Etsy Tags: How to Choose All 13 (With Examples for Prints and Cards)
Every Etsy listing gets 13 tags, each up to 20 characters. They’re one of the main ways Etsy matches your listing to what buyers type. Used well, they’re free reach; used lazily, they’re thirteen wasted chances.
The rules that matter
- Use all 13. Empty slots are lost coverage.
- Use phrases, not single words. “margate travel print” beats “print”, “margate” and “travel” as three separate tags.
- Stay under 20 characters. If a phrase is longer, shorten it the way a buyer would: “art deco poster” rather than “art deco style wall poster”.
- Be specific first, generic last. Place, subject and occasion beat “wall art” and “gift”.
- No brands or other artists. Ever.
A simple order for your 13
- The subject or place, with the product: margate print, margate poster.
- The wider place: kent wall art, england travel print.
- The style: bauhaus poster, retro travel art.
- The buyer or occasion: seaside gift, new home gift.
- The room: living room print.
- Only then, generic fillers and colour: orange wall art.
Suite 13 reads each design, then picks 13 tags ranked by what earns favourites on Etsy – place and subject first, generic phrases last, no brand names.
Worked example: a travel poster
| Good tag | Why |
|---|---|
| margate print | What most buyers type |
| margate poster | Same intent, different word |
| margate wall art | Third common phrasing |
| kent travel poster | Wider place |
| seaside print | Theme buyers browse |
| bauhaus poster | Style |
| margate gift | Gift buyers |
Worked example: a greeting card
For cards, the occasion and the recipient carry the search: birthday card mum, highland cow card, funny birthday card, card for her, blank greeting card. If the front has wording, tag the occasion it names.
How to check a tag is worth it
Search the phrase on Etsy. Look at how many results come back and how many favourites the top listings have. A phrase with a moderate number of results and well-favourited top listings is a sweet spot; millions of results means you’ll struggle to be seen; almost none means almost nobody searches it.
Frequently asked questions
Should Etsy tags repeat words from the title?
Yes, it’s fine and usually helpful – tags and title together tell Etsy what the listing is. Use tags to add the phrases that don’t fit in the title too.
Can I use a famous brand or artist in my tags?
No. Trademarks and other artists’ names can get listings removed and don’t describe your work anyway.
Suite 13 reads each design, then picks 13 tags ranked by what earns favourites on Etsy – place and subject first, generic phrases last, no brand names.