How to Sell Shirts on Etsy as a Beginner (3 custom T-Shirt tips included)
If you are wondering how to sell shirts on Etsy and actually start making sales, you’re not alone. With thousands of sellers offering custom t-shirts, joining the market may be overwhelming for beginners. However, as Etsy is a beginner-friendly marketplace for unique and customized apparel, it is an opportunity worth considering.
In this comprehensive guide, we will show you all the essential steps you need to start selling shirts on Etsy — from opening your shop, setting up your product listings to handling and printing designs. Moreover, we’re sharing 3 practical tips for selling custom t-shirts to help your products stand out and attract potential customers. Now, let’s get started!
Why selling shirts on Etsy is worth it
Before learning how to sell shirts on Etsy, you may wonder: “should I?”
When it comes to selling custom t-shirts, this unique marketplace happens to be one of the best places because Etsy is simple for beginners and it offers solid growth potential for creative sellers.
Specifically, selling shirts on Etsy is worth considering because of some factors:
1. Etsy has a massive customer base with steady demand
Etsy attracts millions of buyers every year. As of 2024, Etsy had around 95.5 million active buyers, with about 36 million of them shopping more than once (based on capitaloneshopping.com). Many specifically search for unique, custom, or personalized shirts. Whether it’s matching family tees, inside-joke graphics, or event shirts, there’s always an audience ready to shop.
2. It requires low start-up costs
Compared to building your own website or joining big print-on-demand marketplaces like Merch by Amazon, starting on Etsy requires minimal upfront investment. A few listing fees and some designs can get you selling right away. Etsy charges just $0.20 per listing and takes a 6.5% transaction fee, plus approximately 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee per order (arcoding to etsy.com).
3. There is space for creative freedom and niche
When learning how to sell shirts on Etsy, you will find that there is the freedom to create designs around your interests. There are niches for customers’ quirky hobbies, local humor, or personalized slogans. This makes selling on Etsy best suits crave unique, non-mass-produced items like custom shirts.
4. Flexible work-from-home setup
Selling shirts or any other type of custom/DIY products on Etsy gives you the flexibility and freedom. You can start your Etsy product listing whenever you want and wherever you are. It’s ideal for side hustlers, stay-at-home parents, or anyone wanting a creative outlet with income potential.
Thus, if you are considering selling shirts, learning how to sell shirts on Etsy is worth it.
What to watch out for when selling shirts on Etsy
After discovering the convenience, you may feel starting an Etsy shop might somehow be exciting. However, when learning how to sell shirts on Etsy, there are challenges you could face:
- Heavy competition: There are thousands of talented sellers offering custom shirts on Etsy. That makes it hard to get noticed and stand out.
- Etsy fee updates: The platform occasionally adjusts its fees and policies, so remember to stay updated.
- Customer care is more complex: Since you’re selling personalized products, you’ll often handle custom requests, delivery deadlines, and special notes from buyers. It may take more time and effort for a clear product description, personalization box and to check every custom details from your customers.
By keeping these challenges in mind when learning how to sell shirts on Etsy, you’ll be better prepared to open your shop and start selling with confidence.
How to sell shirts on Etsy in 4 steps
It’s time to start learning how to sell shirts on Etsy with a step-by-step guide for beginners.
Step 1: Open your Etsy shop
Let’s go to the Etsy website to sign up and open your shop. Pick a shop name that reflects your style, add your banner, set up your shop policies, and enter your payment and billing info.
Once you finish, your shop is officially open for selling shirts.
Step 2: Get your shirt designs ready
Your designs are what will set you apart in the crowded custom shirt market on Etsy. You can stock up designs by:
- Buy pre-made designs from places like Creative Market or DesignBundles.
- Create your own design using software and websites like Illustrator, Procreate or Canva.
- Hire or outsource a professional designer for high-quality designs.
Step 3: Decide how to print your designs
One of the key steps for how to sell shirts on Etsy is how you print your designs. There are a few popular ways to create custom designed shirts:
- Screen printing
- Sublimation printing
- Using DTF transfers
For beginners learning how to sell shirts on Etsy, using DTF transfers is a smart option. They offer high-quality results, work on different fabrics, and don’t require pricey equipment or skill. Why? It is because you can print these using a third party’s service, such as from our website. We offer reliable, professional DTF transfer prints in any artwork, size and quantity.
Step 4: List your products effectively
A great Etsy product listing plays a pivotal part in boosting visibility and sales for your shirts. To do it, you should:
- Write clear, keyword-rich product titles and descriptions.
- Use high-quality mockups to show off your designs.
- Set fair, competitive prices (keep Etsy fees in mind).
- Provide size and color options so buyers can customize their order.
These 4 simple steps are what you can rely on when learning how to sell shirts on Etsy to build a shop that actually makes sales.
3 custom T-shirt selling tips you shouldn’t skip
After learning how to sell shirts on Etsy, you open your shop to offer custom products – it’s time for additional tips for standing out.
1. Start with trendy or niche designs
Generic, simple and common prints are easier to handle at first, but they’re harder to sell in Etsy’s crowded market. You should consider unique niches, narrower communities or popular trends.
You can brainstorming by checking:
These approaches can help your shop attract attention earlier and easier even if you are beginners who are still figuring out how to sell shirts on Etsy successfully.
2. Add personalization options
Who doesn’t fall for items that feel made just for them? Personalization is where your products may succeed. You can add a name, important date, or inside joke to the designs to make your shirts more appealing and boost your chances of landing a sale. Let’s:
- Create a box for personalizing in your Etsy listings
- Highlight it in your product descriptions and mockups
This simple addition can raise the perceived value of your Etsy customized shirts.
3. Test small batches of DTF transfers
The print is the most important element of the shirts you sell, so before handling your Etsy orders, it’s smart to test the DTF transfers quality. Apply a sample piece onto the garment to check color accuracy and print quality. This helps you catch issues early and ensures your designs are what customers require.
These tips can make a big difference when you’re working out how to sell shirts on Etsy and help you sell custom shirts with ease and confidence.
Last words
For those who are wondering how to sell shirts on Etsy, our guide just walked you through 4 steps you need to know to start a custom t-shirt shop on Etsy. Now that you know how to set up your shop, listing products, create designs and handle prints, don’t forget to take advantage of the tips for standing out.
If you plan to use DTF transfers for your shirts, be sure to check out our website for easy, high-quality custom prints made for small business owners like you.
