Print on Demand
Print on Demand Profit Calculator
See what you keep on a single print on demand sale after the provider's base cost and shipping are paid.
Formula
Profit per item = retail price − base cost − fulfillment shipping − other per-item fees. Margin = profit per item ÷ retail price × 100.
How it works
Enter the price the buyer pays, what the print provider charges to make the item, what it costs to ship that one item, and any other per-item fee. The calculator subtracts every cost from the retail price, so the profit shown is per item sold, before any monthly plan fee or advertising spend.
Worked example
A $28.00 retail price with a $9.25 base cost, $4.75 fulfillment shipping and no other fee: total cost $9.25 + $4.75 = $14.00. Profit $28.00 − $14.00 = $14.00 per item. Margin $14.00 ÷ $28.00 = 50.0%. The $9.25 base cost is Printful's published 2026 figure for a Gildan 5000 tee and the $4.75 is Printful's published starting US shipping figure for shirts, so replace both with your own product's figures if you use a different blank or provider.
FAQs
What is the base cost in print on demand?
The base cost is what the print provider charges you to make one item, including the blank product and the print. It is charged on every order, whether or not you offer the buyer free shipping.
Does this calculator include fulfillment shipping?
Yes. Enter the shipping the provider charges you for that item, not the shipping you charge the buyer. If you charge the buyer for shipping, add that amount to the retail price side by entering the total the buyer pays, or enter it as a negative other fee only if you track it separately — simplest is to put the buyer's total payment in the retail price box.
Why is my profit lower than the base cost suggests?
Because shipping is charged on top of the base cost on every order. A $9.25 shirt with $4.75 shipping already costs $14.00 before any marketplace or payment fee, so a $20 retail price would leave only $6.00.
Does it include a monthly plan fee?
No. Plans such as Printful Growth or Printify Premium are monthly costs, not per-item costs. Divide a monthly plan fee by your expected monthly orders and add that amount to the other fees box to include it per item.
What if I sell on a marketplace?
Then the marketplace takes its own fees on top of the provider costs. Use the POD via Etsy calculator for the full Etsy fee stack, or add your marketplace fee per item to the other fees box here.
Stand: October 2026. Source: Printful Blog — How Much Money Can Custom T-Shirts Make.
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.
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.
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