Print on Demand Mugs: How I Create and Sell My Own 11oz Ceramic Mugs

When I first considered adding mugs to my product line, I wasn’t sure they were worth the effort. But after just one week of testing designs using Papello's platform, I realised these 11oz ceramic mugs are not only popular, they're easy to design and ship without lifting a finger.

In this post, I’ll walk you through why print on demand mugs have become a bestseller in my store, how I design them step-by-step, and what makes Papello my go-to choice.

Why 11oz Ceramic Mugs Are a Great Choice

Here’s why these mugs are perfect for beginners and pros alike:

• Standard Size: 11oz (330ml) fits most drink preferences and cupholders
• Glossy Finish: Brightens colours and makes designs pop
• Durable: Dishwasher and microwave safe
• Eco Packaging: Plastic-free and white-label ready
• Great for Gifting: Everyone loves a personal mug

With full-colour wraparound print areas and a smooth ceramic finish, the result feels premium without costing a fortune.

Are Print on Demand Mugs Still Popular?

Absolutely — ceramic mugs remain one of the most consistent and best-selling print-on-demand products. Whether it’s a gift, a personal treat, or something to brighten up a desk, mugs sell all year round.

To back this up, a quick search on Etsy shows thousands of active listings for personalised mugs, novelty mugs, and quote-based designs. According to Alura.io, many top-selling mugs receive 300 to 1,000+ sales per month — and that's just from individual listings.

Let's have a look at the stats for the keyword "mug" from Alura.io:

These are monthly searches, the overall competition &  average conversion rate.
You can see that over half a million searches for "mugs" are done on Etsy each month.

What about the best selling listings?

Take a look at the list below. You'll see a variety of design styles — from cheeky slogans, political messages and heartfelt messages to minimal graphics and personalised names.

But here’s what they all have in common: every one of them uses the same 11oz ceramic print-on-demand mug.

This consistency tells you a lot. The success isn’t about having a unique product shape — it’s about great design, clever messaging, and tapping into what customers love.

Whether it’s funny, sentimental, or seasonal, the 11oz mug is a reliable bestseller when paired with the right idea.

Designing Your Mug - What tools can you use?

Creating a great mug design doesn’t require expensive software or professional skills. With Papello’s downloadable template, you can design confidently using tools you already know—like Canva, Illustrator, or even free online editors like PhotoPea.

Download the Mug Template First

Start by downloading the 11oz mug print template from the Download Centre or the ceramic mugs page on Papello. This template shows the exact print area and includes alignment guides to help you position your design correctly.

📐 Tip: The printable area is a rectangle that wraps around the mug. The handle sits at the centre, so designs usually sit on the left and right sides of the handle, not directly opposite it.

How to Use the Template

Once downloaded, you can open the file in your preferred design tool:

• Canva: Create a custom canvas using the same dimensions and use the template as a background reference.

• Illustrator: Use layers to position your artwork precisely.

• PhotoPea: This free Photoshop alternative supports layered files and works right in your browser.

Positioning Your Artwork: What to Know

✔️ Split your design visually: Place key elements on both the left and right of the handle area.

❌ Avoid the centre: Artwork in the middle may not be visible or can appear distorted when holding the mug.

📏 Use guides: Align text and graphics using the centre and edge markings in the template.

🔲 Leave a safe margin: Keep at least 3mm padding from the edge to avoid trimming errors.

My Cat-Themed Mug Design – A Step-by-Step Example

For my first design, I chose a fun and evergreen niche: cat lovers—specifically cat mums. These kinds of designs work great for gifts like birthdays, Mother’s Day, or just because.

I started by downloading the 11oz mug template from Papello and opened it in Adobe Illustrator. Here’s what I did:

Using the template in Illustrator makes it easy to position artwork perfectly.

Step 1: Add a Cat Pattern

I filled the entire mug from left to right sides with a playful repeating cat pattern (this one is from Envato). Using the guides, I made sure the design stayed within the safe print area and avoided the centre of the mug (where the handle is).

Step 2: Add Personalisation

Next, I added a rectangle for a name above the pattern. I used a fun script font and made sure it was sized well and aligned properly.

🔁 This setup means I can offer custom names on each mug by just updating the text layer before uploading the artwork for printing

Step 3: Exporting 300dpi Artboard

Finally, I need to export the artboard in 300dpi, remembering to remove the template guide.

Now, we can upload the design straight to the Papello dashboard and create an order. 

Personalisation Made Simple

If you’re offering personalised mugs (e.g. names, dates, messages), Papello’s editor lets you easily add editable text layers that you can duplicate and tweak for each order.

Quality That Impresses Customers

What surprised me most was how professional the final result looks:

• Sublimation printing gives rich, vibrant colour
• The finish feels smooth and high-end
• Customers regularly leave reviews saying it looks “like something from a boutique”
• Each mug is packed carefully in a recyclable box with no plastic

Plus, Papello ships from the UK, so delivery times are fast and shipping costs stay low.

How Much Can You Sell For?

Most sellers list mugs between £9.99 and £12.99, with some custom or branded ones going even higher.

Because there’s no upfront inventory, I only pay for what I sell. My profit margins typically range from £3-£5 per mug, depending on the price and any offers I run.

Upselling tip: Add matching coasters, tote bags or greeting cards to increase the order value.

Why I Recommend Papello for Mugs

Papello makes it easy to test new ideas, launch designs quickly, and keep my brand looking professional.

Suggested Etsy Listing: Cat Lover Personalised Mug 

Once you've created your mug design, it's time to make it discoverable! Here are some proven listing ideas for Etsy sellers based on this personalised cat-themed mug example.

🎯 Etsy Listing Title Ideas

• Personalised Cat Mum Mug – Custom Name Ceramic Mug for Cat Lovers

• Custom Cat Lover Mug – 11oz Gift for Pet Owners & Cat Mums

• Cute Cat Pattern Mug with Name – Personalised Cat Lady Gift

✅ Tip: Start with the most relevant keywords (“personalised cat mug”) and keep it under 140 characters for mobile visibility.

📝 Etsy Description (Example)

Looking for the purr-fect gift for a cat mum? This custom ceramic mug features an adorable hand-drawn cat pattern and can be personalised with any name. Made using durable 11oz ceramic and printed in the UK with eco-friendly inks, it's both practical and thoughtful.

Whether you're buying for Mother’s Day, a birthday, or just to treat yourself, this mug is ideal for any feline fan. Dishwasher safe, plastic-free packaging, and designed with love.

Details:

• Size: 11oz ceramic mug

• Personalised name printed on both sides

• Designed & printed in the UK

• Dishwasher & microwave safe

• Plastic-free packaging

• Fast dispatch available

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cat lovers gift  
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cat pattern mug  
mother’s day cat mug  
custom pet mug  
cat lady gift  
gifts for cat owners  
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papello mug

🔍 Why it works: These tags cover a mix of broad (e.g. "print on demand mugs") and niche (e.g. "cat mum gift") keywords, which increases visibility in Etsy search results.

Other Links That Helped Me

• How to Start a Print on Demand Business
• Selling on Etsy with Papello
• Home & Living Collection

Ready to Start Selling Custom Mugs?

Print on demand mugs are the perfect mix of low-cost, high-impact, and easy to personalise. Whether you're adding your art, quotes, or just want a fun gift idea – Papello has you covered.

🎨 Start designing custom mugs

The only thing you need is your creativity – Papello takes care of the rest.