Price a print-on-demand product
A provider’s base product price is the beginning of your cost calculation. The final profit depends on fulfillment, platform fees, advertising, and how much work you put into each order.
Build a complete cost list
- Production: the blank item, printing, and paid customization.
- Shipping: the fulfillment provider’s actual charge for the destination.
- Packaging: any paid inserts or special packaging that you purchase.
- Labor: design support and customer service allocated per order.
- Other advertising: your acquisition spending divided by attributed orders.
- Other costs: an allowance for samples, replacements, or other variable expenses.
Worked example
A $30 item with $4 charged for shipping brings in $34. With $10 production, $4 fulfillment, $1 packaging, $2 labor, and the toolkit’s US example fees (6.5% transaction, 3% + $0.25 processing, $0.20 listing), estimated contribution profit is $13.32. This example assumes no advertising, no fee tax, and no marketplace-collected tax.
Test the less comfortable scenario
Save your normal price first. Then add a discount, increase shipping, or include advertising. Compare the scenarios before committing to a promotion. Small changes often consume more profit than expected.
For an independent storefront, replace the Etsy-derived fee settings with your actual payment and platform fees. A provider does not determine your marketplace fees.
Calculate POD profit ↗