12 Best Places to Sell Books Online For Extra Cash 

Are you wondering how and where to sell books online? Maybe you have plenty of children’s books, college textbooks, and other paperbacks just gathering dust in your home.

In this article, I’ll share the best places to sell books for cash as well as essential tips for selling books.

You can sell textbooks, cookbooks, collectible books, and rare hardcover collectibles for extra cash. First, you can consider selling them online through buyback programs where you won’t have to worry about shipping costs. Or you could sell books in person through yard sales, consignment shops, and bookstores.

Either way, there are plenty of places that accept to buy both new and used books online. So, if you’re looking to sell books for cash and find them a new home, you’ve come to the right place.

Where to sell books for cash online

Want to make money quickly selling old books? Here are the best places to sell books for cash online.

1. Sell Back Your Book

Sell Back Your Book is one of the best online platforms for selling your books. The process is straightforward. You need to enter the ISBN ( International System of Book Numbering) of your book and provide a detailed description of its condition. Based on that, you will receive an instant price quote valid for seven days. If you like the quote, you can accept it and receive a free shipping label that you must affix to your package. The best part is that you don’t have to pay shipping costs.

You will receive your payment when the books arrive and pass their inspection. You can choose your preferred payment method through PayPal or a mailed check.

2. Bookscouter

If you’re looking for the best place for selling textbooks online (and most books really, apart from rare and collectible books that do not have ISBNs), you need not look further than Bookscouter.com. This is the best place to sell your old textbooks because it is easy to use. On the homepage, enter the book’s ISBN, and it will compare prices from over thirty vendors! From there, you’ll know where to sell books at the best price. You can also utilize Bookscouters’ price history tool, allowing you to analyze how much that particular book has sold in the past.

3. BookDeal

Want to make money from your old college textbooks? Head over to BookDeal and see how much you can earn. BookDeal is a buyback website that buys used textbooks. You must enter the ISBN to see where you can sell it for the best price. BookDeal also provides a free shipping label to attach to your package. Ship your old textbooks to BookDeal’s designated location. Finally, receive your payment 5 days after the books have been received. You can choose from PayPal, Zelle, or Venmo.

4. Bookstores.com

One of the best places that accept books for sale is Bookstores.com. If you’ve got books that are still in great condition (no missing pages, not badly stained or heavily written on), you can make money from this website. Like the other platforms, simply enter the book’s ISBN and “add to cart.” Once you’ve completed the checkout process, you should receive a free shipping label, which you’ll need to tape into your box before dropping off at a FedEx outlet.

It often takes 2-3 days for the company to receive and inspect your books and a few more days to post payment. You can opt to be paid with store credit, check, or PayPal.

5. Powell’s Books

Powell is a renowned bookstore in Portland since its opening in 1971. It is also one of the best places to sell books for cash online or in-store, whether selling non-fiction books, college textbooks, or many others. If you wish to sell books personally, you can visit one of their bookstores in Portland, and you’ll receive an instant offer for those books. You can also sell books online by scanning or entering the book’s ISBN. You’ll receive a quote for the titles you wish to sell, box them up, and drop them at the nearest USP store. You’ll receive in-store credit for books sold personally, while you’ll get paid through PayPal for online books.

6. Ziffit

Whether you’re selling just one or two old textbooks or a bunch of them, Ziffit is one of the best places to make money quickly. It is an app and website that facilitates buying back books online, and it has a user-friendly mobile app that you can use to scan ISBN numbers quickly. Ziffit gives you an instant offer, and if you accept, you’ll prepare books for shipping. It uses FedEx shipping services, so you don’t need to pay any shipping fees. Ziffit inspects the books, and if everything checks out with your description, you’ll get paid with a direct deposit or PayPal money.

7. eCampus.com

If you want to sell your books at great buyback prices, consider selling them to eCampus.com. This website primarily caters to buying, renting, and selling college textbooks, so if you have plenty of them at home, now is the time to sell them to eCampus.com.

The selling process is fairly straightforward. Enter the book’s ISBN on the homepage and hit “Get Quote.” If you like the quote, print the free shipping label, ship the books, and get paid via direct deposit, PayPal, in-store credit, or check. If you have tons of books to sell, eCampus will take them, too. You can sell various titles, from textbooks to non-fiction, novels, biographies, etc.

8. Textbooks Rush

Textbooks Rush calls itself the online campus bookstore. The website caters to buying, renting, and selling books online. If you have plenty of college textbooks gathering dust at home, you can try selling them on Textbooks Rush and make money quickly.

Their buyback program is one of the best. First, search your books online by entering their ISBNs. You’ll receive an instant offer for those books. Textbooks Rush is also one of the best buyback programs that offer free shipping so that you can ship your books at no additional cost. You’ll receive your payment via PayPal or as a store credit or check.

9. eBay

Another great option to consider for selling books online is eBay. One of the best things about selling books online on eBay is that you can set your price. Unlike buyback websites, where you settle for the quote they give, you can price your books on eBay however you like. But to ensure your price is competitive before you start selling, search for the books’ ISBNs to see how much others are selling those for. That will give you a clearer pricing idea, so you don’t sell books too high or too low.

Next, you must create a listing honestly describing the book’s condition. Upload a few high-quality photos of the book and set your price. If you choose “media mail,” you will receive a shipping label from eBay, which you should tape onto your package.

Another way to sell books for cash on eBay is through an online auction. Instead of setting your price, you let potential buyers bid on the book.

10. Amazon

Another excellent place you can use to sell books is Amazon. To do this, you need an Amazon seller’s account to start selling your books. If you have few books to sell, you can sign up as an individual seller, but if you have over 40 books, then it’s best to use the Professional plan. Remember that both plans come with fees, so consider that when pricing your books. Also, you can sell all your books on Amazon, whether those are non-fiction books, comic books, collectible books, and so on.

Using an Amazon fulfillment center is a good way to take out the hassle when selling. Basically, you ship books to an Amazon fulfillment center, and once an order comes in, Amazon takes care of the packing, shipping, and customer service.

11. Decluttr

Decluttr is an app and website where you can sell second-hand items, including used books. Declutter your shelves and give your books a second life by finding a new owner when you sell on Decluttr. From hard bounds to paperbacks, children’s books, comics to used books, it’s so easy to sell books on Decluttr.

Download the free Decluttr app and scan the book’s barcode in seconds. Decluttr gives you an instant quote, and if you accept, you prepare the books for shipping. Decluttr inspects the books upon receipt, ensuring the conditions match your description. Once that’s done, Decluttr pays you through PayPal or direct deposit. That easy!

12. Facebook Marketplace

If you don’t have the time to visit bookstores or don’t like the price offers of buyback websites because your books have scribbles on them, Facebook Marketplace can prove to be the place to sell and get the best deals. Many students find the notes and highlights in your books even more helpful, so don’t think twice about selling them on Facebook Marketplace.

It’s also quick and easy to start selling on Facebook Marketplace. Create an ad or listing, set your price, and wait for the offers to come in. You’ll transact with the potential buyer via the messaging app and discuss details like price, shipping, or meet-ups.

Where to sell books in person

Want to get rid of shipping costs and transaction fees? Sometimes, it’s better to sell your books in person than online.

Garage sales

Havingba yard sale is one of the best ways to sell old stuff, like your used books quickly. If you have multiple books to sell, sort them out according to genre so that it’s easier for buyers to find the books they like. You can also bundle similar books by author or genre and sell them as sets. Give discounts for buyers who buy a lot of your books.

Running a garage sale aims to declutter your stuff and make some extra income, but don’t expect to sell your books for a higher price. Still, it’s an awesome way to dispose of your old books and find their new owners.

Half-Price Books

Another place where you can sell used books is Half Price Books. HPB has a couple of stores in different states, so if you happen to have one in your area, it’s worth checking how much they’ll pay for your books.

To sell books to HPB, you must visit a nearby store and bring your books for appraisal. The offered value is based on the book’s condition, supply, and demand. You must also be at least 18 years old and present a government-issued ID (minors may sell books as long as they are accompanied by parents or guardians).

Consignment Shops

You can also try selling books at local consignment shops. You can display your books in these shops, and the owner or salesperson will sell the books for you. This method eliminates the time and effort of having to market and sell your books yourself. The consignment shop then gets a cut for every book that sells.

Look for popular consignment stores in your area and see if they have a dedicated space for selling second-hand books. If the store agrees to display your books, make sure to clean and bundle them together — per author, genre, set, or series. These bundles appeal more to savvy readers as they can save more money than buying books individually. If possible, provide a short description of the book before displaying it.

Local bookstores

Many local bookstores will buy old books from you, so try them! Take the books to them and ask for an appraisal. If your books are in demand and in excellent condition, you’ll make decent money from them.

Tips for Selling Old And Used Books

Whether you’re looking to make some quick cash or declutter old stuff from your home, I bet you’ll find selling your books rewarding. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your time and effort and get the best bucks from your old and used books:

• Clean the books. Many years in storage means your books have become dusty and dirty. Try to clean it as much as possible before selling the books. Clean and decent-looking books fetch the best price, whether you’re selling them online or in person.
• Research the prices. To avoid under- or overpricing your books, make sure to research how much your books are worth before you put them up for sale. Compare prices from different buyback platforms, eBay and Amazon, and determine the best price. It’s also important to account for the shipping costs.
• Take high-quality photos. This is essential, especially if you list your books on places like eBay, Amazon, Decluttr, and other online platforms. These photos also prove the book’s condition if a buyer raises a dispute.
• Be honest about the book’s condition. Ensure you describe the book’s condition honestly so buyers know what to expect and prevent unnecessary disputes.

Other ways to dispose of old and used books

Apart from selling books online and in person, there are other ways to dispose of old and used textbooks (without ditching them into the rubbish or leaving them to be rained on at the curb).

Book Swaps

Join local clubs and online communities that host book swaps. This is a great way to get your hands on the books you like while eliminating books you no longer use or read.

Donate

You can always donate old books to local libraries, schools, community centers, hospitals, homeless shelters, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army. You won’t get any from doing this, but it also ensures your books find new homes. Be sure that your books are appropriate for donation to each receiving organization, such as children’s books being donated to elementary schools and children’s hospitals.

Key Takeaways

If you want to tidy up your bookshelves and create space for new books, then selling your used books online is a great solution. Not only will it help declutter your home, but you can also make some extra money in the process. Fortunately, there are many places to sell used books online and in person. You could sell your books for top dollar with effort and creativity!