How Many Listings Do I Really Need to Start Selling on Etsy?
If you’ve been Googling “how many listings do I need to open an Etsy shop,” you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions I see in Facebook groups and DMs. And while I get why you’re asking it (because we all want to know the “right” answer), the truth is: the number doesn’t matter nearly as much as you think it does.
Let’s talk about what does matter.
1. Your product line matters more than the number
You could have 50 listings in your shop and still not make consistent sales if those products are scattered across totally unrelated categories. A printable wall art piece, a meal planner, and a budgeting worksheet might all be technically “printables,” but if they’re targeting different audiences, Etsy won’t know who to send to your shop.
Instead of focusing on quantity, focus on cohesion.
That means creating a product line (think 5 to 10 related items that solve a specific problem for a specific type of customer). This helps you show up in search, increase average order value, and get found more often by people who are actually ready to buy.
If you’re not sure what that looks like in your niche, here’s a breakdown to help: How to Find Your Next Best Selling Printable Product Line
2. If your SEO isn’t working, your listings won’t either
You can have 5 listings or 500, but if your titles, tags, and descriptions aren’t set up with Etsy SEO best practices, your shop won’t get found.
I’ve seen newer sellers add more and more products thinking that will solve the visibility problem (I did this in the beginning, too!). But here’s the hard truth: more listings won’t fix bad SEO.
Make sure:
- Your title includes long-tail keywords your buyer would actually search for
- All 13 tags are used, and they’re 20 characters or less
- You’re not repeating the same keyword over and over
3. More listings = more data (but only if you learn from it)
Yes, having more listings can help Etsy learn what your shop is about and who to send your way. But that only works if you’re using the data.
If something isn’t getting any views after 30+ days, it’s worth revisiting the thumbnail, the keywords, and even the actual product itself.
Some questions to ask:
- Is the product solving a real problem for someone?
- Is the listing photo clear and readable on mobile?
- Am I using keywords my customer is actually searching for?
That’s how you build a smart, strategic shop.
4. You’re allowed to start small
Let’s get real. You do not need 100 listings to start selling on Etsy. You don’t even need 20. Some sellers start with 5 and get sales. Others don’t get traction until they’re 30 listings in. There’s no perfect number, but there is a smarter way to approach it.
Start with one product line. Build 5 to 10 listings around that customer. Focus on making those listings strong – good SEO, great mockups, clear descriptions. Then grow from there. That’s it.
If you’re still wondering if you’re ready to list your first (or next) product, I’ve created a quick quiz to help you figure that out.
Take the quiz: Are You Ready to List Your Etsy Product?
My Final Thoughts
So how many listings do you need?
As many as it takes to clearly communicate what your shop is about, help Etsy learn who to send your way, and solve real problems for your audience.
It’s not about more. It’s about better.
Everyone starts from zero. It’s getting your first products out there that matters. Once you do that, you can learn what to do next. What to do better. It’s trial and error and Etsy is a marathon, not a sprint.
If you’re ready to go from guessing to listing with confidence, take the quiz, check out our resources, and let me know in our Facebook group how it’s gping. I’d love to cheer you on.