Top 10 print on demand niches to generate a profit in 2024

Updated Jan 15 2024

Working with print on demand companies like Gelato is an awesome way to start an online business without paying for products until a customer has purchased them. In case you're unfamiliar, the print on demand business model involves using your artistic or graphic design skills to upload custom designs to your POD account, then selecting which high-quality merchandise you'd like to feature them on.

Connect your POD account to your online store, upload your product listings to your online store, and wait for the orders to roll in. When a customer places an order, print on demand companies like Gelato take care of everything from customizing the product with your own designs to shipping it straight to your customer.

Working with a POD provider can take a lot of hassle and expense out of starting an online business. You'll never have to worry about purchasing expensive printing equipment and materials or logistics such as inventory management and shipping.

But as more online sellers discover the benefits of the print on demand business model, selecting the right target audience for your products is more important than ever. We'll fill you in on the benefits of focusing on a specific niche and introduce you to several high-demand niche ideas to get your creative gears turning.

• With more sellers adopting the print on demand business model every day, finding a good niche has become an important way to stand out from the competition.

• Finding the right niche for your shop often comes down to designing custom products from a group of people you relate to, whether pet lovers, parents, or any niche in between.

• We'll introduce you to several of the most popular niches today, with tips on developing products for each.

• We'll also explore several of the best customizable POD products that work well for any niche.

Selecting a niche market involves making your products far more specific by focusing on a specific group of customers most likely to purchase your product. On one level, high-demand niches have plenty of customers.

On the other hand, low-competition niches make it a lot easier to establish yourself as a leader. The key is finding the balance by creating your own unique sub-niche within a high-demand market.

Let's look at some of the best print on demand niches to zero in on! While these are just a few of the many niches out there, they'll give you a good idea of what a niche consists of and how to find the right choice for your shop.

If you want to start a print on demand store that will never be at a loss for customers, look no further than the pet niche! One adorable survey found that the vast majority of U.S. pet owners consider their pets not just companions but bonafide "fur babies."

Plenty of print on demand businesses have successfully tapped into the pet niche by offering everything from hilarious custom pet portraits to funny animal slogan t-shirts. If you're an animal lover, consider creating custom designs that appeal to fellow animal lovers everywhere.

From environmentalism to equality, many people aren't shy about promoting the causes they are the most passionate about. If you can relate, activism may be a great niche for you.

Use your inside knowledge to create designs that will likely appear to others who share your values and any connections you may have to promote your products. While you can always create your own designs and original slogans, you might also consider putting a new spin on popular historical quotes.

The global activewear industry is a $314 billion demand niche that's only grown more popular with the rise of the 'athleisure' trend. That's why print on demand services like Gelato offer both men's sportswear and performance athletic apparel for women.

If you're into sports and fitness, then why not use our high-quality print on demand products to launch your own athletic apparel line? The great thing about fitness is that it lends itself to plenty of great, high-demand niche ideas.

Designing custom t-shirts for local sports teams can be a great sub-niche. You could also make shirts that promote specific sports in a general sense or use funny slogans that will appeal to all sports fans.

While pop culture tends to be one of the most popular niches, it's essential to familiarize yourself with intellectual property rights rules and regulations to avoid copyright infringement. That said, two popular loopholes tend to be fair game.

This first involves creating designs based on satirical parodies from famous works, such as this brilliant cat shirt that plays off of the film Jaws. The other involves using art and quotes that fall into the public domain to create products like this Shakespeare shirt.

Travel is one of those great niches that never goes out of style. It also lends itself to several sub-niches, such as creating travel posters or prints around various destinations.

If you live in an area that enjoys a great deal of tourism, you might even consider offering your services to local shops to help boost sales. Or you might simply offer products that promote the love of travel in general if you want to appeal to a larger target market.

The best print on demand niches are those that you relate to on a personal level. That's why it is always wise to target a niche that you're already very familiar with, whether through different jobs you've had or your favorite hobbies.

Insider knowledge is a great way to predict the needs and interests of your ideal customer and fill any gaps in your industry. This funny medical shirt and this clever photographer tee are great examples of this niche in action.

For several reasons, designing products for various family members can be a great print on demand niche. Custom products like the classic "world's best dad" mug or the clever mom-themed t-shirt make great gifts.

Many families also turn to POD designs when creating t-shirts for special events like family reunions, trips, or the birth of a new baby. By offering customizable POD services, you can often score bundle orders of matching shirts for parents, their kids, and even babies.

Are you always churning out hilarious internet memes or clever social media posts? If you've got a razor-sharp wit, then humor may be the perfect niche for you.

Turn your good ideas into a witty t-shirt shop or launch your own funny greeting card business. Use your POD designs to create anything from custom mugs and water bottles to funny wall art.

As opposed to evergreen niches, which are popular all year round, seasonal products only tend to trend around certain occasions, like the holidays. On-demand printing is a great way to go if you operate within a seasonally-specific niche because you'll never have to worry about over or under-ordering inventory for a specific occasion.

While major holiday apparel like Halloween and Christmas sweatshirts make for a great POD niche, don't be afraid to tap into low-competition holiday niches like Cinco de Mayo or Kwanzaa. Gift cards and mugs also make great print on demand products for the special occasions niche!

The sustainability and green technology industry is forecast to take a giant leap in market value from $35.5 billion in 2021 to $417.35 billion by 2030. As more people realize the importance of environmentally sustainable practices, eco-friendly products are beginning to appear throughout many POD niches.

At Gelato, our commitment to sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We use responsibly sourced & sustainable products and utilize a worldwide network of local production sites to help cut down on carbon emissions.

We also offer organic clothing options and products like customizable tote bags and reusable water bottles to help you cater to the eco-friendly customer profile. If you're looking for a reliable, sustainable print on demand company you can count on, then Gelato's got you covered!

Once you've narrowed down your favorite niche ideas to the right choice for you, it's time to start exploring which print on demand products you'd like to offer. In addition to considering the best niches for you, I'll also want to take the time to think about your ideal customer and the type of products that would interest them the most.

Given that great art never goes out of style, it's no surprise that the wall art market is expected to generate $72.61 Billion from 2021-2028. Whether you're an artist looking for a great solution to selling canvas prints or a graphic designer who wants to sell framed posters, Gelato's got everything you need to get started.

From funny slogans to inspirational messages or art, our print on demand services come complete with customizable materials. Turn your creations into unique acrylic prints, rustic wood prints, industrial-style aluminum prints, and more.

T-shirt sales alone are expected to generate $45.24 billion in 2024, and it isn't hard to figure out why. Part of what makes apparel one of the best niches is that clothing literally never goes out of style.

No matter which niche or sub-niches you choose to cater to, Gelato has everything you need to start a thriving print on demand shirt store. Our clothing catalog includes a variety of different options, such as:

• T-shirts and tank tops

• Hoodies

• Sweatshirts

• Kids Clothing

• Baby Clothing

Whether you focus on pets, fitness, or anything in between, Gelato has great accessories for every print on demand niche. 

Choose from phone cases made from various materials, including a 100% biodegradable option that sustainable shoppers will love. The custom phone case niche is an excellent choice. According to Technavio, the phone case market size is estimated to grow by USD 13.9 billion between 2023 and 2028.

You can also offer your customers the chance to purchase a reusable tote bag featuring your unique designs. From phone cases to photo books, we've got something for everyone.

Adding high-quality custom mugs and water bottles to your offering is a great way to generate more sales, no matter your niche. Stock your POD store with customized drinkware from the Gelato catalog, such as:

• Travel mugs

• Stainless steel water bottles

• Ceramic mugs

• Porcelain mugs

• Latte mugs

Finding the right print on demand niche for you can go a long way toward setting up your online business for success! Offering unique low-competition products in profitable niche markets is a solid path to success.

In addition to those we covered, plenty of other niches are just waiting to be explored! No matter which you choose, Gelato's reliable print on demand service can help you get up and running in no time.

We offer superior product quality, 24/7 customer support, worldwide local production, and a commitment to sustainability. Sign up for a free account today to discover why Gelato is the right choice for tapping into a range of profitable niches.

A print on demand niche consists of customers who are the most likely to be interested in a certain type of product. Niches are composed of people with similar interests, demographics, or characteristics.

Starting your own POD store can be incredibly profitable, especially if you focus on the right print on demand niche for you. By utilizing the print on demand business model, you enjoy launching your own business with very little overhead.

In return for a transparent fee, POD providers like Gelato will print and deliver your customized products to customers worldwide. Simply work the cost of the fee into your final customer price and enjoy making a profit without ever having to worry about keeping up with inventory, product fulfillment, or even shipping.

That said, for your POD business to succeed, you will need to do your part when it comes to digital marketing! Ensure you get the word out about your store and invest a little time in learning the basics of SEO to help your products rank higher in search queries.

According to Grand View Research, the POD market is expected to grow 26.1% from 2022 to 2030. As sellers in different cities worldwide discover the benefits that print on demand has to offer, more Etsy and Shopify ecommerce sites are popping up every day.

While the good news is that POD is alive and well, the bad news is that it's not always a low-competition pursuit. That's why finding the best niches and sub-niches to cater to has become an important part of helping your business stand out.