Top 5 Best Selling Merch for Musicians
Thinking about selling merch but not sure where to start? Learn the best selling merch for musicians. They are easy to launch, customizable, and perfect for musicians at any stage.
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Top 5 Best Selling Merch for Musicians
by Julia Kater via Bandzoogle
Merch can be a major source of income for musicians. More than that, it gives your fans something tangible to hold on to—something that reminds them of your shows and their connection to your music. Superfans especially love to support their favorite artist by making a purchase.
What’s the best way to figure out what will sell? Get to know your fanbase. Your genre and audience demographics will guide what your fans want, what they’ll use, and what they can afford.
If you’re just getting started with selling music merch, here are five popular, customizable, and beginner-friendly products to consider offering your fans:
These items are popular for good reasons: they’re easy to produce, appeal to a wide audience, and offer solid profit potential. Below, we’ll break down why each one works, along with some tips to help you make the most of your merch sales:
1. T-shirts
If you had to guess which piece of merch most fans already own, odds are it’s a T-shirt. Band tees have been a staple for decades—and forecasting predicts their ongoing popularity. They’re easy to design (just a logo, album cover, or tour date) and simple to bring to shows.
T-shirts also serve a dual purpose: fans love wearing them, and every shirt worn becomes free promotion for your band. With a decent profit margin and wide appeal, T-shirts are the perfect starting point if you’d like to sell merch to your fans.
Artist website: Flara K
2. Hoodies
Another fan favourite, hoodies are great merch products for musicians to sell, because they sell consistently well. While you may sell fewer in volume than more lower-cost items, the profit margin is solid—and fans love them in cooler weather. Plus, as another stylish wearable, hoodies help promote your brand wherever they go.
If hoodies sell well for you, that’s a good sign that you can branch out into more apparel like leggings, sweatpants, or crewnecks.
Artist website: Bernice Marsala
3. Hats
Durable, useful, and endlessly customizable, hats are a great staple item worth selling through your music website or custom online merch store. Whether you offer a trucker cap, beanie, or dad hat, you can create a clean design featuring your band logo, lyrics, or artwork. They look great with a single focal point and are easy to mass-produce with a crowd-pleasing design.
Hats also appeal to a wide range of ages and are often one-size-fits-all, which simplifies your inventory. Bunus: they’re functional, compact, and easy to transport, making them a merch table favourite at shows and festivals.
Artist website: DEK of Hearts
4. Bags
Reusable tote bags offer a stylish, eco-conscious way for fans to support your band. They’re lightweight, foldable, and easy to carry at shows. Just be sure to choose a high-quality, sturdy canvas or fabric for durability.
Design-wise, you can go bold with artwork or keep it minimal with just your logo and lyrics. Either way, bags are a functional and unique merch option that fans will use in everyday life.
Artist website: Lisa Warren
5. Drinkware
Drinkware—like mugs or tumblers—is both practical and personal. Fans love everyday items they can actually use, and a well-designed mug can quickly become a fan favourite, especially if it prominently features your own sleek band logo.
Mugs are affordable and compact, making them great for online orders. If they sell well in your online merch store, consider expanding into higher-end options like insulated tumblers or water bottles.
Artist website: PCL
Best selling merch for musicians
This list is by no means exhaustive—it’s just a starting point to help you quickly dive into selling customized merch. These popular merch items are easy to produce and designed to help you make more money from your music.
That said, the merch world is full of creative opportunities—so don’t be afraid to experiment. Want more merch ideas? Check out 25 creative band merch ideas for inspiration beyond the basics.
Once you’ve started selling merch, you’ll get a better sense of what your fans respond well to, and how that works for you. You can sell merch online using a print-on-demand service like Printful, which lets you easily offer a variety of items and ship to fans anywhere.
Planning a tour? Order merch in batches to sell at shows—then any leftover items can be sold directly (and commission-free) from your music website or custom online merch store.
And don’t forget: Bandzoogle’s built-in selling tools make it easy for you to manage your merch, whether you’re fulfilling orders yourself or using the robust print-on-demand integration.
