Redbubble rules and policies explained in plain English

By FastBuySale Newsroom · 10 Nov 2026 · 51m ago

What Redbubble is and how it works

Redbubble is a print-on-demand marketplace where independent artists upload designs that customers can buy printed on products such as t-shirts, stickers, phone cases, posters, mugs and home goods. When an order is placed, the platform arranges printing and delivery through its production partners and handles customer service, payments and returns. The artist never holds stock or ships parcels. Instead, the artist earns a margin added to the product's base price. This makes it attractive for illustrators, designers and photographers who want to sell their work without running a shop. But because the platform hosts millions of designs and is responsible to customers and rights holders, it has detailed rules. Understanding them protects your account, your income and your reputation.

The user agreement in plain terms

When you create an account, you agree to the platform's user agreement and related policies. In plain terms, you promise that the content you upload is yours or that you have the right to use it, that it does not break the law or the platform's content standards and that information you provide is accurate. You give the platform permission to display your designs, print them on products and use them to promote your work and the marketplace. You keep ownership of your artwork. The platform can remove content, change features and fees or suspend accounts that break the rules. Because policies change over time, read the current user agreement, intellectual property policy and content guidelines in the official help centre rather than relying on older blog posts or forum threads.

Intellectual property: the most important rule

Most problems for new artists involve intellectual property. You should upload only work you created yourself, work in the public domain or material you have clear permission or a licence to use commercially. Copyright protects original creative works such as illustrations, photos, characters, song lyrics and film stills. Trademarks protect names, logos and slogans that identify brands, sports teams, bands and products. Using these without permission on products for sale can infringe the owner's rights even if you drew the image yourself or changed it slightly. Common risky uploads include characters from films, games and cartoons, celebrity photos, band logos, sports team names, brand parodies that use real logos, popular quotes from films and fonts or images without commercial licences.

Fan art and parody

Fan art is popular, but popularity does not make it permitted. Many rights holders actively monitor marketplaces and send takedown notices for unlicensed products using their characters or names. Some brands work with print-on-demand platforms through official partner or licensing programmes that allow approved artists to sell designs within specific rules, and those programmes are the safer route for fan-inspired work. Parody can be treated differently under some laws, but the rules are complex and vary by country, so avoid relying on parody as a defence without understanding it. The simplest way to stay safe is to build a portfolio of original characters, patterns, lettering and illustrations that you fully own.

Takedowns and repeat infringement

When a rights holder believes a design infringes its rights, it can send a notice asking the platform to remove the content. The platform typically removes the work and notifies the artist. If you believe a removal was a mistake, for example because you own the rights or have a licence, the help centre explains how to respond or submit a counter-notice, which is a formal legal statement and should only be used when you are confident. Platforms commonly apply repeat infringement policies, which means several valid notices can lead to suspension or permanent closure of an account, sometimes with loss of pending earnings under the terms. Treat every takedown as a warning to review your whole portfolio.

Content standards

Beyond intellectual property, platforms set content standards. Designs that promote hate, violence, harassment, illegal activity or self-harm, or that contain sexually explicit material in places where it is not allowed, can be removed. Mature content usually needs to be marked correctly so it is filtered appropriately. Designs that include other people's personal information, private photos or likenesses without consent are also problematic. Misleading products, such as designs that imply official endorsement by an organisation, can break both platform rules and consumer protection laws. Read the content guidelines carefully and apply the mature content setting where required.

Titles, tags and descriptions

Tags help customers find designs, but they must describe the work accurately. Stuffing tags with unrelated popular keywords, brand names or celebrity names to attract searches can lead to removals and account action, and using trademarked terms in tags can itself cause infringement problems. Use a reasonable number of relevant tags that describe the subject, style, colours, theme and intended audience. Titles should be clear and honest, and descriptions can explain the idea behind the design. Accurate tagging also improves sales, because customers who find your work through relevant searches are more likely to buy.

Pricing and margins

Each product has a base price set by the platform, covering manufacturing, fulfilment and its own costs. Artists add a margin, usually expressed as a percentage of the base price, which determines the retail price and the artist's earnings. A higher margin increases earnings per sale but makes products more expensive, which can reduce sales, especially during discount events. Some platform promotions are funded in ways that affect the final amount you earn, so read how discounts work in the help centre. Experiment carefully with margins and track results rather than setting very high prices immediately.

Account tiers and fees

The platform has introduced account levels with different benefits and, for some levels, account fees that are deducted from earnings. The details, including how levels are assigned and how fees apply, are explained in the help centre and can change. For artists with low sales, fees can take a large share of earnings, so check your account level and fee status regularly and include fees in your income calculations. If terms change, the platform normally notifies artists, but keeping an eye on official announcements is wise.

Payments and thresholds

Earnings accumulate in your account and are paid on a regular monthly schedule once they meet a minimum payment threshold, using supported payment methods such as an online payment account or bank transfer, depending on your country. If your balance is below the threshold, it rolls over to the next payment cycle. Make sure your payment details and tax information are accurate, because errors can delay payments. Currency conversion and payment provider fees may reduce what arrives in your account.

Worked example: understanding earnings

Suppose a sticker has a base price of 2.50 and an artist sets a 20 percent margin, adding 0.50 per sticker. A t-shirt with a base price of 20 at the same margin adds 4.00. In one month, the artist sells 40 stickers and 5 t-shirts, earning 20 plus 20, or 40, in margins. If an account fee of 10 applied that month, net earnings would be 30, which is 75 percent of the margin total. Raising the sticker margin to 30 percent would add 0.75 per sticker, or 30 for the same 40 sales, but only if sales did not fall. These figures are illustrative, not platform prices or fees. The percentage calculator on this site helps model margins and fees.

Taxes and records

Earnings from selling designs are usually taxable. The platform may ask for tax information and may issue earnings statements. Depending on your country, you may need to register as self-employed, report income and keep records of sales, fees and expenses such as design software or a drawing tablet. Check local tax rules or consult a professional if you are unsure. The salary calculator on this site helps compare design income with other work.

Account suspensions

Accounts can be suspended or closed for repeated infringement, uploading prohibited content, manipulating reviews or sales, creating multiple accounts to avoid restrictions, spam tagging or fraud. If your account is suspended, read the notice carefully, review the cited policy and use the official support channels to respond. Avoid creating new accounts to get around a suspension, which usually breaks the rules and can make matters worse.

Protecting your own work

Your designs can be copied by others. If you find your artwork on another account or site without permission, use the platform's reporting process for intellectual property. Keep original files, sketches and dated drafts as proof of authorship. Adding your designs across several channels and building a following outside the platform also reduces dependence on a single marketplace.

Compliance checklist

| Area | Check before uploading |

|---|---|

| Ownership | Design is original or properly licensed |

| Trademarks | No brand names, logos or team names |

| Content | Meets content standards; mature setting used if needed |

| Tags | Relevant, accurate, no unrelated keywords |

| Pricing | Margin chosen and fees understood |

| Payments | Payment and tax details correct |

Avoiding scams around print-on-demand

Be cautious of people offering to sell you ready-made design bundles with resale rights that may not be genuine, services promising guaranteed sales or featured placement for a fee and messages claiming to be from the platform asking for your login details. Only log in through the official website or app and use the official help centre for support.

Is Redbubble right for you?

It suits artists who want to sell original designs without handling stock or shipping and who are willing to upload consistently and promote their work. It suits less well people expecting quick passive income or those whose work relies on others' characters and brands. Following the rules from the start keeps your account safe and lets you build a portfolio that earns over time.

Reader questions

Questions about selling designs online? Send them through the Ask page on this site.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice and is not affiliated with Redbubble. Policies, fees and thresholds change; check the official help centre.

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