I Tested Printful Accessories for My Small Business: Here’s What I Actually Think
This is part of an ongoing series where I share my firsthand experience testing Printful products including what’s worth adding to your shop, what isn’t, and everything in between. When I started posting these reviews on Instagram Stories, the response was pretty clear: people wanted more. So here we are!
Up first: dad hats and shopping bags.
If you’ve been thinking about adding accessories or merch to your small business through print on demand, aka “POD” (not to be confused with the band that sings one of my go-to karaoke songs), you’ve probably landed on Printful at some point. It’s one of the bigger players in the space because it integrates with most e-commerce platforms and because of its huge product catalog.
I’ve been testing Printful products over the past couple of years by ordering samples, putting them through real use, and now sharing my honest reactions.
How I’m Rating These
Love it — a standout, no hesitation
Liked it — solid and reliable, no strong complaints
It depends — it’s doable in some cases
Wouldn’t bother — tried it so you don’t have to
Embroidered Hats
Rating: Love it
The hats are the reason I keep coming back to try new products with Printful. I’ve tested three styles so far and all of them have been great. The embroidery is crisp and clean, the color options are solid, and I like that you can embroider the front, back, and sides.
I carry three hat styles in my shop: the Classic Dad Hat, the Denim Hat, and the Organic Baseball Cap. The Classic Dad Hat is their bestseller with a wide color range, great everyday feel, and consistently well-reviewed. The denim hat has more of a vintage, worn-in look. That’s the one I prefer to put my designs on and what sells the best for me. The organic option is worth considering too, especially if sustainability is part of your story because it’s OCS certified and made from 100% organic cotton.
Click here to check out all of their hat options.
A few things to know going in:
They ship from US fulfillment centers, so delivery is fast with typically 6–8 days.
Pricing runs $14.65–$15.85 depending on the style, with shipping starting around $4.49. The price increases as you add more embroidery locations on the hat.
There’s a one-time $6.50 digitization fee to convert your design into an embroidery file, so factor that into your first order.
One note on margins: these hats are not cheap to produce, so if you’re thinking about wholesale, the numbers most likely won’t work in your favor. I’ve literally lost money trying to wholesale these. Even for DTC they’re not a huge money maker, but they make me happy and I don’t have to hold any inventory, so I figure it’s fine to keep them around.
These hats are live in my shop if you want to see how they look:
Start your day sunny-side up (or gift someone else a little joy) with our Happy Egg Embroidered Denim Hat. Whether you’re a breakfast enthusiast, brunch devotee, or just love a good pun, this soft-washed denim cap is equal parts style and serotonin. It’s the ultimate foodie gift — embroidered with a cheerful fried egg that makes everyone smile, from brunch dates to birthday mornings.
Want to see more gift ideas like this? Explore our favorite gifts for every personality →
Perfect for:
Breakfast lovers, brunch fans, and anyone who takes eggs seriously 🍳
Foodies, coffee shop regulars, and casual weekend wearers
A quirky gift for brunch squads, food-themed parties, or egg pun enthusiasts
Lightweight, breathable cap for farmers’ markets, road trips, and sunny adventures
Details:
100% cotton denim
Unstructured 6-panel cap with a low profile
Adjustable strap for a custom fit
Embroidered design with rich, vibrant stitching
Head circumference: 21.65″–25.19″
Made to last and soft-washed denim for a perfectly worn-in feel
Made to order: This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes a bit longer to deliver. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions.
This “I’m Sassy Today” embroidered hat is the ultimate statement piece for days when your vibe is equal parts bold and playful. Made with soft organic cotton and stitched in vibrant orange, it’s comfortable, cool, and guaranteed to turn heads.
Perfect for:
A sassy hat that adds instant confidence to any outfit
Funny gift idea for birthdays, bachelorettes, or just because
Funny hat for your friend who always has the best comebacks
Everyday style that’s playful, bold, and effortless
Details:
100% organic cotton
Unstructured 6-panel cap with a low profile
Adjustable strap for a custom fit
Embroidered design with rich, vibrant stitching
Head circumference: 21.65″–25.19″
Made to order: This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes a bit longer to deliver. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions.
A nod to an iconic ride.
This Staten Island Ferry hat brings classic NYC to everyday wear. Featuring an embroidered design of the city’s iconic orange ferry, it’s perfect for locals, commuters, and design lovers alike. Made from soft, durable cotton with an adjustable strap, this relaxed-fit cap is equal parts nostalgic and stylish—a wearable nod to the daily ride that keeps New York moving.
Perfect for:
Staten Island Ferry fans and NYC locals
Maritime and nautical enthusiasts
Travelers looking for a unique NYC souvenir
Product details:
100% chino cotton twill for a soft, durable feel
Unstructured, 6-panel, low-profile fit for a relaxed look
Adjustable strap with metal buckle for the perfect fit
Embroidered ferry design for a premium, long-lasting finish
Free shipping on orders $50+
Wholesale inquiries welcome
All-Over Print Shopping Bag
Rating: It depends
Their All-Over Print Shopping Bag surprised me for a few reasons. For one I really did not know what to expect from the quality but the bag itself is genuinely nice. The material (100% polyester) feels sturdy and has a slight stretch to it that’s useful when the bag is packed full. The all-over print had a vibrant color and the design wraps the entire bag, which looks great for surface pattern work or bold graphics. If you’ve been looking for a product to really show off a repeat pattern, this is a great option.
The thing I didn’t fully account for when I ordered my sample is that this product ships from an overseas fulfillment center which puts estimated delivery at 10–13 business days (and that’s after production is done). The shipping cost itself is fine ($3.99), but the timeline is worth communicating clearly to your customers if you sell it. That kind of wait can be a friction point, especially around the holidays.
Here’s a look at the sample I had made using my pattern design:
The other thing I didn’t love is that the bag comes packaged in a plastic outer bag. It felt unnecessary to me from a sustainability standpoint. It also includes a branded hang tag with your logo which could’ve been a nice touch but the print quality on that tag was not great. There’s also a small stitched label inside with your logo, which I did like.
I haven’t added it to my shop yet, mostly because of the shipping timeline, but I’m still considering it. With clear delivery expectations set it could work. What do you think? Should I go for it?
Eco Tote Bag
Rating: Wouldn't bother
I had high hopes for this one. The Eco Tote Bag checks a lot of boxes. It’s 100% organic cotton, PETA-approved vegan, and has solid reviews. As someone who cares about sustainability, I wanted to like it.
The bag material itself is okay. It’s labeled as a heavier cotton twill but the fabric feels a bit thin to me. Having said that, I’ve used my samples many times when grocery shopping over the years and haven’t had any issues with quality.
In terms of design I’ve tested it two ways: DTG printing and embroidery. Neither worked out the way I hoped. The DTG print on the tan colorway was underwhelming. The colors read as muted rather than vibrant, which is a known limitation of DTG on natural or colored fabric. It just didn’t pop the way I wanted it to. I will say that the white “ink” on the black tote did look very good. I actually thought it was screen printed for a second. I should also mention I haven’t tried their DT Flex printing option so I’d be curious to see how that comes out or what people think of it.
I also tried embroidery on the tote and that was disappointing too. To me it looked a little sloppy and you could see the back of the impression through the front of the fabric.
If you’re specifically looking for an organic tote it might work for you, but if you want something that looks sharp and really well-made, I’d keep looking.
The Bigger Picture
If there’s one thing this category taught me, it’s that Printful’s quality is very product-specific. The hats are awesome. The all-over print bag has real potential with the right expectations. The tote didn’t work for my brand, though it might for yours.
Here are a few broader things worth knowing as you evaluate any Printful product:
Sourcing vs. fulfillment location: Most Printful blanks are manufactured overseas, but many ship from US fulfillment centers, which keeps delivery times reasonable.
Always order a sample first: Printful offers sample discounts and there is no substitute for holding the product in your hands before you sell it to someone else.
Mockups will only get you so far: Printful generates mockups for every product and some of them are useful. The all-over print bag mockup, for example, gives you a pretty accurate sense of how your design will look. But the embroidery mockups are a different story. They look flat and unconvincing, and if you’re trying to sell embroidered hats based on a mockup alone, you’re underselling the actual product. The real thing looks significantly better!
Up Next in This Series
Next up: paper and print products, including playing cards, notepads, wrapping paper, and one product I was genuinely surprised by.
