Is Selling Mugs On Redbubble Profitable
Last updated: April 2026 ·affiliate disclosure
Most mug sellers on Redbubble see net margins between 15% and 35% after all fees, depending on your markup strategy. You're not getting rich—a $15 mug with a $3 base cost leaves you roughly $2-4 in profit after Redbubble's cut. The platform handles production and shipping, so you're trading thin margins for zero upfront costs and zero fulfillment work.
Redbubble Fees for mugs Sellers
Redbubble takes a flat base margin on every mug sold. For a standard 11oz mug, their base cost is roughly $3-3.50, meaning they keep that amount before your markup kicks in. On top of the base cost, Redbubble takes an additional 20-30% commission on your markup—so if you mark up a mug $5 above base, Redbubble takes $1-1.50 of that. If you add design complexity or request premium printing, those costs increase too, eating further into margins.
Profit Margin Benchmarks
Good margins: You're hitting 30%+ net profit when you sell mugs at $16.95-$19.95 with solid design appeal. This means roughly $4-5 profit per mug after Redbubble fees. Average margins: Most sellers land at 20-25%, selling mugs at $14.95-$16.95 for $2-3 per sale. Poor margins: Anything under 15% (selling under $14.95) is barely worth the listing—you're making under $1.50 per mug even with volume.
Calculate your actual numbers
The margins above are averages. Your real profit depends on your specific price, costs, and volume.
Run Your Redbubble Profit Calculation →Verdict: Is It Worth It?
Selling mugs on Redbubble is profitable only if you're running a design catalog strategy, not expecting per-item volume. One mug sale every few days won't cover your time. You need 50+ sales per month to make this worthwhile as a side income ($100-200/month). It works best paired with other Redbubble products (shirts, hoodies) under one design umbrella, not as a standalone product strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Redbubble mug royalties?
Redbubble doesn't use a traditional royalty system—they use a base cost model. You set the price above Redbubble's base cost (roughly $3-3.50 for a standard mug), and Redbubble takes 20-30% of your markup as their commission. Your "royalty" is whatever remains after that cut.
What margins can you realistically expect selling mugs on Redbubble?
Realistic net margins range from 18% to 32% per mug sold. If you sell a mug for $16.95 with a $3.50 base cost, you're making roughly $2-2.50 after Redbubble's commission. Volume is required—100 mugs per month at $2.50 profit each gives you $250, which barely justifies the effort.
How much does Redbubble take from mug sales?
Redbubble keeps the full base production cost (typically $3-3.50 per mug) plus 20-30% of your markup. On a $16.95 mug, they're taking roughly $4.50-5 total, leaving you $2-2.50 in profit. Premium options (larger sizes, special finishes) increase their cut.
Is selling mugs on Redbubble worth it compared to other print-on-demand platforms?
Redbubble's mug margins (20-30% net) are comparable to Printful but lower than Merch by Amazon (if approved). Redbubble wins on ease and traffic but loses on margin. You'll make more per mug on Etsy using a dedicated POD supplier, but you'll handle customer service and returns yourself.
Tools that improve these margins
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Related calculators
Compare Mugs across platforms
Sell Mugs on other platforms — fee and margin breakdowns for the same product type.
| Platform | Calculator | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Etsy | Open calculator → | View full breakdown → |
We monitor platform fees quarterly and email you when something affects your margins.