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How to Sell Your Used Books

Earn some extra cash on titles you don't plan to read again

Learning how to sell used books is a great way to declutter your space and earn some extra cash for old titles you don't plan to read again. It can also be profitable to sell books, such as textbooks and old or in-demand novels so you can make money to buy new books. There are online tools to help you find the average price range of your used books before selling them.

used books

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

Price ranges for most used books run about 20 to 50 percent of their original price based on the condition of the books. A book in poor condition may sell for 20 percent or lower while books in excellent condition may sell for 50 percent or higher than the original cost, depending on the book's demand. 

Our guide will teach you where to sell used books online and locally and how to do it so you can command the best price.

Where to Sell Used Books Online

BookScouter

If you're selling used books in person or online, a great first step is to plug a book's International Standard Book Number (ISBN) into BookScouter. Find the ISBN, usually a very long series of numbers, printed on the book's back cover above the bar code and on the inside copyright page. BookScouter is a tool that shows you how much 30-plus online book buyers are willing to pay for a title. To maximize your profits, use the price history tool to see how much a particular book has sold for in the past. It might help you to identify a particular time of year when your book will sell for more.

Tip

While BookScouter has a paid version with additional features, there's a free version that anyone can use.

Amazon

Selling used books is an ideal way to become an Amazon seller. However, pay close attention to the rules and regulations of how to sell your used books on this site. All kinds of non-fiction books do well on Amazon, new or used, but the top categories include money and business, self-help, religious books, textbooks, and manuals of all types.

eBay

eBay is a great place to resell your used books. Niche books typically attract bidders, and there are usually plenty of people looking for used SAT or textbooks.

BookDeal

BookDeal.com is great for selling used textbooks. The online seller has a good reputation for making the book-buying and book-selling process fast and easy.

Powell's Books

Powell's Books is one of the most popular sites for all types of fiction books, non-fiction books, and textbooks. Powell's Books has also remained an independent bookseller in Portland, Oregon since 1971 and has since expanded into an extensive online community of buyers and sellers from around the world.

Textbooks.com

If you have many textbooks to sell, add Textbooks.com to your repertoire of places to advertise your used goods. It's been around for a while though it's changed hands, and there are customer service issues. However, there are legions of students who appreciate the low-cost books. Consider other solid sites where you can sell your used textbooks, too, such as Chegg.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

Etsy

Etsy is a good place to sell vintage books. This commerce site reaches a wide audience of potential buyers who demand rare, unique, custom, handmade, antique, and vintage items, including books.

Where to Sell Used Books Locally

Local Bookstores and Book-Buying Markets

If you don't want to fuss with packing and mailing your books, take them to a local used bookstore, put them in a kids' consignment sale, or try selling them through Facebook Marketplace. As long as your books are recent and desirable, they should still earn you enough to be worth your time.

Yard Sales

Have a yard sale to get rid of the books that you weren't able to sell through other channels. Yard sales usually don't bring in a huge profit for books, but at least you'll get something for items you aren't using.

selling books online
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

Where to Donate Used Books

Of course, instead of selling, you can always simply donate used books.

Libraries

Many libraries accept free books and then decide whether to add the books to their collection or possibly even sell them to raise money. Reach out to your local library and find out their donation policy.

Children's Hospitals

Children's hospitals also accept book donations, especially if the books are age-appropriate. If you have a lot of kids' books, early education texts, or young adult novels, find out if your nearest children's hospital will accept them.

Schools

You can even donate books directly to schools that are looking to expand their library. Call around to local schools near you, and find out if they are looking for the kind of books you have available.

Charities

And finally, always consider charities in your area or in your state that manage donated books. There may be a great charity near you that directly accepts books or does the work of finding a fitting home for the books on your behalf.

Tips for First-Time Book Sellers

If you want to become a reliable book reseller, there are a few things you need to do:

  • Know how to clean books. Get rid of any damage, dust, or mildew before selling.
  • Be honest about the condition of the book. If there are damaged corners or missing pages, say so. If someone has written in or highlighted huge portions of the book, make that known. If the book has remainder marks (an indication they've been returned to the publisher), mention that, too. Fudging on the condition won't get you more money. When the buyer receives your book and finds it lacking, they will adjust the offer down and might even reject your book completely.
  • Package your books carefully. If a book was in excellent condition when you shipped it but it arrived in fair condition, you're going to be paid the fair book rate. You're responsible for getting the book there in one piece, so take the time to wrap it well.
  • Pay to ship your books. Offer to pick up the tab for the shipping costs.
packing up books for shipping
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida 

Places to Sell or Donate Your Magazines

Do you have a lot of magazines to clear out? Sell them in your next yard sale, or consider donating them to a nursing home or art teacher. If you have copies of a magazine that is now defunct, you may be able to sell them on eBay for a small profit. Otherwise, just recycle them, and enjoy the extra space in your house.

used magazines
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
FAQ
  • How can I find out what my used books are worth?

    Check on BookScouter to see and compare what price multiple vendors are willing to pay for your books.

  • What type of books should you resell?

    Popular used books that are worth trying to resell are textbooks, arts and crafts books, cookbooks, sheet music, religious books, and best-selling fiction and non-fiction books.

  • What should I do with books I can't sell?

    If there are books that you can't sell, pass them around to family and friends, or donate them to a local school, library, nursing home, or charity organization.