The Best Website to Sell Books: A Complete List

The truth is, there are dormant books on that full shelf. Have you thought of selling some and making some extra money? 

If so, this article is for you. We have done some thorough research and put together information that will help you value and sell your books online.

When you consider selling books online, it is vital to first figure out their value then decide whether to continue the process or not. Do an online search of the prices of similar books and if they sound good, choose the best selling site.

Read on to get detailed information on how to value your books and some recommended websites to sell them.

How to find the value of used books

The best way to know the value of your used books is to search for the prices of similar books online. Keep in mind that the following factors will affect your books’ value:

1. The condition of the book – worn out, torn, faded, discolored or damaged in any way book has less value.
2. The edition number – first editions and some rare editions have more value.
3. Availability in the market – scarce books are more valuable.
4. Presence of hardcover books – hardcover copies published from the 20th century and having dust jackets in good condition are expensive.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to selling old books online.

Use these three steps to determine the value of your book:

• Identify the book

Find key information about the book on the title and copyright page. Note the author of the book and title of the publication. Then, find the imprint details like copyright registration year, name of the publisher, name, address and city of the publication.

Find the edition details of your book from the copyright page. First editions are more valuable and are written as “First Edition” on the copyright page. If you see one publication date, then it is a first edition and multiple dates mean it is a reprint.

Match the details of your book with an online catalog record. Visit an online catalog where a wide range of books have been listed like World Cat. Enter the details of your book: author, book title, publisher and date of publishing. From the results, look for copies similar to your book.

The online search results will help you determine the rarity of your book.

• Assess the quality of your book

Use grading terms and guidelines from antiquarians to assess the condition of your book. Ensure it has all pages and plates it originally had. Make sure the pages are not damaged in any way.

Check whether the book’s binding has been damaged. Look if the binding stitches are still glued as initially. Ensure that the original binding is complete and the boards of the cover are still firm on the spine. Examine the condition of the dust jacket and the cover. 

Check if the outer cover has faded, been torn or folded.

Summarize overall condition of the book using antiquarian terms. Terms like “fine” and “like new” means good condition. “Very good”, “good”, “fair” and “bad” means deteriorating condition.

• Determine the book’s market value

Look for a qualified expert to appraise your book. A certified book appraiser will help you get tax incentives and insurance cover for your book. The appraiser will authenticate your book’s condition from the expert’s eye.

Visit online book resellers to find the possible value of your book. Websites like BookFinder, AbeBooks and BookScouter will show the prices of similar books. The results plus the authenticated condition of the book will give you a rough estimate of the value.

If you do not find exact or similar copies, or if you find fewer copies, then your book is scarce. This could be a good indicator.

If you are comfortable with the current prices, you can go ahead and list it on one of the websites.

Check out this article in which we share information about how much a bookstore is likely to pay for your used books.

The best websites to sell books

1. BookScouter

BookScouter is a textbook aggregate website. You just enter the ISBNs of your books and the website will search for the best price from over 30 buyback websites. This site helps you know the market value of your books and the best website to sell them. You then choose the top buyback price, ship your books for free and you get paid once they receive them.

This is the best place to get started, especially if you are not sure whether they are worth selling.

2. Sheepbuy

Sheepbuy is an online marketplace website. You can post books among other items for sale. On our basic tier (which is free of charge) you can have up to three active listings at any given time during the month. Sheepbuy is a commission-free selling marketplace. Your profit margins will be higher every time your items sell.

If you plan on selling a large volume of books, consider one of the paid tiers: there’s the Starter package that costs $2.99 per month and the Plus tier which costs $12.99 per month. Find out more here.

3. BooksRun

BooksRun offers you the option of selling books directly to them, or they may recommend other existing offers. To sell to them through their website, you enter the ISBNs then describe the condition of your books. 

You can also use their app by scanning the books’ barcodes. The book will be listed in your sell cart immediately or they’ll be shown with your other offers. When done, check out to get their label. After shipping your books, you’ll receive payment within 4 business days via PayPal or bank check.

4. eCampus

eCampus is different from other websites because you can list your books and set a price of your choice. This is the best option when you want maximum value return for your books. To get started, enter the ISBNs of your books and the books will be listed on the site. 

After every sale, you’ll be paid via bank deposit every week. A 15% commission will be deducted by eCampus for every book sold, and they will offer partial shipping credit.

5. Amazon

Besides selling new books, Amazon also rents and sells old books. To get started, signup on Amazon’s website, go to ‘trade-in store’ and then click ‘books’. On this page, enter the ISBN or the name of the book. 

Amazon will ask you questions regarding the condition of the book and in case the book is below their required standard, your offer will be withdrawn.

Amazon will deduct a commission of 20% on every book sold, and you will cover the shipping costs. Once it is sold, you will be paid via Amazon credit.

6. BookFinder

BookFinder is an aggregate website like BookScouter. You enter the ISBN of your book and it will give you prices from over 30 buyback websites from which you can compare. You then choose the vendor with a high buyback price and click through to their website where you can sell your book.

BookFinder has been in the buyback industry since 1997 and has been featured by Forbes, Newsweek and New York Times. However, it does not include many vendors like BookScouter.

7. BookByte

BookByte is among the oldest textbook websites. Unlike other sites, BookByte accepts legible books with torn pages and damaged covers.

To get started, enter the ISBNs of your books and BookByte will show you the price it offers. You can then accept or decline the offer. If you accept, you will be given a prepaid shipping label. You must ship the books within seven days after the offer is validated. You will receive payment via check or PayPal once BookByte receives your books.

8. TextbookRush

You can sell your books to TextbookRush via their website or app. By simply entering the ISBNs of your books, check the price they are willing to offer and if favorable, accept and you will be given a prepaid shipping label. You have 20 days to deliver your goods to TextbookRush. Once they arrive, you will be paid via PayPal or cash deposit.

You can choose your money to be deposited to the store credit in case you will need to buy books from them in future.

9. FirstClassBooks

Get started by visiting FirstClassBooks, key in the ISBNs of your books then click “check prices” to see the quotation for each book. You can choose to accept or reject the quotation. If you accept, you will be given a prepaid USPS or FedEx shipping label then ship the books to FirstClassBooks stores for free.

Once FirstClassBooks receives your books, they will send your payment via PayPal or check within two business days.

10. ValoreBooks

To get started, visit ValoreBooks website and type in the ISBNs of the books you want to sell. The site allows you to enter multiple ISBNs into the input field. Click “Get Price Quote” and you will see the quotations for all ISBNs entered. If it sounds good, accept and then print out a prepaid shipping label.

ValoreBooks accepts books of $15 minimum value. Once you meet this requirement, ship your books to the ValoreBooks store. When they receive your books and verify that they are in good condition, you’ll be paid via PayPal or check. If damaged, the offer may be withdrawn.

11. Textbook Recycling

Recycle your unwanted books through Textbook Recycling. Simply visit the website and enter the ISBNs of the books you want to recycle and you will instantly get quotations for each book entered. If the deal sounds good, you can then ship the books.

Textbook Recycling offers prepaid shipping labels for books with minimum total value of $50 and charges of lesser value.

Once your books reach Textbook Recycling stores, you’ll receive payment via PayPal or check.

12. Student2Student

Student2Student allows students to sell books directly to other students without the use of a middleman. A student lists a book on the site and another student in need around the environs will see and connect with the seller. They then meet within or around campus to exchange the book and payment.

This is the fastest and easiest way for students specifically. It is convenient if you do not want shipping fees or have books that other sites do not sell.

Related questions

Can you make money selling used books?

Yes, you can make money selling used books. You need to do an online search to find out what similar books cost on different sites then choose one with the highest rates. Begin selling and make money.

Are old books worth anything?

Old books are worth money but the value varies based on the condition of the books, the edition number, their scarcity, presence and condition of hardcovers.

How much do used books sell for?

The easiest way to know what your books can sell for is by searching online for the prices of similar books. Visit websites like BookFinder and BookScouter. This will give you an estimate for your books.

Conclusion

It is evident that there are numerous websites where you can launch your book-selling business. Start by valuing your books using the process described above, choose a site with the highest quotation then begin making money.

Note that the condition of your books plays a great role in this business.