Sell worksheets online: printables teachers pay for
Free worksheets are everywhere, so a paid one has to print cleanly, fit the lesson and save the teacher real time. Here is what separates a worksheet people buy from one they skip, plus how to sell yours on TeachLessons.
Short answer: To sell worksheets online with TeachLessons, apply with the short form, then email print-ready PDFs with answer keys, PNG or JPEG previews and a thumbnail to support@stifo.de. Say whether files are US Letter, A4 or both. You set the price, keep 70% of net revenue and pay no listing or membership fees.
What makes a worksheet worth paying for?
Teachers can type "fractions worksheet" into a search engine and print something free in seconds. They pay when a worksheet does a job the free ones don't. In our experience writing and buying printables, these are the things that make the difference:
Clear purpose
One skill, one level, stated at the top. A teacher should know within five seconds whether it fits Tuesday's lesson.
Thoughtful sequence
Questions that build from easy to harder, with a challenge item at the end for early finishers.
Room to work
Enough space for students to show working or write full sentences. Cramped pages are the most common complaint.
Answer key included
A key that matches the page layout, so grading a stack of 30 takes minutes, not an evening.
Differentiation
Two or three versions of the same sheet at different levels, so the whole class works on one skill.
Clean print
Crisp text, no gray backgrounds and nothing cut off by the printer margin.
How do I make sure worksheets print well?
School printers and photocopiers are unforgiving. Something that looks fine on screen can come out gray, blurry or clipped. A quick checklist before you export:
- Keep at least a 0.5 inch (about 1.3 cm) margin on every side so nothing is lost to the copier edge.
- Use black or very dark text at 11 point or larger for older students and 14 point or more for early readers.
- Export images at print resolution so clip art doesn't look pixelated when copied.
- Avoid full-page colored backgrounds. They waste ink and make text unreadable when photocopied in black and white.
- Print one copy yourself and photocopy it. If the copy is readable, you're done.
Low-ink versions
Many teachers pay for their own ink or have copy limits. Including a black-and-white or low-ink version alongside the color version is a small amount of work for you and a strong reason to choose your sheet. Mention it in the title or description so buyers see it.
Should I make worksheets in US Letter or A4?
Our buyers are mainly in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore and international schools. US and Canadian schools print on US Letter; most other countries use A4. A Letter file printed on A4 usually works with "fit to page", but it can shrink text or leave odd margins. If your audience is mixed, offering both sizes is the friendliest option.
| Paper size | Measures | Mainly used in |
|---|---|---|
| US Letter | 8.5 x 11 in | United States, Canada |
| A4 | 210 x 297 mm | UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, most international schools |
Whatever you choose, say it in the Resource Submission List and the description, for example "US Letter and A4 versions included". It prevents a lot of disappointment.
How should I name and package worksheet files?
Send printables as PDF so the layout stays exactly as you designed it. If a worksheet is meant to be edited, add a DOCX or a Google Docs copy link as well, but only when your clip art and font licenses allow editable files. For anything with more than one file, use a single ZIP.
Clear file names save the buyer time and make your Resource Submission List easier to fill in:
- Fractions-Practice-Grades-5-6.pdf
- Fractions-Practice-Grades-5-6-Answer-Key.pdf (or the key at the back of the same PDF)
- Fractions-Practice-Grades-5-6-A4.pdf for the A4 version
Put answer keys in the same file or in the same ZIP, never as a separate product, since teachers expect them to come together.
Should I sell single worksheets or worksheet packs?
Both can work, and they do different jobs. A single worksheet is an easy first purchase and can lead a teacher to your other resources. A pack of 20 sheets on one topic, or a month of morning work, is what teachers buy when they want to stop searching for the rest of the unit.
| Product | Example price | Payout per sale |
|---|---|---|
| Single worksheet with key | $1.00 | $0.68 |
| Three-level differentiated sheet | $3.00 | $2.04 |
| Topic pack of 15-20 worksheets | $4.99 | $3.39 |
| Year-long printable pack | $20.00 | $13.58 |
Payout is 67.9% of the price: price x 0.97 for payment processing, then your 70% share. We suggest a minimum of $4.99 for a single resource, but you decide; a one-page sheet at $1 is your call. You can check other prices in the payout calculator. Bundles of several existing resources are only created with your approval.
What should worksheet previews show?
Worksheet buyers want to see the actual page. Show at least one full page at a size where the questions are readable, a glimpse of the answer key and, for packs, a contents page or a grid of all the sheets. Previews and thumbnails must be PNG or JPEG. A square thumbnail with the skill and grade in large text works best.
Our guide to previews and thumbnails has more detail, including how to watermark sample pages.
Also check rights before you send. Fonts and clip art must be licensed for commercial use in resources that are sold, and nothing should be copied from textbooks or other people's worksheets. TeachLessons does not check resources for third-party rights; that is the seller's responsibility. See clip art and fonts for commercial use.
How do I start selling worksheets on TeachLessons?
- Apply. Use the short application form. About five minutes, no files needed.
- Receive your documents. We email the Seller Agreement, payout form, rights checklist and the Resource Submission List.
- List and send. Add one row per worksheet or pack, then send the signed documents, PDFs, previews and thumbnails in one email to support@stifo.de.
- We set it up. We confirm receipt within 2 business days and write your product pages. Worksheets go live once they are set up, with no extra approval round, so send final versions.
- Get paid. Monthly by the 15th via PayPal in US dollars, with a statement of every sale.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell worksheets I already sell somewhere else?
Yes. TeachLessons does not ask for exclusivity, so you can sell the same worksheets in your own shop or on other marketplaces, unless you signed an exclusive deal for them.
Do I have to include an answer key?
It is not a rule, but teachers strongly expect one for practice worksheets. Put it at the back of the PDF or in the same ZIP.
What file format should worksheets be in?
PDF is best for printables. Add an editable DOCX or Google Docs copy link only if the worksheet is meant to be edited and your licenses allow it.
How much do I earn on a $4.99 worksheet pack?
You earn $3.39 per sale, which is $4.99 x 0.97 x 0.70.
Should my worksheets be US Letter or A4?
US Letter suits US and Canadian buyers; A4 suits most other countries. Including both sizes covers everyone, and either way, say which in the description.
Can I send hundreds of worksheets at once?
Yes. List each resource as one row in the Resource Submission List and send the files as one Google Drive, Dropbox or WeTransfer link, up to 100 MB per resource.
Ready to sell your teaching resources?
Apply with the short form. We email you the seller documents, you send your final files with previews and thumbnails, and we set up your product pages, your author page and landing pages. You keep 70% of net revenue, with no fees and no exclusivity.
Keep reading
General information about the TeachLessons Seller Program, not legal, tax or financial advice. The signed Seller Agreement sets out the binding terms. Questions: support@stifo.de.