What Are the Best-Selling Handicrafts? Your Guide to Profitable DIY Items
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Selling handmade products online offers numerous advantages — chief among them is the opportunity to turn a hobby or passion into a source of income. If you love creating, why not get paid for your work? Identifying the best-selling handmade items is the perfect starting point.
Thanks to the growth of ecommerce, creative entrepreneurs can now reach a global audience far beyond local craft fairs. But which homemade products actually sell well? What are the most profitable crafts? And how do you start selling online?
This guide explores data-driven answers to these questions and highlights the most popular DIY crafts available today. Whether you're a beginner ready to launch a craft business or an experienced maker looking to grow, you’ll find plenty of inspiration here.
Before we dive into specific categories, let’s cover a few foundational principles.
Validating Best-Selling Handmade Items Online
Even if your idea isn’t on this list, don’t be discouraged — market demand changes constantly. You can easily check the demand for a product by doing a few quick searches on Amazon SNXDO, Etsy, and Google. Try several variations of your product idea to see what competitors are offering.
For example, search for something specific like “Game of Thrones costume jewelry.” If you find competitors, that’s actually a good sign: it means there's a market for your idea. More competitors often indicate a larger potential audience.
Related Resources:
How to Sell on Amazon Handmade: What You Need to Know
Why, Where, and How to Sell Crafts and Handmade Items
How to Sell on Etsy: All the Steps You Need to Succeed
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Should You Only Pursue the Most Profitable Crafts?
Yes and no. It’s important to choose a product with profit potential — creating something nobody wants is a sure path to disappointment. However, not every trending craft is right for you. If you have no interest or skill in making jewelry, for example, don’t pursue it just because it’s lucrative.
The product categories listed below have proven historically profitable. Choose one that aligns with your skills and interests, and you won’t have to worry about demand disappearing anytime soon.
With that said, here’s our curated list of best-selling handmade crafts.
Health and Beauty Products
It’s no secret that health and beauty is a perennial, high-revenue market. However, to stand out, you need to niche down aggressively. Instead of selling “body lotion,” consider targeting a specific audience — e.g., “all-natural lotion for combination skin.”
Be aware that selling these products requires compliance with local regulations, knowledge of ingredients, and safe production practices. Your workspace may need to meet FDA standards, and you should consult a lawyer to ensure proper labeling.
If you’re willing to navigate these requirements, health and beauty products can be among the top-selling DIY items of all time.
Examples:
Soaps and bath bombs
Lip balm
Cosmetics (specialty, organic, or novelty)
Creams and lotions
Many of these can be made and sold from home — especially soaps and lip balms.
Clothing and Apparel
With affordable design software and print-on-demand services like Zazzle, Teespring, and Bonfire, starting a custom apparel business has never been easier.
This category is ideal for graphic designers, artists, or anyone with a creative idea. You can bring a design to life in less than a day. Custom apparel also serves as effective branding for businesses like gyms, bands, or boutiques.
If you're not artistically inclined, you can hire a designer on platforms like Upwork, then upload the designs to a print-on-demand site. Many vendors even handle dropshipping, so you never touch the products.
Want more control? Look into screen printing your own designs.
Examples:
T-shirts, hoodies, and sweaters
Mugs and coasters
Stickers and enamel pins
Face masks
Pillows and towels
Related Post: How Make-To-Order Works and Its Advantages
Jewelry
Jewelry consistently ranks among the most popular items on handmade marketplaces. It’s affordable to make, easy to ship, and offers numerous niches — from costume and fine jewelry to novelty items.
However, low barriers to entry mean high competition. Differentiating your products is essential. Successful jewelry makers stay on top of trends, often drawing inspiration from platforms like Pinterest.
Jewelry crafting can range from simple beaded necklaces to advanced techniques involving welding, smithing, or 3D printing. It can take months to master certain skills.
High-quality product photography is critical — jewelry is detailed and reflective, so poor photos can undermine great craftsmanship. Include photos of people wearing your items, and consider using tools like Jewelfie or the Kiwi Size Chart to help customers visualize products.
Related Post: How to Sell Jewelry on Etsy: Best Practices for Growth
Candles
Candles are surprisingly simple to make yet highly profitable. Like jewelry, this category has low startup costs but high competition and skill potential.
niching down is critical. Consider:
Eco-friendly or all-natural candles
Beeswax, religious, or novelty candles
Votives and tea lights
Candles scale easily but come with risks — they’re fire hazards. Ensure you have insurance and follow labeling regulations.
Art and Prints
Gone are the days when artists had to physically reproduce each piece. Today, tools like Photoshop and Illustrator allow endless duplication and resizing. Artists can sell the same design as a poster, pin, or digital download.
You don’t need to be a traditional painter to succeed — niches include pixel art, graffiti, photography, and more.
Consumable Goods
If you love creating food items, there’s a market for you. However, you must navigate ingredient labeling, allergen warnings, FDA rules, and perishability.
Use inventory management software like SkuVault Core to track materials and avoid waste. Non-perishable items like candy, baked goods, preserves, and marshmallows are great for shipping.
Examples:
Tea, coffee, and rare snacks
Wine, spirits, and cookies
Pet treats and DIY ingredient kits
These products also work well in subscription boxes.
Digital Products
Digital and informational products are among the fastest-growing online revenue streams. While not “handmade” in the traditional sense, they offer immense scalability with minimal overhead.
The online education industry alone is expected to reach $325 billion by 2025. Experts can create courses using simple tools and sell them on platforms like Udemy or Skillshare.
Other digital products include:
Photoshop brushes and animation assets
Fonts and music licenses
Courses and motion graphics
Many platforms handle hosting, logistics, and support for a share of sales, making digital products nearly passive income streams.
Traditional Handcrafted Products
Despite the digital shift, bespoke handmade goods retain unique value. Items like leather wallets, wooden utensils, or hand-forged tools offer a tangible quality that mass-produced products can’t match.
These crafts require specialized skills in areas like:
Woodworking, smithing, or leatherworking
Glassblowing, embroidery, or sewing
You may need expensive tools or workshops, so research costs before diving in. Examples include custom knives, furniture, handbags, and artisanal decor.
Pottery and Clay Objects
Pottery requires significant time and equipment investment. Start with online classes before investing in a kiln. The high barrier to entry means less competition.
Handmade pottery holds more value than factory-made products. Source materials affordably from suppliers like Sheffield Pottery, and invest in secure packaging. Use inventory software like SkuVault Core to track sales across platforms and optimize costs.
Pet Supplies
The pet care market is growing steadily and is projected to exceed $325 billion. Handmade pet products — from treats to toys — are in high demand.
You can cater to dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and more. Be mindful of perishability, ingredients, and regulations. Consulting a lawyer is recommended.
Examples:
Pet clothing and costumes
Collars, leashes, and tags
Food bowls and enclosures
Toys and hygiene products
Music
Musicians no longer need to tour constantly to make a living. High demand for royalty-free music allows composers to sell tracks for use in videos, podcasts, and TV.
Platforms like AudioJungle, Pond5, and Storyblocks let you license your music. If placed in a TV library, you can earn royalties whenever your music airs.
Strategies to Maximize Your Handmade Business
Bundle Items into Subscription Boxes
Subscription boxes add value through curation. They’re ideal if you sell complementary products, like soaps and home decor. Use analytics to identify customer overlaps and bundle accordingly.
Study Top Sellers
Analyze best-selling products on Etsy, Amazon SNXDO, etc. Note how sellers differentiate their products through design, packaging, and pricing. Reach out to successful creators for advice.
Outsource Non-Essential Tasks
Focus on creating — delegate web development, customer service, and inventory management. Hire freelancers via Upwork, and use tools like SkuVault Core to automate inventory tracking.
Use Traditional Sales Channels
Don’t rely solely online. Sell at craft fairs and markets to build a local following that supports your online growth.
Next Steps for Selling Crafts Online
Now that you have ideas, it’s time to decide where to sell. Remember, you’re joining a tradition thousands of years old — but with modern tools like SkuVault Core to simplify inventory management across multiple channels.
Whether you’re working in a lab or at a sewing machine, we can help you build a solid foundation for your craft business.
Book your live demo of SkuVault Core today.
FAQs
What are the most effective marketing strategies for selling craft items online?
Use a multi-channel approach: build a strong brand identity, post high-quality visuals on Instagram/Pinterest/TikTok, and sell on platforms like Etsy or your own website. Try email marketing, influencer collaborations, and SEO.
What are the typical startup costs?
Costs vary by craft. Initial investments in materials and tools may range from $100–$500. Etsy fees, web hosting, packaging, and marketing can add another $50–$500. Total startup costs often range from $500–$1,000.
How do market trends and seasons affect sales?
Holidays and seasons greatly influence demand. Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and other events drive sales of themed items. Stay updated on trends via social media, and adapt your product lines accordingly.
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