Print-on-Demand Profit Calculator
Model garment blanks, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, fulfillment carrier shipping, marketplace commission, payment processing, and ad spend to protect your real net earnings.
Product & Fulfillment Costs
POD Profitability
Net EarningsCost Allocation
Payment processing fees depend on your seller country (e.g. US 3.0%+$0.25 vs UK 4.0%+ÂŖ0.20 or EU 4.0%+âŦ0.30). Select your region preset or enter your custom rates. The currency dropdown alters display formatting only; it does not perform live foreign exchange currency conversions.
Print-on-Demand Unit Economics & Pricing Principles
Print-on-demand fulfillment differs fundamentally from traditional wholesale inventory. Because items are printed one-by-one upon customer order, the variable cost per unit is significantly higher. Overlooking fulfillment carrier shipping or advertising spend is the #1 reason new POD shops fail.
1. Print-on-Demand Order Cost Anatomy
| Cost Layer | Typical Range | Who Collects It? | Impact on Retail Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garment / Product Blank | $7.00 – $14.00 | Print Provider (Printify/Printful) | Base cost of goods sold (COGS) |
| DTG Printing / Embroidery | $3.00 – $7.50 | Print Provider | Often bundled into blank or charged for back/sleeve prints |
| Provider Carrier Shipping | $3.99 – $6.50 | Print Provider (USPS/DHL/FedEx) | Charged per order. If offering Free Shipping, must be in price! |
| Marketplace Commission | 5.0% – 15.0% | Etsy (6.5%) / eBay (13.6%) / Amazon | Applied to full sale amount (price + buyer shipping + tax) |
| Payment Processing | 2.9% – 4.0% + $0.30 | Stripe / PayPal / Etsy Payments | Fixed per-order transaction deduction |
| Paid Advertising (ROAS) | 10% – 25% of Rev | Meta / TikTok / Etsy Ads | Often $3.00 – $8.00 per customer acquisition |
2. Printify vs. Printful Economics Comparison
| Provider Model | Bella+Canvas 3001 Base | Standard US Shipping | Production Network | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printify (Open Network) | $8.50 – $11.50 | $4.99 standard | Distributed independent print shops | Maximizing gross margin via competitive provider bidding |
| Printful (In-House) | $13.25 – $15.50 | $4.69 standard | Directly owned fulfillment centers | Consistent color profiles, custom branding, pack-ins |
| Gelato (Global Local) | $10.00 – $13.00 | Local regional rates | 100+ local production partners | International cross-border orders with fast localized delivery |
On marketplaces like Etsy, products with "Free Shipping over $35" receive algorithmic search boosts. However, your POD provider will still charge you $4.99+ for shipping on every single order!
If you sell a T-shirt for $25.00 with Free Shipping, your production cost is $13.50, provider shipping is $4.99, and platform fees are ~$2.50. You are left with only $4.01 net profit before ad spend! Our calculator automatically factors this in when suggesting prices to hit your target margin.