50 Profitable Things to Make and Sell from Home in 2024

The market for homemade products is not showing any sign of slowing down. There are many things to make and sell online from home without a big investment.

To successfully make money online, you must come up with profitable craft business ideas that sell. Unfortunately, choosing the right handmade products can be challenging with so much different information on the web.

That’s why we made a list of 50 profitable things to make and sell. We have included various ideas from many industries and niches so you can choose whichever interests you the most. Afterwards, you can build a store website of your own and start earning.

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50 Things to Make and Sell Online

Starting your own craft business is a great opportunity to earn extra money. According to IMARC, the global handmade crafts business reached $752.2 billion in 2022 and is predicted to grow 9.1% annually.

If you can think of an item to handcraft at home, there will likely be a demand for it. Here are our recommendations for 50 easy things to make and sell for a profitable home business.

1. Necklaces

Handmade jewelry is a great product to make and sell from home. One of the most popular types of jewelry is necklaces.

The necklace market is huge. We recommend creating a type of necklace that matches your skills. Additionally, research and aim for a niche to enter the market competitively. For example, you can make necklaces with animal themes.

2. Earrings

Earrings are one of the simplest crafts to make and sell. There are lots of earring designs that are easy to make for beginners. You can take inspiration from existing designs and customize the materials and ornaments to make them more appealing to your audience.

3. Friendship Bracelets

Friendship bracelets are some of the most popular home crafts to sell online. Moreover, they let you make money online with minimal upfront investment. For example, some friendship bracelets only require embroidery threads and simple tools like scissors and tape.

Explore different friendship bracelet patterns and create unique designs to find your niche audience.

4. Canvas Paintings

Canvas paintings are among the most popular home decor business ideas to make money from. If you’re new to painting, there are plenty of inspirations to help you get started. Some painting ideas for wall art are abstract flowers, cityscapes, and quotes.

5. Art Prints

You can create home decoration art without printing them out. Selling digital printables or art prints is a great way to sell creative ideas without worrying about physical production and the shipping process.

You can create digital art using design software or by taking a photograph. Make sure to produce high-quality image files to prevent blurry prints. Then, sell them on an Etsy shop or your own website.

6. Coloring Books

Coloring books are popular among children and adults. It is an excellent outlet for creativity and stress relief. 

Create unique images for your coloring book from scratch using design software. Alternatively, download public domain designs and convert them into black-and-white line art. Finally, make sure to partner with a reliable printing company to produce high-quality coloring books.

7. Pillowcases

Pillowcases can decorate homes, making them a great product idea to make and sell. To make them unique, try using stitching and embroidery techniques. You can make pillowcases of various sizes to cater to a broader audience.

8. Candles

Candles are easy things to make and sell from home because of their simplicity. All you need is wax and an understanding of the melt-and-pour technique.

You can also add essential oils to create aromatherapy candles. Their therapeutic quality is appealing to specific market niches.

The candle market is still growing and is expected to be worth $16.9 billion by 2031.

9. Pet Supplies

Pet supplies vary widely, from homemade treats to accessories like pet ID tags and clothes. Create unique pet products to strengthen your brand in the market and among pet owners.

For instance, homemade dog treats are a solid business idea to earn extra money from pet owners who want healthier snacks. You can make dog treats with natural ingredients, paying more attention to the nutritional value and health benefits.

If you’re skilled in crafting garments, try creating pet clothing or custom collars. Since pet adoption is surging, the market for pet clothing continues to grow.

10. Sweets

If you like making candies, cookies, chocolate, or other sweets, you can start selling food online. Note that certain products may need refrigeration or have a limited shelf life, which can limit your shipping area.

11. Artificial Plants

Artificial plants are popular home decor crafts. The most common DIY artificial plants are made from paper, wire, and felt. You can also make artificial plants at home using unconventional materials like wool yarn, cloth, and plastic.

12. Soap Bar Dishes

A soap bar dish is a dedicated container to store a soap bar. DIY soap bar dishes can be crafted from wood, ceramic, or recycling an old coaster. Be creative with your design and consider the functionality to generate more sales.

13. Sharpie Mugs

Sharpie-painted mugs are some of the best unique products to sell due to their simplicity and uniqueness. You can make them with a plain mug and an oil-based Sharpie marker. Start making custom designs or design-to-order mugs and make money with your creations.

14. Coasters

Coasters are another functional and decorative item to make and sell online. You can make them from different materials, such as felt and cork. Add a unique touch to your coasters with artistic prints or paintings to make them more appealing.

15. Kitchen Utensil Holders

Kitchen utensil holders are handy crafts to make and sell as they help keep a kitchen organized. Commonly made of wood, experimenting with other unconventional materials may enhance this item’s uniqueness and value.

16. Cloth Napkins

This craft idea is ideal for creative people who are into sewing. Complete beginners can find DIY tutorials online to get started, as the required techniques are easy to learn. Try exploring various fabric patterns and coming up with unique designs.

17. Lip Balm

Lip balm is another personal care product that is easy to produce at home. You can find most of the ingredients at a supermarket. Highlight the lip balm’s benefits as its selling point.

18. Soap and Bath Bombs

Launching a business brand around homemade soap or bath bombs is an excellent opportunity. These handmade items are always in demand and can be easily made at home.

Despite the simple ingredients, the soap production process requires specific equipment and safety gear. Keep this in mind, as you’ll have to invest a little money before making soap at home.

19. Body Scrubs

If you plan to make soap, consider adding body scrub to your product catalog. Homemade body scrubs are in demand since only a few people have the time to make them themselves.

20. Soap Dispensers

You may sell soap dispensers as a bundle with homemade liquid soap. Making a soap dispenser from a decorated mason jar or unused glass bottle is one of the most profitable things to make and sell.

21. Milk Bath

A DIY milk bath is a good skin nourishment product to sell as it offers various health benefits. In addition to powdered milk, experiment with other ingredients such as salt and essential oils.

22. Perfume

Perfume is a popular product for all genders. It’s easy to make a DIY perfume at home with natural ingredients, like various flowers and essential oils.

Besides experimenting with different scents, make sure to source high-quality packaging to improve your products’ selling value.

23. Face Powder

Face powder is one of the best craft ideas to sell online. They’re easy to make at home without any special equipment.

Many people use homemade face powder due to its affordability and natural components. Browse for recipes on the web to help you get started.

24. Bookmarks

Bookmarks are simple yet profitable items to make and sell. They can be made of anything, depending on your creativity and resources.

Before selling bookmarks, come up with unique and exciting designs. People are more compelled to buy crafts that catch their eye.

25. Stationery Pouches

You can make and sell stationery pouches if you’re into sewing. Stationery pouches are easy to make, even if you only have basic sewing skills.

Your target audience will be students and office workers, so make sure to adjust the designs accordingly. Once you master the production process, expanding your product catalog to selling purses and bags will be easier.

26. Notebook

The notebook business is gaining popularity as many people get into the habit of journaling.

There are two ways to produce notebooks – source and decorate existing ones or create them from scratch. Be creative with the cover and the page designs, as they will set your product apart from competitors.

27. Clipboards

Clipboards are one of the best productivity crafts to make and sell. One way to make them is by decorating existing clipboards and reselling them for profit.

You can also make clipboards from scratch with woodworking skills.

28. Dry-Erase Boards

A dry-erase board is useful for writing notes, brainstorming ideas, and decorating an office. It’s a popular home office item, making it one of the best crafts to make and sell for profit.

Creating dry-erase boards from scratch is relatively easy. You only need a dry-erase marker and a photo frame with a glass surface to write on. To improve its selling points, use decorative materials like scrap paper and ribbon to create an enticing frame.

29. Cable Organizers

A cable organizer is popular among people who own multiple electronic devices. It comes in different variations, from a simple band that prevents tangled cables to a customized box that hides messy cables.

30. Custom T-shirts

T-shirts are among the most popular items in the online apparel market. They are easy to design and produce. And as long as customers order the correct size, they don’t need to try them on to see if they fit.

To start a custom t-shirt business, create attractive designs for a specific niche, and find a supplier to produce them. Consider beginning dropshipping to avoid the hassle of inventory management and shipping.

31. Tote Bags

Tote bags are great crafts to make and sell online. With the increasing demand to replace plastic bags, the market for tote bags is expected to grow to $3.6 billion by 2030.

You can make tote bags from different fabric types, but make sure they are durable. Also, create creative patterns to make them more appealing.

32. Socks

Socks are popular homemade things to sell. The two most common methods of making socks are sewing and knitting. Experiment with both techniques to find your preference.

33. Sunglasses Cases

Making fabric sunglasses cases is a great DIY crafts idea. Try to experiment with different fabric patterns or ornaments to appeal to various customers.

34. Coat Hangers

There are plenty of different DIY coat hanger options, such as wall-hanged coat hangers and portable coat racks. Pick a design that matches your woodworking skills and experiment with different colors and shapes to create unique designs.

35. Mittens

If you’re after proven DIY crafts that sell, mittens are an excellent choice, especially during the winter. They’re easy to make at home if you have sewing or knitting skills. Be creative with the patterns to make them more appealing.

You can also make mittens from wool sweaters or t-shirts. Reusing existing materials can help you appeal to the environmentally conscious.

36. Hats

Hats are great crafty accessories that don’t require extensive sewing skills. You can either create them from scratch or decorate and resell existing hats.

Keep in mind that hats are a broad product category, and there are plenty of hat types. Each one may have a different target audience and demand trends. Do your research and pick one niche that suits your interest.

37. Scarves

Scarves are a style accessory that can be used as a fashion item and for warmth. While the demand is higher during winter, you may produce scarves with lighter materials to cater to spring and summer’s market demand and create fashion items that sell fast, regardless of the season.

38. Enamel Pins

Enamel pins are accessories that people use to decorate their clothing and bags. Making and selling enamel pins involves making unique designs and collaborating with a reputable manufacturer to produce them.

39. Felt Sleeping Mask

Making DIY sleeping masks from felt involves simple steps that anyone can learn. The materials are relatively easy to source, leaving you with plenty of room for creativity.

40. Gift Baskets

Gift baskets are often bundled with other goods or offered as made-by-order items, making them easy things to sell for profit. You can make a simple gift basket or box with wood.

As for the goods in the gift baskets, include things you can make and sell or source from other sellers. Curating personalized gifts based on customer requests is also a good idea.

41. Subscription Boxes

If you have various ideas for homemade products to sell, start a subscription box business. A subscription box contains an assortment of products that are delivered monthly.

For example, if you’re selling beauty products like soaps, lip balms, and perfumes, assort these products and deliver them to your subscription box customers each month.

Use the same box size each month to simplify the process and personalize the content according to your customer’s preferences.

42. Music

Music is one of the most popular digital products to sell online. Use digital music distribution services like DistroKid to submit your songs to music streaming platforms. Consider selling singles if you don’t have enough material to compile a whole album.

43. Stock Photos

Creating stock photos requires a camera and a photographic eye, which you can train by practicing. Once you have a decent portfolio, sell your work on stock photography websites like Shutterstock, Getty Images, and 500px.

44. eBooks

Writers should consider publishing eBooks to make extra money. The topics may vary, from DIY tutorials to fictional stories. Several online platforms for selling eBooks are Payhip and Amazon.

45. Software Programs and Applications

Many web developers sell their software and apps independently on various platforms. To find clients, you must have sufficient programming skills, market knowledge, and networking skills.

A dedicated website or an online marketplace like Gumroad is an ideal place to sell your work online.

If you are interested in WordPress, consider launching a business that creates and sells plugins or themes. While your target market is limited to WordPress users, many new functions are still available to take advantage of. You can market them on various marketplaces like CodeCanyon and ThemeForest.

46. Online Courses

If you have in-demand knowledge or skills, selling online courses is a viable business opportunity. Create a website to market your courses or join online learning marketplaces like Udemy and Skillshare.

47. Keychains

Keychains are a popular item among various demographics. While you can create any design you want, narrowing it down to a specific niche or theme will make the keychains easier to sell.

You can make keychains using various materials and techniques. Research your target market to find out what’s most likely to sell.

48. Greeting Cards

Greeting cards are used for various occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, and holiday seasons. They’re relatively easy and cheap to make. Many creative greeting card ideas are available online to help you get started.

49. Pacifier Clips

Pacifier clips attach a pacifier to a toddler’s hand or clothing, preventing them from losing or dropping it. It’s a simple, affordable item that has high demand.

Note that you may have to check your local pacifier regulations. In the US, pacifier clips should follow the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines. For instance, one rule says that pacifier clips should not exceed eight inches.

50. Traditional Handcrafts

Every region has its distinct traditional handicrafts, which are unique things to sell. By making and selling traditional handicrafts online, you will help preserve and promote local culture globally.

Where and How to Sell Your Handmade Items

There are two ways to sell crafts online – creating an independent online store or becoming a merchant at an online marketplace.

Create an Online Store

An online store for your DIY craft business lets you build your brand faster and communicate with customers personally.

You’ll also be able to install various analytics tools to gain valuable insights and implement better business decisions.

There are various platforms for creating an eCommerce store.

The easiest method would be to use an online website builder. Many site builders offer eCommerce plans to accommodate your business needs.

Using a dedicated eCommerce platform like Shopify, BigCartel, or Gumroad is also pretty straightforward. However, these platforms often charge high prices and take a commission fee for every successful transaction.

If you’re looking for the right balance between pricing and flexibility, consider using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress.

To make a WordPress website, you will need to buy a domain and a hosting plan. For optimal performance, quick setup, and easy site management, it is preferable to choose from managed WooCommerce hosting options.

Remember that a CMS has a steeper learning curve than website builders and eCommerce platforms. Furthermore, advanced customizations will likely require technical knowledge and coding skills.

Sell Your Craft on an Online Marketplace

The second option is to sell your DIY products on an online marketplace. This platform type hosts multiple sellers and displays a wider variety of products.

The main benefit of online marketplaces is an existing broad audience. It’s also relatively easier to start as you don’t have to deal with creating a new website. All you need to do is create a seller account and start selling DIY crafts on the marketplace.

However, you’ll have more competition as these platforms will likely host other craft businesses that are similar to yours.

To succeed, you must pick the right online marketplace for your business. Consider each marketplace’s demographics, fees, and supported product categories before choosing one.

The following are some popular sites to sell homemade items:

• Etsy
• Bonanza
• Amazon Handmade
• iCraft Gifts

Alternatively, you can participate in local craft fairs. Participating in such events can increase your brand awareness.

Finding online business ideas for crafts to make and sell is only the first step. The next step is to develop a sales strategy. Here are some tips to help you succeed in selling homemade items:

• Pick your niche. Choose one product type specialty to narrow your business’s focus and its marketing activities.
• Price your goods carefully. Research the market to know the product’s standard price range. Make sure the revenue is greater than the total production costs.
• Build a brand. Create a catchy business name and a memorable logo to make your brand identifiable.
• Take high-quality pictures of your product. This makes it easier to grab customers’ attention and help them visualize your product.
• Write a good product description. Explain how your product can solve your target market’s pain points.
• Promote on social media. Take advantage of other platforms’ massive audience base to drive traffic to your online store and increase brand exposure.

Conclusion

Starting an online store lets you earn extra cash from home. Since many handmade products have high demand, there are lots of business idea options to choose from.

Moreover, having a craft business means having your own working hours. All you need are good craft ideas and a reliable channel to sell your goods. Having your own eCommerce website is also great if you want more control over your online store.

Remember these tips when deciding the best things to make and sell online:

• Consider your skillset and how it can be applied to your online business.
• Choose an industry you feel passionate about and ensure it can be monetized.
• Evaluate the risks of investment, depending on how big your starting capital has to be.
• After choosing an item to sell, keep researching and following product trends to grow your own business. Use Google Trends or social media to keep up with market demands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to common questions about making and selling crafts.