Print-on-demand looks simple until you stack supplier costs, shipping, and Etsy’s fees together — a price that looks profitable on paper can quietly break even. This calculator shows your real payout before you publish the listing.
Etsy Print on Demand Calculator
Calculate exact Printify, Printful, and Etsy fees to see your real profit margins on every POD sale.
Etsy sets fees by where your shop and bank are, not by where the buyer lives.
Your country charges a higher processing rate on international orders.
Charged only on orders an Offsite Ad brought in, and never more than $100 USD per order.
Fee rates and extras
Not your money, but processing fees are still charged on it. US sellers: put your sales tax here.
Only used for the USD-priced listing fee and the $100 ads cap. Check today’s rate.
Changing country refills every rate above. Edit any of them to match your own Etsy bill.
You keep
$0.00
Margin 0%- Profit per item
- $0.00
- Fees as share of order
- Break-even item price
- $0.00
- Markup on cost
- 0%
Processing rates come from Etsy’s payment processing fees table, regulatory rates from the Regulatory Operating Fee page, and the rest from the Fees & Payments Policy. Tax on fees follows Etsy’s VAT rules at each country’s standard rate. Etsy changes these without much notice, so check the rates against your own payment account before pricing.
How Etsy Fees Apply to POD Sales
| Fee | Rate | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Listing Fee | $0.20 per unit | Charged again for each unit sold if the listing auto-renews |
| Transaction Fee | 6.5% | Item price + shipping + gift wrap |
| Payment Processing | 3% + $0.25 (US) | Varies by country — 4% + £0.20 in the UK, 3% + $0.25 CAD in Canada |
| Offsite Ads | 12% or 15% | Only on sales from an Etsy ad click, capped at $100 |
| Regulatory Operating Fee | 0.05%–1.97% | Select countries only (UK, Canada, EU, India, Türkiye, Vietnam) |
What Makes POD Costs Different From Handmade
| Cost Factor | Handmade | Print on Demand | Where It Goes in the Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | Raw supplies, labor | Supplier base cost | Item Cost field |
| Fulfillment | Manual packing/postage | Automated supplier shipping | Shipping Cost field |
| Inventory | Upfront stock risk | None — made on order | Not applicable |
| Defects/Returns | In-house inspection | Supplier’s reprint policy | Add a 2–3% buffer to your target margin |
Pricing a POD Listing, Step by Step
- Pull your exact base cost and shipping rate from your supplier’s dashboard (Printify, Printful, Gelato).
- Decide whether to charge shipping separately or fold it into “free shipping” pricing.
- Set your shop’s country in the calculator so processing and regional fees match your actual account.
- Aim for a 25–35% net margin — that buffer covers returns, address corrections, and the occasional Offsite Ad fee.
Example: A $34.99 Printed Sweatshirt
A US seller sells a sweatshirt for $34.99 with $4.99 shipping, fulfilled by a domestic supplier at $15.50 base cost + $5.50 shipping.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total revenue | $39.98 |
| Supplier cost (base + shipping) | $21.00 |
| Listing fee | $0.20 |
| Transaction fee (6.5%) | $2.60 |
| Payment processing | $1.45 |
| Net profit | $14.73 (36.8%) |
If this sale came from an Offsite Ad, the extra 15% fee ($6.00) brings net profit down to $8.73 (21.8%) — always check your Offsite Ads toggle before trusting a price point.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does Etsy charge fees on what my POD supplier charges me?
No. Etsy’s 6.5% transaction fee applies only to what the buyer pays you on Etsy — your supplier’s invoice to you isn’t visible to Etsy and isn’t fee’d separately.
Is POD still worth it on Etsy with rising fees?
Yes, if you price with real numbers instead of guessing. Sellers who stay profitable tend to avoid racing to the bottom on price and target realistic niches rather than $15 generic t-shirts.
What happens if a POD order arrives damaged?
Most suppliers reprint and reship damaged or misprinted items free of charge. Sizing exchanges or buyer’s-remorse returns are usually absorbed by the seller.
Related Tools
Printify seller? The Etsy + Printify Fee and Margin Calculator builds in Printify’s Premium discount. Selling files alongside physical items? See the Etsy Digital Download Profit Calculator.