A Simple Trick to See How Many Bestsellers Are Really in an Etsy Niche

Many new Etsy sellers begin research by typing a keyword into the search bar and checking the listing count. A search that shows 45,000 results can look promising. That number does not show how many of those items actually sell. You can see thousands of listings that get little to no traction. To succeed on Etsy, you need more than broad search volume. You need clear buyer activity.

There is a simple way to find that activity. Filter results to show only listings with the Bestseller badge. This trick takes seconds and reveals real demand.

How to Filter Etsy Search Results for Bestsellers

Type your niche keyword into Etsy’s search bar as usual. When the results page loads, look at the browser URL. Add this snippet to the end of that URL:

&is_best_seller=true

Press Enter. Etsy reloads the page and shows only listings with the “Bestseller” badge.

Compare that number to the total listing count. If a niche shows 45,000 results but only 10 bestsellers, the market looks weak. If you see dozens or hundreds of bestsellers, the niche has steady buyer demand. This quick step converts raw numbers into usable research.

What the “Bestseller” Badge Really Means in 2025

• Etsy assigns the badge to listings with high recent sales, typically measured over the last six months.
• What counts as “high” varies by category. In small niches, a few dozen sales can qualify. In crowded categories, a listing may need hundreds.
• The badge does not stay forever. If sales slow or a competitor sells more, the badge can vanish.
• Listing edits, price changes, or temporary labels such as “Etsy’s Pick” sometimes remove the badge temporarily.
• The badge reflects recent performance and competition, not only lifetime sales.

What Experienced Sellers Are Saying

Sellers on Reddit and Etsy forums share hands-on reports that illustrate badge behavior:

• A digital seller gained the badge after 26 sales in one month. Other sellers in the same niche needed over 100 sales.
• One shop kept a bestseller badge for 10 months before it disappeared as views and orders fell.
• A seller reported a listing that vanished from search after a title edit and lost its badge.
• Forum posts estimate that about 60% of Etsy shops do not make a sale in a given month.
• Top shops often list hundreds of items and record thousands of sales per year. Smaller shops see much wider variance.

These accounts show two facts. Badge thresholds depend on niche size. Search visibility plays a major role in badge retention.

Limitations of the Bestseller Filter

• Etsy sometimes removes the badge filter in certain app versions or regions. Check the site version before relying on it.
• The badge is only one signal. Reviews, photos, price, shipping, and shop policies influence conversions.
• Third-party tools may show lagging sales data. Etsy’s internal counts sometimes differ from external estimates.
• A bestseller badge does not guarantee long-term sales or low competition. Treat the badge as one data point.

A Better Way: Use Alura to Automate Bestseller and Niche Research

The URL trick works fast and free. For deeper, faster research, use Alura. Alura is an Etsy research platform that analyzes millions of listings and surfaces performance data.

• Alura finds top sellers and shows estimated monthly sales and revenue trends.
• The tool gives each keyword a demand score based on search activity and competition.
• Alura shows search volume, competition, and click trends for keywords. That data helps you pick stronger terms.
• It detects seasonal peaks and flags when keywords surge ahead of holidays.
• Alura breaks down top competitors: price, tags, listing age, and estimated sales per month.
• Use the tool alongside the Etsy filter to validate large trends and save time.

Alura replaces manual checks with clear numbers and trend charts. That saves hours and reduces guesswork.

How to Strengthen Your Niche Research

• Study the top listings. Note photos, descriptions, price points, and shipping terms.
• Check sales velocity. Use tools such as eRank, EverBee, or Alura for estimated daily or weekly sales.
• Monitor the filtered bestseller results weekly to spot stability or volatility.
• Track listing age and review counts to see long-term performance.
• Watch for seasonal spikes and plan inventory ahead of peak periods.

These steps give a fuller view than a single snapshot.

Why Seasonal Keywords Matter

Buyers search with seasonal language. Etsy’s search favors listings that match current shopper intent. Update titles, tags, and descriptions for seasonal demand.

• For example, swap “minimalist home decor” with “Christmas wall art” in November.
• Add “Mother’s Day gift” for spring and “Valentine’s gift” in early February.
• Seasonal keywords raise visibility when buyers look for gifts and holiday items.
• Sellers who refresh listings for seasonality often see sharp traffic and sales increases.

Plan seasonal updates four to six weeks before the peak sales period. That timing helps listings gain traction before demand peaks.

Check out guides with actions and a checklist on Season Keywords

• How Etsy Sellers Can Harness Seasonal Trends
• How to Effectively Incorporate Seasonal Keywords into Your Etsy Listings

Final Thoughts

Etsy’s listing count can mislead new sellers. A keyword with tens of thousands of results may hide weak actual demand. Adding &is_best_seller=true to the search URL focuses your view on listings that buyers buy. That move shows how many true bestsellers live in a niche and how crowded profitable spots are.

Use the filter as a fast check, and add deeper research with tools like Alura. Track seasonal keywords, monitor competitors, and watch search visibility over time. Small changes in the research process yield clearer decisions about product choice, listing updates, and shop growth.