Selling printables online is one of the fastest-growing digital side hustles in 2025. Many bloggers, stay-at-home moms, students, and even full-time entrepreneurs are making money by creating simple printable products and selling them on platforms like Etsy, Shopify, or even their own blogs.
Unlike physical products, printables are digital downloads, meaning you create them once and sell them unlimited times without worrying about shipping or inventory. This makes them a perfect source of passive income.
In this detailed guide, you’ll learn everything about selling printables online: from what they are, how to design them, where to sell them, and how to market them successfully.
What Are Printables?
Printables are digital products that customers can download and print at home or use digitally (on iPads, tablets, etc.).
Examples include:
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Planners and journals
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Budget trackers
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Calendars
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Wall art
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Kids’ activity sheets
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Wedding invitations
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Meal planners
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Teacher worksheets
Related: Top 10 Digital Side Hustles You Can Start with Zero Budget (internal link suggestion).
Why Selling Printables Is a Great Business Idea
There are many reasons why selling printables online is one of the best online businesses today:
1. Low Startup Cost
You only need a laptop and free design tools like Canva to start.
2. No Shipping or Inventory
Since printables are digital, you don’t have to worry about packaging, delivery, or stock.
3. Passive Income Potential
Once you upload your printables, you can sell them again and again without extra effort.
4. Huge Market Demand
Millions of people search for digital planners, calendars, and worksheets every month.
5. Beginner-Friendly
Even if you’re not a designer, you can use free templates and drag-and-drop tools.
Types of Printables You Can Sell
When starting, it’s important to pick a niche that matches your interest and market demand.
1. Productivity Printables
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Daily, weekly, monthly planners
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Habit trackers
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Goal-setting worksheets
2. Finance Printables
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Budget trackers
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Expense logs
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Debt repayment planners
3. Educational Printables
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Kids’ worksheets
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Flashcards
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Learning games
4. Lifestyle Printables
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Meal planners
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Fitness trackers
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Wedding planners
5. Decorative Printables
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Wall art
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Quote posters
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Greeting cards
Related: How Bloggers Can Earn Daily with Monetag.
Tools You Need to Create Printables
The good news is, you don’t need expensive software to create professional printables.
1. Canva (Free & Paid)
Easy-to-use drag-and-drop design tool, perfect for beginners.
2. Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop
Best for advanced designers who want full creative control.
3. Google Docs or Sheets
Great for creating planners, trackers, and worksheets.
4. Creative Market or Etsy Templates
Buy ready-made templates, customize them, and sell.
5. Mockup Generators
Tools like Placeit help you showcase your printables in a professional way.
Step-by-Step Guide to Selling Printables Online
Now let’s go step by step.
Step 1: Pick Your Niche
Choose a printable niche you’re passionate about and that has demand. For example, if you love organization, focus on planners.
Step 2: Research the Market
Go to Etsy or Pinterest and search for printables. See which designs are popular, trending, and in high demand.
Step 3: Create Your Printable
Use Canva or Adobe Illustrator to design your printable. Keep it simple, attractive, and useful.
Step 4: Save in the Right Format
Export your design as a PDF (most common format for printables).
Step 5: Create Product Mockups
Use a mockup tool to make your printables look professional. For example, show a planner on a desk or a wall art frame.
Step 6: Choose Where to Sell
Decide on your selling platform (Etsy, Shopify, Gumroad, or your blog).
Step 7: Write an SEO-Optimized Description
Include keywords like “budget planner printable PDF” or “digital wall art for home office.”
Related: How to Use Images Effectively in Blog Posts.
Step 8: Set the Price
Most printables are sold between $2 – $15 depending on design complexity.
Step 9: Upload and Promote
Upload your printable, add mockups, and promote on social media or Pinterest.
Best Platforms to Sell Printables Online
Here are the most popular marketplaces:
1. Etsy
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Biggest platform for printables
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Easy to set up a shop
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Huge audience searching for printables daily
2. Shopify
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Best if you want your own online store
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Requires monthly fee
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Good for scaling long-term
3. Gumroad
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Beginner-friendly
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Low fees
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Great for selling directly via social media
4. Creative Market
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Popular among designers
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Higher competition but bigger profits
5. Your Own Blog
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You have full control
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You can integrate with PayPal or Gumroad
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Great for long-term branding
Related: Can a Blogspot Site Be Changed to a .com Site?.
How to Market Your Printables
Creating printables is only half the job. You also need to market them so people can find and buy them.
1. Pinterest Marketing
Pinterest is the #1 traffic source for printables. Create pins that link to your shop.
2. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Use keywords in your product titles and descriptions. For example:
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“Printable budget planner PDF”
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“Minimalist wall art printable”
3. Social Media
Promote your printables on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook groups.
4. Blogging
Write blog posts around your niche and link your printables inside the post.
Example: If you sell fitness trackers, write a blog post on “Best Workout Routines for Beginners” and add your printable inside.
5. Email Marketing
Offer a free printable to grow your email list. Then, sell premium versions through newsletters.
Pricing Strategies for Printables
How much should you charge? Here’s a breakdown:
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Simple worksheets → $2 – $5
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Planners & trackers → $5 – $10
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Wall art bundles → $10 – $15
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Specialized kits (like wedding planners) → $15 – $30
Pro Tip: Offer bundles to increase sales. For example, a 5-in-1 planner pack for $15 instead of selling individually at $5 each.
Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Printables
Many beginners fail because they make these mistakes:
1. Copying Other Sellers
Always create unique designs. Copying can get you banned.
2. Poor Quality Design
Blurry, hard-to-read designs will get bad reviews.
3. Ignoring SEO
Without keywords, nobody will find your printables.
4. Underpricing or Overpricing
Too cheap looks low-quality, too expensive scares buyers away.
5. No Marketing Plan
Just uploading on Etsy won’t guarantee sales. You must promote.
Success Tips for Selling Printables
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Focus on one niche first (e.g., planners or kids’ worksheets).
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Use seasonal trends like Christmas planners or Valentine’s wall art.
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Invest in professional mockups to make your product stand out.
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Keep updating your shop with new designs.
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Build a brand around your niche.
Related: How to Fix Indexing Issues in Blogger.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Do I need to be a graphic designer to sell printables?
No. Tools like Canva make it easy for beginners to design.
Q2: Can I sell the same printable multiple times?
Yes. That’s the beauty of digital products: unlimited sales with no extra effort.
Q3: What file type should I sell?
Most sellers use PDF, but you can also offer PNG or JPEG.
Q4: How do I deliver the printable?
On Etsy, Gumroad, or Shopify, the file is automatically sent after purchase. If selling on a blog, use a download link.
Q5: How much can I earn selling printables?
Some sellers make $500/month part-time, while others earn $10,000+ monthly with multiple shops.
Conclusion
Selling printables online is one of the best ways to earn passive income in 2025. It’s beginner-friendly, low-cost, and scalable.
By following this guide, choosing the right niche, designing professional printables, listing them on the right platforms, and promoting them effectively; you can turn your creativity into a real business.
Next read: KDP Beginner Launch Checklist (internal link to your KDP-related post).
Start small, keep improving your designs, and watch your printable business grow.
