Do you have old books in your home that you no longer read? If you do, you can make some extra cash selling them rather than keeping them gathering dust. There are buyers who look for textbooks, novels, children’s books, and even certain used reference books.
Selling old books is a lot easier than most think of. There are several websites and apps where you can sell your used books. Such sites are filled with people willing to buy and sell books. So, finding a buyer who can buy your old books super easy.
Each site may suit only certain kinds of books. Novels sell the best on some sites, academic books sell the best on other, and son on.. Find the site that suits the best for your books and start selling.
So, below are 10 of the best legitimate places where you can sell your used books.
1. BookScouter
Best for: Textbooks and nonfiction books. (comparison of buyback costs)
BookScouter is one of the best site to sell your used college textbooks and other kinds of academic books. It does not buy all kinds of books but only facilitates comparison of offers from book buyback vendors.
Using an ISBN, which is the number that shows up next to the bar code of the book, you will find all those vendors who want to purchase that particular book. This helps in comparing the buyback offers of multiple online sellers without moving on different web portals.
If you have got three books from your college and you wish to sell them off, you can use Bookscouter. You can compare the buyback offers by using the ISBN of your book through the web portal BookScouter.
The process of selling your book:
Visit BookScouter and use your book’s ISBN. Compare the buyback offers and use them for selling the book. It shall be as per the instructions provided by your vendor.
2. AbeBooks
Best for: Rare books, collectors’ editions, and precious vintage books.
Vintage copy is worth a lot of value even if it has remained unnoticed in the closet for quite some time. Certain vintage copies, especially rare editions, autographed works, and out-of-print copies, may be worth more money compared to common used books.
AbeBooks is a website that provides a marketplace for professional booksellers. You can sell used, rare, and collectible books. These books might be worth something to collectors.
Before listing, it would be good to make sure you know the title of the work. Make sure you know the date it was printed, the edition, and the publisher of the book. The first edition of certain books may cost more than the second print.
How to sell?
Generally speaking, you are required to register as a bookseller account at AbeBooks. Once you create an account meeting the necessary criteria, you will be able to sell eligible books.
Things to consider: It does not mean that you are supposed to use this method of selling your old books, even if you have two or three of them. The vintage copy may have remained unnoticed in the closet for quite some time. Certain vintage copies, especially rare editions, autographed works, and out-of-print copies, may be worth more money compared to common used books.
AbeBooks is a website that provides a marketplace for professional book booksellers selling used, rare, and collectible books. Worth trying out for books that are worth something to collectors.
Before listing, it would be good to make sure you know the title of the work, the date it was printed, the edition, and the publisher of the book. The first edition of certain books may cost more than the second print.
How to sell: Generally speaking, you are required to register as a bookseller account at AbeBooks. Once you create an account meeting the necessary criteria set forth by the platform, you will be able to sell eligible books.
Things to consider: It does not mean that you are supposed to use this method of selling your old books, even if you have two or three of them.
3. eBay
Best for: Selling novels, children’s books, collectible editions, and book collections.
If you want to set your prices and not get involved in a buyback, eBay could be a good choice. You can put up for sale either single books or book collections.
You could offer a collection of all the fantasy novels in the series, several children’s storybooks, or cookery books. Collecting books will enhance the attractiveness of your listing. This will spare you the time and trouble of selling every book individually.
Also, the benefit of using eBay as a platform is that you will reach buyers who might be interested in rare editions.
How to sell: Create your seller account. Then, post pictures, give a description of your book, and set the price and the shipping options.
To keep in mind: The selling fees and shipping costs decrease your income. Search for the prices of similarly sold books beforehand. Your rare book will likely fetch a high price, while common ones will require patience.
Check Out: 6 Simple Ways to Make Money Reading Books from Your Home
4. Amazon
Best for: Selling used textbooks, popular titles, and books with an identifiable ISBN.
You probably know Amazon as a place to buy books. Eligible sellers can also use its marketplace to sell used copies.
This can be useful if you have books that people are still searching for. It can be textbooks, popular nonfiction titles, and certain novels. You can check existing listings to see how other sellers price the same edition.
Remember, Amazon is a marketplace. It does not have a service to automatically purchase your used books. You will need to sign up for a seller account. After that, ensure that your account qualifies for listing the books and order management based on its policies.
Selling process: First, sign up via Amazon Seller Central. Then, select the appropriate book edition and specify its condition. With this, set a competitive price and choose how you will be fulfilling the orders.
Important things to remember: Amazon has selling fees. There are certain types of books that cannot be sold on Amazon. Calculate the fees and the shipping costs to decide whether listing the book is profitable.
5. Facebook Marketplace
Best for: Selling books in person in your city (without packaging and shipping individual orders).
You may own many old books and wish to sell them without the need to ship them. If so, Facebook Marketplace may become your convenient solution.
For this, you can create a post. Then, you can upload photos, a description of the books, and the price. With this, interested customers will message you and make arrangements for a convenient pickup.
There is one good way to sell books. You can sell them in sets. For example, sell 10 children’s books at once or offer a set of school textbooks to local students.
There are special local Facebook groups. This can help you to sell your books, such as those focused on used books, college students, parents, and community buy and sell.
How to sell: Log into Marketplace, create your post, add photos, write a good description, and respond to customers.
What to know: It depends on the local demand. Sometimes it might require some bargaining about your prices. Meet customers in a public place where it is safe. Then, check their payments before giving away your books.
6. Powell’s Books
Best for: Sale of chosen used books through an established bookseller.
Powell’s Books is a famous independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon. Here, you can sell chosen used books. You may want to visit it if you’re in the USA. You can sell your books without listing them separately online.
At Powell’s, the book’s condition, current stock, and demands of its customers are first considered. This means that it may not buy all your books despite their good condition.
If you’ve got novels, nonfiction books, or other books that may be of interest to your customers, find out what kind of buying policy it follows now.
How to sell: Look at the information about Powell’s buying used books. Then, follow its current recommendations on how to sell your books either in person or online.
What you should remember: This approach depends on your location. If you live far from Portland, the cost of shipment and other conditions may make it impractical. Remember to find out current conditions of buying before sending any books there.
You Might Also Like: 10 Ways to Get Paid to Post Photos Online
7. BooksRun
Best for: Selling eligible college textbooks and academic books.
BooksRun is another service worth considering if you have leftover textbooks from school or college. Here, you don’t have to worry about listing your books individually and waiting for the right buyer.
This can help save time, especially when you have a number of books to get rid of and just need some extra shelf space.
When accepting the offer, make sure that the ISBN code corresponds to your book. There can be multiple editions of textbooks having the same name. Know that an outdated one can be worth nothing in case students require the latest edition.
How to sell: Use the website to look up your book by ISBN code. Then, consider the offer, and follow the instructions if you agree to sell.
Things to know: The buying policy of the service can change. Make sure that your books are accepted and available for purchase in your region.
8. SellBackYourBook
Best for: Getting a buyback quote for your books.
SellBackYourBook is another website that should be considered. It is especially good if you are looking for convenience rather than getting the maximum price for each book.
The general algorithm is quite simple. You need to find out the book you wish to sell. Then, consider the price offered, and decide whether it is reasonable for you to accept it. If you have several suitable textbooks or other books, you can check all of them separately without sending anything.
This way of selling is especially useful for those who do not wish to take photos of their books, write descriptions, communicate with buyers and bargain themselves.
How to sell: First, go to the website. Then, enter the required information about your book or its ISBN. After this, consider the price quote, and follow the instructions regarding shipping and payment.
What you should know: Not all books will get a quote. The price offered might be lower than if you sold your book directly to another person.
9. Local Used Bookstores
Best for: Personal sale of the books and obtaining money without dealing with the online order.
At times, the simplest way to sell old books is to visit a bookstore located in your town or city. Most secondhand bookstores buy certain books from customers, but their policies might differ.
This might be a good idea if you have novels, children’s books, popular nonfiction or any other books that are in demand in your area.
What to do: You can call the bookstore and find out whether it is currently buying used books. There are stores that only accept certain genres or even provide store credit instead of money.
How to sell: First, bring some carefully selected books to the bookstore or provide it with a list of books as instructed.
What to remember: Bookstores have to sell books for profit. Therefore their offers will not be as high as the prices you can see online. Still, it saves your time and you don’t have to deal with shipping.
If you live outside the US, this method can be particularly helpful because you do not depend on an international platform accepting your books.
10. Biblio
Best for: Rare, collectible, out-of-print, and specialized books.
Do you have any old books that appear to be unique, rare, or possibly valuable? You might consider checking out Biblio before selling them at a reduced buyback price.
Biblio is an online marketplace that sells books from independent bookstores. This includes rare and used books. It is probably applicable if you are thinking about selling a collection of old books that might be interesting to collectors.
It is different from a regular buyback website. In most cases, you will be required to register your bookselling account with the marketplace.
How to sell: Check out Biblio’s requirements, fees, and qualifications for sellers. If you meet the requirements, you will be able to list appropriate books for sale.
Things to note: This option is normally applicable for serious sellers or collections rather than people who are looking for ways to dispose of a few old books. Make sure you research the value of comparable editions.
Check Out: 17 Profitable Things You Can Sell Online to Make Money
Tips to Make More Money Selling Old Books
Choosing the right platform is only part of the process. A few simple steps can help you avoid losing money or wasting time.
1. Checking Books Before You Sell
Always check for ISBN, publisher, edition, and date of publication. Then, check for missing pages, water damage, excessive highlighting, torn cover, and markings inside the book.
The better the condition of the book, the higher its resale value. However, demand and edition might be equally important factors.
2. Compare Prices Before Accepting an Offer
Do not blindly accept the first buyback offer. First, compare prices through sites like BookScouter and others.
In case you have an uncommon book, do some research on comparable books and their prices before accepting a low offer.
3. How to Calculate Your Profit
Selling a book at $15 does not guarantee a $15 profit for you. You have to consider shipping costs, packing costs, and more.
For instance, in case you sell a book at $15 while incurring $4 on shipping and $2 in fees and packaging cost, your actual amount becomes $9.
4. Sell Textbooks at the Right Time
Textbooks could fetch more buyers before a new academic session starts. If you are holding used textbooks, you should try listing them before students begin looking for books for the next term.
Ensure that your textbook is still relevant since out-of-date textbooks are hard to sell.
5. Offer Ordinary Books in Sets
When you have multiple low-cost books, it might be a lot of trouble selling each one separately. Instead, consider combining books based on their category, like stories for children, love stories, or any book series.
In addition to being valuable to your customers, it helps you get rid of more things in one shot.
Final Thoughts
The sale of used books is an effective means to earn additional money. All you have to use is books at your disposal. You do not need to create a business or describe all the books individually before starting the earning process.
In case you have textbooks, start with researching buy-back offers. If you have popular fiction, start with online auctions or with a local bookstore. And in case you think your book is rare enough, check its value before accepting any offer.
Try some books, consider your options, and select the most appropriate way of selling them for the best return on your time spent.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
What is the best site to sell old books?
BookScouter is a useful starting point for comparing textbook buyback offers. eBay and Amazon may suit books with existing demand, while Facebook Marketplace is convenient for local sales. The best choice depends on the book and your location.
Are old books worth any money?
Some are, but age alone doesn’t determine value. Rare editions, signed copies, collectible books, and current textbooks may sell for more than common older paperbacks. Condition and buyer demand also matter.
Can I sell books that have writing inside them?
Sometimes. A few notes or underlined passages may be acceptable to certain buyers, especially for textbooks, but extensive writing, missing pages, and damage can reduce the value. Describe the condition honestly.
Can I sell old books from outside the United States?
Yes, but your options depend on the country where you live. International sellers should check account eligibility, shipping costs, payment methods, and import or export requirements before using a platform based in another country. Local bookstores and community marketplaces may be simpler alternatives.
