Merch by Amazon is Amazon’s own print-on-demand platform where designers upload artwork and Amazon prints it on t-shirts, hoodies, phone cases, and other products that sell directly on Amazon.com. You earn a royalty on each sale with zero upfront cost and no inventory management. The power here is that your designs sit inside the world’s most visited shopping site with built-in buyer trust and Prime shipping. Royalties start at around $2 to $3 per standard t-shirt sale and go higher with pricing. The platform is invite-only with tiered access that unlocks more listing slots as your sales grow, starting at 10 design slots for new accounts and scaling up as you hit sales milestones.
Pay
Royalty per product varies by product type and price point. A $19.99 t-shirt earns roughly $2 to $4 royalty depending on Amazon's base cost. Higher priced items earn proportionally more. Some experienced designers earn $1,000 to $5,000 per month from large, well-optimized portfolios.
How You Make Money
You upload original designs; when a customer buys, Amazon prints and ships the product, and you receive a royalty payment monthly.
Payment Method
Direct deposit or bank transfer
Minimum Payment
Must meet Amazon's minimum payment threshold (varies by country)
Withdrawal Speed
Payments issued monthly, around 30 days after the end of a sales month.
Pros
1. Completely free to join, no upfront costs, no inventory risk
2. Amazon handles all the physical side. Printing, packing, shipping, and customer service
3. Passive income potential. Designs can keep selling for months or years
4. High-end designs priced at $25.99 can earn royalties as high as 37.6% per sale
5. Access to Amazon's massive global customer base with no marketing required
Cons
1. Approval can take anywhere from three weeks to three months no guaranteed timeline
2. You start at Tier 10, meaning only 10 design slots until you hit your first sales milestone
3. Copyright and trademark violations can get your account shut down permanently with no warning
4. Income is unpredictable, especially when starting out
Best For
Creatives, designers, and side hustlers who want a passive income stream without dealing with inventory or shipping
