What Is Amazon Merch on Demand And How to Start in 2025
Amazon Merch on Demand makes it possible to start selling custom merchandise online without having to manage inventory or pay upfront. You simply create a design, choose the products you want it on — like T-shirts or hoodies — and once someone places an order, Amazon handles the printing, shipping, and customer service.
It’s a popular choice for designers, creators, and anyone exploring side income streams. In this guide, you’ll learn how the system works, what types of merch tend to perform well, and what steps to take if you want to launch your own on-demand shop in 2025.
It’s a popular choice for designers, creators, and anyone exploring side income streams. In this guide, you’ll learn how the system works, what types of merch tend to perform well, and what steps to take if you want to launch your own on-demand shop in 2025.
How Amazon Merch on Demand Works
What is Merch by Amazon? It’s Amazon’s print-on-demand service that lets creators sell branded merchandise without managing inventory, production, or shipping. Once you’re approved, you simply upload your design, select the products you want to offer (like T-shirts, sweatshirts, phone cases, or tote bags), and Amazon handles the rest.
Here’s how it works step-by-step:
Here’s how it works step-by-step:
1. Apply and Get Approved: To join, you’ll need to apply at the Amazon Merch on Demand website. Approval isn’t instant and depends on various factors.
2. Upload Your Design: After approval, you can create designs and upload them using Amazon’s templates. Each design can be applied to a variety of products.
3. List the Product: Add a product title, brand name, description, and choose relevant search keywords. This helps your product appear in Amazon search results.
4. Amazon Handles Fulfillment: When a customer places an order, Amazon prints the item, ships it, and handles customer service.
5. Get Paid Royalties: You earn royalties based on the product’s sale price minus Amazon’s production costs and fees.
2. Upload Your Design: After approval, you can create designs and upload them using Amazon’s templates. Each design can be applied to a variety of products.
3. List the Product: Add a product title, brand name, description, and choose relevant search keywords. This helps your product appear in Amazon search results.
4. Amazon Handles Fulfillment: When a customer places an order, Amazon prints the item, ships it, and handles customer service.
5. Get Paid Royalties: You earn royalties based on the product’s sale price minus Amazon’s production costs and fees.
Available Products Include:
- Merch by Amazon T-shirts
- Hoodies and sweatshirts
- Tank tops
- Popsockets
- Tote bags and phone cases
Royalty rates vary depending on the item’s price, but creators can adjust pricing to find the right balance between volume and earnings.
Pros and Cons of Merch on Demand
Before jumping in, it’s helpful to understand the pros and cons of selling on Amazon through their on demand platform.
Whether Amazon Merch on Demand is worth it depends on your goals. It’s a solid option for earning passive income on the side, but those aiming to build a full-scale brand might eventually consider launching their own storefront for more control.
What Sells Best on Amazon Merch
The most successful Amazon Merch products typically tap into specific niches and seasonal trends. If you're wondering what to design, think about:
- events & holidays: Christmas, Halloween, graduation, or even niche celebrations like Pi Day;
- memes & pop culture: Trending phrases or viral references;
- professions: Shirts for teachers, nurses, truckers, or engineers;
- hobbies & interests: Gaming, baking, gardening, or fitness
Use tools like Google Trends, Pinterest, TikTok, and Etsy to brainstorm. Niche forums and podcast communities also reveal what people care about right now.
Best Practices for Merch SEO:
- Use keyword-rich titles (e.g. “Funny Cat Yoga Shirt for Women”);
- Add tags based on search intent (e.g. “gift for runners”);
- Write natural product descriptions that clarify who the shirt is for.
The better your listing is optimized, the more visibility it will have. Remember: Amazon is a search engine.
Tips to Start and Grow Your Merch Business
Once your account is live, your focus should be on quality designs, visibility, and experimentation.
1. Prioritize Simplicity: Many top-selling shirts are text-only or simple graphics. Clarity beats complexity.
2. Think Seasonally: Plan ahead for major holidays or school seasons. Amazon shoppers start early.
3. Track Performance: Merch by Amazon offers analytics. Double down on what’s working.
4. Test and Iterate: Try variations — colors, slogans, and formats — and replace what doesn’t sell.
5. Bundle Designs: Reuse your top designs on other products, like tote bags or phone cases.
6. Stay Consistent: Upload regularly. Fresh listings get a temporary boost in Amazon’s ranking.
7. Create Eye-Catching Thumbnails: Your main product image matters — test which visuals get clicks.
2. Think Seasonally: Plan ahead for major holidays or school seasons. Amazon shoppers start early.
3. Track Performance: Merch by Amazon offers analytics. Double down on what’s working.
4. Test and Iterate: Try variations — colors, slogans, and formats — and replace what doesn’t sell.
5. Bundle Designs: Reuse your top designs on other products, like tote bags or phone cases.
6. Stay Consistent: Upload regularly. Fresh listings get a temporary boost in Amazon’s ranking.
7. Create Eye-Catching Thumbnails: Your main product image matters — test which visuals get clicks.
Tools That Can Help
Several free and paid tools make your merch journey easier:
- AMZScout, Jungle Scout, Helium 10: For checking niches, demand, competition.
- Canva or Adobe Express: To design simple, printable artwork.
- Google Trends and Etsy: To spot trending merch ideas early.
- All Sunsets or Vexels: Subscription platforms with ready-made commercial-use graphics.
Estimate Demand Before You Upload
Before spending time on a design, it's smart to check if there's demand for similar products. One easy way to do that is by using the free Jungle Scout Sales Estimator. While it doesn’t pull data from Merch by Amazon directly, you can use the Best Seller Rank (BSR) from related T-shirts or print-on-demand products in your niche to estimate monthly sales.
To try it out:
To try it out:
1. Find a product on Amazon that’s close to your idea — similar theme, style, or audience.
2. Scroll to the Product Information section and note its Best Seller Rank (BSR).
3. Go to the Jungle Scout Sales Estimator, select the correct Amazon marketplace and product category.
4. Enter the BSR, and the tool will show you an estimated number of units sold per month.
2. Scroll to the Product Information section and note its Best Seller Rank (BSR).
3. Go to the Jungle Scout Sales Estimator, select the correct Amazon marketplace and product category.
4. Enter the BSR, and the tool will show you an estimated number of units sold per month.
While the numbers are approximate, this gives you a quick snapshot of demand — helpful for deciding if a design idea is worth pursuing or might be too crowded.
Conclusion
Amazon Merch on Demand is a low-barrier, scalable way to start selling custom merchandise online. You don’t need a warehouse, storefront, or even experience — just creativity, consistency, and basic SEO. With millions of shoppers already on Amazon, it’s a powerful channel for anyone who wants to sell print on demand on Amazon in 2025.
Whether you want to sell beauty-themed tees, niche memes, or professional gifts, Merch by Amazon makes it easy to test ideas and start small. And while success doesn’t happen overnight, the right strategy can turn a side project into a reliable stream of income.
If you're ready to start, head over to the Amazon Merch portal, set up your account, and start uploading your first designs. Keep an eye on trends, optimize your listings, and let Amazon handle the rest.
Whether you want to sell beauty-themed tees, niche memes, or professional gifts, Merch by Amazon makes it easy to test ideas and start small. And while success doesn’t happen overnight, the right strategy can turn a side project into a reliable stream of income.
If you're ready to start, head over to the Amazon Merch portal, set up your account, and start uploading your first designs. Keep an eye on trends, optimize your listings, and let Amazon handle the rest.
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