Print on Demand
POD Shipping Profit Calculator
The same retail price earns far less once an international shipping rate replaces the domestic one. See the gap before you ship worldwide.
Formula
Domestic profit = (retail price + shipping charged to buyer) − base cost − domestic fulfillment shipping. International profit = (retail price + shipping charged to buyer) − base cost − international fulfillment shipping.
How it works
Enter the retail price, the base cost, what the buyer pays for shipping (enter $0 for free shipping), and the fulfillment shipping your provider charges you for a domestic order and for an international order. The calculator shows both profits side by side, so you can see whether one international price works or whether international buyers need a shipping surcharge.
Worked example
Retail price $28.00 with free shipping, base cost $9.25, domestic fulfillment shipping $4.75 and international fulfillment shipping $12.49: the buyer pays $28.00. Domestic profit $28.00 − $9.25 − $4.75 = $14.00. International profit $28.00 − $9.25 − $12.49 = $6.26. The international order earns $7.74 less per item. The $9.25 base cost and $4.75 domestic shipping are Printful's published 2026 figures for a Gildan 5000 tee and starting US shirt shipping. The $12.49 international figure is an example placeholder only, not a quoted rate for your product: Printful's international rates vary by product category and destination region, so replace it with your provider's rate for your product before pricing.
FAQs
Why is international POD shipping so much higher?
Providers charge flat rates by destination region, and the rate rises with distance and handling. The same shirt can cost roughly twice as much to ship outside the US as inside it, which comes straight off your profit if the retail price stays the same.
Should I charge international buyers more for shipping?
Usually yes, unless the retail price already absorbs the higher rate. This calculator shows the gap, so you can set an international shipping charge that closes it instead of discovering the loss after orders arrive.
Does the provider's shipping rate depend on the product?
Yes. Rates are set by product category and destination, not by weight alone. A hoodie ships at a higher rate than a tee to the same country, so enter the rate for the exact product you sell.
What about free shipping internationally?
Free shipping means you absorb the full international rate. On the worked example that cuts profit from $14.00 to $6.26 per item, so free international shipping needs a higher retail price or a minimum order value to stay worthwhile.
Are customs charges included?
No. Any customs or import charges the buyer faces are separate from the provider's fulfillment shipping, and this calculator does not estimate them.
Stand: October 2026. Source: Printful — Shipping.
Sources: Printful — How much money can custom t-shirts make (Gildan 5000 $9.25; US shirt shipping from $4.75) and Printful — Shipping Speeds & Pricing (rates vary by product category and region).
Disclaimer: Results are estimates and general information only, not financial advice. Costs and fees change, so confirm the current rate with your provider before you price a product.
Related calculators
Shipping Cost Comparison Calculator
International Shipping Estimator
Print on Demand Profit Calculator
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