Updated on 9 November 2026 by Nicolas Finet, CEO of Sortlist. This guide has been rewritten for 2026: it uses Pinterest's latest audience figures, drops features that no longer exist (Idea Pins and the Creator Rewards programme) and explains the UK rules on affiliate links and disclosure.
Pinterest works more like a visual search engine than a social network. People arrive with an intention (plan a kitchen, find a recipe, buy a gift) and pins can keep sending traffic for months. That makes it a useful channel for creators, bloggers and small businesses, but income is rarely quick. This guide covers the realistic ways to earn and how to set up for them.
Key takeaways
- Pinterest reported 661 million global monthly active users in Q3 2026, up 10% year on year, with Gen Z making up 57% of users.
- Money comes mainly from affiliate links, your own products and services, and traffic to a site you monetise. Pinterest's former Creator Rewards programme ended in 2022.
- In the UK, content with affiliate links counts as advertising and must be obviously identifiable as such upfront, under ASA rules.
Why Pinterest, and who is on it?
Pinterest reported record audience figures in its Q3 2026 results: 661 million monthly active users globally, up 10% on the previous year, and revenue of about US$1.17 billion, up 12%. Gen Z accounts for 57% of users. In the UK, Pinterest's own audience tool is cited by third-party guides as reaching roughly 18-19 million people a month, although such estimates vary by source.
Users plan and shop on the platform, which is why commercial content fits there. Popular topics include home and DIY, food, fashion and beauty, weddings, travel, health and personal finance. Pinterest is search-led: pins that match a person's query appear weeks or months after they were published, so results build slowly but last.
Ways to make money on Pinterest
| Method | How it works | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affiliate marketing | Pin products with affiliate links, or link to articles that contain them | Bloggers, reviewers, niche creators | Must be clearly disclosed as advertising |
| Selling your own products | Product pins and catalogues linked to your shop | Makers, ecommerce brands | Merchant verification and catalogue quality |
| Selling services | Pin your portfolio and send traffic to enquiry pages | Designers, coaches, photographers | Needs a strong landing page |
| Traffic to a monetised site | Drive visits to a blog earning from display ads or email sign-ups | Publishers | Depends on content quality and volume |
| Digital products | Templates, printables, guides | Educators, designers | Competitive; needs a clear niche |
| Managing Pinterest for others | Offer pin design and scheduling as a service | Freelancers, agencies | Set realistic expectations on timing |
| Brand collaborations | Paid sponsored content or partnerships | Established accounts | Must be labelled as ads |
One point worth correcting from earlier advice: Pinterest's Creator Rewards programme, which paid creators for Idea Pins, was discontinued in late 2022, and Idea Pins themselves are gone. Existing content remains, but you cannot earn directly from Pinterest by posting. Income comes from what happens after the click.
Set up your Pinterest business account
- Create a free business account. It gives you analytics, ad tools and product features.
- Complete your profile. Use a clear logo or photo, a keyword-aware display name and a bio that says who you help and how.
- Claim your website. Verifying your domain attributes pins from your site to your profile and unlocks website analytics.
- Enable rich pins. Rich pins pull extra details (such as product price or article title) directly from your page.
- Add the Pinterest tag. If you will advertise or track conversions, install it before you start.
Create pins that get saved and clicked
Format and size
Standard pins perform best in portrait. The recommended size is 1000 x 1500 pixels (a 2:3 ratio). Pinterest crops images taller than about 1:2.1, so avoid very long pins. Titles are cut at 100 characters and descriptions at 800.
Design
- One clear idea per pin, with readable text overlay (large type, strong contrast).
- Your brand colours and logo, consistent across pins, so they are recognisable in a feed.
- High-quality, original images, and vertical video where it suits the topic.
Keywords
Because Pinterest is a search engine, put your keyword in the pin title, description, board name and the text on the image. Find phrases by typing your topic into the search bar and noting the suggestions. A pin that matches what people search for will keep working long after you post it. For wider search tactics, see our content marketing guide.
Build a presence
- Organise boards around your niche. Give boards specific, keyword-rich names, and fill each with at least a few pins before you promote it.
- Pin consistently. A steady rhythm, for example a few fresh pins a day, matters more than bursts. Fresh pins, meaning new images and links, are the priority.
- Engage. Reply to comments, save relevant pins from others and follow related accounts.
- Test. Publish several designs for the same article and keep what performs.
Plan Pinterest as one channel within a wider plan: our social media strategy guide explains how to choose and measure channels.
Affiliate marketing on Pinterest: the UK rules
Pinterest allows affiliate links, but disclosure is not optional. Pinterest requires commercial content to carry a clear disclosure of its promotional purpose and to use its disclosure tools where available. In the UK, the ASA applies the CAP Code to affiliate marketing.
“Any social media posts which include affiliate linked products/services/brands, including those posted by influencers, should be obviously identifiable as advertising upfront.”
ASA, Online affiliate marketing
- Label affiliate pins as ads at the start of the description, for example "#ad" or "Ad".
- When the ASA assesses content created by affiliates, it typically considers the brand at least jointly responsible, so brands should brief affiliates on the rules.
- Follow the affiliate programme's own terms, including how links may be shared and whether link cloaking is allowed.
For more on labelling paid content, see advertorials and UK rules.
Selling products and services
Product pins display price and availability, and merchants can upload a catalogue to Pinterest. Pinterest runs a Verified Merchant Program, and in 2026 reportedly introduced an enhanced verification tier that asks for business registration documents. Check Pinterest's merchant guidelines before you invest in catalogue work. If you sell services, point pins to a specific landing page with a single call to action, not to your home page.
Promoted pins and advertising
Paid promotion extends reach for pins that already perform. UK guides for 2026 describe Pinterest as one of the lower-cost social ad platforms, with cost per thousand impressions typically around £1.50-£4. Treat that as a guide, because results depend on the audience and the creative. Start with a small budget, promote your best organic pins and measure cost per click and cost per conversion. If you are planning campaigns, see social media pricing for typical management costs.
Driving traffic to your site
Pinterest drives visits when pins link to a useful page. Each pin should match the landing page: the same title idea, the same promise. Make the page fast on mobile, easy to read and clear about the next step, such as an email sign-up or a product page. Over time, the best earners are usually people who build a library of helpful pages and pin them repeatedly.
Track and improve with Pinterest Analytics
- Impressions and saves: do people see and keep your pins?
- Outbound clicks: which pins send traffic?
- Top boards and keywords: where is your audience engaging?
- Conversions: which pins lead to sign-ups or sales (use UTM parameters in your analytics tool)?
Review monthly. Stop what does not work, make more of what does and refresh old pins with new images.
Scale your income
- Add new topics around your strongest niche before expanding to a new one.
- Combine income streams: affiliate links, an own product and an email list reduce dependence on any one source.
- Consider a team or an agency once you know which pins and pages earn.
If you work with creators, see our influencer marketing guide.
Frequently asked questions about making money on Pinterest
Can you make money on Pinterest?
Yes, but indirectly. Pinterest no longer pays creators for posting; you earn from affiliate commissions, your own products or services, or traffic to a monetised site.
How many people use Pinterest?
Pinterest reported 661 million global monthly active users in Q3 2026.
Do I need to disclose affiliate links in the UK?
Yes. The ASA says posts that include affiliate-linked products should be obviously identifiable as advertising upfront.
What size should a pin be?
1000 x 1500 pixels (2:3) is the recommended size for standard pins.
How long does it take to see results?
Pinterest is search-driven, so growth is gradual. Plan for months, not days, and measure outbound clicks and conversions rather than followers.
Are Idea Pins still available?
No. Idea Pins were discontinued; existing content remains, and creators now use standard and video pins.
Need help building a Pinterest or social media plan? Post your project on Sortlist and compare UK social media agencies for free.
Sources: Pinterest Q3 2026 results, ASA, Online affiliate marketing, ASA, Recognising ads: social media, Pinterest Help, Verified Merchant Program, Lilach Bullock, Pinterest advertising cost UK.
