Etsy Trending Niches: Boost Sales with Print on Demand

ByJ.B. Updated on
Woman Sitting in an Office in front of a Laptop and Waving Cash 
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I love selling print-on-demand items on Etsy. It is the best side hustle.

Print-on-demand is the creation of designs that are printed on products, such as t-shirts, mugs, or posters.

They are and shipped only after a customer places an order so you don’t have to hold inventory, or handle shipping of the product to the customer! 

From October 2022 to April 2026, I’ve made over $271,000 on Etsy with print on demand by finding high demand, low competition niches.

E-commerce analytics dashboard showing 347.7K visits, 6,634 orders, 1.9% conversion rate, and $271,043.25 revenue for 2022-2026.

I have retired early at 42, thanks to investing both my W-2 income and my Etsy side hustle income. 

If you want to become an Etsy seller, you want to understand the most profitable and popular niches.

Below, I’m going to tell you what is trending, because I want everyone doing this side hustle to make money!

No gatekeeping here!

Etsy is a great place for anyone to start and run a profitable online business. First, you want to have an understanding of what Etsy shoppers are searching for on the platform.

Finding profitable niches is crucial for standing out and achieving high demand on this competitive platform.

This post aims to highlight the trending Etsy niches, helping you tap into potential customers and maximize your profit margins.

What Is a Niche Anyway?

A niche refers to a specialized segment of the market. It can be a type of design (retro, vintage, goth), a type of person (sarcastic, bird lovers, soccer moms), or a type of product (candles, baby tees, stickers). 

Some gurus may define this term differently, but this is how I view different niches.

You can make money when you understand that these niches all have potential. You don’t have to only sell t-shirts, or only sell stickers.

In the context of Etsy, a niche involves focusing on a specific category of items that appeal to a targeted group of potential customers. By concentrating on a niche, Etsy sellers can tailor their products and marketing strategies to meet the unique needs and preferences of their audience. 

This approach reduces competition, as it allows sellers to stand out with unique, high-quality products that aren’t widely available elsewhere.

Ultimately, finding the right niches can lead to higher visibility, increased sales, and more sustainable profit margins.

You can sell to several different niches on Etsy. I do, but there are also plenty of top sellers that focus on one niche, and also do well. You don’t have to stick with one niche idea. 

Research Methodology

Focused barefoot female wearing casual clothes and eyeglasses browsing netbook while sitting on comfortable sofa in duplex apartment during weekend

To identify the trending niches, I use various tools and methods, including: the Etsy platform, Tik Tok, Pinterest, Instagram, E-Hunt, and eRank.

This comprehensive approach ensures that the niches we highlight have a good level of demand and are ripe with potential for Etsy sellers.

And, identifying niches, inspirations, or trends can also come from your everyday life! I think that is why this side hustle is so much fun.

Read this article for how I use the EtsyHunt chrome extension so see sales data right on the Etsy homepage!

EtsyHunt and eRank both show sales data from top sellers. For this article, I am using my own keyword data from eRank.

Unlike what most Youtubers do, I’m not just going to give you an example of a shop selling a specific niche (like Moms or Nurses).

I am going to give you exact keywords from my research that have high search volume and low competition according to eRank!

Low competition means you have a higher chance of being found by Etsy shoppers.

Online Business Using a Laptop and Internet

Below are the top 5 trending Etsy niches based on my eRank searches. I’ve said above that niches can be a combination of different categories of things. And, so that is what you will find!

1. Cloths and Tapestries

When I think of Etsy, I think of it is a place to buy unique, one-of-a-kind items. Cloths and tapestries are the perfect Etsy product, and they can be sold using print-on-demand.

On eRank, the keywords “tarot cloth” and “forest tapestry” had high search volume and low competition. Tapestries are wall art, and there are several top selling tapestries on the Etsy platform.

These are the low competition Etsy niches to aim for if you are a new seller.

2. Crop Tops and Baby Tees

I’m seeing crop tops and baby tees everywhere, both in my research, but in real life too! A quick search on Etsy shows a ton of popular and bestselling baby tees and crop tops.

On eRank, the keyword “custom crop top” had high search volume and low competition, making it an opportunity for you to jump on if you are an Etsy seller, or if you are thinking about opening up an Etsy shop. 

There are entire shops on Etsy that only sell baby tees and crop tops!

3. Desk Mats

Many Etsy print-on-demand sellers start with selling t-shirts, which can be a saturated niche. It may be hard to stand out if you begin with t-shirts right away. It was for me. There are exception to every rule, but try searching for products that are still in demand, but not as popular amongst sellers. Case in point, desk mats!

On erank, the keyword “cottagecore desk mat” had a high search volume and low competition level. This type of niche market finding is key for Etsy sellers to take advantage of! 

The Opportunity Report displayed on multiple devices showing weekly reports, product listings, and business analytics content.

Free for Freedom Unclocked Members

The Opportunity Report

Struggling with finding trends? Get done-for-you Etsy keyword research from a multi six figure seller, delivered weekly.

The Opportunity Report gives you a validated keyword that is selling on Etsy every single week.

Get access for only $9/mo.

4. Personalized and Customizable Items

Personalized items, such as custom jewelry, personalized home decor, and bespoke gifts, have always been popular on Etsy. These unique items offer a great way for sellers to cater to special occasions like weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries, ensuring a high number of sales due to their unique advantage. These types of items are the reason many shoppers flock to Etsy. 

One item that I’ve found to be incredibly popular in eRank is a “badge reel.”

This is an item that can be made personalized. Due to the high volume of searches and the low competition, Etsy sellers should take advantage of this opportunity to create and sell a product that is highly in demand.

5. Pets Custom Pet Products

Pet owners love spoiling their furry friends, making pet products a high potential niche. Custom pet portraits, handmade pet toys, and personalized pet apparel are popular products that cater to this market.

This niche is particularly appealing due to the high level of customer demand and the potential for repeat business.

Pet owners also love to wear apparel with designs that remind them of their pet.

For example, the keyword “corgi shirt” had very high search volume and low competition according to eRank. 

Pet owners are the perfect niche because they are highly passionate about their pets. And, there are so many types of pets and breeds out there to search! eRank will be a goldmine of potential for an Etsy seller. 

6. Weird Animals 

My research has revealed so many potential niches and popular product categories. But, my favorite niche so far has been weird animals. Yes, puppies and kittens are cute, but what people are really looking for is an axolotl! I had never heard of an axolotl until I started my shop.

They were actually trending back in 2022, and are still showing up as a high volume, low competition keyword on eRank. Also, capybaras, possums, and racoons! Check them out in your research. 

Need Help Finding Keywords & Trends?

The sellers who succeed long-term on Etsy are the ones who build a cohesive aesthetic and then stay responsive to what the data is saying.

If you want done for you Etsy SEO and keyword research, that’s exactly what I provide weekly inside The Opportunity Report.  Every Tuesday you’ll receive trend analysis and keyword research that reveals unsaturated keywords paired with real shopper demand.

The Opportunity Report displayed on multiple devices showing weekly reports, product listings, and business analytics content.

Free for Freedom Unclocked Members

The Opportunity Report

Struggling with finding trends? Get done-for-you Etsy keyword research from a multi six figure seller, delivered weekly.

The Opportunity Report gives you a validated keyword that is selling on Etsy every single week.

Get access for only $9/mo.

And if you’re ready to go even deeper on building a shop that works with your lifestyle, not against it, come check out Freedom Unlocked. The D.R.E.A.M. Method inside the membership is how I built a multi-six-figure shop.

laptop mockup with etsy course freedom unclocked

Freedom Unclocked

Ready to build an Etsy POD shop with a strategy that actually works?

The Freedom Unclocked Membership is a complete Etsy POD course, the exact method I used to grow my shop to multi-six figures, plus live group coaching and a community doing the work alongside you.

join today!
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Tips for Entering a High-Demand Niche on Etsy for Print-on-Demand Sellers

After identifying your top niche products, there’s much more to running a successful Etsy business.

Research Your Target Audience: Find out who your ideal customers are by looking at their demographics, interests, and shopping behaviors. Use tools like Pinterest, social media insights, and Etsy’s marketing tools. Study competitors’ reviews to see what their customers like.

Optimize Your Etsy Store for Search: Do thorough keyword research with tools like eRank, and use the Etsy search bar. I’ve written about eRank in other posts and how it is an absolute game changer for keyword research. Find high search low competition keywords related to your niche. Use these keywords in your product titles, descriptions, and tags. Periodically update your keywords based on performance data and trends for those items that are not selling. If they are already selling, don’t touch them!

Invest in Great Product Mockups: Mockups can also change the game when it comes to selling products. Some product mockups are simply magic and can make your design stand out among every other listing. For Etsy print-on-demand sellers, you can buy product mockups right on Etsy!

Once you have chosen them, make sure you place your designs on them appropriately. You can also create your own mockups using and AI design tool called Ideogram. Ideogram has become my favorite tool for easily editing designs and creating mockups.

And, if you are struggling with prompts, I have a custom GPT that can turn your vague ideas into detailed prompts for any AI tool.

Vibe Matters

  • Make sure your design fits the overall vibe of the mockup. Edit them to enhance brightness, contrast, and color. And make sure to lower the transparency of your design a bit to make it look more realistic.
  • Ensure consistency in style and quality across all your mockups to create a cohesive and professional look. High-quality mockups help customers see the product in use, boosting their confidence to buy.

Provide Excellent Customer Service: Clearly communicate product details, customization options, and shipping info in your listings. Respond to customer inquiries quickly and professionally.

Put Customers First

  • If you are new, profits will come a bit slower than you expect. Don’t get caught up int he Youtubers that tell you profits will show up as soon as you open a store. Cater to your customer and prioritize getting 5 star reviews. This will help boost your store and your items!
  • Offer personalized touches like thank-you notes or follow-up messages to improve the customer experience. Some print providers have an option for you to send a branding message with every order. After I set that up, I saw an increase in reviews.
  • Have a system for handling returns, exchanges, and complaints efficiently. Encourage happy customers to leave reviews and address any negative feedback constructively (by contacting you first to fix the problem).

Stay Updated with Trends and Customer Feedback: Regularly check tools like eRank and EHunt for insights on popular products and new trends in the print-on-demand niche. Follow industry blogs, social media influencers, and forums to stay informed about market changes. Go on TikTok to find the latest in trends! Collect and analyze customer feedback to spot patterns and preferences. Adjust your product offerings and designs based on this feedback and market trends to stay relevant and meet customer expectations.

By following these steps, print-on-demand Etsy sellers can enter a high-demand niche and build a thriving store.

Dollars under Laptop

Choosing a profitable niche is key to success on Etsy. By exploring trending niches in 2024, sellers can find great opportunities in the global marketplace.

Start your Etsy journey today by focusing on a high-demand niche and turning your creative ideas into a successful shop.

The Best SEO and Design Tools for Your Print on Demand Shop:

These are the only tools I use for my shop!

Canva: Canva is the most amazing tool. It is user friendly, and always improving! The tools that Canva has have evolved so much since I first started using it in 2022 for the better. I use it almost everyday. I use it to create designs, to edit AI designs, and to create product mockups.

Ideogram: Ideogram is an AI design tool that generates high-quality graphics with exceptionally accurate text rendering, making it ideal for creating quote-based and typography-focused designs. I also use the prompt based editing for mockups, making it a wonderful alternative to Photoshop, which is expensive.

E-Hunt: E-Hunt is fantastic for competitor research and some light keyword research. My favorite aspect of E-Hunt is the Chrome extension that allows you to see the sales amount for an individual item on Etsy. Check out this article to see an example.

eRank: eRank is an SEO data tool that also allows you to search the competition and will also give you key words for your Etsy listing. It is also a low cost tool that will help you find low competition and highly searched niches.

Printify: Printify is a print-on-demand (POD) service that allows individuals and businesses to create and sell custom-designed products without needing to manage inventory or handle fulfillment. I put my designs on products offered by Printify. When an item sells, Printify prints and ships to my customer.

Vela: Vela is the bulk editing tool I use to manage hundreds of Etsy and Shopify listings without losing my mind. You can update videos, photos, titles, tags, descriptions, and prices across your entire shop in minutes, and your VA can build listings inside Vela without needing your Etsy login. Read more about Vela here.

Shopify: Shopify is what I recommend when you are ready to scale beyond Etsy and diversify where your products sell. The fees are lower, you own your customer data (emails), and it integrates directly with Printify and Vela. It is the easiest way to build a standalone storefront that you control. Read more about Etsy v Shopify here.

FAIRE: FAIRE is the wholesale marketplace I use to sell my products to retail, brick and mortar stores. If you want to scale your shop and add a wholesale revenue stream to your POD business, FAIRE is a great option. Read more about FAIRE here.

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Trending Etsy niches infographic with POD products, coffee mug, tablet showing online store, and shopping bag illustrations

Looking for more information on print on demand? Check out these articles:

Janeen is a former attorney and Etsy print on demand coach who started her shop at 40, retired early from corporate life at 42, and moved her family to Portugal. She now teaches others the strategic path to building portable income, while exploring and documenting the most beautiful country she gets to call home.