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Online shopping has become a huge part of our lives. Today, some of the top online shopping categories generate billions of dollars every year.
From clothes to groceries, people want quick, easy, and trustworthy shopping experiences. But which products bring the most profit for print-on-demand sellers?
In this guide, we’ll share the most popular online shopping categories based on global and U.S. revenue. We’ll also look at the fastest-growing eCommerce categories and key online shopping trends.
For print-on-demand (POD) sellers, these trends can help spot new opportunities. Whether you’re starting a new store or growing one, knowing which categories are rising can help you succeed
Let’s look at the data.
Top Online Shopping Categories by Global Revenue
Looking at the top online shopping categories worldwide shows where buyers spend the most. Global ecommerce sales reached $5.7 trillion in 2024.
Knowing which shopping categories bring the most revenue helps you find the best POD niches. Let’s review the top categories globally.
Electronics
Electronics lead with $922.5 billion in global online sales for 2024. This category includes smartphones, laptops, and smart devices.
For POD sellers, tech accessories are a huge niche. Items like phone cases, laptop sleeves, and airpod cases sell very well.
Fashion and Apparel
Fashion is one of the biggest online shopping categories. In 2024, it made about $760 billion in sales. People buy clothes, shoes, and accessories all year long. Dropshipping has made it easy for anyone to start selling online.
Dropshipping items like custom T-shirts and hoodies are still bestsellers. This category gives creative sellers many new ideas to try.
Food and Beverages
Combined, food and beverages bring in $708.8 billion in annual revenue. Food alone accounts for $460.1 billion in 2024 sales. Beverages add another $248.7 billion to the total.
More people shop for groceries online for convenience and repeat delivery. While POD can’t sell fresh food, branded drinkware and foodie-themed go well with these categories.
Furniture and Home
Furniture and home improvement products made about $440 billion in 2024. Furniture sales were $220 billion, and DIY tools and hardware made about the same.
People now buy furniture directly from brands instead of stores. Print-on-demand (POD) sellers can do well with home decor items like pillows, wall art, and blankets.
Beauty and Personal Care
Beauty and personal care products made about $169.6 billion worldwide in 2024. Skincare, makeup, and wellness items sell the most.
Print-on-demand (POD) sellers can do well with custom makeup bags and beauty tools. People who enjoy self-care like simple, personal, and useful products.
Toys and Hobby Items
Toys and hobbies made about $89.8 billion in sales in 2024. From puzzles to craft supplies and collectibles, niche hobbies are a big market.
People who love their hobbies spend a lot on them, and parents often buy fun activities for their kids. Print-on-demand (POD) sellers can offer custom games, hobby gear, and fan merchandise to attract these loyal buyers.
Luxury Goods
Luxury products have fewer buyers but make more profit. Many people are happy to pay more for premium items. Sales may be smaller, but each sale earns more money.
Print-on-demand (POD) sellers can reach this market with limited editions, special packaging, and great designs. Here, quality matters more than quantity.
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Top Online Shopping Categories by Revenue: US
US ecommerce sales are expected to reach $1.17 trillion in 2025. Knowing which categories make the most money helps you find good places to sell your products.
Here’s a look at the top categories by revenue:
- Fashion & Apparel: Online spending on apparel hit about $163 billion in 2024. Custom clothing and wearables are still very popular for POD sellers.
- Food & Beverages: Food sales made nearly $126 billion. Beverages added $112 billion. This totaled $237 billion in 2024.
- Electronics: Consumer electronics in the US reached well over $120 billion in 2024. POD sellers can make good money selling tech accessories.
- Furniture & Home Improvement: DIY and hardware was over $108 billion. Meanwhile, online furniture sales passed $74 billion in 2024.
- Beauty & Personal Care: The online beauty market size was around $29 billion in 2024. More people care about self-care, so demand is high.
These numbers show where POD sellers should focus, as revenue reveals what buyers value most.
Also Read:
Most Popular Online Shopping Categories
Revenue only tells half the story. Growth rates show which categories are growing fast. Some smaller categories grow faster than revenue giants. Understanding product trends can help you spot emerging opportunities early.
Food and Beverages
Food sales grew by 51.6% in 2020 during the pandemic. Growth has slowed but is still strong at 24.1%. Beverage sales are also rising and are expected to grow by 18.9%.
Print-on-demand (POD) sellers can do well with custom aprons, recipe cards, drinkware, and coasters. These items sell steadily all year.
Household Essentials
Household items grew 39.6% in 2020 as consumers stocked up. Growth now is steady at 22.2%.
POD sellers can offer custom labels and storage containers.
Electronics
Electronics sales dropped in 2022 but have now recovered. This category is expected to grow by 18.1%.
Print-on-demand (POD) accessories for electronics, like phone cases and tablet covers, sell well all year round.
Also Read:
How to Use Ecommerce Trends to Scale Your Business
Knowing what to sell through the ecommerce store makes all the difference for print-on-demand sellers. Use insights from the top online shopping categories and apply them this way:
- Study Online Shopping Trends by Category: Track what people buy most. Categories with steady growth show lasting demand.
- Follow Shopper Behavior: Look at search terms, social buzz, and seasonal patterns. They reveal what’s next, so you can plan ahead.
- Use Social Media to Reach Buyers: Gen Z spends hours daily on these platforms. Connect your store to Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook now.
- Test, Learn, and Scale Fast: Start small, refine designs, and expand only what sells. Print-on-demand makes it easy to pivot with trends.
- Review Ecommerce Category Breakdown Data: See which areas lead in sales or show new interest spikes. It helps you find rising niches.
- Match Your Designs to Demand: If fashion ranks high, launch new apparel prints. If home decor grows, create wall art or decor pieces.
- Design for the Platform: Furniture and decor need strong visuals. Electronics benefit from specs and lifestyle shots.
Final Thoughts
The top online shopping categories come with great opportunities for POD sellers. Fashion, electronics, and home goods lead in revenue across markets. But looking at growth rates helps you find where potential lies.
Success is based on how well you follow these trends and are aware of them. Pick categories where you can add real value consistently.
Also Read:
To start your own print-on-demand business, try Podbase today and launch quickly and easily.
Saulius Meilutis is the CEO of Podbase, helping creators and entrepreneurs monetize their ideas with print-on-demand. He shares insights on eCommerce, growth, and building lean online businesses.
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