Etsy is one of the biggest places to sell 3D prints, but its fees and its rules for 3D-printed items both catch sellers out. Here's what to know before you list, and how to price so the fees don't eat your profit.
First: the original-design rule
In mid-2025, Etsy updated its creativity standards. 3D-printed items are allowed only if they're produced from the seller's own original design. Prints of other designers' models aren't allowed, even with a commercial licence.
If you sell prints of licensed designs, look at other channels: your own website, local markets, or the Nozzlet directory. See Can you sell prints of models from Printables or Thingiverse?
Etsy's main fees (Canadian sellers)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Listing fee | About US$0.20 each time you list or renew |
| Transaction fee | 6.5% of the order total, including shipping |
| Payment processing (Canada) | About 3% + C$0.25 per order |
| Regulatory operating fee | A small percentage in Canada |
| GST/HST on Etsy's fees | Charged on the fees, based on your province |
| Offsite Ads | A percentage of sales that come from Etsy's ads on other sites |
| Etsy Ads | Optional, your own budget |
Check Etsy's current fee schedule before pricing. Fees change.
A worked example
A set of 4 brackets sells for $30, plus $8 shipping, so the order total is $38.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transaction fee: 6.5% × $38 | $2.47 |
| Payment processing: 3% × $38 + $0.25 | $1.39 |
| Total (before listing, regulatory, and ad fees) | $3.86 (about 10% of the order) |
Add the listing fee, the regulatory fee, and tax on fees, and you're past 10%. With Offsite Ads, a sale can cost much more.
Build the fees into your price
If you normally price for a 50% margin, fees come out of that margin unless you account for them. Include them in the formula:
Price = fully loaded cost ÷ (1 − target margin − fee percentage)
Using the example from our pricing guide, with a fully loaded cost of $10.52 per set:
- Off Etsy: $10.52 ÷ (1 − 0.50) = $21.04
- On Etsy, allowing 10% for fees: $10.52 ÷ (1 − 0.50 − 0.10) = $26.30
At $26.30, Etsy's fees are about $2.63 and you still keep your full 50% margin.
Tips for Etsy sellers
- Price shipping honestly. Fees apply to shipping too, so "free shipping" just moves the cost into your price.
- Watch your margins on cheap items. Fixed fees hurt most on small orders. Bundles and sets help.
- Know your profit per print hour. An Etsy bestseller that earns little per print hour may be crowding out better work.
- Keep records of your designs to show they're your own.
Coming to Nozzlet Works
After launch, Nozzlet Works is planning to bring in Etsy orders automatically, so they go straight into your schedule and your stock updates as you print.
Sources
- Etsy fees for Canadian sellers (Etsy fee schedule; summarized by Jones & Cosman, August 2026)
- Etsy creativity standards update, mid-2025 (Tom's Hardware, 3D Printing Industry)