How to Earn Money from Redbubble (Step-by-Step for Beginners in the USA)

Introduction: What is Redbubble?

Redbubble is a print-on-demand (POD) marketplace that allows artists and creators to upload their artwork and sell it on different products—like T-shirts, stickers, phone cases, mugs, posters, and more. You don't need to handle printing, shipping, or customer service. Redbubble does all of that.

You just create and upload designs.

That’s why it’s one of the best passive income platforms for beginners.

Why Choose Redbubble to Make Money Online?

100% Free to Join

No need to buy products upfront

No shipping or handling

No need for customer service

Global reach—anyone can buy your products

You earn from every sale

Now let’s dive into the step-by-step process to start earning.

Step 1: Create Your Redbubble Account

1. Visit www.redbubble.com.

2. Click Sign Up.

3. Choose “Artist Account”.

4. Enter your email, username, and password.

5. Verify your email.

Tip: Use a professional username (e.g., artbyjohn or designcentral).

Step 2: Set Up Your Redbubble Shop

Upload a profile picture (your face or logo)

Write a short bio about your art style

Add links to your social media or website (if you have one)

This builds trust and improves your shop’s look.

Step 3: Understand What Sells on Redbubble

Before you start designing, it’s smart to understand trending and evergreen niches.

Hot Niches on Redbubble (USA-based buyers):

Funny quotes

Animals (cats, dogs, etc.)

Political humor

Pop culture

Mental health awareness

LGBTQ+ pride

Feminist quotes

American lifestyle (freedom, road trips, camping)

Fitness and motivation

Holidays (Halloween, Christmas, etc.)

Do research on Redbubble search bar and tools like Google Trends.

Step 4: Create Your First Design

You don’t need to be a master artist. You can use free tools:

Design Tools:

Canva (free + easy to use)

Photopea (like Photoshop, browser-based)

Krita (free software for drawing)

Procreate (if you use iPad)

Design Tips:

Use transparent background (PNG format)

Dimensions: at least 4500 x 5400 pixels

Keep it simple, bold, and readable

Avoid copyrighted material (No Disney, Marvel, etc.)

Step 5: Upload Your Design to Redbubble

1. Log in to your account

2. Click “Add New Work”

3. Upload your PNG design

4. Add title, tags, and description

Tips for Titles and Tags:

Title: Use relevant keywords (e.g., “Funny Gym Cat T-shirt”)

Tags: Use 10-15 strong tags (e.g., gym cat, fitness humor, gym life, etc.)

Description: Keep it short and clear

This helps your design appear in search results.

Step 6: Choose Products and Adjust the Layout

After uploading, you can choose which products to sell:

T-shirts

Hoodies

Stickers

Mugs

Phone cases

Posters

Notebooks

Tote bags

Pillows

Enable only the ones that look good with your design.

Adjust size, placement, and background color for each.

Step 7: Set Your Prices

Redbubble gives you a base price and lets you add a markup. For example:

T-shirt base: $14.00

Your markup: 20%

Final price: $16.80

Your earnings: $2.80 per sale

You can change markup per product.

Most artists set 20%–30% markup.

Step 8: Promote Your Redbubble Store

You don’t need to run paid ads, but some promotion helps. Free methods:

Instagram (post your designs, use hashtags)

Pinterest (great for getting traffic)

TikTok (create fun videos showing your design)

Facebook groups (relevant to your niche)

YouTube Shorts (if you like video)

The more traffic you send, the more chances of sales.

Step 9: Be Consistent and Upload Regularly

Don’t upload just 1 or 2 designs. Upload 50, 100, or more over time.

More designs = More exposure = More income

Step 10: Track Your Earnings and Improve

Redbubble pays you monthly via PayPal or bank account (minimum $20).

Use your dashboard to check:

Top-selling designs

Views and favorites

Traffic sources

Double down on what works.

How Much Money Can You Earn on Redbubble Monthly?

It depends on:

Quality of your designs

Number of designs

Marketing effort

Target niche

Here’s a rough idea:

Designs Uploaded Avg. Monthly Income

10 designs $5 – $20

50 designs $50 – $100

100 designs $100 – $300

500+ designs $500 – $2,000+

Top creators make over $5,000/month.

But for beginners, $100–$500/month is realistic after 3–6 months.

Best Practices for Long-Term Success

Upload consistently (5–10 per week)

Use strong keywords in tags

Avoid copyrighted content

Keep learning design trends

Make seasonal designs (Christmas, Halloween)

Study what’s trending on Redbubble home page

Use high-quality mockups to promote on social media

Mistakes to Avoid

Copying others’ work (Redbubble may suspend your account)

Poor quality or low-resolution images

Too few tags

Ignoring product placement

Not promoting your designs

Giving up too early

Final Thoughts: Can You Really Make Money on Redbubble?

Yes, you can.

Redbubble is perfect for artists, hobby designers, or anyone who wants to make passive income with zero upfront cost.

It requires patience, creativity, and consistency.

But if you follow the steps above, earning $100–$500+ per month is possible within months.

Summary: How to Start Earning on Redbubble

1. Create an account

2. Understand trending niches

3. Design high-quality art

4. Upload with the right titles & tags

5. Enable best products & set prices

6. Promote on free platforms

7. Repeat and improve

Bonus: Tools You Can Use

Canva.com – for design creation

Remove.bg – to remove image backgrounds

DisplayPurposes.com – find good hashtags

Google Trends – discover trending topics

Pinterest – explore popular design themes

Vexels / Creative Fabrica – stock designs (with licenses)