If you’re a DIYer, the online world is your oyster. By creating unique handmade items, you can attract customers looking for special products that aren’t available on mainstream platforms like Amazon. If you have a creative streak or are looking for a new business idea, why not turn your DIY projects into a DIY craft business?
But how do you go about utilizing your talents? What can you offer? What DIY products are in demand for online sales?
What to Sell Online?
When it comes to choosing what to sell online, several factors must be considered. With online marketplaces and social media, it’s never been easier to turn your crafting hobby into a business. However, with so many options, it can be hard to decide what to make and sell.
What is a Profitable Craft Business Idea?
A profitable craft business idea is:
Demand: Is there demand for the product? Researching trends and customer preferences will help you find products in demand.
Uniqueness: Does the product offer something different? Unique products stand out in the crowded online market and attract more customers.
Quality: Is the product high-quality and well-made? High-quality products build trust with customers and encourage repeat business.
Cost of Production: Is the cost of making the product less than what you can sell it for? A good profit margin is key to a sustainable business.
Time: How long does it take to make each item? Efficient processes allow you to scale your business more easily.
Scalability: Can the product be made in bulk if needed? Scalability is important for meeting demand without compromising quality.
What to Make and Sell?
When deciding what to make and sell, consider:
Your Skills and Expertise: What are you good at making? What skills do you have that can be applied to a craft business? Using your strengths will mean higher quality products and more enjoyable crafting.
Market Trends: What’s hot in the market? What’s emerging? Staying up to date with market trends will help you create products in demand.
Competition: Who else is selling similar products? How can you differentiate yours? Researching your competition will give you insight into what works and what doesn’t.
Pricing: How much can you sell for? What are others charging? Setting competitive prices while making a profit is key to getting customers.
Target Market: Who is your target market? What products are they looking for? Knowing your audience’s preferences and needs will guide your product and marketing strategy.
Cheap DIY Products
These craft projects are perfect for budget-conscious entrepreneurs who want to sell crafts online. They require minimal materials, many of which can be sourced from your local craft store or even found around your home.
1. Printables
Designing downloadable and printable artwork, calendars, or planners is a great way to get into the digital market. Customers can buy these and print them at home, making this super convenient for both seller and buyer.
Benefits of Printables
No Shipping: Since these are digital products, you eliminate the need for physical shipping, reducing overhead and increasing profit margins.
24/7 Availability: Your printables can be sold anytime, and you can earn income around the clock without the constraints of traditional retail hours.
Customization Options: To add to your offerings, consider charging extra for customization. This allows customers to personalize their prints, making them more appealing and increasing their perceived value.
Whether you’re creating wall art, inspirational quotes, or detailed planners, printables are a low-cost DIY product that can be high-profit and give customers unique and valuable products.
2. Notecards
If you’re looking for a low-cost DIY product with mass appeal, look no further than notecards. They are easy to make and cater to all tastes and occasions, making them a versatile option for your shop.
Why Notecards Are a Good Choice?
Budget-Friendly Materials: Paper and textiles can be found at your local craft store or online, reducing the upfront cost. These materials will allow you to make high-quality cards without going broke.
No Skills Required: You don’t need to be artistic to make notecards. With a little creativity and basic skills, anyone can make beautiful cards.
Easy to Ship: Notecards are lightweight and flat, making them cheap and easy to ship. You can keep shipping costs low and increase your profit margins.
Endless Options: The possibilities are endless. Try calligraphy, rubber stamps, pressed flowers, or even DIY prints from the internet. Each design can be tailored to different themes, such as birthdays, holidays, or thank you cards, and attract a wide range of customers.
By making unique and beautiful notecards, you can create a product line that speaks to your audience and sells consistently.
3. Candles
Candles are a classic DIY product that sells all year round. Customers buy them in every season. Whether for relaxation, ambiance, or as a gift, candles are universal. By adding essential oil blends, you can customize your candles to create unique aromatherapy experiences. And since most people consider high-quality candles a luxury they wouldn’t buy for themselves, they make great gifts, which means you’ll get a steady stream of customers for birthdays, anniversaries, and year-round holidays.
Why Candles are a Good DIY Product?
High Demand for Gifting: Candles are always in demand as gifts for all occasions. From Mother’s Day to housewarming parties, there’s always an event that needs a beautiful handcrafted candle.
Customizable Scents and Designs: By buying wax and scented oils in bulk, you can try out different fragrance combinations and unique presentations. You can also customize your candles with multiple shapes, sizes, and colors to add a personal touch for customers.
Low Start-Up Costs: Affordability is one of the best parts of starting a candle-making business. You can get started with basic supplies like wax, fragrance oils, wicks, and containers for under $100. This low investment allows you to build your stock and test different varieties without risk.
Year-round Demand: While candles make great holiday gifts, they’re also bought for self-care, home decor, or to create ambiance. So, you can tap into a big market that’s not seasonal.
4. Mason Jar Crafts
Mason jars are versatile and affordable DIY products that can be turned into beautiful, functional items. By painting, embellishing, or encasing mason jars, you can create storage solutions or decorative pieces for a wide range of customers.
Why Mason Jar Crafts are Good for a DIY Craft Business?
Versatile Uses: Mason jars can be used for multiple purposes, from rustic kitchen storage to trendy candle holders, flower vases, or organizers for craft supplies. This makes them appealing to many types of customers.
Budget-Friendly Materials: Mason jars are cheap and widely available. With simple additions like paint, ribbon, lace, or decals, you can turn them into beautiful products without spending a fortune.
Themed Sets for Every Occasion: Offering themed mason jar sets allows you to tap into seasonal or holiday markets. For example, you can create jars with festive designs for Christmas or floral designs for spring decor.
Eco-Friendly: Many customers are looking for sustainable and reusable products. Mason jars add a touch of style to home decor and are eco-friendly alternatives to plastic storage.
Endless Customization: Customers love personalization, and mason jar crafts are the perfect opportunity to offer custom designs. From color schemes that match a customer’s home to monogrammed jars for a personal touch, there’s no limit to how creative you can get.
With low investment and endless possibilities, mason jar crafts are a great DIY product idea to help you stand out in the market and offer your customers something functional and decorative.
5. Bath Bombs
Bath bombs have been a self-care trend since 2015 and don’t seem to be slowing down. Handmade soap is also on the rise as customers are looking for safe and organic products. These colorful, fizzy, and aromatic creations are loved for turning regular baths into spa-like experiences. The best part? They’re easy and cheap to make, so they’re a great low-cost DIY product to sell for profit.
Why Bath Bombs?
Cheap Ingredients: Bath bombs need simple, low-cost ingredients like baking soda, citric acid, Epsom salts, essential oils, and food coloring. You can buy these in bulk to maximize your margins and keep costs low. Even specialty additives like dried flowers or glitter can be found cheaply.
Customizable Scents and Colors: Bath bombs are highly customizable, with endless combinations of essential oils and color palettes. You can create different scents for different moods, like lavender for relaxation or peppermint for an energizing boost. You can also offer unique color combinations that dissolve into beautiful swirly patterns once dropped into water.
Good for Gift Giving: Bath bombs are a favorite for gift-giving on birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions. Package them in pretty boxes or wrap them with ribbons, and they will become a perfect present. Offering themed bath bomb sets like holiday or birthday collections can help boost sales during peak shopping seasons.
Tap into Wellness Trends: Self-care and wellness are huge trends, and bath bombs fit into this niche. With the growing focus on mental health and relaxation, customers are more willing to spend on products that give them a pampering spa-like experience at home.
Eco-Friendly & Natural: Customers are looking for natural, eco-friendly products. Offering bath bombs made from organic ingredients or wrapped in sustainable packaging can make your brand stand out. This added value can also allow you to charge more for your handmade products.
Whether you make bath bombs shaped like cupcakes or unique scents like eucalyptus and citrus, this DIY product is an affordable entry point into the wellness and self-care market. With high margins and growing demand, bath bombs are a fun, low-cost venture with big earning potential.
6. Magnets
Magnets are a great low-cost DIY product that can be a solid business idea that appeals to a wide range of customers. These small, fun gifts can be personalized or themed for holidays, special occasions, or just for fun decorations, making them a thoughtful and budget-friendly option for customers.
Why Magnets are a Great DIY Product?
Cheap Materials: Magnets are super cheap to make. All you need are small, inexpensive magnets, some resin or glue, and your chosen images or designs. Whether you print out photos, draw by hand, or use decorative materials like beads or dried flowers, the cost per magnet is very low, often just a few cents per piece.
Unlimited Creativity: Magnets offer endless possibilities. You can create custom magnets with inspirational quotes, seasonal themes, cartoon characters, or abstract art. This makes them highly customizable to many tastes and trends. You can even offer personalized magnets for weddings, birthdays, or business branding, which adds extra value to your product line.
Fast to Make: Unlike some DIY crafts that take hours to make, magnets can be made in bulk in a few hours. This fast turnaround allows you to try out different designs and stock up on inventory quickly so that you can meet demand without long production times.
Easy to Ship: Magnets are small, light, and durable, making them perfect for online sales. Shipping costs are minimal, and packaging can be simple, keeping overheads low and margins high.
Good for Gifts & Souvenirs: Magnets are a popular gift and souvenir item. Whether it’s a fun fridge magnet for a friend or a memento from a recent trip, magnets are thoughtful, practical, and always in demand. You can create themed sets like travel magnets or seasonal collections to appeal to different customers.
7. Lip Balms
Lip balms are a quick and easy DIY product that can be a winner with customers all year round. The best part? They only require a few simple ingredients and minimal equipment, so they are a low-cost product to make.
Why Lip Balms are a Great DIY Product to Sell?
Simple Ingredients: To make homemade lip balms, you only need beeswax, coconut oil, and vitamin E — three cheap ingredients. These nourishing ingredients create a smooth, moisturizing balm that protects lips from drying out. You can also add essential oils for fragrance, like peppermint or lavender, or natural colorants, like beetroot powder, for a tinted option.
Fast to Make: One of the best things about DIY lip balms is how quick and easy they are to make. In under 5 minutes, you can melt the ingredients, pour them into containers, and cool them. This speed allows you to make big batches quickly to keep up with demand or create new variations on the fly.
Customization: There are many ways to get creative with lip balms. Try different packaging like sleek tins, eco tubes, or fun shapes. You can also make specialty blends like vegan balms using plant-based waxes or SPF balms for added sun protection. Offering different scents, colors, and packaging styles allows you to cater to different customer preferences.
Good for Gifting & Bundles: Lip balms are popular items for gift sets and party favors, so they’re easy to market for holidays, birthdays, or bridal showers. You can create themed bundles with matching scents or mix and match them with other DIY products like candles or bath bombs.
Low Cost, High Profit: With cheap ingredients and a quick production time, lip balms have a high-profit margin. You can charge a premium for all-natural handmade products, especially if you use organic or unique ingredients, so they are a great option for health-conscious shoppers.
8. Holiday Ornaments or Gift Tags
Handmade holiday ornaments and personalized gift tags are perfect DIY products for crafters who want to add a personal touch to seasonal decor and gifts. These items resonate with customers who value unique, thoughtful products that can be used year after year so they become a tradition in many homes.
Why Holiday Ornaments and Gift Tags are Ideal DIY Products?
Timeless: Holidays come around every year, and with them comes a demand for new decorations. Handmade ornaments and gift tags appeal to customers who want something more than mass-produced decor. Customizing these with names, dates, or themes adds extra value, making them even more desirable.
Multi-Use: With materials like clay, wood, or fabric, the options are endless. You can make rustic wooden ornaments for a farmhouse look, clay ornaments for a minimalist look, or hand-painted ceramic gift tags for a pop of color. Many DIYers also use eco-friendly materials, which attract customers who shop sustainably.
Personalization: Personalization is a big selling point for these products. You can offer to engrave names, messages, or dates on ornaments and tags, making them perfect for milestone events like first Christmases, weddings, or anniversaries. Personalized gift tags can also make any gift extra special and a keepsake long after the gift is opened.
Year-round Demand: While ornaments are in high demand around Christmas, personalized gift tags and embellishments like napkin rings can be marketed all year round for weddings, birthdays, or baby showers. This keeps your crafting business profitable beyond the holiday season.
Low-Cost Production: Materials like air-dried clay, paint, or small wooden pieces are cheap and can be bought in bulk, so you get a high return on investment. Whether you hand carve, mold, or paint these items, the low cost of materials plus the ability to personalize them means higher profit margins.
9. Keychains
Keychains have gone from practical accessories to statement pieces, so they are a popular craft idea and DIY product with mass appeal. Whether customers want to personalize their keys, bags, or wallets, keychains offer endless opportunities for customization and creativity.
Why Keychains are a Great DIY Product?
Multi Use: Keychains appeal to a wide audience because they cater to all types of self-expression. From initials for personalization to quirky designs like animals, sports symbols, or pop culture references, there’s a keychain for everyone. They also make great souvenirs, gifts, or party favors, so there is consistent demand all year round.
Multiple Materials: You don’t need to break the bank to craft keychains. You can make them with leather, fabric, resin, wood, or even recycled materials. Leather keychains are classic and elegant, resin keychains can be customized with glitter, dried flowers or small charms. The options allow you to cater to different tastes and price points, whether your customers like minimalistism or boldness and playfulness.
Gender Neutral and Mass Market: Both men and women can wear keychains as accessories, whether they’re simple, rugged leather designs or cute charms. This broad market makes keychains a practical, low-cost DIY product with mass appeal. By offering different designs, you can also cater to specific niches like pet lovers, travelers, or pop culture fans and expand your market.
High Margins: Keychains are small and can be produced in bulk, so they are a low-cost product with high-profit potential. Since the materials are cheap, the cost per keychain is low, and the customization options add value, allowing you to charge more. Plus, keychains are lightweight, so shipping costs are low for online sellers.
Giftable: Personalized keychains are great and affordable gifts, especially for events like weddings, birthdays, and holidays. Offering custom engraving or unique designs makes keychains even more giftable, and customers will come back for more.
10. Customized Dinner Napkins or Hand Towels
Customized dinner napkins and hand towels are great DIY products for home decor enthusiasts who love details. They are practical and stylish, making them a great addition to anyone’s home decor collection.
Why Customized Napkins and Towels are a Great DIY Product?
High Demand for Home Decor: As more people take pride in personalizing their homes, customized napkins and hand towels are necessary. Whether for special occasions, everyday use, or gifting, customized linens allow customers to show off their style and elevate their table settings or bathroom decor.
Easy to Make, Big Impact: You don’t need advanced sewing skills to make beautiful napkins or towels. Basic sewing knowledge and a sewing machine are all you need to make elegant pieces. With the right fabrics, colors, and patterns, even the simplest designs can make a big statement. To add unique touches, you can try embroidery, monogramming, fabric painting, or stamping.
Low-Cost Materials: Cotton, linen, and other fabrics are cheap and widely available. Plus, you can buy in bulk to keep your costs low. Adding custom prints, embroidery thread, or fabric paint is very cheap and adds huge value to your product.
Customization is the Key: Offering personalized options like initials, names, or themed designs makes your napkins and towels even more appealing. Customers love unique, made-to-order products that reflect their personal style or match their party themes, holidays, or home decor.
Seasonal or Event-Based Sales: These DIY products can also be great for specific occasions like weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays. Customizing napkins and towels with seasonal or event-based designs like holiday themes, floral patterns, or wedding monograms creates new opportunities to sell to customers throughout the year.
Eco-Friendly: As more people are going green, reusable dinner napkins and hand towels are an eco-friendly alternative to paper products. Promote your products as eco-friendly reusable solutions and tap into the growing market of eco-conscious buyers.
Quick and Easy Craft Ideas
These simple yet clever DIY craft ideas are great for beginners or those who want to create products fast without compromising on quality, especially if they want to sell crafts. With minimal effort and cheap materials, you can make high-quality handmade products that customers will love.
11. Pet Toys
The pet industry is booming, with over $60 billion spent annually, according to the APPA. Selling DIY products like handmade eco-friendly pet toys is a great way to meet the demand of pet owners who are always looking for ways to keep their fur babies happy. By making pet toys from low-cost recycled materials, you can offer pet lovers a sustainable and budget-friendly option. With plenty of online video tutorials, crafting fun, durable toys for dogs, cats, and other animals is easy and cheap. These personalized handmade products will capture the hearts of pets and their owners!
12. Tote Bags
Did you know the average person uses around 425 plastic bags a year? As more people try to reduce their plastic usage, the demand for tote bags has never been higher. These bags are great for everything from grocery shopping to carrying books, so they are a staple in many households.
Making your own tote bags is not only cheap but also allows for endless customization. By adding unique designs, funny slogans, or artistic graphics, you can differentiate your products from the competition and attract a wide range of customers. Whether it’s a trendy pattern or a funny quote, the possibilities are endless!
Plus, making tote bags is easy, even for beginners. You don’t need advanced sewing skills to make a functional and stylish bag.
If you prefer a hands-off approach, consider using print-on-demand services like Printful. Design your tote bag, and Printful will handle the rest—source the bags, print your design, and ship the orders directly to your customers. This way, you can also expand your product line to include other print-on-demand products like apparel, accessories, and home decor and increase your earnings without the hassle of inventory management.
13. Coasters
“Don’t put that there — use a coaster!” Thanks to well-meaning parents everywhere, the coaster business is booming. If you want to try e-commerce for the first time, coasters are a great product to start with. They are easy to make, require minimal materials, and appeal to a wide audience.
Coasters come in many materials – wood, cork, plastic, textiles, glass, and even concrete – so you can express your creativity and design unique products that will cater to different tastes. Whether you want rustic charm, modern minimalism, or playful patterns, there’s a style for everyone’s decor.
To give your coaster business an edge, consider offering customization options for special occasions. Personalized coasters for birthdays, weddings, or corporate events can be thoughtful gifts or unique party favors. This adds to customer experience and increases the perceived value of your products. With a little creativity and effort, coasters can be a fun DIY project and a profitable business!
Unique Craft Projects
These DIY products are one of a kind, so they will grab the attention of potential customers and give you great opportunities to sell crafts. They may require a bit more specialized knowledge or unique materials, but the time and effort will be worth it with the results.
14. Dread Hair Extensions
Dreadlocks are back, and handcrafted dread hair extensions can be a profitable niche for your DIY business. Here’s a quick start-up guide:
Materials Needed
Hair Fiber: Use high-quality synthetic (like Kanekalon) or natural fibers.
Beads and Accessories: Wooden beads, charms, and fabric wraps.
Tools: Basic tools like a crochet hook, scissors, and combs.
Adhesives: Hair-friendly adhesives to secure extensions.
Quick Steps to Make Dread Extensions
Choose Style: Length, thickness, and color.
Prepare Hair: Cut hair fiber to the desired length.
Create Dreads: Twist and knot the hair or use a crochet method.
Add Beads: Thread beads onto the threads for customization.
Finishing Touches: Trim any uneven ends and mist with water for shaping.
With low startup costs and high-profit potential, dread hair extensions can help customers express themselves while growing your DIY business.
15. Cat Tents
Cat tents are a unique and fun DIY craft that many pet owners will love. They are easy to make and require minimal materials. They can be added to your online store. Here’s a quick start-up guide:
Materials Needed
Fabric: Durable, cat-friendly fabric in various colors and patterns.
Frame: Lightweight materials like PVC pipes, wooden dowels, or metal wire to create the structure.
Tools: Basic sewing tools or glue for fabric attachment.
Decorative Elements: Optional pom-poms or personalized name tags.
Quick Steps to Make Cat Tents
Design Your Tent: Choose the size and shape (A-frame or teepee).
Cut the Fabric: Measure and cut fabric pieces according to your design.
Assemble the Frame: Build the frame using your chosen materials.
Attach Fabric: Sew or glue the fabric to the frame.
Add Finishing Touches: Personalize with the customer’s pet’s name or decorative elements.
With low investment and high demand, cat tents can be a great addition to your DIY craft lineup for cat lovers looking for something special for their fur babies.
How to Build a Successful Online Business?
Now that you have chosen a DIY product to sell online, here’s how to get started:
A Craft Business That Sells
Brand Identity: Create a unique brand that reflects you and your style. A strong brand will help you stand out and build a loyal customer base.
Online Presence: Build a website or online store to showcase your products and connect with customers. A pretty and user-friendly online store will increase your sales.
Social Media: Use social media to promote your products and connect with customers. Social media is a powerful tool for reaching a bigger audience and building a community around your brand.
SEO: Optimize your website and online store for search engines to increase visibility and traffic. Good SEO will get your products to show up in search results and attract more customers.
Personalized Gifts: Offer personalized gifts and products to stand out from the competition and attract repeat business. Customers highly value personalized items, which will increase sales.
Local Craft Fairs: Participate in local craft fairs and markets to connect with customers and promote your products. Craft fairs are a great way to get direct feedback and build relationships with customers.
Sell on Online Marketplaces: Sell on online marketplaces like Etsy or eBay to reach more customers. These platforms have a huge customer base and will give you more exposure.
Business Plan: Create a solid business plan that outlines your goals, target market, marketing strategy, and financial projections. A good business plan will guide your decisions and keep you focused on your objectives.
By following these tips and considering the above factors, you can build a craft business that sells. Remember to stay focused on your target market, continually test and improve your products and marketing, and always be open to new opportunities and challenges.
DIY Crafts: Sell Online
Whether you’re an experienced crafter or just starting out now is the time to get into DIY crafts and start your online store. Today’s customers are looking for unique and handmade over mass produced so it’s a great time to craft.
