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# ๐ŸŽจ Printful MCP Server

### **Automate Your Print-on-Demand Business with AI**

Connect Printful's powerful API to Claude, Cursor, and other AI assistants through the Model Context Protocol.

[**๐Ÿ“š Quick Start**](#installation) โ€ข [**๐Ÿ”ง Configuration**](#configuration) โ€ข [**๐Ÿš€ Examples**](#usage-examples) โ€ข [**๐Ÿ“– Documentation**](QUICKSTART.md)

---

[![Made by Purple Horizons](https://img.shields.io/badge/Made_by-Purple_Horizons-7C3AED?style=for-the-badge&logo=data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMjQiIGhlaWdodD0iMjQiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAyNCAyNCIgZmlsbD0ibm9uZSIgeG1sbnM9Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnIj48cGF0aCBkPSJNMTIgMkw2IDhMMTIgMTRMMTggOEwxMiAyWiIgZmlsbD0id2hpdGUiLz48cGF0aCBkPSJNMTIgMTBMMTggMTZMMTIgMjJMNiAxNkwxMiAxMFoiIGZpbGw9IndoaXRlIi8+PC9zdmc+)](https://purplehorizons.io)
[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg?style=for-the-badge)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
[![Python 3.10+](https://img.shields.io/badge/python-3.10+-blue.svg?style=for-the-badge&logo=python&logoColor=white)](https://www.python.org/downloads/)
[![Printful API v2](https://img.shields.io/badge/Printful-API_v2-00A3FF?style=for-the-badge)](https://developers.printful.com/docs/v2-beta/)

[![GitHub Stars](https://img.shields.io/github/stars/Purple-Horizons/printful-ph-mcp?style=social)](https://github.com/Purple-Horizons/printful-ph-mcp)
[![GitHub Forks](https://img.shields.io/github/forks/Purple-Horizons/printful-ph-mcp?style=social)](https://github.com/Purple-Horizons/printful-ph-mcp/fork)

---

### ๐ŸŽ **New to Printful?**

<a href="https://www.printful.com/a/purplehorizons">
  <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Sign_Up-Get_Started_Free-FA4616?style=for-the-badge&logo=printful&logoColor=white" alt="Sign up for Printful">
</a>

<sub>Start your print-on-demand business today โ€ข No upfront costs โ€ข 300+ products โ€ข Global fulfillment</sub>

---

</div>

## โœจ Features

<table>
<tr>
<td width="50%">

### ๐ŸŽฏ **Complete API Coverage**
- โœ… Full Printful API v2 support
- โœ… Smart v1 fallback for legacy features
- โœ… 17 tools across all major domains
- โœ… Real-time stock & pricing data

</td>
<td width="50%">

### ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ **Production Ready**
- โœ… Type-safe Pydantic validation
- โœ… Robust error handling
- โœ… Rate limit management
- โœ… Dual output formats (JSON/Markdown)

</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="50%">

### ๐Ÿš€ **Easy Integration**
- โœ… Works with Claude Desktop
- โœ… Works with Cursor IDE
- โœ… stdio + HTTP transports
- โœ… No hosting required

</td>
<td width="50%">

### ๐Ÿค– **AI Skill Included**
- โœ… Cursor skill teaches AI how to use tools
- โœ… Best practices built-in
- โœ… Auto-applies workflows
- โœ… Better experience out of the box

</td>
</tr>
</table>

> **๐ŸŽ Bonus:** This repo includes a [Cursor AI skill](.cursor/skills/) that automatically teaches AI assistants how to use the Printful MCP effectively. Just open the project and start asking questions!

---

## ๐Ÿš€ Quick Start

<details open>
<summary><b>๐Ÿ“‹ Prerequisites</b></summary>

<br>

- **Python 3.10+** ([Download](https://www.python.org/downloads/))
- **Printful API Key** ([Get one free](https://www.printful.com/dashboard/api))

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>โšก Installation (3 steps)</b></summary>

<br>

**Step 1: Clone & Install**
```bash
git clone https://github.com/Purple-Horizons/printful-ph-mcp.git
cd printful-ph-mcp
pip install -e .
```

**Step 2: Set up API Key**
```bash
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env and add: PRINTFUL_API_KEY=your-key-here
```

**Step 3: Configure Your AI Assistant**

<details>
<summary><b>For Cursor</b></summary>

Add to `~/.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "printful": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["-m", "printful_mcp"],
      "cwd": "/path/to/printful-ph-mcp",
      "env": {
        "PRINTFUL_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}
```
</details>

<details>
<summary><b>For Claude Desktop</b></summary>

Add to `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "printful": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["-m", "printful_mcp"],
      "cwd": "/path/to/printful-ph-mcp",
      "env": {
        "PRINTFUL_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}
```
</details>

โœ… **That's it!** Restart your AI assistant and start using Printful tools.

</details>

---

## ๐Ÿ”Œ Transport Options

By default, the server uses **stdio** transport (required for Cursor/Claude Desktop). For HTTP clients or tools like mcporter, you can use HTTP transport.

<details>
<summary><b>๐Ÿ“ก Available Transports</b></summary>

<br>

| Transport | Use Case | Command |
|-----------|----------|---------|
| **stdio** (default) | Cursor, Claude Desktop | `python -m printful_mcp` |
| **http** | HTTP clients, mcporter | `python -m printful_mcp --transport http` |
| **sse** | Legacy SSE clients | `python -m printful_mcp --transport sse` |

**HTTP Transport Example:**
```bash
# Start server on port 8000
python -m printful_mcp --transport http --port 8000

# Or with custom host
python -m printful_mcp --transport http --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8080
```

**Using with mcporter:**
```bash
# Option 1: Use JSON args format (recommended)
mcporter call printful_mcp.printful_list_catalog_products --args '{"limit":20}'

# Option 2: Use typed values (colon for numbers)
mcporter call printful_mcp.printful_get_product product_id:71
```

</details>

---

## ๐ŸŽจ What You Can Do

<div align="center">

| ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Catalog | ๐Ÿ“ฆ Orders | ๐Ÿšš Shipping | ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Mockups | ๐Ÿ“ Files | ๐Ÿช Stores |
|:---------:|:--------:|:----------:|:---------:|:-------:|:--------:|
| Browse 300+ products | Create & manage orders | Calculate rates | Generate mockups | Upload designs | View statistics |
| Check availability | Confirm fulfillment | List countries | Check status | Get file info | Multi-store support |
| Get pricing | Track orders | Delivery times | Custom placements | - | - |

</div>

---

## ๐Ÿ’ก Usage Examples

### ๐ŸŽฏ Example 1: Find the Perfect Product

```python
# Ask your AI assistant:
"Show me all t-shirts available for DTG printing under $15"

# It will use:
printful_list_catalog_products(
    types="T-SHIRT",
    techniques="dtg",
    limit=20,
    format="markdown"
)
```

### ๐Ÿ’ฐ Example 2: Get Pricing

```python
# Ask your AI assistant:
"What's the price for variant 4011 in USD?"

# It will use:
printful_get_variant_prices(
    variant_id=4011,
    currency="USD",
    format="markdown"
)
```

### ๐Ÿ“ฆ Example 3: Create an Order

```python
# Ask your AI assistant:
"Create a draft order for John Doe at 123 Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90001"

# It will use:
printful_create_order(
    recipient_name="John Doe",
    recipient_address1="123 Main St",
    recipient_city="Los Angeles",
    recipient_state_code="CA",
    recipient_country_code="US",
    recipient_zip="90001"
)
```

### ๐ŸŽจ Example 4: Generate Product Mockups

```python
# Ask your AI assistant:
"Generate a mockup for product 71 with my design"

# It will use:
printful_create_mockup_task(
    product_id=71,
    variant_ids="4011,4012",
    design_url="https://example.com/design.png",
    placement="front"
)
```

<div align="center">

### ๐ŸŽฌ **Want to see it in action?**

[๐Ÿ“บ Watch Demo Video](#) โ€ข [๐Ÿ“– Read Full Documentation](QUICKSTART.md) โ€ข [๐Ÿ’ฌ Join Community](#)

</div>

---

## ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Available Tools

<details>
<summary><b>๐Ÿ›๏ธ Catalog Tools (5)</b> - Browse products & check availability</summary>

<br>

| Tool | Description | Example Use |
|------|-------------|-------------|
| `printful_list_catalog_products` | Browse 300+ products with filters | "Show me all hoodies" |
| `printful_get_product` | Get detailed product info | "Tell me about product 71" |
| `printful_get_product_variants` | Get all sizes/colors | "What sizes are available?" |
| `printful_get_variant_prices` | Get pricing by currency | "How much in EUR?" |
| `printful_get_product_availability` | Check stock status | "Is this in stock?" |

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>๐Ÿ“ฆ Order Tools (4)</b> - Create & manage orders</summary>

<br>

| Tool | Description | Example Use |
|------|-------------|-------------|
| `printful_create_order` | Create draft order | "Create order for John" |
| `printful_get_order` | View order details | "Show me order #12345" |
| `printful_confirm_order` | Start fulfillment | "Confirm this order" |
| `printful_list_orders` | List all orders | "Show my recent orders" |

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>๐Ÿšš Shipping Tools (2)</b> - Calculate rates & delivery</summary>

<br>

| Tool | Description | Example Use |
|------|-------------|-------------|
| `printful_calculate_shipping` | Get shipping rates & times | "How much to ship to UK?" |
| `printful_list_countries` | List supported countries | "What countries do you ship to?" |

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ Mockup Tools (2)</b> - Generate product images</summary>

<br>

| Tool | Description | Example Use |
|------|-------------|-------------|
| `printful_create_mockup_task` | Generate mockup images | "Create mockup with my design" |
| `printful_get_mockup_task` | Check generation status | "Is my mockup ready?" |

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>๐Ÿ“ File Tools (2)</b> - Upload & manage designs</summary>

<br>

| Tool | Description | Example Use |
|------|-------------|-------------|
| `printful_add_file` | Upload design file | "Upload my logo" |
| `printful_get_file` | Get file info & status | "Check file #12345" |

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>๐Ÿช Store Tools (2)</b> - Manage stores & stats</summary>

<br>

| Tool | Description | Example Use |
|------|-------------|-------------|
| `printful_list_stores` | List your stores | "Show all my stores" |
| `printful_get_store_stats` | View sales & profit | "What are my sales?" |

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>๐Ÿ”„ Sync Product Tools (2)</b> - Legacy v1 features</summary>

<br>

| Tool | Description | Example Use |
|------|-------------|-------------|
| `printful_list_sync_products` | List synced products | "Show my Etsy products" |
| `printful_get_sync_product` | Get sync product details | "Details on sync #123" |

</details>

---

## ๐ŸŽ“ Documentation

<table>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### ๐Ÿ“– [Quick Start Guide](QUICKSTART.md)
Get up and running in 5 minutes

</td>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### ๐Ÿ”‘ [API Token Setup](API_TOKEN_SETUP.md)
Detailed token configuration guide

</td>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### ๐Ÿงช [Testing Guide](TESTING.md)
Learn how to test your integration

</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### ๐Ÿ” [API Scopes Reference](API_SCOPES_REFERENCE.md)
Required permissions explained

</td>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### ๐Ÿ’ป [Examples](examples.py)
Real code examples

</td>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### ๐Ÿ”ง [Cursor Config](cursor-mcp-config.json)
Ready-to-use config file

</td>
</tr>
</table>

---

## ๐Ÿ”„ API Version Strategy

This server uses **Printful API v2** (production-ready beta) with smart **v1 fallback**:

<table>
<tr>
<td width="50%">

**๐ŸŽฏ v2 (Primary)**
- โœ… Catalog & Products
- โœ… Orders & Fulfillment
- โœ… Shipping Rates
- โœ… Mockup Generation
- โœ… File Management
- โœ… Store Statistics

</td>
<td width="50%">

**๐Ÿ”„ v1 (Fallback)**
- โœ… Sync Products
- โœ… Product Templates
- โš ๏ธ Auto-switches when needed
- ๐Ÿš€ Future-proof architecture

</td>
</tr>
</table>

**Why v2?** Better pagination โ€ข Real-time stock โ€ข Enhanced orders โ€ข Improved security โ€ข Standardized formats

---

## โš™๏ธ Rate Limiting & Performance

<table>
<tr>
<td>

**๐Ÿ“Š Rate Limits**
- 120 requests / 60 seconds
- Leaky bucket algorithm
- Auto-retry on 429 errors

</td>
<td>

**๐Ÿš€ Performance**
- Response times: 100-500ms
- Concurrent requests: Supported
- Timeout handling: Built-in

</td>
</tr>
</table>

---

## ๐Ÿ› Troubleshooting

<details>
<summary><b>โŒ "PRINTFUL_API_KEY environment variable is required"</b></summary>

<br>

**Solution:** Make sure your API key is set in `.env` or passed via environment variables in the MCP config.

```bash
# Check your .env file
cat .env

# Should contain:
PRINTFUL_API_KEY=your-actual-key-here
```

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>โฑ๏ธ "Rate limit exceeded"</b></summary>

<br>

**Solution:** Wait for the time specified in the error message (usually 60 seconds).

- Default limit: 120 requests/minute
- Consider implementing request batching
- Check `X-Ratelimit-Reset` header for exact reset time

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>๐Ÿ” "Resource not found"</b></summary>

<br>

**Solution:** Double-check the ID you're using.

- For orders: You can use external IDs by prefixing with `@` (e.g., `@my-order-123`)
- For products: Verify the product/variant ID exists in the catalog
- Check if the resource belongs to your store

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>๐ŸŽจ Mockup generation stuck on "pending"</b></summary>

<br>

**Solution:** Mockup generation typically takes 10-30 seconds.

- Wait at least 30 seconds before checking status
- If stuck longer than 2 minutes, check task status - it may have failed
- Verify your design URL is publicly accessible

</details>

---

## ๐Ÿงช Testing

<div align="center">

### Choose Your Testing Method

</div>

<table>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### โšก **Quick Test**
Automated test suite

```bash
export PRINTFUL_API_KEY=your-key
python test_server.py
```

โœ… Tests 6 core features
โฑ๏ธ Takes 30 seconds

</td>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### ๐ŸŒ **Interactive Test**
Web-based MCP Inspector

```bash
export PRINTFUL_API_KEY=your-key
./test-with-inspector.sh
```

๐ŸŽฏ Test any tool visually
๐ŸŒ Opens at localhost:5173

</td>
<td align="center" width="33%">

### ๐Ÿค– **Live Test**
In Claude/Cursor

Just ask:

```
"List Printful countries"
```

๐Ÿ’ฌ Natural language
โœจ Real integration test

</td>
</tr>
</table>

**๐Ÿ“– Full testing guide:** See [TESTING.md](TESTING.md) for comprehensive testing instructions.

---

## ๐Ÿ—๏ธ Project Structure

```
printful-ph-mcp/
โ”œโ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ“ src/
โ”‚   โ””โ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ“ printful_mcp/
โ”‚       โ”œโ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ server.py          # FastMCP server + tool registrations
โ”‚       โ”œโ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ”Œ client.py          # API client with auth/error handling
โ”‚       โ”œโ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ“ tools/             # Tool implementations by domain
โ”‚       โ”‚   โ”œโ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ›๏ธ catalog.py    # Product browsing (5 tools)
โ”‚       โ”‚   โ”œโ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ“ฆ orders.py     # Order management (4 tools)
โ”‚       โ”‚   โ”œโ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿšš shipping.py   # Shipping rates (2 tools)
โ”‚       โ”‚   โ”œโ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ–ผ๏ธ mockups.py    # Mockup generation (2 tools)
โ”‚       โ”‚   โ”œโ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ“ files.py      # File management (2 tools)
โ”‚       โ”‚   โ”œโ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿช stores.py     # Store statistics (2 tools)
โ”‚       โ”‚   โ””โ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ”„ sync.py       # v1 fallback (2 tools)
โ”‚       โ””โ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ“ models/
โ”‚           โ””โ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ“‹ inputs.py      # Pydantic input models
โ”œโ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ“„ pyproject.toml
โ”œโ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ” .env.example
โ””โ”€โ”€ ๐Ÿ“– README.md
```

---

## ๐Ÿค Contributing

We welcome contributions! Here's how you can help:

<table>
<tr>
<td width="50%">

### ๐Ÿ› **Report Bugs**
Found an issue? [Open a bug report](https://github.com/Purple-Horizons/printful-ph-mcp/issues/new?labels=bug)

### โœจ **Request Features**
Have an idea? [Suggest a feature](https://github.com/Purple-Horizons/printful-ph-mcp/issues/new?labels=enhancement)

</td>
<td width="50%">

### ๐Ÿ”ง **Submit PRs**
1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch
3. Commit your changes
4. Push and open a Pull Request

</td>
</tr>
</table>

---

## ๐Ÿ“š Resources & Links

<div align="center">

| Resource | Link |
|:--------:|:----:|
| ๐Ÿ“˜ **Printful API v2 Docs** | [developers.printful.com/docs/v2-beta](https://developers.printful.com/docs/v2-beta/) |
| ๐Ÿ“— **Printful API v1 Docs** | [developers.printful.com/docs](https://developers.printful.com/docs/) |
| ๐Ÿ”Œ **MCP Protocol Spec** | [modelcontextprotocol.io](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/) |
| ๐Ÿ **FastMCP Framework** | [github.com/modelcontextprotocol/python-sdk](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/python-sdk) |
| ๐ŸŽจ **Purple Horizons** | [purplehorizons.io](https://purplehorizons.io) |
| ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ’ป **Made by Gianni** | [giannidalerta.com](https://giannidalerta.com) |

</div>

---

## ๐Ÿ“„ License

<div align="center">

**MIT License** - Free to use, modify, and distribute

[View License](LICENSE) โ€ข [Purple Horizons LLC](https://purplehorizons.io) โ€ข 2026

</div>

---

## ๐Ÿ’ Support This Project

<div align="center">

### If this project helped you, consider:

โญ **Star this repo** on GitHub

๐Ÿฆ **Share it** on social media

๐Ÿค **Contribute** to the codebase

๐ŸŽจ **Sign up for Printful** using our affiliate link

<br>

<a href="https://www.printful.com/a/purplehorizons">
  <img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Try_Printful-Start_Free-FA4616?style=for-the-badge&logo=printful&logoColor=white" alt="Try Printful">
</a>

<br><br>

**Made with โค๏ธ by [Purple Horizons](https://purplehorizons.io)**

*Empowering businesses through AI automation*

</div>

---

<div align="center">

### ๐Ÿš€ Ready to automate your print-on-demand business?

[**Get Started Now**](#installation) โ€ข [**View Examples**](#usage-examples) โ€ข [**Read Docs**](QUICKSTART.md)

<sub>Questions? Issues? [Open an issue](https://github.com/Purple-Horizons/printful-ph-mcp/issues) or [contact us](https://purplehorizons.io)</sub>

</div>

TDQS

A3.9/5.0

Scored across 19 tools

Disambiguation5/5

Every tool has a clearly distinct purpose targeting specific resources and actions in the Printful ecosystem. Tools like printful_get_product, printful_get_product_variants, and printful_get_product_availability all serve different but complementary purposes without overlap. The descriptions clearly differentiate between file management, order processing, product catalog operations, and administrative functions.

Naming Consistency5/5

All tools follow a perfect verb_noun pattern with the 'printful_' prefix, using consistent snake_case throughout. The naming convention is highly predictable: action verbs (add, calculate, confirm, create, get, list) followed by specific nouns (file, shipping, order, mockup_task, etc.). This makes it easy for agents to understand what each tool does from its name alone.

Tool Count4/5

With 19 tools, the server provides comprehensive coverage of the Printful API surface. While slightly on the higher side, each tool serves a distinct purpose in the e-commerce/print-on-demand domain. The count is reasonable given the complexity of managing products, orders, files, and mockups in a fulfillment platform. A few tools could potentially be consolidated, but overall the scope is appropriate.

Completeness4/5

The tool set provides excellent coverage of the Printful domain with clear CRUD operations for orders, files, and products. There's comprehensive support for the order lifecycle (create, confirm, get, list), product catalog exploration, and administrative functions. Minor gaps include the lack of order update/cancellation tools and limited sync product support (noted as v1-only), but agents can accomplish most workflows with the available tools.

Maintenance

ActivityInactive
ResponsivenessNo issues