What to Sell on Etsy: 100 Top Selling Things that Make Money

“Find a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Mark Twain knew what he was talking about when he penned those famous lines. One of the best ways to earn a living is by finding a hobby you love and turning it into a profitable career. Many Etsy sellers – myself included – have done just that, and have gone on to find great success through this app.

Etsy is an online marketplace focused on handmade and vintage goods. Although almost anything can be found for sale on this platform, when I decided to start selling on Etsy, I had to figure out what I could feature in my own personal shop.

My final choice had to make sense for me, and I knew that making something by hand or working with vintage goods just wouldn’t work.

Since then, I’ve joined Etsy, set up my store, and slowly added listings in my spare time. I’ve already made nearly 500 sales, because I was able to nail down exactly what I wanted to sell.

Etsy shoppers can peruse a large variety of items for any occasion, from jewelry and home decor, to toys and art. It will take some work to understand which items are most popular on the platform, but knowing what potential customers want to buy will help you make the most money in the long run.

Start your own shop and join the nearly 6 million sellers on Etsy. Check out the following tips to consider when deciding what to sell on this platform.

Is It Profitable to Sell on Etsy?

It’s important to know what to sell on Etsy in order to turn a profit. Don’t waste your time offering products that no one is interested in purchasing.

You will need to come up with a profit and loss statement to ensure you are pricing your items correctly. Keep track of how long it takes to make those products; after all, time is money!

Related: ThriveCart Review

Pros and Cons of Selling on Etsy

Running an Etsy store can be a great way to make money instantly online. There are some additional points you’ll need to consider before opening up shop.

Pros:

• Etsy gives new sellers 40 FREE listings
• The platform is widely used, so you will have a higher chance of selling items here versus listing them on your own website
• It is easy to set up a shop profile
• A business license is not required of those selling on the marketplace
• The site’s ranking tools will help you learn how to get seen by customers

Cons:

• Etsy levers a listing fee of 20 cents per item for four months, or until the item sells
• Sellers are charged a 5 percent transaction fee (including shipping)
• Competition is high on Etsy, making it difficult to gain organic sales without marketing your products outside of the marketplace.
• There are a lot of rules and regulations to abide by when selling on Etsy, such as keeping accurate records and only selling items that fall within their policies.

Related: How to Flip Furniture: Your Furniture-Flipping Business Guide

How to Get Your Products Seen on Etsy

Do some competitor research prior to opening up your own Etsy store. By taking the time to peruse other shops that sell products similar to yours, you can ensure you are making a profitable choice right from the start.

I’ve recently tested Sale Samurai, an Etsy SEO tool that helps sellers choose keywords for their product listings. This is an important step, since keywords will allow Etsy to put your products in front of potential customers.

Doing keyword research on Etsy will also help you determine if site users are actually searching for your types of products. Sale Samurai will save you time and effort by showing you which items are the most popular.

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100 Things to Sell on Etsy

Here are the best items to sell on Etsy to make money this year.

Printables

Printables are some of the easiest and most profitable types of Etsy listings. Create them in a short amount of time and then sell them passively. You can even use commercial use templates to get a head start. These templates come with a commercial license that will allow you to rebrand and edit the printables, and then list them on Etsy to sell as your own.

Consider creating some of the following printable offerings:

1. Checklists
2. Coloring pages
3. Chore charts
4. Expense sheets
5. Activity pages

It didn’t take me long to decide to sell printables in my own Etsy shop. I have to design each one only once, and now I can make money while doing nothing!

Selling printables on Etsy is a smart way to avoid paying for materials and shipping costs. When you sell digital items, you will send the final product to your customers after they complete their purchases.

If you are intrigued by the thought of selling printables on Etsy, check out this free guide to learn more details about starting this type of side hustle, while also capitalizing on seasonal trends.

eBooks

Selling an eBook on Etsy is another great way to make money with a digital offering. Customers can download eBooks directly onto their devices rather than waiting for a physical book to arrive in the mail, making eBook sales quick and seamless. It can be time-consuming to write an eBook, but once it’s finished, you can sell copies indefinitely and bring in a passive income.

Make money selling eBooks focusing on:

6. How-to guides
7. Recipes
8. Inspirational quotes
9. Short stories
10. Poetry

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Jewelry

Whether it’s for a gift or to commemorate a special occasion, handmade jewelry is a uniquely special purchase. Many Etsy shoppers visit the site specifically for the jewelry options sold by a variety of sellers. Popular items include:

11. Bracelets
12. Necklaces
13. Earrings
14. Rings
15. Anklets

Related: How to Start a Permanent Jewelry Business

Crafts

Crafting stimulates our overactive brains and gives our hands something to do while we take a break from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Etsy customers flock to the platform in search of ways to relax through crafting. Take advantage of this trend and sell materials or crafting kits for others to enjoy. This includes:

16. Crochet kits
17. String art kits
18. DIY felt kits
19. Candle-making kits
20. Sequin pixel art craft kits

Related: More Things to Sell to Make Money

Personalized Gifts

It can be very difficult to find a present for the person who has everything. Here’s where personalized gifts come in. Get creative and start selling customizable gifts in your Etsy shop. Personalized items that tend to be a hit include:

21. Coffee cups
22. Tumblers
23. Picture frames
24. Christmas ornaments
25. Guitar picks

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Custom T-shirts

Consumers wear custom T-shirts to express themselves with quirky, fun sayings or inspirational quotes, and families often purchase wearable representations of their annual vacations. Adding custom T-shirt designs to your Etsy shop is a simple way to get paid to write slogans in your spare time. Your designs can include:

26. Matching shirts for family reunions, vacations and holidays
27. Quirky sayings about motherhood
28. Dad shirts
29. Cute baby patterns
30. Fashionable, artistic designs

Woodwork

Thanks to the many consumers who enjoy the uniqueness behind handcrafted wooden objects, woodworking has become a fairly profitable skill. Learn how to become a woodworker and add products with your unique flair to the list of items to sell on Etsy. These can include:

31. Furniture
32. Coasters
33. Signage
34. Decor
35. Toys

Used Clothing

If your wardrobe needs a refresh and includes clothes you haven’t worn in months – or even years – sell your used clothing in your Etsy shop. Make extra cash and clean out the clutter. You could even peruse your local thrift and consignment shops for gently loved pieces that will sell well, including:

36. Jackets
37. Sweaters
38. Baby clothes
39. Dresses
40. Shoes

Photography

New and aspiring photographers can get paid to take pictures by selling them on Etsy for a profit. Snap beautiful photos of things you see every day, and sell those images as art pieces. Make money off of photography focused on:

41. Landscapes
42. City skylines
43. Aerial views
44. Nature
45. Food and drink

Services

Many Etsy sellers actually sell their services on this giant marketplace. Join the club by taking advantage of the many profitable service ideas you can offer, including:

46. Embroidery
47. Quilting
48. Printing
49. Photoshop editing
50. SEO listing help

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Seeds & Plants

The green thumb club grew exponentially in 2020, and hasn’t slowed down. People interested in gardening have turned to Etsy to purchase seeds, young plants, and other floriculture-themed items. Use your cultivation skills to sell items like:

51. Garden starter kits
52. Educational outdoor activities for children
53. Replenishments for new crops
54. Different types of succulents
55. Tree seedlings

Crocheted Items

Crocheting isn’t just for grandma anymore. Depending on how much time you have, you could easily create and sell dozens of crocheted items like:

56. Scarves
57. Handbags
58. Beanies
59. Blankets
60. Shawls

Party Decor

People hoping to throw the bash of the century often head to Etsy for creative party decor to feature at events like birthdays, weddings, and baby showers. Sell beautiful items that will elevate your customers’ events, including:

61. Banners
62. Favors
63. Table and chair covers
64. Invitations and thank-you cards
65. Party games

Planners and Journals

From daily planners to bullet journals, stationery products have come back into style and are heavily featured on Etsy. Offer these items with fun, inspirational designs to both kids and adults as a way of helping them keep track of their daily activities. Stationery products can be geared toward:

66. Diary entries
67. Grocery lists
68. Extracurricular activities
69. Notebooks
70. Daily tasks recorders

Related: Fun Jobs that Pay Well Without a Degree

Pet Supplies

Pet owners searching for one-of-a-kind, personalized gifts for their pup or kitten often peruse Etsy for the next best thing. Selling pet supplies can be a profitable side gig, so consider featuring animal-themed items including:

71. Pet ID tags
72. Personalized collars
73. Treats
74. Dog toys
75. Leashes

Self-Care Items

Sell self-care items on Etsy to help your customers relax and refresh. Your buyers can indulge in some “me” time by using the offerings in your shop, like:

76. Bath bombs
77. Sugar scrubs
78. Body soap
79. Skincare face masks
80. Body lotions

Baby Products

Babies are always being born, and there will always be a market for Etsy items geared toward infants and young children. From baby announcements to unique baby shower gift items, Etsy customers are constantly on the lookout for specialty baby products such as:

81. Onesies
82. Tutus
83. First socks/booties
84. Floral headbands
85. Personalized picture frames

Collectibles

Etsy is best known as a goldmine of vintage finds. Sell specialty collectible items in your shop to attract one of the site’s most prolific types of customer. Product you could feature include:

86. Coins
87. Figurines
88. Memorabilia
89. Postcards
90. Comic books

Related: Where to Sell Baseball Cards

Home Decor

Many Etsy sellers feature home decor to attract the plethora of home owners who use the summer months to complete DIY projects on their properties and living areas. Sell home decor options like:

91. Doormats
92. Kitchen signs
93. Laundry room organization
94. Monogrammed signs
95. Family inspirational quote pictures

Gift Boxes

Regardless of the time of year, gift boxes are great purchases to use to house presents for friends and family members. Create unique gift boxes and make them available in your shop. Boxes can be specific to:

96. Baby showers
97. Christmas
98. Father’s Day
99. Mother’s Day
100. Get well soon

Related: How to Make Money Flea Market Flipping

It Doesn’t Have to Be Trending on Etsy in Order to Sell

Although it’s important to sell things that are relevant and trending on Etsy, keep in mind that trends fade. Always keep an eye on products that already sell well on the site, and build out your shop with searched-for items – but don’t discount the unique creations you’ve designed that don’t appear anywhere else.

In addition, take advantage of the market for seasonal products. Many people think ahead when making their purchases, and you might be surprised at how well this type of item sells year-round.

Take the plunge on Etsy after perusing this list, to figure out what you can offer to potential customers. Everyone has a unique talent or skill, so all you need to do is decide what you want to create and start bringing in the money on Etsy!

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