100+ Dropshipping Business Ideas to Inspire You
Dropshipping is a profitable business model for new entrepreneurs to make money on the side.
It isn’t free to start a dropshipping business (there are non-inventory costs), but it’s much lower risk and less complex, since you don’t need to stock products or handle order fulfillment.
Finding a dropshipping business idea is as simple as finding a product to sell. Yet with so many dropshipping businesses out there, the hardest part is finding the right product—one that’ll set you apart.
Here’s how to find and validate a dropshipping business idea, with 100+ trending products to look into. We’ll cover:
- How to find a dropshipping idea
- 100+ dropshipping ideas for 2023
- How to choose a dropshipping business idea
How to find a dropshipping idea
Social media
Social media platforms are a major shopping channel for young consumers. Discover your next dropshipping idea by scanning hashtags, accounts, and trend pages that appeal to your target demographic.
Marketplace bestsellers
The biggest online marketplaces sell millions of SKUs from thousands of brands. By 2027, they’ll play a role in 59% of purchasing journeys, making them a great source of data to uncover trending products and dropshipping ideas.
Start by looking at “top product” pages on Amazon, Etsy, and Walmart. Pay close attention to top products in any given category, or those with a “selling fast” icon.
Continue your search on wholesale marketplaces like AliExpress, Alibaba, and SaleHoo. Because most of these marketplaces double up as dropshipping websites, top products are also available for dropshipping (versus something you find on eBay that may not be drop-shippable).
Amazon’s bestseller lists provide great dropshipping business ideas.
Pinterest Trends
Pinterest is a social media/search engine hybrid that allows users to save pins to a virtual mood board. Use Pinterest Trends to see what users have saved the most during the previous week/month, and dropship similar products through your own online store.
Use Pinterest Trends to discover trending pins within the last week.
Trendhunter
Trendhunter uses page view data, artificial intelligence, and research teams to discover trending products. Recent examples include compostable menswear and muted pink sneakers, though you can browse its website to find online business ideas before they become saturated.
Trendhunter analyzes data to find trending products, like these cool-toned low sneakers.
100+ dropshipping ideas for 2023
- Beauty and skin care
- Clothing and accessories
- Jewelry
- Books
- Art
- Coffee
- Baby products
- Fitness products
- Pet products
- Car Accessories
- Home tools
- Furniture
- Electronics
Beauty and skin care
The size of the beauty and personal care market is increasing.
The global beauty and personal care industry is set to be worth $679.79 billion by 2025. People spend big bucks managing their appearance and solving cosmetic-related health issues. Claim your stake by working with a dropshipping supplier to source cosmetics, skincare, and beauty products. Sell them at a higher price through your own online store.
Popular dropshipping business ideas in the beauty and skincare industry include:
- Moisturizer
- Cleanser
- Foundation
- Concealer
- Fragrances
- Nail clippers
- Makeup bags
- Cooling eye masks
- Facial rollers
- Acne treatment
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
Clothing and accessories
The number of people searching for “athleisure” increased during the pandemic.
The global apparel industry is one of the biggest markets in the world, valued at $1.5 trillion. Fashion niche markets come within the clothing and accessories umbrella—products you can dropship and make money from online.
“Since a few years ago, tank tops, sports bras, and leggings have all become popular athleisure items. Even among those who simply want a comfy suit for sitting and are hoping to participate in a little more leisure than athleticism.” – Colton Horn, co-founder of Breinfuel
Popular items to dropship in this category include:
- Hats
- Socks
- T-shirts
- Sports bras
- Hoodies
- Swimming trunks
- Cargo pants
- Bridesmaid dresses
- Fashion accessories
- Fancy dress costumes
Read more: The 19 Best Dropshipping Clothing Suppliers to Grow Your Business in 2022
Jewelry
Search volume for the keyword “gold hoop earrings” is on an upward trend.
Consumers spend $28.68 billion on jewelry each year. If you want to start a jewelry business but don’t have the time or skill to handcraft your own products, consider drop shipping those another manufacturer has already made.
The chunky gold jewelry trend, in particular, is one worth considering if you’re looking to use this online business idea. Block gold rings, necklaces, and earrings are back in fashion, with searches for “gold hoop earrings” steadily increasing.
Other notable jewelry products to dropship include:
- Rings
- Necklaces
- Fine jewelry
- Costume jewelry
- Anniversary jewelry
- Wedding rings
- Gemstones
- Bracelets
Books
Statista data shows that 65% of adults have read a print book in the past year.
Reading is still one of the most popular activities, with almost two-thirds of US consumers having read at least one print book in the past year, spending an annual total of $25.71 billion
Instead of dropshipping any book you can find, the key is to specialize in one specific type of book. Take academic course materials, for example. Consumers spend $339 per year on higher education books (compared to the global population’s $113.87 average).
Other types of books to dropship include:
- Fiction
- Non-fiction
- Language books
- Religious books
- Large-print books
- Autobiographies
- Pre-K books
Art
Online sales in the art market top $13.3 billion each year. The industry experienced a 7.3% annual growth rate in 2021.
The best thing about dropshipping art is that it’s accessible to anyone, regardless of how knowledgeable you are of the field. You’ve got the option to dropship fine art, which can fetch thousands of dollars per piece or handcrafted drawings that are printed and sold at scale for a lower cost.
Find your next dropshipping business idea with products like:
- Prints
- Art pencils
- 3D statues
- Wall Decor
- Coloring books
- Enamel pins
- Phone cases
- Greeting cards
- Children’s art kits
Coffee
Dropshipping coffee is a great way to take your slice of this spend. Find a coffee dropshipping supplier like Dripshipper or Aroma Ridge. Add custom labels to coffee-related products and list them on your e-commerce website for a higher price.
Popular items to sell on your coffee business’s online store include:
- Coffee beans
- Sachets
- Coffee pods
- Coffee machines
- Coffee bags
- Coffee grinders
- Flavored syrups
Baby products
Parents and caregivers spend $67.35 billion on baby care products each year—a figure set to hit $88.72 billion by 2026.
Niche markets are emerging in the baby space. Take the gender reveal industry as an example. An increasing number of soon-to-be parents are hosting parties to announce the gender of their baby. According to Google Trends, searches for “gender reveal balloons” have steadily been increasing since 2016.
Here are some other baby products you can use to spark a dropshipping business idea:
- Kids’ toys
- Diapers
- Strollers
- Stair gates
- Breast milk pumps
- Organic baby food
- Baby monitors
- Changing mats
- Baby carriers
- Booster seats
Fitness products
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced employees to work from home, exercise levels increased. House-bound consumers had no choice but to exercise at home. To do that, they needed fitness equipment.
Fitness trackers are one dropshipping niche that’s exploded in popularity. Some 553.6 million fitness trackers were shipped last year, with global consumers predicted to spend $93.86 billion on wrist-wearing activity trackers in 2022.
Aside from fitness technology, consider dropshipping the following exercise products:
- Yoga mats
- Foam rollers
- Gym gloves
- Jump ropes
- Protein powders
- Fitness trackers
- Trampolines
- Step blocks
- Resistance bands
Pet products
More than half of American households own a pet, contributing to a $123.6 billion industry.
To capitalize on our love for furry friends, find a lucrative business idea in the pet industry. Dog vitamins, for example, are just one huge area of spend. Owners splash $81 per year on supplements to keep their dogs healthy.
Other pet-related items to dropship include:
- Food
- Leashes
- Collars
- Cat litter
- Raw bones
- Bird seeds
- Cage water bottles
- Drying coats
- Pet ID tags
- Slow feeding bowls
- Grass patches
Car Accessories
More than 65 million cars are sold each year. Give the millions of consumers who own one the chance to make their driving experiences more enjoyable by dropshipping car accessories.
The product you might consider selling could be:
- Air fresheners
- Car mats
- Car cleaning kits
- Cup holders
- Steering wheel covers
- Dash cams
- Car hoovers
- Neck pillows
- Tablet holders
- Trunk organizers
- Wiper blades
Home tools
Home improvement sales are predicted to reach $621.3 billion by 2025, making it one of the largest consumer markets. Dropship home gadgets, hardware, and decorating accessories to build a profitable business in this niche.
“I believe the best dropshipping products in 2023 will be anything in the off-the-grid living and homesteading space. These niches are continuing their upward trajectory trend and there are a ton of different supplies in these niches that can be targeted with high or low-ticket dropshipping.” – Thomas Sleeth, founder of Dropshipping Hustle
Popular home-related items to dropship include:
- Extension leads
- Doorbells
- Step ladders
- Security cameras
- Lint removers
- Wine fridges
- Handheld vacuums
- Carpet cleaners
- Lights
Furniture
If you’re looking for a high-ticket dropshipping business idea in the home improvement market, consider dropshipping furniture. Products are often priced higher than small home improvement gadgets. The average hybrid queen-size mattress, for example, sells for $2,050.
The hardest thing about dropshipping furniture is the fact customers can’t always see the product they’re thinking of buying. Solve any pre-purchase anxiety and build consumer trust with extensive product photography, reviews from happy customers, and size charts to scale.
Furniture-related items to dropship include:
- Mirrors
- Bean bags
- Bookshelves
- Rugs
- Lamps
- Bedside tables
- Dining chairs
- Shelving units
- Home office chairs
- Standing desks
Electronics
From computers to cameras, global consumers spend $376 billion on electronics each year. This type of product isn’t in short supply—you’ll find manufacturers offering dropship electronics across all major dropshipping platforms.
However, the electronics industry is another highly regulated niche. Reputable suppliers will be happy to supply a portable appliance test (PAT) certificate that confirms their electronics have been rigorously tested and meet safety standards.
To turn this niche into a profitable dropshipping business, source trending products like:
- Chargers
- Cameras
- Headphones
- Sat navs
- Printer ink
- Screen cleaners
- TV remote controls
- Memory cards
- Smart speakers
- Phone cases
- Kettles
How to choose a dropshipping business idea
Dropshipping is notoriously known for being a low-risk business model. However, you can increase the odds of ecommerce success by validating an idea before running with it.
Evaluate demand
Before running with your next idea, see whether people are already talking about the product you’re thinking of selling.
Do your own research with online tools like Google Trends. The platform shows historical data for how many people search for that dropshipping business idea. Pay especially close attention to keywords on an upward trend. This indicates the product is becoming more popular and demand is increasing. Try to get there before competitors cotton on.
“I always use Google Trends to see how the product is trending in various countries over the last five years and then use a keyword tool to check the monthly search volume.” – Thomas Sleeth, founder of Dropshipping Hustle
If you’re torn between two dropshipping business ideas, use Google Trends’ comparison tool to evaluate demand for each term. Knowing one keyword is much more popular than the other can sway you in that direction.
Check your competition
If you go into a niche that’s already popular, it’s going to be super competitive. Dropshipping requires a successful marketing strategy—and paid ads will cost more and keywords will be more competitive for top products.
Yet go the other way and there’s a risk of nobody wanting to buy the products you’re dropshipping. It’ll be an uphill struggle to build a profitable business.
Ultimately, there is no “ideal” demand when selecting the best dropshipping product. There are pros and cons when going niche versus hyper-competitive. The ideal competition level depends on the type of business you want to build.
Low competition
If you’re struggling to find retailers selling similar products to the one you want to dropship, it’s not a bad sign. Going after a niche market can be a smart business move.
Pros
- It’s easier to stand out.
- Build customer loyalty by being known as the go-to brand for a specific product.
- You’re not at the mercy of competitors—many of whom are able to sway consumers with lower prices.
Cons
- Demand might not be as high.
- You often need to take the quality-over-quantity approach.
- It can be more expensive to find and acquire customers in a niche market.
High competition
Hundreds of other dropshippers selling comparable products might make it harder to stand out, but it proves demand is there. Look at their product pricing strategy and see whether it’s worth competing.
Pros
- Proven demand from customers.
- Wider variety of suppliers to choose from.
- A strong brand personality can help you charge a premium for comparable products.
Cons
- It’s harder to stand out from established competitors.
- Most often, you compete on price—even when profit margins are already tight.
- You’ll need to define your unique selling proposition upfront (and heavily market it).
Find dropshipping suppliers
Dropshipping suppliers make or break your new business. They’re the ones responsible for manufacturing, packing, and shipping orders to your customers. Check that for whatever dropshipping business idea you choose there are suppliers to work with.
Most importantly, recruit a reliable supplier you can trust. Any customer complaints will fall in your hands since the dropshipping supplier acts as a silent partner. Ask for their order accuracy rate, previous customer reviews, and minimum order quantity upfront. It’ll minimize the chances of a supplier’s problems ruining your own brand’s reputation.
Order a sample
Dropshipping isn’t a business you can start with no money—people pay a premium for higher-quality products. Figure out whether it’s worth paying more for quality from your suppliers by ordering samples.
Let’s say your supplier stocks three different varieties of the resistance bands you want to dropship:
- Product A: $2.49 cost price and made from low-quality rubber.
- Product B: $3.69 cost price and made from high-quality rubber.
- Product C: $6.29 cost price and made from recycled and sustainable materials.
If you’re looking for a dropshipping business idea that’ll make the most money, you might think Product A stands you in better ground to do that. Lower cost price means higher margins, right?
However, people pay premiums for sustainability. After ordering all three products to sample, you survey your target market and discover they’d pay $28 for Product C—a 79.68% profit margin (compared to 25% for A and 43% for B).
Ordering samples in advance also gives you first-hand experience dealing with a supplier before your customers are involved. You’ll have the delivery communication emails, unboxing experience, and first impressions your customers get.
Survey your target market
Your target market is the group of people who will buy your products. Instead of finding a dropshipping product idea and hoping there’s a market for it, survey your target audience to see:
- Whether they’d buy the product
- How they’d discover it (i.e., your best marketing channels)
- How much they’d pay
There are two ways this process tends to go AWOL. First, people are notoriously awful at telling you what they would do or would buy. It’s difficult to get honest opinions when no real money is at stake.
Secondly, small business owners often turn toward their family and friends for market research. They ask if they’d buy a product, only to hear everyone say yes because they didn’t want to hurt a budding entrepreneur’s feelings.
Solve these issues and ask hard-hitting questions that allow you to verify whether what you think is a great business idea would make money. That includes:
- How would this product impact your life or daily routine?
- What products are you currently using to solve this problem?
- Which features do you find the most/least useful?
Calculate your profit margin
Once you subtract the wholesale price of a product and your overheads, are you left with any profit? Good business ideas are those where products are sourced at a low price and resold higher.
Use Shopify’s free profit margin calculator to see how much money you’re left with after buying the product from a supplier and paying their fee for picking, packing, and shipping.
One route is to find the absolute cheapest product and sell it at as high of a price as possible. But that strategy comes with risk. You often have to sell as many products as you can, rather than focusing on high-quality customers and building a sustainable business.
Invest in brand-building if increasing your profit margin is the ultimate goal. Consumers pay a premium to shop with brands that:
- Are sustainable
- Have a community
- Have strong brand values
Even if cost prices and competitor RRPs are low, make your dropshipping brand the go-to e-commerce website for consumers who want more than the ordinary.
Start a dropshipping business today
The success of your dropshipping store depends on the product you choose.
Build a small, low-maintenance (and low-cost) online store with Shopify to validate your dropshipping business idea and test a marketing strategy. Choose three to five products in the same niche. Invest more time and effort into products proven to sell for the best chance of success.
