Shop & Seller Pricing

POD Provider Comparison Calculator

Compare Printify vs Printful vs Custom side by side: base cost, shipping, platform fees, profit and margin.

New here? Jump to how it works · FAQ

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Pass-through makes platform fees differ slightly per column because revenue includes that provider’s shipping.
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Etsy/Shopify/PayPal-style % on item + shipping charged.
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In-house, contract printer, or another POD catalog.
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This is a provider comparison engine — not a single-box profit guess.

Enter one sell price and fee model, then put Printify, Printful and a Custom/other quote in three columns. PressMath shows base cost, shipping, platform fees, total cost, profit and margin for each so you can pick the provider that actually wins on this SKU.

Defaults are illustrative planning numbers. Replace them with live quotes before you publish a listing.

How it works / formula

Calculation steps

  1. Shared inputs
  2. Selling price = the same retail price for every provider column
  3. Platform fees = (sell price + shipping charged) × platform % + fixed fee
  4. Ads = attributed promo cost applied equally to each column
  5. Per provider
  6. Base cost = provider product / fulfillment quote
  7. Shipping cost = what you pay that provider to ship
  8. Shipping charged = pass-through provider shipping, or one shared flat amount
  9. Total cost = base cost + shipping cost + platform fees + ads
  10. Profit = selling price − total cost
  11. Margin = profit ÷ selling price
  12. Winner = highest profit (highlighted in the result table)

Worked example

Example (illustrative)

  • Sell price $29.99 · pass-through shipping · 6.5% + $0.30 fees · $0 ads
  • Printify: base $12.50 + ship $4.50 → fees on $34.49 ≈ $2.54 → total ≈ $19.54 → profit ≈ $10.45 (≈35% margin)
  • Printful: base $14.20 + ship $4.99 → fees ≈ $2.57 → total ≈ $21.76 → profit ≈ $8.23 (≈27% margin)
  • Custom: base $10.40 + ship $5.20 → fees ≈ $2.59 → total ≈ $18.19 → profit ≈ $11.80 (≈39% margin)
  • Custom leads on profit in this illustrative tee scenario — replace with your live quotes.

Assumptions & limitations

This calculator provides an estimate for planning and quoting. Actual results vary with supplier pricing, ink coverage, waste, labour rates, equipment and marketplace fee changes. Always verify critical numbers before production. See the disclaimer.

Illustrative comparison (replace with your quotes)

Line Printify Printful Custom
Base cost $12.50 $14.20 $10.40
Shipping cost $4.50 $4.99 $5.20
Platform fees (model) ~$2.54 ~$2.57 ~$2.59
Total cost ~$19.54 ~$21.76 ~$18.19
Selling price $29.99 $29.99 $29.99
Profit ~$10.45 ~$8.23 ~$11.80
Margin ~34.8% ~27.4% ~39.3%

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from a normal POD profit calculator?

It compares three providers on one screen with the same sell price and fee model, so you see which quote wins — not just one profit number at a time.

Why do platform fees differ between columns?

In pass-through mode, buyer-paid shipping equals each provider’s shipping, so revenue (and %-based fees) differ slightly. Shared mode keeps fees identical.

Does Custom mean I print in-house?

Custom is any third column: in-house DTF, a contract printer, or another POD catalog. Pair in-house unit cost with the DTF Cost Calculator.

Are Printify/Printful defaults real live prices?

No — they are transparent planning defaults. Always paste current catalog quotes for your blank, print area and ship-to country.

Should I also run the Etsy Fee calculator?

Yes when you need listing fees, offsite ads or a fuller Etsy stack. This tool keeps the fee model simple so provider cost is the main comparison.

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Disclaimer · Last updated Oct 8, 2026