Things to make and sell, with what you keep
Short answer
The best things to make and sell are candles, beaded jewelry, handmade soap, ceramic mugs, wood signs and embroidered totes, crafts that sell because buyers give them as gifts and come back for more. Start with one you can make in batches, price it so you keep at least half after materials and fees, and sell where buyers already shop.
Crafts that sell, with what you keep
What you keep on one Etsy sale at a typical price, and how many brands advertise the same kind of product.
Etsy's flat 45 cents a sale weighs most on cheap crafts, so sell low-priced items in sets.
Soy candles
Pour in batches, sell scents in sets, and reorders follow.
- On a $28 sale
- $24.89 kept
- Off Etsy
- 35 home decor brands advertise
Beaded jewelry
Low material cost and small parcels, with gifting all year.
- On a $24 sale
- $21.27 kept
- Off Etsy
- 20 jewelry brands advertise
Handmade soap
A bar runs out in weeks, so buyers come back for more.
- On a $9 sale
- $7.69 kept
- Off Etsy
- Over 290 skincare and makeup brands advertise
Ceramic mugs
Handmade mugs sell as gifts and in matching sets.
- On a $32 sale
- $28.51 kept
- Off Etsy
- 42 kitchen and dining brands advertise
Wood signs
Custom names and quotes justify a higher price than stock decor.
- On a $40 sale
- $35.75 kept
- Off Etsy
- 35 home decor brands advertise
Embroidered tote bags
A blank tote and a hoop are enough to start.
- On a $26 sale
- $23.08 kept
- Off Etsy
- Over 50 clothing accessories brands advertise
Dog treats
Small-batch treats sell to pet owners who buy every month.
- On a $12 sale
- $10.41 kept
- Off Etsy
- Over 50 pet brands advertise
Crochet plushies
One pattern, many colors, and every piece is one of a kind.
- On a $35 sale
- $31.22 kept
- Off Etsy
- Under 20 brands advertise it
Sell what you make on your own store
On a $30 order, Etsy keeps $3.30 and card processing on your own store costs $1.17. Send repeat buyers to your store and keep the difference.
Replo starts from your brand: paste your site link under Set up Branding, then pick the product to build around.
Describe what you make, and Replo builds the store on your brand with checkout, product pages and a gift offer.
The prompt Replo starts from
I make [product] by hand. Build my store: a homepage with my story, product pages with photos and sizes, and a gift-set offer.
Frequently asked questions
- What crafts sell best?
- Candles, jewelry, soap, mugs and personalized decor. They make good gifts, they ship without breaking easily, and most get used up or collected, so buyers come back. Pick the one you can make well and fast, because volume decides how much you earn.
- What can I make at home and sell?
- Anything your state lets you make in a home kitchen or studio: candles, jewelry, soap, sewn goods and art. Food you bake falls under your state's cottage food law, and pet treats and cosmetics have their own labeling rules, so check those first.
- Do I need a license to sell crafts?
- Usually a business license and a sales tax permit from your state, even for small sales. Etsy and other marketplaces collect sales tax for you in most states; your own store needs it set up at checkout. Check your city and state's rules before you sell.
