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If you're looking for profitable crafts to make and sell, you're in the right place. With the rise of online marketplaces like Etsy, eCommerce website builders and social media platforms, there's never been a better time to turn your crafting into a hobby.
The crafting industry has seen a significant boom in recent years, with the global arts and craft market expected to increase from a value of $21.71 billion in 2023 to $30.89 billion in 2030. This makes it a profitable choice when it comes to starting a business and one of the leading hobbies that make money.
Whether you're a seasoned crafter or just starting out, understanding the potential of this industry is crucial. With dedication and the right strategy, your craft business can flourish into a lucrative venture that not only allows you to be creative but also generate income as a crafter.
What makes a craft a profitable business idea?
When deciding crafts to make and sell, it's essential to understand what factors can turn your craft business idea into a successful one. Here are some key elements that help determine if a craft will be profitable when marketed:
Demand: The more people want your craft, the better chance you have to sell it. Research what customers are looking for and what's currently trending. From punch needle embroidery to resin art and needle felting, keeping an eye on what's popular is a good way to understand how well certain crafts might sell.
Uniqueness: Offering something unique can set you apart from competitors when selling your crafts. Your crafts should have a distinctive style and feel that catches the buyer's eye.
Quality: High-quality materials and craftsmanship are vital. Customers are willing to pay more for items that last longer and look better. This is especially true when it comes to items for children, for example, where it might be expected to look great and be able to withstand years of play.
Cost of production: To make a profit, the cost of making your craft must be lower than what you sell it for. This means finding ways to source materials affordably without compromising on quality.
Time: Consider how much time it takes to create each item. If it takes too long, it might not be cost-effective unless you can charge a premium price.
Scalability: Think about whether you can replicate the craft in large quantities if needed. Some items may be too intricate or time-consuming to produce in bulk. But generally you'll need to scale your craft business in order to be profitable.
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29 crafts to make and sell
Most profitable crafts to make and sell
Unsurprisingly the answer isn't straightforward, as profitability can vary based on trends, market demands and the uniqueness of your niche. However, some crafts consistently show high-profit margins as business ideas due to their consistent popularity and cost-effectiveness. Here's a list of crafts that could help you turn a significant profit.
01. Handmade jewelry
Customizable and always in demand, jewelry can be made with various materials to cater to different price points. Yam, is made-to-order jewelry store, selling a range of customizable jewelry items.
Learn more about how to start a jewelry business.
02. Candles
With the rise of self-care trends and a focus on home decor, scented and decorative candles have become go-to items for creating a cozy home atmosphere. For example, Renee Candle Co. offers several distinct scents within these categories: Unwind, Noir, Tropix, Spiced, Lush and Cozy.
Learn more about how to start a candle business.
03. Art prints
Digital art and prints are cost-effective to produce and can be sold multiple times without additional production costs. They're also light and easy to ship, which makes them a great craft to make and sell with minimal investment and effort. We love these prints from Cayde who sells highly unique art prints both on posters and on T-shirts.
04. Handcrafted soap
Unique and natural soaps offer an alternative to commercial products and appeal to eco-conscious consumers. Be inspired by this soap company, 406 Lather Soap Co which sells a variety of soaps, with a wide range of scents and smells, made from all real ingredients - no chemicals included.
Learn more: How to start a beauty business
05. Upcycled goods
Transforming old items into something new is not only eco-friendly but also taps into the market of sustainable living. Sourcing materials for upcycled crafts can also be cost-effective if you know where to look.
06. Personalized items
Customization adds value, personalized gifts like monogrammed accessories or custom illustrations are highly sought after. These personalized gift boxes from All Good Fun Gift are fun and interesting crafts to sell.
Crafts that sell the best
To make your craft business thrive, it's important to know what sells best in the market. Here are some of the top trending crafts that have capture the attention of consumers over and over again:
07. Personalized home decor
Items like custom signs, pillowcases and kitchenware with personalized touches are favorites among customers looking to add a personal flair to their homes.
08. Eco-friendly products
As environmental awareness increases amongst consumers (with a 71% increase in online searches for sustainable goods over the last 5 years), products like reusable bags, beeswax wraps and sustainable or reusable utensils are becoming more popular. If you can craft these, they're likely to be in high demand from an eco conscious audience.
09. DIY kits
With more people looking for hobbies, DIY kits for activities like knitting, embroidery, or gardening are in high demand. You can also sell these as subscription boxes, which means customers sign up to receive a monthly or quarterly DIY craft kit. This is a good way to lock down regular and consistent sales and helps you plan production better too.
10. Seasonal crafts
Capitalize on holiday seasons by creating themed items such as Christmas ornaments or Halloween decorations that cater to festive shoppers. If you sell just one type of seasonal craft you can expect sale highs around the holidays and then lows after. But you can spread your business by diversifying your offerings.
Easy crafts to make and sell for beginners
If you're just starting out, you might be looking for crafts that are easy to make and sell. Here are some ideas that require minimal skill or investment but still have the potential to turn a profit:
11. Beaded bracelets
Beaded bracelets are simple to make and customizable with different colors and charms. They can be made relatively fast and in bulk, allowing for larger volumes of sales compared to other types of crafts. They can also be a great business idea for teens.
There's also opportunity for a variety of different crafts to make and sell - including pacifier clips like these from My Lil Keepers.
12. Decorative coasters
Use materials like ceramic tiles, cork or even resin to create unique coaster sets. These are a nice touch for people looking for something unique for their home or as a gift.
13. Mason jar crafts
From vases to soap dispensers, mason jars can be transformed into a variety of sellable items. They also qualify as an eco friendly, upcycled craft.
14. Keychains
With endless possibilities for personalization, keychains are a fun and easy craft item to produce and sell. They're also perfect for beginners because they don't require extensive skills or expensive equipment. They also have a broad appeal which can help you reach a wide audience to sell to.
Quick and simple crafts to make and sell
The following crafts are ideal for those looking to start a craft business without a significant upfront investment in time or resources. They allow you to experiment with different styles and find what works best for you and your customers while keeping startup costs low.
15. Greeting cards
Handmade cards for various occasions are always in demand. They can be sold as digital files, for buyers to download and print by themselves. Or you can print and sell them as physical copies. If you have a talent for drawing, selling handmade cards can be a fun way to make money.
16. Bookmarks
You can craft and sell unique bookmarks using materials like leather, paper or fabric. They also make for interesting gifts, that are easy to ship.
17. Potted succulents
Consider decorating pots and pairing them with easy-to-care-for succulents. These are a great craft to make and sell at fairs and other in-person events.
18. Knitted scarves
This is a classic, traditional craft, perfect for beginners looking for crafts to make and sell. Knitted scarves not your thing? Scarves in general are a great fashion craft to make money from, just how Ditut Scarf do with their range of beautiful scarves.
19. Hand-painted tote bags
Looking to channel your creativity into a profitable business idea? Offer custom designs on canvas tote bags, a fun and fashionable craft that lots of people love.
20. Bath bombs
Bath bombs are a fun craft idea to make and sell. You can create these popular self-care items with a huge range of different scents and colors. Be inspired by existing bath bomb sellers, such as Get Your Bomb On, The Fizz Biz and Magical Elixirs.
21. Clay figurines
Sculpting small figurines or trinkets from polymer clay and then selling them can be a good craft to make and sell if you have a talent for it.
22. Fridge magnets
You can apply your creativity to making unique magnets for people to decorate their fridges with. You can choose a niche, such as animals or quirky designs.
23. Hair accessories
Always in fashion are hair accessories, making these a great craft idea to make and sell. You can craft items like headbands, scrunchies or hairpins. These are a popular online business idea too.
24. Cup coasters
Looking for a really unique business idea? Consider making coasters from wood slices, tile or crochet. You can also consider creating customized designs to order.
25. Custom T-shirts
Design T-shirts with catchy phrases or original artwork to sell. We really love these examples from Thea Cohen.
You can choose to sell custom T-shirts via an online store or by making an eCommerce website. A popular way to sell T-shirts and other designed items is via print on demand, where is an eCommerce business model where you create printed items only as they're ordered. It means you don't have to hold or invest in inventory and is a recognized business to start with little money.
26. Scented sachets
An easy and quick craft to make and sell is scented sachets. You can fill small fabric pouches with dried lavender or other herbs. They're relatively cheap to create, meaning you won't need huge capital to start this idea. They can also be made in bulk.
27. Leather wallets
Do wallets ever go out of style? They're definitely always needed. Simple wallet designs can be very popular and require minimal stitching or technical craft know-how.
28. Ceramic planters
As more and more people focus on the interior design on their home, handpainted ceramic painters are popular craft idea to make and sell. You can choose to sell them with or without the plants.
29. Embroidered patches
For a low-cost business idea or craft to make and sell, create patches that can be ironed onto clothing or bags. You can make a lot, fast and they're easy to ship making them a good product to sell online.
How to balance cost and creativity when choosing which crafts to make and sell?
Finding the sweet spot between affordability and innovation is key to a successful craft business. Here's how you can keep costs down while still delivering quality and creativity to your customers:
Bulk purchasing: Buy materials in bulk to save money but confirm you have enough storage space and that the materials won't go to waste. The same goes for how much you create for inventory. You don't want to get stuck with a lot of inventory that doesn't sell fast enough, costing you in storage and other fees.
Efficient production: Streamline your production process to save time and resources. Simple changes in technique can lead to significant savings. Sometimes also investing in people to help you, especially with repetitive tasks can pay off in the long term if it allows you to sell more.
Recycled materials: Use recycled or upcycled materials, where you can, not only for cost savings but also to appeal to eco-conscious consumers.
Smart pricing: Price your items correctly by factoring in both the material costs and your time. Don't undervalue your work as in the long term profitability means pricing your crafts based on your resources and time investment.
Learn more: How to sell toys online