13 Best Things To Sell On Etsy In 2024

I love Etsy because you’re supporting small businesses hard work and dreams. 

If you want to make money on Etsy, keep reading!

In this post we’ll go over:

• Best things to sell on Etsy
• How much money you can make $$$
• How to start an Etsy shop
• Best tips to SUCCEED on Etsy!

How much money can you make on Etsy?

There are Etsy shops making $500 a month to $5,000+ a month, with some earning a lot more.

It depends on what niche you’re in, how many customers you have, and how much time you’re willing to put into your Etsy shop.

For example, my friend Julie makes $1,000+ a month selling printables on her Etsy shop.

Benefits of Etsy side hustle

• Adds multiple streams of income in case you lose one source of income
• Increases skills and confidence
• Side hustles can turn into highly profitable businesses 

Here are the best side hustles for making money on Etsy.

#1 Pottery

If you enjoy making pottery, Etsy is THE place to sell your handmade goods. 

I made this bowl and plate set below in pottery. I’ve even been thinking about getting started selling it because it’s so much fun to create.

Pottery things to make and sell:

• Bowls
• Mugs
• Ornaments
• Serving trays
• Sugar bowls
• Garlic cellars
• Pie plate
• Jewelry dish

#2 Make dog treats at home

Did you know you can make $1,000+ a month part-time working at home with a dog treat business?

You can even make $5,000-$8,000 from your home kitchen if you do it full-time.

You can get your kids involved, work from home, create your own schedule, and make treats for dogs. I don’t think it gets better than that. 

My friend Kristin runs a successful dog treat business from home and perfected the craft of selling dog treats. She even teaches others how to replicate her success.

Get her free training here and see if this side hustle is for you.

#3 Macrame Decor

Are you a fan of macrame? If so, you’re going to love this side hustle!

My friend Chelsea at Martian Made Designs creates stunning macrame decor pieces for the home. I bought this incredible Christmas wreath hanging (pictured below) from her and it’s so beautiful. 

If you have a passion for creating macrame pieces, you can get quite creative here.

You can create handmade jewelry, wall hangings, plant hangers, table runners, purses, and pillows.

And even if you don’t know how to macrame, you can teach yourself with the hundreds of tutorials online. 

#4 Custom art work

If you’re an artist, Etsy is a place where you can really shine. I personally know offhand of five friends who have a custom portrait piece of work from an Etsy shop.

Drawing and painting dogs is especially popular because well, people just really love their dogs. 

Below is a custom piece of watercolor art of our two dogs that I got for Christmas from my sister.

This is probably my favorite thing in my entire house and it came from a small business on Etsy. 

#5 Printables

Printables are AWESOME because they are digital downloads – this means you don’t have to create a physical product.

Selling printables on Etsy is the best side hustle out there right now. People are earning between $100-$3000 a month selling printables online (see their success stories here).

This is the side hustle for you if you’re looking for something stress-free to start from home that also makes passive income.

You don’t need any previous experience to do this, you don’t need to be a graphic designer, and you don’t even need to be tech savvy for this. This is a great side hustle for someone low on time but wanting to make extra money.

Find out what kind of printables to make (so you can make the most money) and how to start an Etsy shop in this free training.

#6 Unique homemade items 

My second favorite item in my house is this plant terra-cotta cup from a small business shop on Etsy called Shelby Sells Co.

This is why I love Etsy.

You find these random, but incredibly amazing pieces for your home that add so much joy to your life.

This shop is a great example of thinking outside of the box and creating something that is no where else in the world. 

#7 Party games

As I mentioned above, my friend Julie makes printables. She’s in a unique space because she creates printables specifically for bachelorette parties.

Her most popular printable is a bachelorette party scavenger hunt that the party can take with them on a bar crawl and cross off funny tasks such as “find and take a picture of someone with the groom’s name” and “request the song Single Ladies from the DJ.”

She sells that printable for $7.00 and does absolutely nothing when an order comes in.

The customer downloads the file and prints it at home themselves with no action required from her. Hundreds of customers can download that same file which is amazing.

Julie made that printable over a year ago. So for just a few hours work, she’s made thousands of dollars.

#8 Wooden crafts

Selling your DIY wooden crafts is a great way to make money on Etsy.

 You can sell things like:

• Coffee tables
• Utensils
• Signs
• Artwork
• Personalized wooden art with family names written 

#9 Pattern digital downloads 

If you looked at my Etsy order history, you’d only see pattern digital downloads. 

If you’re crafty, you can turn your patterns into digital products.

Examples of digital downloads:

• Crochet patterns
• Knitting patterns
• Woodworking patterns
• Cross-stitching patterns
• Punch needle patterns

#10 Jewelry

If you have a passion for creating jewelry, Etsy is a great place to list your homemade pieces.

My husband bought my engagement ring from an Etsy shop called Rose & Choc, a small business from New Haven, Connecticut.

Not only is my ring affordable, it’s a handmade piece from someone who loves unique pieces of jewelry. 

When you support small business, you’re supporting a dream. That’s why I love Etsy so much.

There are so many types of jewelry out there.

I’ve seen people sell crochet jewelry or even press flowers into a piece of jewelry. This is an area where you can really get creative with your side hustle.

#11 Stickers

People love stickers! You can make stickers at home with a sticker machine.

You can make all kinds of stickers such as:

• State stickers
• Personalized stickers of pets
• Personalized stickers of a family
• Holiday themed stickers
• Religious stickers
• Funny stickers of memes

#12 Clothes

Handmade clothes are popular on Etsy because people are looking for something unique, custom, and handmade. 

You can sell handmade clothes like:

• Tye dye t-shirts
• Denim jackets with iron-ons
• Shirts and sweaters with printed words or art
• Handmade dresses or tops
• Crocheted clothing

#13 Create game printables using ChatGPT

Sell game printables on Etsy using ChatGPT. ChatGPT is an AI tool where you enter prompts and ChaptGPT sends back answers and gives you the information you need.

Game printables are one of the most popular sellers on Etsy. Customers love them because they’re cheap, unique, and can be printed out multiple times. You make a printable once and it can be purchased over and over again. This is a fantastic way to make passive income.

Learn how to do this with Create Games To Sell With ChatGPT. The creator of this course made one game printable and it has made over $2,000 in just six months. Imagine what you can earn making 10 game printables and listing them on Etsy.

Other things to sell on Etsy

 Some of the best things to sell on Etsy include anything handmade, custom, or personalized. Here are some great ways to make money with your own Etsy shop. 

It’s important to note that anything sold on Etsy HAS to be vintage, or craft supplies. 

Other things to sell on Etsy:

• Vintage items
• Holiday theme handmade items
• Digital artwork 
• Stickers
• Party decorations
• Wedding and bachelorette party items
• Handmade cards
• Plants you’ve grown
• Anything custom/personalized
• Any kind of handmade goods

6 Tips For Starting A Profitable Etsy Shop

#1 Take high quality product photos 

One of the most crucial aspects of running an Etsy shop is taking high quality photos. There are many videos on YouTube that can teach you how to take better photos.

Since people don’t get to see the product in person and only get to see it online, high-quality photos are essential.

Tips for high quality photos:

• Offer different angles of the product
• Post high quality videos of the product
• Take close up pictures of details
• Create a vibe with your products (ex. cozy vibe with fairy lights)

#2 Loyal customer base

Make sure to be friendly and helpful to potential customers. Doing this will encourage them to come back and support your small business.

Add a personal touch to packages before sending them off. An easy way to do this is to write a handwritten note saying thank you to the customer for supporting your small business.

#3 Write detailed descriptions

Etsy has a great list for writing helpful descriptions, and here are the best tips.

Make sure to include in the description:

• Most important information at the top of the description
• Use bullet points and short paragraphs
• Maintain a consistent brand voice
• Use keywords related to your product to help get seen more in the search results
• Share a link at the end of the description to related product in your shop

#4 Pay attention to SEO

SEO also known as search engine optimization is crucial for getting new customers to your Etsy shop. Etsy sellers who prioritize keywords in their product listings will stand out from people with short descriptions.

Tips for ranking well on Etsy:

• Optimize title, description, attributes, categories to include your keywords
• Keep customer reviews and scores as high as possible
• Offer free or competitive shipping prices when possible
• Earn Etsy’s Star Seller badge by providing customers with a great shopping experience 

#5 Reach out to interested customers

One really cool thing about Etsy – you get to see which customers favorited your items. Knowing this is helpful because you can send them a coupon to encourage them to make a purchase in your shop.

Whenever I favorite an item on Etsy, I almost always get a notification from the Etsy shop with a 10% off coupon. This makes me want to purchase the product right away.

#6 Social media 

Social media platforms are tremendously helpful for making new customers to your Etsy shop. Do a simple #etsyshop search on social media and you’ll see thousands of people promoting their Etsy shop online.

Do market research and see which type of videos or photos perform the best online.

What kind of things can you post on social media?

• Videos of you creating the product
• Packaging a product a customer ordered
• How your product can help people
• You or your family using the product

This marketing strategy can help you get THOUSANDS of new customers with a viral video.

You can even create your own website and share more behind the scenes looks of your product.

How To Make Money On Etsy – FAQ

Does Etsy charge fees?

Yes, Etsy charges several fees including a listing fees and transaction fees. There are optional fees if you decide to run Etsy ads.

Do I need a separate bank account for Etsy sales?

Yes, you’ll want to create a separate bank account for your business. This is helpful to figure out how much money you’re making and earning and will make tax season a lot more simple.

How can I go full time on Etsy?

If you want your business to sustain you enough so you can quit your day job, you need to make the same amount you’re making at the day job in Etsy profit.

For example, if you earn $3,000 a month at your day job, Etsy PROFITS need to be $3,000. Just because you earn $3,000 in sales doesn’t mean you get to take home $3,000 in sales. You need to account for taxes, business expenses, etc.

Profit margins should be enough that you are being paid for your tools, time, and business expenses.

Final Thoughts

Etsy is an online marketplace that helps you reach your target audience. With the right product and active buyers, you can run your own Etsy store.

With a successful Etsy shop you can pay off bills, fund your retirement account, or even save for a vacation. I love side hustles because they add to your streams of income.

It’s critical to have more than one stream of income (I have multiple!) in case anything happens in the economy or a business goes under.

Related articles:

• Everything You Need To Know To Sell Printables On Etsy
• How I Make $10,000 A Month With Side Hustles