By Jason Vander Griendt

September 12, 2019 at 4:30 am

E-commerce traces its roots to the 1970s and began in earnest in the late 1980s. Today, electronic purchases make up over $2.3 trillion in global retail sales. With billions of dollars on the table, it is no surprise that each day brings a foray into new realms of online retailing.

The allure of selling 3D printed products on Amazon is quietly seeping its way into the minds of digital side hustle entrepreneurs. The emergence of 3D printing products for sale has come on slowly, as the technology has previously been expensive and the market is still waking to the idea.

3D printing often brings about images of advanced uses like the miraculous 3D printed organs seen in the popular TV medical drama Grey’s Anatomy. While there are many examples of groundbreaking innovations in the field, 3D printing can also be used for more modest endeavors.

The art of 3D printing is not limited to large-scale manufacturers. Printers range in size from DIY at-home devices to massive, industrial machines capable of producing virtually anything.

How Does Selling 3D Printed Products Work?

The focus here is on selling products on Amazon but most of the principles apply to the other major e-commerce sites like Etsy and eBay, or even your own site on Shopify or another online e-commerce platform. All of these platforms offer regular people the opportunity to reach millions of shoppers every day.

Amazon is an ideal outlet for 3D printed products because there are multiple ways to gain a selling advantage. Sellers on Amazon can choose to list items in the 3D Designs and Print on Demand category, which has obvious benefits like attracting customers browsing through such items. Gaining access to this section requires a Professional Plan and costs more depending on your monthly sales (if you sell 40+ products per month, the Professional Plan is a better value than the Individual Plan.)

For those selling 3D printed products as more of a hobby or creative outlet, Amazon offers the opportunity to list the items in a generic category like Toys and Games. Individual Plan holders must go this route as access to the 3D specific category is restricted.

The process for selling on Amazon is ridiculously simple. Create a seller account, follow the assistive prompts via the Sell on Amazon page, and add your products with appropriate pictures.

Related reading: Take your product to the next level by getting featured on Shark Tank

What Are the Best 3D Printed Products to Sell on Amazon?

The sky is the limit when it comes to finding or creating top selling 3D printed products on Amazon but there are ways to get ahead of others trying their hands at the same thing. Some examples of popular 3D printed products are listed below but first we will examine a couple of selling tips.

If you own a 3D printer and are hoping to create one-off items for paying customers, you may want to consider a Design to Order format. This will allow you to receive designs from potential clients and print the item on their behalf. This option is great for sellers hoping to make a couple bucks here and there.

For those hoping to start a full-fledged business selling 3D printed products, however, it’s better to let someone else do the heavy lifting. 3D printing on larger scales and in heavy volumes requires a massive investment. Keeping up with supplies, maintenance, and production to meet demand are all challenges faced by 3D printing entrepreneurs.

Gain an advantage over small scale printers without investing in the technology yourself by enlisting the help of a custom 3D printing service like the team here at JCAD. We can help you with all phases of the process including design, prototyping and production. If you’re trying to create a real business and not just a hobby, this will give you a distinct leg up on DIY sellers printing products in their basement, both in print quality and affordability.

Here are a few product ideas that are frequently great sellers on Amazon:

  • Rings
  • Selfie Dolls
  • Home Goods
  • Toys
  • Games

Utilizing the skills, knowledge, and advanced equipment of a custom 3D printing service is the ideal way to get started with a profitable 3D printed products sales business. The cost savings of printing on a large scale will increase your overall earnings, while reducing the frustration and pressure of fulfilling orders alone.

If you have questions about what products we’ve previously seen to be successful, get in touch through our contact page or give us a call on 1.888.202.2052

Or if you’re just looking for a quote, add your project details here and we’ll send you an instant quote!

Image call to action to get a free quote on your project

Looking for the best US product suppliers for Amazon FBA? Read this article!

Jason Vander Griendt

Jason Vander Griendt is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with years of experience working at major companies such as SNC Lavalin Inc, Hatch Ltd. Siemens and Gerdau Ameristeel. He is the CEO of JCAD – Inc., a company he started in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market for businesses who could assist clients through the entire product design and manufacturing process.

Jason has been featured in Forbes, has had his businesses analyzed and discussed in multiple start-up books, was a previous winner of the Notable8 Digital Innovator of the year award, and is a regular guest on business panels and podcasts. Email Jason at jason@jcadusa.com or follow him on LinkedIn.

Recent Posts

Start your project
today with free quote!