Tabletop Game Accessories: A Niche Garage Business for Gamers
Board game nights and tabletop role-playing games have a loyal following, and players love gear that makes the table look and work better. Dice trays, dice towers, card holders and storage boxes are small, giftable products that a garage maker can produce with basic woodworking tools, a laser or a 3D printer.
Is there a market?
Trade publication ICv2 estimated the U.S. and Canadian hobby games market at about $2.84 billion in 2024, roughly flat from 2023, according to a March 2025 report by Popverse. The same report named role-playing games and miniatures among the year’s bright spots. That’s the hobby store side alone, and accessories ride along with it.
What matters more for you is that tabletop players are enthusiasts. They search for specific things, they buy gifts for their gaming group, and they talk about gear they like.
Product ideas
- Wooden dice trays and rolling boxes, plain or with a felt or leather lining
- Dice towers that fold flat for travel
- Card holders and deck boxes for popular card games
- Game insert organizers that keep components tidy in the original box
- Generic terrain pieces such as walls, ruins, trees and crates for miniature games
- Custom-engraved items for game masters or gaming groups
Stay on the right side of intellectual property
This is the biggest trap in the niche. Many games, factions and characters are protected by trademarks and copyrights. Etsy’s intellectual property policy puts the responsibility on sellers to make sure they have the rights to what they list, and it can remove listings or end selling privileges after repeated reports. Make generic designs, avoid game names and logos in your products, and describe compatibility carefully. If in doubt, ask an attorney.
Kids and safety
Most tabletop accessories are general-use products for teens and adults. If you design something aimed at children 12 and under, though, the Consumer Product Safety Commission treats it as a children’s product, which requires third-party testing and a Children’s Product Certificate. How you market the item counts, not just the label.
In the shop, wear eye and hearing protection, use dust collection when sanding, and never leave a laser cutter or 3D printer running unattended.
Pricing and selling
Track your material cost and machine time per item, then add your labor and platform fees. Bundles, like a tray plus a matching tower, raise your average order. Sell through Etsy and your own shop, and look for local game stores and conventions that welcome vendors. A few clear photos of your gear in use on a game table go a long way.
More on Garage Business Blueprint
- How to Start a Laser Engraving Business From Your Garage
- How to Start a 3D Printing Business From Your Garage
