Print-on-demand calculator

POD Profit Calculator

Estimate profit for POD t-shirts, mugs, posters, and gifts after product cost, shipping, ad spend, platform fees, and payment processing.

Print-on-demand orders

POD order margin

T-shirts, mugs, posters

What to include in POD profit

POD profit changes quickly once you include base cost, print provider shipping, platform fees, payment processing, returns allowance, and ad cost per sale.

Best for

Etsy sellers using Printify, Printful, Gelato, or similar providers.
T-shirt, mug, sweatshirt, poster, and wall art listings.
Testing whether ad cost leaves enough margin.

FAQ

Should I include shipping charged to the buyer?

Yes. Add what the buyer pays as shipping charged, then add what your POD provider charges you as shipping cost.

Does this replace provider cost tables?

No. Use your provider's current product and shipping costs, then enter those numbers here.

POD seller guide

How to use the POD Profit Calculator

Use this calculator before launching a print-on-demand listing or increasing ad spend. Enter what the customer pays, your provider's product and shipping costs, your marketplace fees, payment processing, ad cost per order, and a small returns allowance if needed.

Enter the product sale price and shipping charged to the buyer.
Add the POD base cost from your provider for the exact product variant.
Add provider shipping cost for the destination you are modeling.
Add platform fees, payment processing, and ad cost per order.
Use the profit margin to compare products before publishing.

POD profit calculator formula

Customer pays = Sale price + Shipping charged

POD and ad costs = Base cost + Provider shipping + Ad cost + Returns allowance

Fees = Processing fixed fee + Customer pays x marketplace and processing rates

Net profit = Customer pays - POD and ad costs - Fees

This model works for Etsy POD sellers, Shopify sellers, and marketplace sellers who need a quick order-level margin estimate before choosing a product or price.

Example POD margin calculation

A $24.99 shirt with $3.99 shipping produces $28.98 in customer-paid revenue. If the base cost is $10.80, shipping is $4.75, ads are $3.50, returns allowance is $0.75, and fees are about $3.00, the order keeps roughly $6.18 in profit.

Common POD pricing mistakes

Using the cheapest product cost but forgetting larger sizes can cost more.
Ignoring provider shipping when offering free shipping.
Running ads without knowing maximum profitable cost per order.
Comparing products only by retail price instead of net margin.

POD profit calculator FAQ

What is a good POD profit margin?

It depends on product type and ad cost, but POD sellers often need enough margin to absorb ads, returns, samples, mockups, and platform fees. A low-margin product can become unprofitable quickly when ads are added.

Should I model different countries separately?

Yes. Provider shipping and production costs can vary by destination, so calculate your main buyer countries separately.

Can this calculator compare Printify and Printful?

Yes. Run the same sale price with each provider's base cost and shipping cost, then compare net profit and margin.