How To Sell Books Online – Top 9 Websites To Get The Best Deal
If you’re like most people, there’s at least a shelf or two in your home that’s cluttered with dusty old books you never read any more – don’t just let them sit there, you can actually make some money off of them by selling your books online.
Selling used books online can be a great way to make some extra cash. However, there are many things that you need to consider before trying this out for the first time.
In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to sell books online. We’ll teach you how to turn all those old, dusty covers into cold, hard cash (no judgment if you decide to use that cash on more new books, either!). Ready to learn and make some money? Let’s dive in!
How to Sell Books Online: 10 Best Websites
Thinking about the options out there to sell your books online? Consider these book-selling options to get rid of your used books.
1. eCampus.com
If it’s textbooks that you need to get rid of, eCampus is a great website to consider. This website pays some of the best prices for used textbooks. All you have to do is enter the ISBN number and you’ll receive a quote – plus a free shipping label so you don’t have to foot the cost of postage.
You’ll be able to receive payment via check, store credit, or direct deposit to your bank account.
Click Here To Get Started2. Amazon
There are a few ways you can sell your used books on Amazon, but one of the easiest is to sell your books as a third-party seller. There’s a separate option for textbooks.
To sell on Amazon, you’ll be responsible for shipping the book to the customer yourself. Once your book has been sold, you’ll be paid by Amazon (after a fee is collected in exchange for facilitating the transaction).
Click Here To Get Started3. eBay
Unless you’ve been living under a rock since the advent of the Internet, there’s a good chance that you already know exactly what eBay is! This book-selling website is a treasure trove for booksellers trying to get rid of textbooks and other titles.
With eBay, you won’t be charged a listing fee for up to 50 items – but the caveat here is that you’ll be responsible for taking photographs and writing all the descriptions of what it is you are trying to sell. Plus, it can take some time for those books to move!
Click Here To Get Started4. Bookscouter
Bookscouter has both an app and a website to help make the process of finding and selling the best books easy.
In fact, this website is less of a book resale website and more of a mecca for anyone who is trying to get rid of some used books. All you need to do is type in the ISBN for the book you are trying to sell. You’ll be presented with the prices from all kinds of book selling websites on the internet so you don’t need to visit each one separately.
If you’re short on time and want to offload your books for the best price in a hurry, Bookscouter is the way to go.
Click Here To Get Started5. Powell’s Books
Powell’s Books is another huge name to know when it comes to selling books online. This website will let you bring books into a physical storefront to sell them but if you’re not close to any of their shops, you can always sell them online.
There’s one caveat to selling with Powell’s Books, and that is that your books have to be in tiptop shape.
Click Here To Get Started6. Half Price Books
Half Price Books is similar to Powell’s Books in that, if you live near a physical location, you can wander in with all the books you want to sell. If you live near one of their shops, this might be the most convenient option for you – but if not, don’t worry. You can also sell your books back online!
Just pack up your books, send them in, and receive an appraisal. It’s as simple as that!
Click Here To Get Started7. Paperback Swap
Paperback Swap is a bit different from the other websites on this list. With this site, you’ll list books that you want to swap with other readers. When your book is selected, you ship it to the member – and then you’ll be able to choose from more than a million other titles to select a book of your own!
With this website, you won’t necessarily get cash for your books – but it’s a great option for the avid readers in the crowd.
Click Here To Get Started8. Sell Back your Book
Sell Back Your Book is another website you might consider if you are trying to sell your old books. Here, you’ll enter the ISBN number (or numbers – there is a bulk add feature, which comes in super handy) for your book and you’ll be told how much the website will pay for them.
There are also apps with this platform, including those for both iPhone and Android users, that will allow you to simply scan the books. You can get through your list even more quickly! Plus, Sell Back Your Book pays for shipping – another benefit of using this website to get rid of your old books.
Click Here To Get Started9. Cash4Books
Cash4Books has a somewhat cheesy name, but believe it or not, this is another one of the best websites to consider using if you want to sell back your books. It deals primarily with textbooks although you may occasionally get lucky and be able to sell other kinds of books here, too.
Available as a website and an app, it allows you to plug in your ISBN to find out what you’ll receive for your book. Use the app and you can just scan barcodes with your phone. You’ll be paid by check or PayPal.
Click Here To Get StartedSell your Books Online with These Tips
Before we start selling off your entire library, consider these tips for selling your used books first.
Set a Goal
What is your reason behind selling your books? Do you want to make a nice profit or do you just want to get rid of your books (and receive a small amount of money in exchange?). It’s important that you have a plan for why you are going to do with all that book money you get when the books sell, too – especially if your plan is to buy more books!
Know the ISBN
Jot down all the ISBN numbers of the books you want to sell ahead of time. Most book selling websites ask for this number and will use it to give you a quote. The ISBN can typically be found on the inside cover or on the very back cover of a book.
Be Honest
Don’t lie about the condition of your book. You might be tempted to “sugarcoat” a bit when it comes to selling your books but this won’t bode well for you in the long run. Don’t misrepresent what kind of shape the book is in – if there’s some wear and tear, say so.
Watch the Shipping
If you plan on shipping your own books to customers, be careful about how you do so. You will want to invest in packing materials and shipping envelopes to protect your books from damages while in transit. Water-resistance is important!
Make note of tracking numbers when you ship, too. If you’re using a bookselling website like the ones we listed above, you might be provided with a prepaid shipping label with tracking, but that’s not always the case.
Consider In-Person Selling
Not sure that online selling is all that it’s cracked up to be? While this tends to be the most convenient option for most people, you can also sell in-person. Consider selling your used books at yard sales, on Facebook Marketplace, or even on Craigslist instead.
When All Else Fails, Donate
Not sure that selling is worth the effort? Some of the websites above require you to ship your own books to customers, which can be an extra hassle. If selling is too much work, there’s no harm in donating. Local organizations, including your neighborhood library, are always looking for free books. You can even donate to prisons!
Why You Should Sell Your Books
Whether you’re looking to make a little extra cash or want to declutter your home, there are plenty of benefits for selling used books online.
First off, it’s easy and convenient. You can list the book on a listing site from anywhere in the world with just a few clicks of your mouse button or some swipes on your smartphone.
Second, if someone buys one of your old books, then you have made another person just as happy as you were reading it! You can’t beat the feeling of passing on that kind of joy.
Selling used books also means less clutter at home and more space for new items coming into the house, too.
So what are you waiting for? With all the options listed above for selling your tomes – and all the tips we’ve given you on how to sell books online – there’s nothing stopping you. Clean out that library as soon as you can (even if it just means clearing it out to make room for new titles).
FAQ: Selling Books Online
What is the best place to sell books online?
Any of the resources listed above are excellent places to consider selling your books online. Depending on the type of book you are trying to sell, along with its condition, Amazon, Chegg, Bookscouter, and Valore Books are all great options. Don’t forget – you can also sell books a bit closer to home by selling them through channels like Facebook Marketplace, yard sales, and library sales.
How do you make money selling books?
To make money selling books – and we’re talking real money, not just a few dollars from cleaning out your own personal library – you’re going to have to hunt for the best quality titles. Look at secondhand or thrift stores, like Goodwill, as well as at garage sales, on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, or even by asking friends and families.
Pick up as many used titles as you can – as long as the books are in good condition. Then, you can sell them by “flipping” them and selling them on one of the online marketplaces listed above!
Where can I sell my books online in Canada?
A vast majority of the websites we’ve mentioned in this article for selling your books online will accept books from Canadian customers. Some other ones to consider in addition to the ones we’ve already reviewed include TextbooksRus and AbeBooks. These two companies are known for their excellent textbook buyback programs in Canada.
How much does it cost to sell books on Amazon?
Amazon charges, on average, a 15% referral fee for its books along with a closing fee. These fees vary depending on the type of membership you have as well as if you are a professional seller.