How to sell poster prints on Etsy

Why is Etsy the best place to launch a poster business? Learn how to set up your shop, create high-converting mockups, and master the SEO "keyword cramming" technique to get your art in front of thousands of buyers.

Max Murray Updated on Apr 1, 2026

How to Sell Poster Prints on Etsy

You may have noticed that we mention Etsy quite a few times in this guide! That is because it is hands down the best place to start selling posters.

Etsy is the go-to marketplace for home decor and gifts. While it might be tempting to start with your own website, Etsy brings the customers to you. If you start selling "Bathroom Posters," it is much easier to convert sales when customers are already searching for "bathroom decor" on Etsy than it is to build an audience from scratch on a standalone website.

What are the costs?

Setting up an Etsy seller account currently costs roughly £15. The other main costs are:

Listing Fee: 20 cents per item (lasts 4 months or until it sells).
Transaction Fee: 6.5% per sale.
Payment Processing: A small percentage + flat fee. Usually, this totals around 10% of each order—a small price to pay for the massive traffic Etsy provides.

1. Getting Your Shop Ready

Before you list your first poster, ensure your "shop front" looks professional:

Shop Name & Logo: Pick a brand name that fits your niche and design a simple, clean logo.
Shop Banner: Use this space to show off your best designs or current offers.
Shop Announcement: Add a welcome message. I recommend running a "Buy 3, Get 20% Off" sale. PrintShrimp offers large discounts for multi-poster orders, so this is a great way to increase your average order value!

2. Professional Poster Mockups

On Etsy, your main photo is your only chance to get a click. Most successful shops use digital mockups to show their posters framed on a wall.

Top Tip: Our automated listing software comes with a stacked library of over 100 mock ups! All included with your subscription. Drag and drop your posters, and they will be automatically added to mock ups, and uploaded to Etsy with all of your SEO done.

3. Mastering Etsy SEO (Titles & Tags)

If you don't get your SEO right, no one will see your amazing art. The goal is to maximize your keywords.

Ensure you perfect your SEO by checking out our Bulk Listing Software.

Titles

You have 140 characters. Start with a concise description, then cram in as many related keywords as possible.

Example: Les Arcs Skiing Poster, Les Arcs Print, French Alps Art, France Ski Poster, Snowboarding Gift, Ski Resort Wall Art, French Decor.

Descriptions

Repeat your keywords naturally in the description. Mention the quality (e.g., "Museum-grade 200gsm paper") and specify that it comes unframed to manage expectations.

Tags (The Most Important Part)

You get 13 tags. These are the main search terms that match your listing to a buyer’s search.

Pro Tip: Look at successful competitors in your niche. Scroll to the bottom of their listing page to see the tags they are using and integrate the best ones into your own listing.

4. Using SKUs to Stay Organized

A SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) is a unique identifier for your product. You should set these up from day one.

Matching: Make your SKU match the file name you upload to PrintShrimp (e.g., eiffel-tower-white-A3).
Systems: If you have 1,000 posters, you'll want a system like A1-EiffelTower or B5-AbstractLine.
Variations: If you offer different colors or sizes, ensure you select "SKUs vary for each variation" in Etsy so you can track exactly which file needs to be printed for each order.