How to Sell 3D Prints Online: Etsy vs eBay vs Amazon vs Shopify (2026)
There are four main routes to selling 3D prints online — each with different fee structures, audiences, and profit profiles. This guide breaks down what you actually keep on a £20 sale across all four platforms, when each makes sense, and how to calculate your real profit before you list. Prices shown in GBP (£) and USD ($) throughout. The calculator auto-detects your currency.
Platform Fee Comparison at a Glance
| Platform | Transaction fee | Processing fee | Fixed | Effective rate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy | 6.5% | 3.25% (US) / 4% (UK) | £0.20 | ~10–10.75% | Handmade niche, built-in audience |
| eBay | 12.8% | 2.9% | — | ~15.7% | Used/rare items, auction format |
| Amazon | 15% | 2.9% | — | ~17.9% | High volume, commodity items |
| Shopify | 0% | 2.9% | — | ~2.9% | Own brand, scaling beyond marketplaces |
| Own website (Stripe) | 0% | 1.5% + £0.25 (UK Stripe) | — | ~2–3% | Max margin, requires own traffic |
Fixed fees shown for UK sellers. US sellers: Etsy listing fee is $0.20 (vs £0.16); Etsy payment processing is 3% + $0.25 (vs 4% + £0.20). Percentage fees are identical worldwide.
What You Keep on a £20 Sale — Platform by Platform
Examples use a £20 / ~$25 item. Percentage fees are identical for US sellers; fixed fees differ slightly — see table footnote above.
Same £20 item (80g PLA phone stand), shipping £3.55 Tracked 48. Filament + electricity £2.21, packaging £0.40.
Etsy (UK seller)
| Listing price | £20.00 |
| Shipping charged (Tracked 48) | £3.55 |
| Listing fee | −£0.16 |
| Transaction fee (6.5% of £23.55) | −£1.53 |
| Payment processing (4% + £0.20) | −£1.14 |
| Actual shipping cost | −£3.55 |
| Filament + electricity | −£2.21 |
| Packaging | −£0.40 |
| You keep | £14.56 |
eBay (UK seller)
| Listing price | £20.00 |
| Final value fee (12.8%) | −£2.56 |
| Processing (2.9%) | −£0.58 |
| Actual shipping cost | −£3.55 |
| Filament + electricity | −£2.21 |
| Packaging | −£0.40 |
| You keep | £10.70 |
Amazon (UK seller)
| Listing price | £20.00 |
| Referral fee (15%) | −£3.00 |
| Processing (2.9%) | −£0.58 |
| Actual shipping cost | −£3.55 |
| Filament + electricity | −£2.21 |
| Packaging | −£0.40 |
| You keep | £10.26 |
Shopify (own store)
| Listing price | £20.00 |
| Shopify processing (2.9%) | −£0.58 |
| Actual shipping cost | −£3.55 |
| Filament + electricity | −£2.21 |
| Packaging | −£0.40 |
| You keep | £13.26 |
Etsy keeps the most (£14.56) despite higher fees, because buyers come to Etsy already looking for handmade items — you don't pay for traffic separately. Shopify keeps £13.26 but you must generate all traffic yourself. Use the Etsy fee calculator to run your own numbers.
Etsy — Best Starting Point for Most Sellers
Built-in audience of buyers actively searching for handmade/unique items. Fee structure is mid-market (~10.75% effective). Algorithm rewards new listings with early exposure. Downside: Offsite Ads mandatory over £10k, competitive on popular searches. Best for: decorative prints, gifts, miniatures, unique functional items. See our Etsy pricing guide.
Use the Etsy fee calculator to find your exact break-even price before listing.
eBay — Niche Use Cases Only
eBay's 12.8% + 2.9% = ~15.7% effective fee is significantly higher than Etsy for most categories. 3D print listings don't get the same organic discovery benefit. Better for: selling second-hand equipment, large lots of filament, or rare/specialist parts where buyers specifically search eBay.
Amazon — Only Worth It at Scale
15% + 2.9% = ~17.9% effective fee. Amazon buyers expect fast fulfilment (FBA or Prime-level shipping). 3D printed items are harder to scale on Amazon due to custom/handmade positioning. Better for: standardised, non-custom products with high volume potential. Requires strong listing optimisation and reviews.
Shopify — For Sellers Ready to Own Their Audience
Shopify makes sense when you have enough volume that the 10% saved on Etsy fees (vs Shopify's 2.9%) covers the cost of generating your own traffic. Rule of thumb: worth switching when you have a return customer base and social media / email list driving consistent traffic. Setup cost: ~£25–35/month Shopify subscription + theme.
Running Etsy + Shopify in parallel is a common strategy — Etsy for discovery, Shopify for repeat customers at lower fees.
What to Sell: High-Margin Products for Each Platform
| Platform | High-margin product types | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Etsy | Miniatures, D&D terrain, custom signs, planters, gifts | Commodity items available cheaper elsewhere |
| eBay | Specialist/rare parts, filament lots, printer accessories | Standard decorative items |
| Amazon | High-volume standardised items, basic organisers | Highly custom / low-volume |
| Shopify | Own brand, subscription boxes, B2B | Starting out with no existing audience |
FAQ
Is it worth selling 3D prints on Etsy?
Yes for most sellers starting out. Built-in audience, manageable fees, and easy to test product-market fit. Key is correct pricing — see our Etsy pricing guide.
Do you need a business licence to sell 3D prints?
UK: register as self-employed with HMRC once earnings exceed the £1,000 trading allowance. You're also legally a manufacturer — consumer products must meet safety requirements.
How much can you make selling 3D prints online?
Hobbyists: £100–500/month. Part-time sellers: £500–2,000/month. Small farms: £2,000–8,000+/month. Depends entirely on niche, volume, and pricing discipline.
What is the best platform to sell 3D prints?
Etsy for discovery, Shopify for margin once you have an audience. Most successful 3D print sellers eventually run both.
Know Your Real Profit Before You List
Select your selling platform, enter item price, and see exactly what you keep after all fees. Works for Etsy, eBay, Amazon, and Shopify.
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