Crafts to make and sell: 20 ideas plus how to choose what will actually work for you

Key takeaways:

• A compilation of arts and crafts to make and sell so that you can monetize your creativity.
• The most profitable crafts to make and sell are usually customizable, lightweight, repeatable, or digital, but profitability ultimately depends on pricing, demand, and fulfillment efficiency.
• An “easy” craft is one that requires low startup costs, minimal skills, and simple shipping, making it ideal for beginners to validate ideas quickly.

Have you ever looked at your handmade creations and thought, “I could probably sell these.” If so, you’re not alone. Many successful craft businesses began as simple hobbies before turning into reliable sources of income.

That said, not every craft idea is profitable or realistic for every seller. Some are time-intensive, others are hard to ship, and many only work if they’re positioned and priced correctly.

This guide is designed to help you make smart decisions. You’ll learn which crafts are typically most profitable, which ones are easiest to start with, how to choose the right craft for your situation, and how to start selling without overcomplicating the process.

What is the most profitable craft to sell?

The most profitable crafts to make and sell online are usually custom or personalized, digital, lightweight, and repeatable.

These categories tend to offer better margins because they allow higher pricing, lower shipping costs, or scalable production. Still, profitability depends on how efficiently you produce, price, and sell your products.

Craft type	Why it can be profitable	Best channel
Personalized items	Higher perceived value and pricing power	Own website, marketplaces
Digital products	No inventory or shipping costs	Own website
Lightweight handmade goods	Low fulfillment and shipping expenses	Marketplaces, website
Repeatable designs	Faster production and easier scaling	Website, wholesale

What is an easy craft to make and sell?

Easy crafts to make and sell are items that don’t need advanced skills, expensive tools, or a large upfront investment. They’re easy to produce in batches, cheap to ship, and let beginners test what sells without taking on significant risk.

Easy craft ideas to start with include:

• Stickers and decals: Simple designs, low material cost
• Beaded or friendship bracelets: Quick to make and bundle
• Scrunchies and basic fabric goods: Beginner-friendly sewing
• Soap bars: Repeatable recipes and strong demand
• Digital planners or printables: No physical production or shipping

These crafts are ideal for testing demand before investing heavily.

20 crafts to make and sell

The craft ideas below are grouped by category to help you quickly compare what fits your skills, time, and profit goals. As you read, pay attention to how each handmade craft balances ease of production, pricing potential, and where it’s best sold. Those trade-offs matter more than trends alone.

Personalized items and custom gifts

Personalized crafts consistently perform well because they’re closely tied to gifting. Buyers are often willing to pay more for custom details, making these custom designs attractive for sellers who want stronger margins and clear differentiation.

1. Personalized vinyl decals and stickers

These craft ideas are a popular starting point for beginners because they require low upfront costs and are easy to produce in batches. They sell well across niches, from small businesses to hobbies, since customization adds perceived value.

These are quick to make, simple to ship, and most profitable when sold in themed sets or bundles through marketplaces or branded websites like Etsy.

2. Custom t-shirts and tote bags

T-shirts and tote bags are practical products that appeal to a wide audience, making them reliable sellers year-round. But making custom designs from these will sell like hotcakes on online marketplaces.

While the production process takes slightly more time, they’re still beginner-friendly and can be profitable. All you need to do is create designs that are targeted to specific niches. Sellers often see better results when they focus on limited collections or niche messaging and sell through a branded website rather than generic listings.

3. Personalized resin keychains

A resin keychain is a great craft idea that customers can easily customize. Although they require hands-on time and curing, they remain lightweight and easy to ship.

Profitability increases when sellers offer personalization options like initials, birth flowers, or pet tags and position them as keepsakes rather than novelty items.

4. Custom mugs and drinkware

Mugs and drinkware sell consistently because they’re both functional and giftable. They’re relatively easy to produce and don’t require advanced skills, making them accessible for beginners.

These products tend to perform best when tied to seasonal themes or occasions and sold through your e-commerce website or at local markets.

5. Personalized jewelry boxes

Jewelry boxes appeal strongly to buyers shopping for milestone or sentimental gifts. While they take more time to produce, they also support higher price points.

These crafts are best positioned around weddings, anniversaries, or heirloom-style gifting and typically perform best when sold through a branded online store.

Handmade jewelry and accessories

Jewelry and accessories are popular because they’re small, repeatable, and easy to photograph. This category is well-suited for sellers who want products that encourage repeat purchases or a bundled product. You can even display these at local craft fairs.

6. Beaded bracelets and friendship bracelets

These bracelets are easy to make and require minimal materials. They are mostly branded as DIY craft kits that hobbyists love.

Beaded and friendship bracelets sell best when offered as sets or themed bundles tied to colors, events, and trends. These are especially effective on online marketplaces where buyers browse casually, and impulse purchases are common.

7. Polymer clay earrings

Polymer clay earrings are a strong option for sellers who want creative flexibility without overly complex production. While they require some practice, they’re easy to batch and scale once a process is established.

Sellers often succeed by releasing cohesive collections or limited drops that create a sense of exclusivity.

8. Hair accessories

Scrunchies, clips, and headbands are affordable hair accessories that lead to repeat purchases. They’re quick to make and work best when differentiated through fabric choices, color palettes, or seasonal designs. Because of their low price point, they’re especially well-suited for marketplace sales.

Bath and beauty products

Bath and beauty products offer excellent branding opportunities, but sellers must pay close attention to labeling, allergens, and local regulations. When done correctly, this category rewards consistency and presentation.

9. Soap bars

Handmade soap bars sell steadily because they’re consumable and easy to gift. While production requires planning and curing time, recipes can be repeated in batches for efficiency. Many sellers increase profitability by offering curated scent collections or gift sets instead of selling individual bars.

10. Bath bombs and sugar scrubs

Bath bombs and sugar scrubs appeal to buyers seeking self-care products or gifts. These items require careful formulation and packaging, but can be produced consistently once a process is established. Seasonal scents and visually appealing packaging often make a significant difference in sales, especially if you have your own website.

Home decor and home goods

Home decor crafts ideas benefit from strong aesthetic appeal and seasonal demand. Many craft items in this category can command higher prices when styled and photographed effectively.

11. Candles

Candles are one of the most popular crafts to make and sell because they encourage repeat purchases and brand loyalty. However, the cost of the raw materials may vary.

You may choose from different wax materials. The most affordable, yet strong, scent throw is paraffin wax. If you want to offer natural products, then go with soy and beeswax. For more luxurious candles, there’s coconut and palm wax. If you want a more decorative or novelty route, then choose gel wax.

You should also consider safety when labeling and packaging candles.

Overall, candles offer strong profit potential when positioned as scent collections or as subscription boxes sold through your website.

12. Macrame plant hangers and wall hangings

Macramé plant hangers and wall hangings appeal to buyers drawn to minimalist or bohemian decor. They require moderate skill and time but allow for variation in size, color, and design. These handmade crafts tend to perform well on marketplaces that have visual browsing features.

13. Wreaths and seasonal door decor

Wreaths and seasonal door decor perform best around holidays and seasonal transitions. While sales may be cyclical, sellers often achieve strong margins by releasing limited-time designs and focusing on local markets where shipping challenges are minimized.

14. Art prints and posters

Digital art prints and posters are highly scalable because designs can be sold repeatedly without additional production time. They’re easy to ship and can be profitable when offered in both digital and physical formats. This flexibility makes them ideal for sellers who want to test demand with minimal overhead.

Textiles and cozy goods

Textile-based crafts often require more hands-on time, but they appeal to buyers who value comfort and handmade quality. But make sure that the price fairly reflects labor to remain sustainable.

15. Hand-sewn fabric goods

Hand-sewn fabric goods, such as pouches, aprons, and produce bags, are practical items with steady demand. They’re relatively easy to produce and appeal to eco-conscious buyers when made with sustainable or recycled materials. These items perform well on marketplaces where utility-driven purchases are common.

16. Crochet or knit items

Crochet or knit items have a strong handmade appeal but require a significant time investment. These products tend to sell best when focused on specific niches, such as baby items or giftable accessories, where buyers are more willing to pay for craftsmanship.

Eco-friendly and upcycled crafts

Eco-friendly crafts attract buyers who prioritize sustainability and uniqueness, making storytelling an important part of the selling strategy.

17. Upcycled home decor

Upcycled home decor transforms reused materials into functional or decorative pieces. These items resonate with environmentally conscious customers and sell especially well when the sustainability story is clearly highlighted, particularly at local markets.

Popular options include decorative mason jars, jar lanterns, reclaimed-wood signs, and other upcycled home decor pieces that give discarded materials new life.

18. Refurbished small furniture pieces

Refurbished small furniture pieces offer high profit potential but require advanced skills and time. Because shipping can be impractical, these items are best sold locally. Before-and-after visuals play a key role in justifying premium pricing.

Trending crafts that can command premium pricing

Trending crafts often involve higher skill levels but support higher price ceilings. They’re best suited for sellers ready to invest in craftsmanship and branding since these homemade crafts suddenly spike in demand.

19. Wood burning (pyrography) gifts and home signs

Wood-burning stands out for its handcrafted look and its potential for personalization. While it takes practice to master, it allows sellers to create custom signs and gifts that command premium prices, especially when sold through a branded website.

20. Tufted rugs or textured wall hangings

Tufted rugs and textured wall hangings function as statement decor pieces. They’re time-intensive and require specialized tools, but limited-edition designs and bold aesthetics can justify higher pricing and strong buyer interest.

Most profitable picks

As a bonus, we picked the most profitable from the list.

Personalized jewelry, candles, digital prints, custom drinkware, and art prints stand out because they’re repeatable, lightweight, customizable, and giftable.

How to start selling crafts without overcomplicating it

You don’t need a perfect setup or a massive product catalog to start selling crafts. What you do need is a simple, repeatable process that helps you validate demand, price confidently, and launch without unnecessary friction.

Here’s how you can do it:

1. Validate demand
2. Price for profit, not just to “sell something”
3. Include photos and product pages that convert
4. Launch your online presence
5. Build a simple store you can grow over time
6. Get discovered
7. Build credibility and trust fast

Validate demand

Before you commit time or money, make sure people are already buying something similar. Use this quick validation checklist:

• Search marketplaces and do a quick Google Search for products similar to yours
• Note the price range, not just the lowest price
• Read customer reviews to spot what buyers praise or complain about
• Look for gaps you can fill; it may be a better design, clearer personalization, or faster turnaround

Avoid copying other makers directly. Validation is about understanding demand, not duplicating someone else’s product.

Price for profit, not just to “sell something”

One of the biggest mistakes new craft sellers make is pricing their work just to get a sale. That might feel safe at first, but it quickly leads to burnout and zero profit.

Instead, use a simple, repeatable pricing formula that ensures every sale is worth your time:

Base pricing formula:

Materials + Labor + Overhead + Profit = Your price

Here’s how to apply it without overcomplicating things:

• Materials: Add up everything that goes into one item. These range from raw materials like fabric, clay, paint, and beads to packaging materials like labels and packaging.
• Labor: Set an hourly rate to pay yourself and multiply it by the time required to make the item.
• Overhead: Include small but real costs like tools, platform fees, listing fees, and payment processing.
• Profit: Add a margin that allows you to grow, not just break even.

If the final price feels “high,” that’s often a sign you were underpricing before and not that the price is wrong.

Common pricing mistakes to avoid

Many beginner sellers lose money without realizing it. Watch out for these common traps:

• Pricing based only on material cost: Your time and skill are part of the product.
• Ignoring how long each item takes to make: If it takes an hour, you should be paid for an hour.
• Trying to compete on the lowest price: This attracts bargain hunters, not loyal customers.
• Forgetting platform and payment fees: Small percentages add up fast.

Remember, customers who value handmade goods expect to pay more than mass-produced prices.

Include photos and product pages that convert

Your product listing does the selling for you when you’re not there to explain things. Clear photos and straightforward details help buyers feel confident, and confident buyers convert into a sale.

You don’t need professional photography or a complex sales page. You just need clarity.

Here are a few photo basics that actually work:

• Use natural light whenever possible. A window and a neutral background are usually enough.
• Show the product from multiple angles. Front, back, close-up details, and scale matter.
• Include at least one lifestyle or in-use photo. Help buyers imagine owning and using it.
• Show size and texture clearly. Photos should answer “What will this look and feel like in real life?”

Must-have listing elements that you must not skip

If buyers have to message you for basic information, many won’t. A complete listing builds trust and removes friction.

• Dimensions or size details: Include exact measurements, not just “small” or “large.”
• Materials used: Especially important for handmade and gift items. List all the materials used to make the craft, and don’t ever miss anything in the list.
• Care or usage instructions: Clearly indicate how your handmade crafts are to be washed, cleaned, stored, or handled.
• Customization options: Clearly convey what can and can’t be changed when selling customizable crafts.
• Clear shipping timelines: Always indicate the processing time and delivery expectations.

The fewer unanswered questions a buyer has, the more likely they are to click “Buy.”

Launch your online presence

Once you’re ready to sell, make it real by establishing a clear online identity. Start by choosing a domain name that reflects your brand and is easy to remember.

Our Domain Search and an AI Domain Name Generator can help you move quickly without overthinking the naming process.

Build a simple store you can grow over time

You don’t need dozens of products to launch. Start small and scale intentionally.

• Launch with 5–10 well‑positioned products
• Focus on clarity over variety
• Use a beginner‑friendly website builder for a fast, low‑stress launch. Our Website Builder is a strong option because it’s simple to set up, easy to update, and built for small business growth

Get discovered

Visibility comes from consistency, not doing everything at once.

Basic SEO essentials:

• Use clear, descriptive product names
• Organize products into logical categories
• Write simple supporting content such as guides, FAQs, or blogs
• Link related products and pages together internally

Social strategy, but keep it light:

• Choose one platform your audience already uses
• Rotate between product features, behind-the-scenes, and customer results
• Post consistently, even if it’s just a few times a week

Build credibility and trust fast

Trust signals matter, especially when you’re just starting out. A few simple details can instantly make your shop feel more professional:

• Use a professional email address tied to your domain
• Make sure your site has SSL security to protect customer data
• Clearly display your shipping, return, and contact information
• Keep setup simple by choosing tools that offer essentials like domains, SSL, and email in one place, as providers like Network Solutions do.

Where to sell your crafts online and in person

Where you sell matters just as much as what you sell. The right channel can improve your margins, reduce friction, and help you grow faster. So, always choose based on your goals, your product type, and the level of control you want over branding and customer relationships.

Here are some places you can sell your handmade crafts online and in person:

• Marketplaces
• Your own website
• Local marketplace and pop-ups

Selling on marketplaces

Marketplaces, such as Facebook Marketplace, are often the fastest way to start because they already have built-in traffic. They make the most sense when you’re new, want to validate demand, or are still refining your product and pricing.

To use marketplaces well:

• Start with a small set of best-seller candidates and avoid overwhelming your customers with the entire catalog.
• Study the price range and positioning in your niche before listing.
• Make your listing instantly clear: who it’s for, what makes it different, and what the buyer gets.
• Compete on differentiation and presentation, not price alone.

Marketplaces can be competitive, but they’re excellent for testing what people actually buy. You can read our article on how to sell on Facebook Marketplace to know where to start selling online.

Selling from your own website

Selling from your own website gives you long-term advantages: brand control, better margins, and the ability to build repeat customers. You can bundle products, collect emails, run promotions, and shape the entire buying experience.

A simple website strategy:

• Create clear product categories so shoppers don’t get lost.
• Offer bundles such as gift sets, themed packs, and starter kits to increase order value.
• Collect emails early with a small incentive, such as a discount, early access, or seasonal drops.
• Use your product pages to build trust by clearly outlining policies, shipping timelines, and FAQs.

Selling at local markets and pop-ups

Local markets are great for quick feedback, community presence, and products that are harder or more expensive to ship. They also help you test pricing in real time and build word of mouth.

Basics for a strong market setup:

• Choose 5–10 top products and bring depth to the inventory.
• Use simple, consistent signage with clear pricing.
• Make your display easy to browse by varying heights, grouping items neatly, and providing samples people can touch.
• Plan for packaging and payment, such as bags, cards, and QR code payments.
• Track what sells and what people ask for—those are your next online listings

If your products are bulky, fragile, or premium, local selling can be your best channel.

Frequently asked questions

Are you ready to get crafting?

You don’t need dozens of handmade crafts to start a craft business, nor a perfect plan. What you need is the right craft, a simple setup, and a process that works for you. Keep your lineup manageable, price smart, and make your shop clear and approachable to customers.

Owning your online home gives you room to grow, too. What you’ll need is a strong domain name, a simple yet functioning e-commerce website, a reliable hosting plan, and SEO tools to help your online presence. All these you’ll find at Network Solutions.

Your craft is handmade, but the business behind it? That’s entirely in your hands.