Is Selling Throw Pillows On Redbubble Profitable
Last updated: April 2026 ·affiliate disclosure
Most throw pillow sellers on Redbubble see net margins between 15% and 35% after all fees and production costs. You won't get rich, but it's passive income if you already have designs. The math: a $25 throw pillow might generate $3-$8 in royalties per sale after Redbubble's cut and the manufacturer's production costs. Success depends entirely on whether your designs actually sell—and most don't move significant volume.
Redbubble Fees for throw pillows Sellers
Redbubble takes a base markup on every throw pillow sold, typically 40-50% of the retail price before your royalty is calculated. On a $25 pillow, Redbubble's cut is roughly $10-$12.50. You then earn a royalty on top of what remains, but the exact percentage varies by product tier and whether Redbubble is running a sale. Payment processing fees (2-3%) also apply when you withdraw earnings, further reducing your take-home.
Profit Margin Benchmarks
Good margins: You're hitting 30%+ net profit when your designs sell consistently and you price at $25-$30. That means $7-$9 per pillow sold. Average margins: 20-25% if you're getting occasional sales with moderate pricing. Poor margins: Below 15% if you're underpricing ($18-$20) or rely on heavy discounts. Most sellers fall in the 15-25% range. Volume is the real challenge—most designs sell fewer than 10 units monthly.
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 throw pillows on Redbubble is only worth it if you view it as genuine passive income, not active income. The barrier to entry is zero, but the barrier to profitability is high: you need designs that actually resonate with buyers in a crowded marketplace. If you already have art or designs, upload them—the risk is minimal. But don't expect meaningful revenue unless you're uploading 50+ designs and driving external traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Redbubble throw pillow royalties?
Redbubble pays you a royalty on each throw pillow sale, typically 15-20% of the base price before discounts. On a $25 pillow, you'd earn $3.75-$5 per sale before payment processing fees. The exact rate depends on Redbubble's current pricing structure and whether the sale occurred during a promotional period.
What profit margins should I expect selling throw pillows on Redbubble?
Realistic net margins are 15-35% after Redbubble's markup, production costs, and payment fees. Most sellers operate in the 18-25% range. A $25 pillow might net you $4-$6 in profit per sale, assuming no external advertising costs. Margins shrink quickly if you're running paid ads to drive traffic.
How much can you actually make selling throw pillows on Redbubble?
It depends almost entirely on sales volume. If you sell 10 pillows monthly at $25 with 20% margins, you're making $50. Scaling to 100 monthly sales nets you $500. Most sellers see 0-20 monthly sales per design, making throw pillows a supplementary income stream rather than a primary revenue source.
Is Redbubble worth it for throw pillows compared to other print-on-demand sites?
Redbubble has higher royalty rates than some competitors (Printful, Merch by Amazon), but margins are similar when you factor in base markups. The main advantage is Redbubble's built-in marketplace traffic; the main disadvantage is extreme competition. Choose Redbubble if you want zero upfront costs and don't mind sharing revenue with the platform.
Tools that improve these margins
The right research tool helps you find products with better margins before you invest in inventory.
Try Find Profitable Digital Products Free →Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Related calculators
Compare Throw Pillows across platforms
Sell Throw Pillows on other platforms — fee and margin breakdowns for the same product type.
| Platform | Calculator | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Merch by Amazon | Open calculator → | View full breakdown → |
We monitor platform fees quarterly and email you when something affects your margins.