Two funny men's t-shirt shown in the image

How to Design and Sell Funny T-Shirts for Men with Print-On-Demand (POD)

Introduction

Humor never goes out of style. Whether it’s a dad pun, a clever meme, or a sarcastic jab at work culture, a well-timed joke printed on a t-shirt can resonate with just about anyone—especially men.

Funny T-Shirts for Men are not only conversation starters, they’re also bestsellers in the print-on-demand world. They tap into everyday humor, making them easy to relate to and even easier to sell. With low startup costs and zero inventory hassle, selling funny male t shirts using a print-on-demand (POD) model is a smart and scalable online business idea.

This guide is for you if you’re:

  • An aspiring entrepreneur or side hustler
  • A graphic designer with a sense of humor
  • A meme connoisseur looking to turn laughs into cash
  • Or just someone who wants to make funny bachelor party shirts that get remembered (and maybe go viral)

Let’s dive into each step to build a fun, profitable t-shirt business that spreads smiles (and sales).

Step 1: Find the Perfect Funny T-Shirt Niche for Men

Why Targeting Men’s Humor Works

Humor isn’t one-size-fits-all—and men tend to enjoy specific types of jokes that hit harder when worn proudly across their chest. From dry sarcasm to outrageous puns, men gravitate toward humor that’s:

  • Bold
  • Edgy (sometimes)
  • Relatable
  • Packed with pop culture

This makes funny t-shirts for guys an ideal product for targeted marketing.

  • Dad Jokes & Puns: Timeless, harmless, and perfect for gifting. Think: “I’m not sleeping, I’m just resting my eyes.”
  • Gym & Fitness Humor: Appeals to the health-conscious crowd with shirts like “Sore Today, Strong Tomorrow (Maybe).”
  • Beer & Drinking Jokes: These are hot sellers, especially as funny bachelor party shirts or gifts for groomsmen. Phrases like “Drinks Well With Others” never go out of fashion.
  • Gaming & Pop Culture Memes
    Gamers and nerd culture fans love witty references to their favorite titles. Example: “Lag Killed Me.”
  • Work & Office Satire: Great for corporate employees, freelancers, or anyone who’s ever hated Monday. “I Survived Another Meeting That Should’ve Been an Email” is always a hit.
  • Reddit: Subreddits like r/funny, r/AskMen, or r/memes are goldmines for raw, unfiltered humor.
  • Instagram & TikTok: Watch what’s trending on meme pages and humor influencers.
  • Etsy & Amazon: Search “funny t-shirts for men” or “funny gym shirts” to spot what’s hot.
  • Pinterest & Google Trends: Perfect for finding seasonal or holiday-related humor.

Tip: Collect screenshots or links of jokes that make you laugh out loud. If it gets a genuine laugh from you, chances are it’ll work for others too.

Step 2: Create Hilarious & High-Quality Designs

No.Funny T-Shirt IdeaDescriptionWhy It Works
1“Dad Bod in Progress”A gym-themed shirt that embraces the average physique.Relatable humor for dads and fitness newbies.
2“I Paused My Game to Be Here”Perfect for gamers forced into social events.Targets the gaming niche with sarcasm.
3“I’m Not Arguing, I’m Just Explaining”A passive-aggressive jab at everyday conversations.Great for introverts or sarcastic personalities.
4“Running Late Is My Cardio”Fitness humor with a twist of laziness.Appeals to non-athletes with a sense of irony.
5“Professional Overthinker”Mental health humor for the anxious generation.Relatable to young adults and students.
6“Taco ‘Bout Awesome”A food pun with a taco illustration.Puns + food = evergreen comedy.
7“Grill Sergeant”BBQ humor ideal for weekend warriors.Appeals to dads and foodies.
8“404 Error: Costume Not Found”Nerdy Halloween shirt for lazy dressers.Seasonal and geeky.
9“Sarcasm: Just One of My Many Talents”A bold declaration of personality.Versatile and widely appealing.
10“Too Cool for This Planet”Alien-themed design with sunglasses.Niche and quirky—perfect for Gen Z humor.

What Makes a T-Shirt Actually Funny?

The best funny male t shirts don’t overcomplicate things. They deliver their joke in seconds—no one should have to “get it” after reading it twice.

Successful funny t-shirts often:

  • Use twists on familiar phrases (e.g., “Nacho Average Guy” with a nacho graphic)
  • Combine visuals with short text for punch
  • Focus on relatable, real-life experiences like coffee addiction, gaming frustration, or dating disasters

Pro Design Tips That Work

A person printing t-shirt under a machine.

Font matters: Use bold, clean fonts that can be read from a distance. Avoid script or cursive fonts—they kill the joke’s timing.

Color contrast: Black text on white or heather grey shirts is a timeless winner. But experiment with high-contrast combinations like white on navy or yellow on black.

Keep it simple: A cluttered design weakens the punchline. One clear joke = more impact.

Mockups are magic: Use mockup tools to test how the design looks on different shirt colors and body types.

Tools to Bring the Humor to Life

Free Tools:

  • Canva: Great for clean, quick text-based designs
  • Placeit: Lets you create real-life product mockups to preview and promote your shirts
  • Kapwing: Ideal for adding meme-style captions and formatting

Paid Tools:

  • Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop: Perfect for creating custom artwork or editing advanced design layers

Steer clear of:

  • Trademarked slogans (like “Just Do It” or “I’m Lovin’ It”)
  • Movie/TV quotes without licensing
  • Celebrity names or likenesses

Focus on original humor—it’s more fun to create and less risky legally.

Step 3: Choose the Best POD Platform for Funny Tees

A collection of best t-shirt for printing

Top Print-On-Demand Platforms for Selling Funny Shirts

Here are your best bets:

Swagify

  • Known for excellent quality
  • Easy to access
  • Low cost and great branding options

Printify

  • Offers a network of suppliers for better pricing options
  • Great for beginners testing the market
  • Print quality varies by supplier

TeeSpring

  • Super beginner-friendly
  • Built-in marketplace and audience
  • Lower profit margins

Redbubble

  • Passive income potential
  • Traffic comes from Redbubble itself
  • Less control over branding

What to Prioritize When Choosing a POD Partner

  • Print quality: Ensure they use DTG (Direct-to-Garment) or screen printing for clear, long-lasting prints
  • T-Shirt blanks: Choose soft, trusted brands like Bella+Canvas or Gildan
  • Shipping times: The faster the delivery, the better the reviews

Step 4: Set Up Your Funny T-Shirt Store

StepDetails
1. Pick a NicheChoose a humor style (sarcastic, dad jokes, memes, dark humor, etc.)
2. Choose POD PlatformStart with platforms like Swagify, Printful, or Printify
3. Select Selling ChannelShopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, or Amazon
4. Design Funny T-ShirtsUse Canva, Photoshop, or hire designers; focus on bold, readable humor
5. Upload to POD PlatformAdd mockups, product details, and set pricing
6. Customize Your StoreAdd logo, brand colors, and an “About” page to build credibility
7. Set Payment & ShippingEnable payment methods and confirm POD shipping rules
8. Test Your StorePlace a test order, check layout and speed
9. Launch & PromoteUse Instagram Reels, TikTok, memes, and SEO to drive traffic
10. Monitor & OptimizeTrack bestsellers, optimize descriptions, test pricing and ads

Where to Sell Your Shirts

  • Etsy: Ideal for niche humor and organic traffic
  • Shopify: Full control of your brand, ideal for scaling
  • Amazon/eBay: Great reach, but also more competition and fees

Writing Product Descriptions That Spark Laughter

Treat your descriptions like mini stand-up routines:

“Tired of boring office shirts? This sarcastic tee is your daily dose of rebellion. Wear it proudly during Zoom calls or awkward team lunches.”

Use SEO-friendly keywords like:

  • “funny male t shirts”
  • “funny bachelor party shirts”
  • “funny gym tees for men”

Pricing for Profit

  • Most shirts cost $8–$12 base.
  • Sell between $20–$25 for healthy margins.
  • Offer bundles: “Buy 2, get 10% off” works wonders.

Step 5: Market Your Funny T-Shirts Like a Pro

A woman marketing her T-shirt online to attract more customers

Free Ways to Promote

  • Instagram & TikTok: Post videos of people reacting to your shirt, meme reels, or time-lapse design clips.
  • Facebook Groups: Join and contribute to groups like “Dad Humor,” “Meme Shirts,” or “Groomsmen Gifts.”
  • Reddit: Share your tees in relevant subreddits (check rules first).
  • Facebook Ads: Target men 18–45 interested in comedy, memes, or beer.
  • Instagram Ads: Use engaging reels or carousel ads showing your funniest designs.
  • Google Shopping: Bid on terms like “funny t shirts for guys” or “funny bachelor party shirts.”

Leverage Influencers & User Content

  • Partner with meme pages or comedy influencers for shoutouts
  • Host a UGC contest: “Post a selfie wearing your favorite shirt and tag us to win a free tee!”

Step 6: Scale & Keep the Laughs Coming

  • Expand your catalog to include funny mugs, hoodies, socks, or even tote bags
  • Launch seasonal collections: Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day
  • Poll your audience or email list to crowdsource jokes for your next design

Pro Tip: Use sales data to find your bestsellers and reinvest in ads that highlight those specific tees.

Final Thoughts: Start Turning Laughs into Profits

Selling funny t-shirts for guys isn’t just a business—it’s a creative outlet. With Print-On-Demand, you can test ideas with zero risk and build a loyal audience around humor that reflects your personality (or theirs!).

Whether you’re designing relatable dad jokes, funny male t shirts for everyday wear, or memorable funny bachelor party shirts, your job is simple: make them laugh—and then click “Buy Now.”