Generating a Handsome Income in 2024

15 Print-On-Demand Niches for Generating a Handsome Income in 2024

When people first discover Print on Demand, their minds bubble with profit possibilities. After all, it’s a beginner-friendly business model that allows anyone to start an online store without investment, inventory, or logistical worries.

Take the first big step towards success and explore these 15 profitable print-on-demand niches anyone should consider when starting a business.

Learn more about POD and starting a POD business.

1. Animals and Pets

An image of a woman in a living room embracing a German Shepherd who’s wearing a red bandana.

The first of our print-on-demand niche ideas is all about pets. People gladly spend increasing amounts of money on their furry friends each year.

The market is vast, and the business landscape is very appealing, especially for dog and cat designs. After all, in the United States (the US), 65.1 million households have at least one dog, and around 46.5 million have cats.

Tips and Ideas

Cats and dogs rule the niche. But it’s not just custom pet gifts like bowls, beds, and bandanas. People also love to purchase funny pet-related clothing, art, and ornaments for themselves.

An interesting sub-genre includes framed prints of pets photoshopped onto famous paintings. Meowna Lisa? Napoleon Bonabark? The options are endless.

We interviewed Christopher Sattes, a thriving pet portrait maker. He runs a highly successful Etsy online store, Dog Ross Pet Painting, whose direct competition is the heavyweights Crown & Paw.Β 

Christopher uses clever digital marketing and personalized customer service to help him compete in a print-on-demand niche that’s quickly becoming crowded.

With an exciting idea and a specific buyer in mind, anyone can find success. For example, you could design clothing for owners of specific dog breeds, like German Shepherd dads and Siberian Husky moms.

Quick Tip

With or without pets, learning how to sell digital art is a great way to make money without any inventory.

2. Activism and Social Causes

People enjoy wearing apparel and accessories to express their beliefs and support a cause of their choice.

For example, Gary Stokes from OceansAsia successfully sells products that fund their cause for marine conservation.

Tips and Ideas

This niche has infinite possibilities for winning designs, where you can focus on topics like:

  • Social trends. Awareness of human rights, social justice, mental health, and animal welfare.
  • Veganism. A vast and growing movement with plenty of potential for creative and inspiring designs.
  • Environmental. A topic with broad appeal, you’ll need a specific focus to succeed here, such as clearing up ocean pollution or helping endangered wildlife.

Quick Tip

Explore the top 10 things to sell for fundraising to generate more sales for your cause.

3. Families and Couples

The families and couples theme is a perfect print-on-demand niche, ideal for family gatherings, trips, and parties.

They’re also great for couples – there’s no shortage of people looking for ways to visually declare their undying love for their partner.

People love buying products from this specific niche because they carry a great sentimental value, making them the perfect gift for anniversaries and birthdays.

Tips and Ideas

Create designs for two family members – father and daughter hoodies, mother and daughter t-shirts, and brother and sister hats. Add lovely quotes and catchphrase, or even give your customers the option to choose their own text.

Quick Tip

When creating your product listings, use specific keywords. For example, instead of listing a blue t-shirt, call it a blue Father’s Day t-shirt. You can also add another layer of interest by including hobbies, like blue Father’s Day golf t-shirt.

Explore the best Mother’s Day shirt ideas and Father’s Day gift ideas to find inspiration.

4. Humor and Internet Memes

A model wearing a t-shirt that says, I came. I saw. I left early.

Memes cover such a wide range of topics and interests that you can find at least one for nearly any customer segment. T-shirts, posters, and mugs are top candidates for printing funny slogans, graphics, and images in this niche.

Tips and Ideas

Our main tip is to keep an eye out for what’s trending on social media and create designs as you see a meme going viral.

Just make sure you’re not infringing on copyright or other intellectual property rights. Stay safe and out of trouble by learning how to avoid copyright infringement in Print on Demand.

Also, keep your designs light-hearted and uplifting rather than attacking others.

While humor is one of the most popular print-on-demand niche ideas, don’t let the extent of the competition scare you off – there’s always more room for laughter and new memes pop up every week. Creating a bestseller won’t be difficult if you tap into the right joke at the right time.

Products in the job-related print-on-demand niches are almost exclusively bought as gifts for work besties and whole teams.Β 

Tap into specific professions, like nurses, history teachers, and software engineers to increase your odds of sales.

As of August 2023, these are the industries with the most employees:

  • Professional and business services
  • Health care and social assistance
  • Leisure and hospitality
  • Retail trade
  • Local government
  • Manufacturing
  • Construction

Tips and Ideas

Items in this category should be small, inexpensive gifts like t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases. Typically, people won’t spend much on these items, so don’t charge premium prices.

For example, one of the best Shopify t-shirt stores, Ranger Up, sells patriotic products for infantry, medics, engineers, and other military personnel.

Quick Tip

Choose the right pricing strategy by learning how to price a product for ultimate success.

Start a Print-On-Demand Store Today

An image of a woman painting, suggesting that there’s a wide audience who enjoy custom designs related to their hobbies.

People are very passionate about their favorite hobbies. So passionate that they wear hobby-specific t-shirts, hoodies, and accessories to show their love.

Take a look at the most popular hobbies and activities in the US:

  • Arts and crafts
  • Gardening and plants
  • Board and card games
  • Cars and vehicles
  • Photography
  • Writing
  • Traveling

Tips and Ideas

An easy way to gauge interest in a specific hobby is to seek out social media groups and online forums dedicated to them. By exploring these communities, entrepreneurs can gain valuable insights into what products people are looking for.

In addition, attend hobby-related events to get a sense of the current conversation and network with your potential customers.

7. Holidays and Special Occasions

Last year, the US holiday online retail sales reached nearly $240 billion. People spent $10.7 billion on Cyber Monday and almost $9 billion on Black Friday, mainly to do some early Christmas shopping.

While it’s arguably the biggest holiday, Christmas isn’t the only special occasion that can bring in the big bucks.

Create products for other celebrations and important events, like Halloween, Black History Month, Earth Day, and Mother’s Day.

Tips and Ideas

Never lose an opportunity for profit by following the seasons. Create a marketing calendar to always remember important events and holidays.

Quick Tip

Don't wait until the last minute to prepare your store for the holidays. For example, if you plan to sell Christmas gifts, make sure they're already ready by Thanksgiving.

8. Video Games

An image of a smiling man at a computer, representing an ideal customer for the video games niche.

Industry experts predict the global video game market will reach $268.8 billion by 2025, making it a perfect niche idea.The gaming industry is enormous. So is the number of awesome products you can customize to appeal to gamers, including LED gaming mouse pads, desk mats, and various tech accessories.

Tips and Ideas

When selling gamer merch, find a style that resonates with your audience. For example, 8-bit, indie, or arcade games appeal to many and provide endless inspiration for extraordinary designs.

In addition, consider partnering with streamers to promote your products. Their endorsement can greatly increase your credibility within the gaming community.

9. Health and Fitness

In the US, 21.2% of men and 19.1% of women participate in some kind of sporty activity on a daily basis, putting health and fitness on our list of the most popular niches for POD.

Newbies and professionals are always searching for the best gear to keep them comfortable and motivated. Industry experts predict that the global sports apparel market will reach $294 billion in 2030.

Take a look at some target audience ideas:

  • Yoga lovers
  • Weightlifters
  • Runners
  • Crossfit athletes
  • Basketball players

Tips and Ideas

Identify your ideal customer and create designs for them – if she is a yoga lover, choose comfortable leggings. A weightlifter? Go for more durable sportswear.

Explore the best Shopify store examples to learn how professional online stores like Gymshark and Vanquish Fitness design fitness apparel.

10. Astrology

An image of a woman with glasses wearing a black t-shirt with Pisces zodiac sign.

While brainstorming print-on-demand niche ideas, don’t overlook astrology. In the US, a significant share of the society believe in the study of how celestial bodies influence our daily lives.

Tips and Ideas

While some view it simply as a hobby, others take it seriously, using it as a tool for self-discovery, so create products featuring symbols related to the Sun, Moon, rising signs, houses, and other astrological elements.

Send your designs into the outer space with unique products, like a tripod lamp with constellations. Or opt for something more simple, like a zodiac sign t-shirt.

Make Your Own Products Today

11. Travel and Outdoors

Industry experts forecast the outdoor clothing market to reach more than $45 billion by 2027, showing its potential to become one of the most profitable print-on-demand niches.

Tips and Ideas

When tackling the outdoors niche, select products that are likely to make their way into a traveler’s checklist. T-shirts provide comfort, hoodies offer warmth, hats shield from the Sun, but drinkware is vital for staying hydrated on the go.

Hiking

In the US, hiking is a beloved pastime – the second-most popular open-air activity, enjoyed by nearly 59 million people. There are many different types of hikers, like thru-hikers, day hikers, solo hikers, andΒ  urban hikers. For starters, pick one and focus your designs on them.

Fishing

Recreational fishing is wildly popular among Americans – 55 million people engage in freshwater, saltwater, and fly-fishing. But if you’re after low-competition niches for Print on Demand, strive to design for specific activities – bowfishing, spearfishing, or angling.

Camping

Industry experts predict the revenue in the camping market will reach $22.71 billon in 2023. As an annual tradition for many, it has a high profit potential. Reduce the competition by specializing in a niche market, such as backpacking, RV camping, or glamping.

12. Reading and Books

Reading is powerful. It’s good for the mind, heart, and soul and is a great way to expand one’s knowledge, gain a new perspective, or lose yourself in the world of fantasy.

Fun fact, the number of people worldwide who read eBooks is on its way to reach 1.1 billion by 2027, showing a large audience for this print-on-demand niche.

Tips and Ideas

To attract avid readers, try designing products such as bookmarks for physical copy lovers and bookish stickers for people who want to decorate their eReaders.

13. Mental Health Awareness

An image of a happy woman in autumn wearing a pom-pom beanie.

Reduce the stigma around mental health by sharing personal experiences. Talking openly about these issues reduces misconceptions, encouraging people to seek help and find the support they need.

Authenticity is key. Donate a part of the profit to a mental health organization, so your print-on-demand store makes a meaningful impact instead of using the issue as a marketing tactic.

Tips and Ideas

Design products that promote self-care. Offer a range of items such as hoodies with positive affirmations, journals for reflection, and candles with soothing scents.

Consider collaborating with artists experiencing these issues – their perspective can help you design products that resonate with others.

14. Music

Wherever we go, music’s always there, making cultures and communities thrive and amassing a following unlike anything else. For example, just the number of music streaming subscribers worldwide already amounts to 616.2 million.

Tips and Ideas

This niche provides a world of design ideas – musical notes, symbols, soundwaves, and instruments. Try vibrant colors on t-shirts, hoodies, or hats to reflect the energy and passion of music.

In addition, explore the history of music and incorporate vintage and classical elements into your designs.

Selling band t-shirts is another great option. Just make sure you obtain the proper commercial licenses to avoid copyright and trademark infringement.

If this is a POD niche you’d like to try, read our article on merchandising to learn everything you need about how to sell these print-on-demand products.

15. Food

An image of a smiling woman pointing to her white t-shirt that says, Go Vegan.

Food is the answer if you’re looking for evergreen niches for your POD store. 84% of Americans have expressed a positive opinion of hamburgers, mashed potatoes, and cheeseburgers, but based on Google search queries, Chinese, Mexican, and Italian cuisines are popular too.

Whether your target audience loves fast food, ethnic cuisine, or superfoods, you can create appealing and useful POD products for each group.

Tips and Ideas

With a beautiful food-related design, aprons, oven mitts, coasters, tea towels, and other kitchen accessories can become a stylish addition to your customer’s kitchen.

Trending design ideas for POD products:

  • Hand-drawn culinary illustrations
  • Healthy eating inspiration
  • Vegan lifestyle quotes
  • Fast-food puns

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Print on Demand is still a lucrative venture. With a great niche, original designs, and effective marketing, anyone can make money with on-demand printing.

With the right approach, POD is a profitable business model. The money you make depends on your store’s popularity, pricing, and quantity sold.

Our blog covers dozens of success stories that will motivate and inspire partnering with POD services.

The best niches for print-on-demand include health and fitness, animals and pets, humor, and internet memes.

As long as there’s a dedicated community, most specific niche markets have the potential to become profitable.

Closing Thoughts

Whether you’re just starting or have been an entrepreneur for a while, we hope our list of the best print-on-demand niches proved helpful.

With patience and planning, anyone can find a great niche, create original designs, and make money without leaving the house.

Start a Business From the Comfort of Your Home Today

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22 comments

  1. Rahel
    February 8

    Thank you for this informative article I have found answers & learn lots of things that I have questions about. I am planning to start aPOD business this year and am having a struggle to choose a niche and found a couple here that I found my self interested in but is it possible to have more than one niche I mean van I work on them at the same time? And my other question is which one comes first selecting a product or finding a niche? Please help!!!

    1. Ariel Summers
      February 8

      Hi Rahel,
      Great to hear that you found this article helpful. Perhaps you could find answers to your questions in our Blog, good luck!

  2. Victor
    October 3

    What is the outlook on kids t-shirts and toddler t-shirts? Is 33 dollars too expensive to start?

    1. Ariel Summers
      October 4

      Hi Victor,
      We have toddler t-shirts starting from $9.89 with Premium subscription. Please reach out to our support team to get more information about these products and they will be happy to help.

  3. nane
    September 2

    Hello, I have a question related to sending different products from different suppliers. For example, if I choose a supplier from Canada, another from China, and a third one from Europe, and a customer wants to buy these three products, how will the goods be sent to them? Will the products be sent to the same address in one box, or what? Will they be charged three separate shipping costs? Can you please provide an answer to this question?

    1. Martha Simmons
      September 4

      Hi Nane,
      In this scenario, all items will be shipped separately, as they are fulfilled by different print providers. This means, that they will each also be charged with the “first item” shipping cost, and, depending on where your customer will be located, some items may take longer, if those would be international shipments.
      If you have further questions, please reach out to our merchant support team via the live chat and they will assist you.

  4. Andreas
    May 6

    I live in Europe can i use my local bank account for selling?

    1. Martha Simmons
      May 8

      Hi Andreas,
      Yes, you can.

  5. Roshan
    February 19

    FINALY,I HAVE SELECTED A PRODCUT FOR MY POD BUSINESS.IT IS CAR SEAT COVER.I HAVE TWO NICHES.THEY ARE 1)ANIMALS AND PETS,2)JOBS AND HOBBIES.ARE THESE NICHES SUITABLE FOR CAR SEAT COVER PRODUCT?.I AM BEGINNER TO THIS BUSINESS.

    1. Martha Simmons
      February 20

      Hi Roshan,
      I believe any niche can be suitable for such a product. I mean why not. πŸ™‚
      As long as your designs are compelling enough to stand out, and you also might want to create great product descriptions that will ensure your product listings are seen by the right target audience.
      If you would like to learn more, check out our webinars on our YouTube page. There are a lot of useful information there.

  6. Milet
    December 29

    So informative. I’m browsing for passive income idea and I got a chance to see and read this article, its mind opening. Thank you.

    1. Martha Simmons
      December 30

      Hi Milet,
      Thank you for your feedback, we are glad that you enjoyed the article!

  7. Faith
    December 17

    With printify once an order has been made will it charge my account to pay for the cost to print?

    1. Martha Simmons
      December 19

      Hi Faith,
      When a customer submits an order in your connected store, your store receives the payment consisting of the product retail price (production price + profit) and the shipping fee.

      Then the order is automatically imported into Printify and sent to production according to your order approval settings. However, since Printify can’t pull funds directly from your sales channel, Printify charges your linked credit card or your Printify balance with the production price of the product and its shipping fee.

      To sum it up: your customers buy from you, and you buy from us.

  8. SOLOMON
    September 26

    Hey there,
    This was pretty helpful, thank you.
    Question;
    Can I handle more than one niche on the same Printify account?

    1. Florence Kingsley
      September 27

      Hi there!
      Yes, with the free account, you can have up to 5 stores added to the same Printify account. If you’re a Premium plan subscriber, you can add up to 10 stores to the same account. Please see more information here.

  9. Justice
    September 13

    This is a lovely article. Thanks for the clarity and taking your time to explain all of these.

    1. Florence Kingsley
      September 14

      Hi there!
      Thank you for your kind words, we are happy to hear it was useful to you.

  10. faysal
    July 17

    can I share on my website?

    1. Martha Simmons
      July 18

      Hi Faysal,
      Yes, you can share the link to this blog article on your website.

  11. Sourav Mahapatra
    May 21

    Thank you, It was very much helpful.

    1. Martha Simmons
      May 22

      Hi Sourav,
      Thank you for the feedback! We are happy to hear that you enjoyed this article.

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