Got books collecting dust?
In this post, you’ll learn how to sell used books so you can turn them into extra cash, declutter, and free up some space at the same time.
And there is a lot of money to be made in the used book market. In fact, according to The Business Research Company, the secondhand books market is estimated to be worth over $27.13 billion in 2025. That means more people than ever are buying and selling used books online.
Whether you have old college textbooks, bestselling novels, or rare collector’s editions, selling books online is one of the easiest ways to make extra money.
In this guide, I’ll share the best places to sell books online.
I’ll show you where you can get the most money for different types of books. So whether you’re looking for a quick sale or want to get the most money for your used books, I’ve got you covered!
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Table of Contents
How Much is My Book Worth!
Before we get to the actual selling part, let’s talk about what affects the value of a used book.
To find out how much your books are worth, you have to look at a few things:
- Condition: Obviously, the condition of a used book is a huge factor in its value. Books in like-new or gently used condition sell for higher prices.
- Demand: Recent bestsellers and high-demand textbooks are more in demand, so they sell for higher prices.
- Edition & Rarity: As with everything else, the rarer a book, the more people will pay for it. Normally, first editions, signed copies, or out-of-print books get you more money.
Looking at these factors is a good starting point. Then, you will look at what similar books are selling for and use that to determine how to price your books for sale.
Now, keep in mind that some places, like book buyback sites, will offer you an instant quote, while with other platforms, you get to set your own prices.
Example prices for different types of books
With that said, here are a few examples of used book prices:
Book Type | Example Title | Best Selling Platform | Estimated Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
Used Textbooks | Biology 11th Edition – Campbell | Amazon, BookScouter, eBay | $40 – $120 |
Recent Bestsellers | Atomic Habits – James Clear | Amazon, eBay, Facebook | $8 – $15 |
Rare & Collectibles | Harry Potter 1st Edition (1997) | eBay, AbeBooks, RareBookBuyer | $500 – $5,000+ |
Signed Copies | The Shining (Signed by Stephen King) | eBay, AbeBooks, Collectors’ Sites | $200 – $2,000+ |
Children’s Books | Dr. Seuss – The Cat in the Hat | Amazon, Powell’s, eBay | $5 – $30 |
Self-Published Books | Niche self-help or fiction books | Amazon (Kindle, Paperback), eBay | $5 – $25 |
Graphic Novels & Comics | The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963) | eBay, Heritage Auctions, MyComicShop | $1,000 – $50,000+ |
Vintage/Out-of-Print | To Kill a Mockingbird (1960s print) | AbeBooks, Biblio, eBay | $50 – $500+ |
Again, these are just examples (at the time of writing this post) to give you an idea of what you can expect.
Best Places to Sell Books Online
So now that you know what affects the value of your books and how to price them so you can cash in quickly, it’s time to choose the best place for selling old books.
Thankfully, whether you’re looking to sell textbooks, rare editions, bestsellers, used novels, or any other type of book, you have plenty of options.
Note: Most book buyback websites work similarly and are easy to use. That’s why I did not go into detail about each one below. You just have to enter your ISBN, and the site will automatically fill in the rest of the information using their database.
As for general selling platforms like eBay, by now, we all know how to list an item for sale on them.
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Here are the best sites to sell books online, along with their pros, cons, and how to get started.
1. BookScouter – Best for Comparing Book Buyback Prices
I love this website!
BookScouter helps you find the best price for your book by comparing offers from 30+ buyback companies.
You simply enter the ISBN of the book, and BookScouter does the rest!
They are especially well known for buying and selling textbooks.
If you don’t have the time to compare prices on different sites one by one to find out which one pays the most money for old books, BookScouter should be your number one choice.
Still not convinced? Read my BookScouter review for more reasons why you should always check with BookScouter first.
- Pros: Aggregates multiple offers, free shipping.
- Cons: Lower payouts than selling directly to buyers.
How to sell books on BookScouter:
- Enter your book’s ISBN to compare prices from multiple vendors.
- Choose the highest offer and ship your book for free.
- Get paid via PayPal or check.
2. Amazon – Best for Selling Textbooks & Bestsellers
Although Amazon is the biggest and most well-known site for selling all kinds of books, I personally think you get much less for your books than other sites on this list.
That said, Amazon is a trusted platform with hundreds of thousands of potential buyers.
So you may have a much better chance of selling your book faster than any other place.
And even though books may generally be sold for less, this is Amazon after all. People do pay much more for the same items just because it’s on Amazon.
So it wouldn’t hurt to list your book(s) there. As a rule of thumb, I would only list books in mint condition on Amazon.
You can list your books as a third-party seller or use Amazon’s trade-in program for an instant offer.
- Pros: Huge audience, competitive pricing, fulfillment options (FBA).
- Cons: Seller fees, high competition.
How to sell books on Amazon:
- List your book using the ISBN of your book.
- Set a competitive price based on market value.
- Choose fulfillment: Ship it yourself or use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) for easier handling.
To avoid making the same mistakes beginner Amazon booksellers make, read my guide on how to sell books on Amazon for some insider tips and tricks.
3. ValoreBooks – Best for Selling Textbooks
ValoreBooks is a great platform for selling textbooks and used books. What I like about this one is that you can sell directly to students looking for affordable books.
To sell your textbooks to ValoreBooks, visit the website and enter the ISBN of the books you want to sell.
You can enter multiple ISBNs into the box, then click on “Get Price Quote,” and you’ll get a quote for all of the books that you plan to sell.
If you have a lot of books, then this is really handy.
You’ll get an instant quote. If you’re happy with the quote, then you can ship your items to ValoreBooks for free.
Payment is sent by check or through PayPal.
Pros:
- Focuses on textbooks and academic books.
- Offers competitive buyback prices.
- Free shipping for sellers.
Cons:
- Limited to textbooks and academic titles.
- Price offers may be lower compared to other platforms.
How to sell books on ValoreBooks:
- Enter your book’s ISBN to get an instant quote.
- Accept the offer and ship the book for free.
- Get paid via PayPal or check.
4. AbeBooks – Best for Rare and Collectible Books
AbeBooks is a marketplace perfect for selling rare, vintage, and collectible books.
I’ll be honest with you, though; if you just have a few everyday books, this is not the site you want to sell on. They have a whopping $25 a month “subscription” fee for a basic seller account.
But if you do have a really rare first edition, signed copy, or out-of-print book, it may be worth the fee since, depending on your book, you could get a pretty penny for it!
By the way, you can even sell maps, important handwritten notes, and documents on AbeBooks!
Pros:
- Niche market for rare and collectible books.
- Global audience of book collectors.
- Full control over pricing.
Cons:
- $25/month subscription fee for basic accounts.
- 15%-20% commission fee on sales.
- Slower sales for rare books.
How to sell books on AbeBooks:
- Create a seller account.
- List books using ISBN and detailed descriptions.
- Ship the books when sold.
- Get paid via bank transfer.
5. eBay – Best for Rare Books & Collectibles
If you have first editions, signed books, or out-of-print copies, I recommend selling them on eBay. For some reason, people are willing to pay much more for the same books on eBay than on other platforms.
You can list 250 items a month for free, so that saves a bit on seller fees! However, you may be charged other fees, so do keep that in mind when pricing your books.
And as you know, you can either sell it via auction or fixed-price listings. Though I’d reserve auction listings for really rare books.
What’s good about eBay is that since it’s a hugely popular website, it’s likely that a customer will see your books and buy them.
- Pros: Auction format allows bidding wars, global reach, and flexible pricing.
- Cons: General fees, handling shipping yourself.
How to sell books on eBay:
- List your book by entering the title, description, and ISBN (if applicable).
- Set your price or choose an auction-style listing.
- Add clear photos of the book (front, back, and spine).
- Ship the book once sold.
- Receive payment via PayPal or direct deposit.
6. Powell’s Books – Best for Selling to a Bookstore
Powell’s Books is a well-known independent bookstore that buys used books online. They pay via PayPal or store credit, which can be higher than cash offers.
You can also sell books to them in-store if you live in or near Portland, Oregon. However, for books sold in person, they don’t pay via PayPal. They give you store credit, which can be higher than cash offers.
To sell your books online to Powell’s Books, visit the site and either scan or enter the ISBN of each book you want to sell to get an instant quote.
If you like the quote, then you can ship your books to Powell’s for free – as the retailer pays for shipping.
Payment is sent to your PayPal account.
- Pros: Instant quotes, free shipping for accepted books.
- Cons: Strict acceptance criteria.
How to sell books on Powell’s Books:
- Enter or scan your ISBNs on their website to see if they’re accepting your books.
- Ship accepted books for free.
- Receive payment once the books are verified.
7. Half Price Books (HPB) – Best for Instant Cash Offers
As thge name suggest, Half Price Books is a company that buys used books and textbooks.
If you’re wondering, “Where can I sell books near me?” then this is a great option.
Just take your books to your nearest Half Price Books store. If the store is interested in buying the books, you’ll get a quote for them.
If you like the quote and accept it, you’ll get paid in cash. It’s a quick way to get cash for your used books.
- Pros: No need to list books online, instant offers.
- Cons: Offers tend to be lower than selling online.
How to sell books on Half price Books:
- Visit a local HPB store with your books.
- Get a cash offer on the spot.
8. Decluttr – Best for Selling Books in Bulk
Decluttr is a great website for selling used books, especially if you want to sell multiple books at once.
You can also sell CDs, used phones, tablets, games, and DVDs on there.
So, if you’re looking to get rid of a lot of stuff, then this is a good place to do so.
You sell your stuff directly to Decluttr – which means no waiting around for a customer to buy it!
Just visit the website, and select the “sell CDs, DVDs, games & books” tab above the search bar.
Then, enter the barcode of the book that you want to sell.
Decluttr will give you a quote for the book.
But if you have more than one or two books to sell, entering codes one by one is a hassle. No worries, install the Decluttr app.
The app is handy because you can use it to scan barcodes. This saves you the time of having to enter the barcode for each book that you’re going to sell.
Read my Decluttr review for tips on how to get the most out of it.
- Pros: Free shipping, easy process, bulk selling.
- Cons: Only accepts books in good condition.
How to sell books on Decluttr:
- Scan the book’s barcode with the Decluttr app.
- Ship the books for free.
- Get paid via direct deposit or PayPal.
9. Etsy – Best for Selling Handmade & Vintage Books
Ok, I admit, this may be a little weird seeing Etsy being suggested as a place to sell used books, but hear me out.
What’s Etsy known for? A place where you can buy handmade, unique, and vintage stuff!
So, if you have unique, handcrafted, or vintage books, what better place to sell them than Etsy?
And as we all know, people pay way too much for stuff on Etsy. I’m just saying!
- Pros: Niche audience, high control over pricing.
- Cons: Listing fees, takes time to build a shop.
How to sell books on Etsy:
- Create an Etsy shop.
- List your books with detailed descriptions and images.
- Promote your listings for better visibility.
10. Barnes & Noble – Best for Text Books
A lot of people don’t realize that popular book chain Barnes & Noble buys new and used textbooks. You can also sell other kinds of books, but the process for selling textbooks seems to be more streamlined and easier.
To get a quote for your books, just enter their ISBN.
Unfortunately, Barnes & Noble only allows you to enter one ISBN at a time. If you have a lot of books to sell, this can take up some extra time.
Pros:
- Trusted brand with a large customer base.
- Option to sell both new and used books.
- Ability to list books for sale both online and in-store.
Cons:
- Fees for listing and selling (vary by account type).
- Limited to US-based sellers.
- No instant price quotes for books.
How to sell books on Barnes & Noble:
- Create a seller account on the Barnes & Noble website.
- List your books and set your prices.
- Ship the books when sold.
- Get paid via direct deposit.
11. CampusBooks – Best for Textbook Resale
CampusBooks works in a similar way to BookScouter but for textbooks. With it, you can compare the prices of textbooks offered by different buyback vendors.
This system helps sellers get the best deal for their books.
You can enter the name of the textbook you want to sell into the search bar. Or you can search for titles using the ISBN to ensure that you are quoted the correct buyback price on the specific book and edition that you are selling.
Pros:
- Price comparison feature to find the highest offer.
- Free shipping for sellers.
- Specializes in textbooks.
Cons:
- Limited to textbooks and academic books.
- Prices may vary based on market demand.
How to sell books on CampusBooks:
- Enter your book’s ISBN to compare prices across different platforms.
- Choose the best offer and ship the book for free.
- Get paid via PayPal, check, or direct deposit.
12. World of Books (Formerly Cash4Books, Ziffit & SellBackYourBook) – Best for Quick, Easy Sales
World of Books operates differently from some of the above-mentioned sites.
Instead of creating a marketplace to make your used books available to potential buyers, they will buy them directly from you.
However, they don’t just buy any book. They have to meet certain conditions.
To find out if your book meets their criteria, simply scan or enter the ISBN of the book in the provided search box and hit enter.
You are then given an offer for the book (assuming they want it).
If you like the offer and want to sell it for their price, they’ll send you a prepaid shipping label that you can use to ship the book to them.
Once they receive the book, they’ll inspect it and if approved, they’ll send you the payment via PayPal, bank transfer, or check, depending on your preference.
Read my Cash4Books review for more details and tips on getting more money for your used books.
Pros:
- Simple process for selling used books.
- Free shipping for all sellers.
- Quick payment via PayPal or check.
- Specializes in buying books in good condition.
Cons:
- Limited to books in decent condition.
- Prices may not be as high as other platforms for some books.
- Limited to US-based sellers.
How to sell books on World of Books:
- Visit the World of Books website and enter your book’s ISBN.
- Get an instant offer for your book.
- Ship the book for free.
- Get paid via PayPal or check.
Best Place to Sell Used Books Near You
Selling books online has its benefits. The biggest advantage is that you have a wider audience to market to.
But it also has its disadvantages and hassles (shipping, payment processing, etc.). So, if you prefer selling your books locally instead of online, you have a few good options.
You could sell to local bookstores, thrift shops, and buyback programs. You can even sell your books at a yard or garage sale.
But if you are wondering, “What’s the best place to sell used books near me?”, I personally think Facebook Marketplace is it!
If you want to get the most money for your used books, I recommend listing your books on Facebook Marketplace.
13. Facebook Marketplace – Best for Local Sales
If you want to sell books quickly without shipping hassles, Facebook Marketplace is your best bet. You don’t have to deal with shipping and handling, and you get cash instantly!
- Pros: No seller fees, local buyers, instant cash.
- Cons: You have to arrange in-person meetups, so be careful!
How to sell books on Facebook Marketplace:
- Take clear pictures and write a detailed description of your book. Mention any issues (torn pages, missing pages, etc.).
- List the book in relevant buy/sell groups.
- Arrange a safe public meetup for the transaction.
Which is the Right Place for You to Sell Your Books?
Not sure where to sell your books?
I get it. With so many options out there, it’s hard to choose. And all the variables make the whole thing even more confusing.
Not to worry, I’ve got you covered.
I’ve created this table to condense all the important details of each platform to help you choose the right one with a quick glance.
Use this table to compare fees, payment methods, and shipping policies to find the best place to sell your books online for the most cash!
Platform | Best for | Payment | Fees | Shipping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BookScouter | Comparing buyback offers | Varies by vendor | No fees (aggregator) | Varies by vendor |
Amazon | New & used books, high traffic | Direct deposit | Referral & closing fees | Seller pays |
ValoreBooks | Textbooks | Check, PayPal | No listing fees | Free shipping |
AbeBooks | Rare & collectible books | Direct deposit | Commission & monthly fees | Seller pays |
eBay | Rare, collectible, auction sales | PayPal, direct deposit | Insertion & final value fees | Seller sets shipping terms |
Powell’s Books | Used books, store credit option | PayPal, store credit | No listing fees | Free shipping |
Half Price Books | In-person sales | Cash | No fees | N/A |
Decluttr | Bulk selling, general books | PayPal, check, direct deposit | No listing fees | Free shipping |
Etsy | Vintage, handmade, rare books | PayPal, Etsy Payments | Listing & transaction fees | Seller pays |
Barnes & Noble | New & used books | Direct deposit | Varies by account type | Seller pays |
CampusBooks | Textbook resale | Varies by vendor | No fees | Varies by vendor |
World of Books | Quick sales, used books | PayPal, check | No listing fees | Free shipping |
Facebook Marketplace | Local sales, no shipping | Cash, PayPal, Venmo | No fees (unless using checkout) | Local pickup |
How to Get the Best Price for Your Books
Here are a few tips and tricks you can use to sell your books for the most money. These tips are especially important if you are selling directly to buyers on platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
Clean up your book(s)
You don’t need me to tell you that the condition of your book significantly impacts its resale value.
So before listing it for sale, use a soft cloth to gently dust it off. Maybe even flatten bent pages.
Basically, make it look nice!
Compare prices on different platforms
Where you sell your books makes a difference in how much you end up selling them for.
Use tools like BookScouter to compare offers from multiple buyback sites. That gives you a quick way of knowing how much similar books are going for and on what site they sell for more.
List at the Right Time
Say what? Why would it matter when I sell a book?
Well, it does matter when, especially for textbooks.
For example:
- August & January: Best months to sell textbooks, as students prepare for new semesters.
- Holiday season: Fiction and non-fiction books sell well as gifts.
Take high-quality pics (For sites like eBay & Facebook)
This is true for anything you sell online. Most of us decide whether or not we are even interested in a product by the first picture we see. So make sure to get good, clear pictures of your books.
Show the front and back covers, spine, and any wear or tear.
If it’s a signed copy or first edition, make sure it’s easily seen in the pictures. Better yet, highlight them!
Write detailed and honest descriptions
If you are listing a book for sale on a site, make sure to include the book title, author, edition, and condition in the listing.
Also, use relevant keywords like “sell used books online,” “book buyback program,” or “textbook resale” to help your listing appear in search results.
By following these tips, you’ll maximize your profits and sell your books more effectively.
Wrapping Up: Selling Your Old Books
As you can see, there are so many places where you can sell your used books.
Finding the right one for you depends on the kind of books you have, their condition, and how much you want to get for them.
At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with any of these options. You get to declutter and make some money in the process.
Now that you know how and where to sell used books online, it’s a matter of dusting off your basement library and listing your books for sale!
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