8 Best Places to Sell Used Books

digitalplatform.g@gmail.com 24 hours agoLast Updated: April 1, 2026

0 0 7 minutes read

Do you have old college textbooks lying around? You can probably make money from them and help someone else avoid paying the full cost of a new book by selling your used books. When I was in college, I used to buy used books all the time from online sites. I don’t think I’ve ever…

Do you have old college textbooks lying around? You can probably make money off of them and help someone else avoid paying the full cost of a new textbook sell your used books.

When I was in college, I used to buy used books all the time from online sites. I don’t think I ever bought a new textbook because they were always so expensive. Also, I always sold the ones I bought, because they always fetched such a high price with almost no effort (plus, I didn’t use them after the semester ended).

In this article, I will share:

8 places to sell used books
The BEST place to sell textbooks
How to get the best price when selling textbooks
Who pays more for used books
If Amazon or Barnes & Noble buy used books

Here’s how you can sell your textbooks and make extra money.

When Selling Used Books for Cash

Here are the best places to sell used textbooks.

1. The World of Books

World of Books is a popular online used book dealer that also buys used books. They give you an instant discount by barcode or ISBN (they even have an app where you can just scan the back of your textbook to get the price) and they give you a prepaid shipping label, so you don’t have to pay for shipping.

Payment is usually received within a few days of receipt via PayPal, EFT, or check.

World of Books also buys other types of books, such as children’s books, fairy tales, fairy tales, and more.

Please click here to see how much you can sell your books for at World of Books.

Recommended reading: World of Books Review: Is It Worth Selling Your Used Books?

2. Your college bookstore

If you want to sell your books quickly and you just bought them, your college bookstore will probably buy them back for the next class of students (if the professor decides to change the books, though, your college bookstore might not accept them, so if that’s the case, you’ll want to try selling them online instead).

This is usually the easiest, fastest, and most guaranteed way to get cash for your textbooks, but it usually pays less.

Please note that some college bookstores don’t even pay you actual cash and offer store credit instead, which can be helpful when you’re in college. But if you’re out of college, getting only store credit isn’t a good option.

College bookstores also buy books with minimal highlighting, no torn papers, and clean covers. Current or widely used editions are often the only types of books accepted by college bookstores.

3. BookScouter

Bookscouter.com is not a website where you can sell textbooks; instead, it does all the heavy lifting for you by telling you which website will buy your textbook for the most money. This website compares buy offers from many bookstore websites, so you don’t have to check out individual websites to see where you’ll get the most money. BookScouter tells you quickly where the best deals are.

There is no cost to use BookScouter, so you can compare and find the best prices for free. It also shows you who pays the most after shipping is included.

4. BooksRun

BooksRun is a popular book buying and reselling service where readers can sell or buy/rent used books. The site has been around for a few years, with many users reporting a great experience, ease of use and fast shipping being some of the top comments.

BooksRun also buys other types of books, such as fiction, not just college books.

5. TextbookRush

TextbookRush is a popular website for buying and selling textbooks. It works similarly to other book buying websites, where you enter the ISBN of your book, and they give you an instant quote. TextbookRush offers you a prepaid shipping label, so you can ship the book and get paid at the end via PayPal or check.

Condition is important, so books with a lot of highlighting, notes, or damage can be discounted or rejected outright, so keep that in mind when selling your used books.

6. A hero

Valore is another online book buying and reselling platform. The platform is easy to use, as you just enter your book’s ISBN to check if they are buying the book and for how much.

Valore also provides a shipping label, so you don’t have to pay shipping costs. There are many payment options, such as PayPal, check, or store credit. Their purchase prices are pretty competitive compared to other book buying/selling websites, so keep that in mind.

7. Campus.com

eCampus.com is a popular website for buying books and is easy to use. You just enter your book’s ISBN to get a free discount online, and if they buy your textbook, they’ll give you a free shipping label so you can send it to them.

Once they receive your textbook, you’ll be paid by check, direct deposit, PayPal, or store credit (sometimes in installments).

8. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is one of the best places to sell used books because you keep 100% of the money you make. You don’t need to send anything or pay any hidden/extra fees, and you can meet students right away to sell textbooks if they are in your area.

You’ll want to send high-quality, clear photos of your book that show the cover, ISBN, and any damage the book has. If your book has bonuses like access codes, workbooks, etc., be sure to include that.

You can also try selling your used books in local college Facebook groups, book buying/selling groups, and student housing groups.

Please remember to choose a safe, public place to meet, such as inside a library or police station (some police stations have a safe place for buy/sell meetings).

a college bookstore and two people swapping books

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about selling used books.

Where is the best place to sell textbooks?

The best place to sell your used books depends on what you are looking for. If you’re looking for an easy option, and you’ve just bought your textbook and know you need more for next semester, just heading to your college bookstore might be the best option. But, if you’re out of college and your college bookstore won’t accept your book, or if you want to make some extra money, selling the book yourself might earn you some extra cash.

How can I get the best price when selling my used book?

To get the best price when selling your used textbooks, compare prices on all the most popular textbook buy/sell sites to see where you’ll get the best payout. BookScouter does a great job of doing this.

The best time to sell books is right before the semester starts, as that’s when students buy textbooks. July, August, and December are some of the best months to sell used books. Also, I recommend removing anything that isn’t for reading the book, like sticky notes or loose-leaf paper, and wipe down the cover to make it look as clean as possible.

Who pays more for used books?

Selling used books on Facebook Marketplace in college towns is one of the most popular places to get good cash for your old books.

Does Amazon still buy textbooks?

Amazon’s book buyback program ended in 2020. This was a program where they bought books and paid with Amazon gift cards. If you want to sell your books on Amazon, it is more complicated now that you will have to create an Amazon seller account and list your used book with ISBN, condition, and send it back. Most people are better off using one of the book buying/selling websites. If you have a lot of used books to sell, selling on Amazon might work for you, though. It depends on how much effort you want to put into this.

Does Barnes and Noble buy textbooks again?

Barnes & Noble also buys textbooks, but only in certain cases, and not all locations participate in the program. Their return program works by submitting your book’s ISBN online for a quote and sending it with a prepaid shipping label. They pay you by check or PayPal when Barnes & Noble receives and accepts your book. Whether or not they buy your book depends on the demand for the book and the availability of the book.

Where is the best place to sell used books for cash near me?

If you’re looking to sell your used books for income near you, I usually recommend trying your local bookstore or listing your books on Facebook.

What is the best place to sell used books online?

The best place to sell your used book online depends on one main thing – how much time do you want to spend selling the book? If you have some time, listing the textbook yourself will earn you more money because you are not splitting the auction with anyone else. But, if you’re looking to make a quick buck without dealing with customers, then selling to a place like World of Books might be worth it.