Understanding the weight of books is more important than it might seem at first glance.

For those who sell books—online booksellers, book scouts, or students selling their old textbooks—it’s a way to optimize logistics and profitability. Book weight directly affects shipping costs, the choice of the carrier, and methods for shipping.

In this post, we’ll take a look at the average weights of various book types and provide insights into calculating book weights accurately.

1. Why Book Weight Information Is Important?
2. Who Needs to Know about Book Weight?
3. How to Learn about the Weight of a Book?
4. So, How Much Does a Book Weigh?
5. How Much Does the Average Book Weigh?
   • How Much Does a Paperback Book Weigh?
   • How Much Does a Hardcover Book Weigh?
   • How Much Does a 300-Page Book Weigh?
   • How Much Does a Coffee Table Book Weigh?
   • How Much Does a Textbook Weigh?
   • How Much Does a Comic Book Weigh?
   • How Much Does a Children’s Picture Book Weigh?
6. Do You Need to Know the Book’s Weight to Sell It via BookScouter?

Why Book Weight Information Is Important?

When you sell books online, you should give accurate weight information. This helps calculate shipping costs, explore cost-effective shipping options, and offer reliable shipping estimates. It’s one of the parameters that can make a difference to your customers when they consider making a purchase from you.

Understanding book weights also helps eliminate unexpected shipping charges and improves the overall customer experience.

Who Needs to Know about Book Weight?

• Online booksellers need accurate book weight information to provide potential customers with precise shipping estimates.
• Used book traders often sell books by weight instead of individually, so book weight is also important for them.
• Brick-and-mortar bookstores that buy used books from customers can also weigh books to determine how much store credit or cash they can offer for them (if they sell in bulk, for instance).
• Mail carriers need accurate weight data to calculate shipping rates.

How to Learn about the Weight of a Book?

Undoubtedly, the most accurate way to determine a book’s weight is by using a scale.

So, if you plan to sell books regularly, investing in a basic postage scale is highly recommended. These scales are designed specifically for weighing packages and calculating shipping costs accurately.

1. Weigh Books with a Scale

Alternatively, a kitchen scale can also work for most books. Kitchen scales are readily available and can provide a reasonably accurate weight measurement for your books.

2. Discover Book Weights Through Online Resources

You can also look for book weight information online. In this case, make sure you’re looking for the correct edition. Check the ISBN number of your copy against the one you’ve found online to ensure accurate weight information.

3. Use Book Weight Calculator

To calculate the weight of a book, you can use online book weight calculators. These tools typically require you to input details such as the book’s dimensions, page count, and binding type to provide an estimated weight. Here are a few examples:

• Lugaru Software Book Weight Calculator requires details like book dimensions, page count, binding type, paper type, and printing location to estimate the weight and thickness of a book.
• Bookmobile Book Weight Calculator asks you to enter the book’s trim size, paper weight, number of pages, and binding type to calculate the weight of the book.
• Thomson-Shore’s Book Weight Calculation Guide provides a step-by-step guide with formulas to calculate approximate book weight based on trim size, paper weight, page count, and binding type. It also offers estimates for carton and pallet weights.

So, How Much Does a Book Weigh?

The weight of a book can vary significantly depending on several factors, including the number of pages, the type of paper used, and the binding method.

A standard book can weigh anywhere from a few ounces to several pounds.

In case you don’t have access to either a postage or kitchen scale, you can get a rough estimate of your book’s weight by considering the following factors:

• Paperbacks: A typical paperback book weighs between 6 and 12 ounces (170 to 340 grams), depending on the number of pages and the quality of the paper used.
• Hardcovers: Hardcover books are usually heavier, with an average weight ranging from 1 to 3 pounds (0.45 to 1.36 kg). Larger or more extensive hardcover books may weigh even more.
• Page count: As a general rule, the more pages a book has, the heavier it will be. A 300-page book can weigh anywhere from 10 ounces (283 grams) for a paperback to around 1.5 pounds (0.68 kg) for a hardcover edition.

How Much Does the Average Book Weigh?

So, based on the information above, you can roughly suggest that the average weight of a book typically falls within the range of 1 to 2 pounds (0.45 to 0.9 kg). However, this can vary based on the book’s format and dimensions.

Now, let’s get into more detail and check how much different books weigh on examples.

How Much Does a Paperback Book Weigh?

Paperback books are generally lighter than hardcover books.

A typical mass-market paperback book weighs between 6 and 12 ounces (170 to 340 grams), depending on the number of pages and the quality of the paper used. Most such paperbacks with coarse paper rarely exceed half a pound, except for some lengthier titles.

Trade paperbacks, which are usually higher-quality paperback versions (e.g., popular fiction and nonfiction books, comic books, graphic novels, etc.) usually weigh between 8 to 16 ounces (227 to 454 grams).

What a Plant Knows by Daniel Chamovitz, mass-market paperback, 7.6 oz

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, mass-market paperback, 12.3 oz

How Much Does a Hardcover Book Weigh?

Hardcover books tend to be heavier due to their sturdy binding and thicker covers. The average weight of a hardcover book ranges from 1 to 3 pounds (0.45 to 1.36 kg), with larger or more extensive books potentially weighing even more.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, hardcover, 11.6 oz

The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle, hardcover, 11.7 oz

Amber Dispels The Darkness by Aquila Lucida, hardcover, 23.8 oz

How Much Does a 300-Page Book Weigh?

A 300-page book can weigh anywhere from 10 ounces (283 grams) to 1.5 pounds (0.68 kg), depending on whether it’s a paperback or a hardcover edition. The weight can vary based on the paper quality, binding method, and the presence of additional elements like illustrations or photographs.

Higher Education in America by Derek Bok, trade paperback, 480 pages, 1.36 lb

How Much Does a Coffee Table Book Weigh?

These books, along with art books and cookbooks, can vary significantly in size but rarely weigh less than 2 pounds (0.91 kg), with some reaching up to 10 pounds (4.54 kg).

Rothko by Jacob Baal-Teshuva, trade paperback, 12.8 oz

Bridges Explained by Trevor Yorke, trade paperback, 10.6 oz

How Much Does a Textbook Weigh?

Hardcover textbooks usually weigh between 2 to 6 pounds (0.91 to 2.72 kg), some heftier textbook volumes may exceed this range. Paperback textbook weight depends on the book size and paper quality.

Master the SAT, paperback, 3.44 lb

How Much Does a Comic Book Weigh?

The average weight of a traditional comic book is 2.2 ounces (62 grams). The small differences in weight between comics from different publishers suggest that they were made using different materials.

Graphic novels are likely heavier than comic books and can range from 8 ounces to over 1 pound (227–450 grams) depending on page count and binding.

The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner, graphic novel, trade paperback, 15.5 oz

How Much Does a Children’s Picture Book Weigh?

Children’s picture books have different dimensions and sizes; therefore they can weigh anywhere from 5 to 16 ounces (142 to 454 grams), with smaller-format books weighing just a few ounces.

Do You Need to Know the Book’s Weight to Sell It via BookScouter?

When you sell a book via BookScouter, you don’t have to enter its precise weight. All you need to do is enter the ISBN and check whether the vendors offer the exact match to your edition (e.g., publisher, publishing date, binding, etc.). That’s it. The information about the book’s weight is already in the system, as we receive it together with the book characteristics related to its ISBN.

Men in Style: The Golden Age of Fashion from Esquire—book details on BookScouter

Men in Style: The Golden Age of Fashion from Esquire—book details on BooksRun; vendor page

Conclusion

We hope that today’s article will help you improve your bookselling experience.

After all, in book scouting and selling, the weight of books is more than just a number—it’s a factor that influences other things, shipping costs, specifically—and understanding the subject as well as learning how to weigh books and use book weight calculators are the surest ways to provide accurate shipping estimates.

In an era where digital consumption is on the rise, there’s still a substantial market for physical books. Whether you’ve compiled a collection over the years or stumbled upon a box of books in the attic, you might wonder, “Where can I sell my books for the most money?” The good news is there are numerous platforms to get money for books. Here’s a rundown of the top three platforms where to sell books for money: Amazon, eBay, and BookScouter. In this blog post, we’ll explore these top three platforms that offer excellent opportunities to sell your books for money.

1. Amazon: A Global Marketplace for Book Sellers

Amazon needs no introduction; the retail giant revolutionized the way we shop. It’s also an exceptional platform for selling books. Whether you have new, used, or rare titles, Amazon provides an extensive customer base to tap into.

Amazon is a top choice for selling books for money because of its sheer size and reach. With millions of customers actively browsing and purchasing books every day, you have a significant chance of finding the right buyer for your titles.

Selling books on Amazon is a relatively straightforward process. You can list your books as a third-party seller: Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) or Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM). Both options give you control over pricing and a chance to earn more money for books in good condition. However, the FBA option is more convenient, as it allows selling books without worrying about storage and shipping (and it also costs more). It streamlines the process and adds credibility to your listings, attracting more buyers. All in all, selling books on Amazon increases the potential exposure, and sales volume can outweigh the costs (shipping, storage). To conclude, Amazon is still a profitable place where to sell books for money. For more detailed information, we recommend referring to our guide on how to sell textbooks on Amazon.

2. eBay: An Auction-Style Haven for Book Enthusiasts

eBay has been a go-to platform for online auctions and sales for decades. When it comes to selling books for money, eBay offers an auction-style format that can be highly rewarding. As a seller on eBay, you can set your desired starting price and let buyers bid on your books. Additionally, you can list your books with a “Buy It Now” price, allowing buyers to purchase them immediately without waiting for the auction to end. A very beneficial feature of eBay is that you can create detailed listings with numerous photos and descriptions.

While you can sell various books on Amazon, from new or like-new to acceptable ones, eBay also accommodates a broad range of book conditions. Besides, if you have vintage books and don’t know where to sell rare books, eBay might be a wiser choice for you. The global reach of eBay also means that you can attract buyers from various parts of the world, further increasing your chances of securing a good price for your books (if you want to ship internationally, of course). However, it’s crucial to accurately describe the condition of your books and provide clear images to maintain a positive seller reputation.

3. BookScouter: Compare Offers from Multiple Buyers

BookScouter is definitely not so well-known among bookselling platforms. Unlike Amazon and eBay, BookScouter is not a marketplace itself. It’s a book price comparison platform and a valuable resource for getting the most money for books you want to sell. BookSouter acts as a comparison tool that allows you to see offers from 30+ book buyback companies.

The process of selling books with the help of BookScouter is simple: you enter the ISBN of the book you want to sell and get a list of buyback companies along with the prices they are willing to pay for your book. This empowers you to choose the best offer and get the maximum value for your books. BookScouter’s platform is handy if you have multiple books to sell, as it streamlines the selling process by providing you with a clear overview of the best options available.

Final Thoughts

Selling your books for money doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By using the right platforms, you can turn your book collection into cash while decluttering your room and shelves. Amazon’s massive customer base and fulfillment options, eBay’s auction-style excitement or the “Buy It Now” option, and BookScouter’s comparison tool are three fantastic alternatives to consider when selling your books. Remember to provide accurate descriptions, images, and competitive pricing to attract buyers and ensure a smooth selling experience. So, clean old books, do some research, and start turning your books into cash on these platforms today! Happy selling!

If you’re one of the many readers or students that has amassed a large collection of books that is now gathering dust on your shelves… you’re in the right place.

Whether you’re running out of space or looking to turn a profit, selling books for cash is a great way to declutter books and make some extra money, but it can be difficult to know where to start.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to sell books for cash and tips to turn the best profit.

• Sell your books online
• Sell your books to online buyback vendors
• Selling Books for Cash With Buyback Vendors: Easy as 1-2-3
  • Step 1: Check for resale value and the best offers
  • Step 2: Create a buyback order and receive a prepaid shipping label
  • Step 3: Pack and ship your books
• Selling your books for cash shouldn’t be difficult

Sell your books online

The internet has revolutionized the way we buy and sell objects, and our literary treasures are no different. Gone are the days of garage sales and local bookstores as the sole avenues for book sales.

Online platforms, where you may sell textbooks or used books, like eBay and Amazon provide a vast marketplace and attract a wide range of buyers, ensuring that your books have the best chance of finding new homes. The convenience of selling books online cannot be understated. It eliminates the need to physically visit stores or deal with the complexities of traditional selling methods. With just a few clicks, you can list your books and connect with potential buyers from the comfort of your home.

Though these huge online marketplaces have a large number of interested buyers, it can still be difficult to sell your books for cash quickly, as these websites have a lot of competition. For this reason, it’s important to find your book’s niche and market to its target demographic. Better yet, skip the marketplaces and go directly to an online buyback vendor.

Sell your books to online buyback vendors

When it comes to selling used books for cash, opting for a buyback vendor is typically the easiest and most straightforward choice. These vendors specialize in purchasing used books directly from sellers. This saves you the hassle of listing your books on online marketplaces, waiting for buyers to show interest, or being constantly undercut by other sellers offering the same books for steep discounts.

Buyback vendors like BookScouter streamline the process by offering instant quotes, eliminating the need for negotiations or haggling. Better yet, they provide prepaid shipping labels, simplifying the shipping process and ensuring a seamless experience for sellers.

There are online buyback vendors for every type of book, from literary classics to textbooks. If you’re looking to sell your books quickly and make a guaranteed profit, selling to a buyback vendor can be the ideal solution.

Selling Books for Cash With Buyback Vendors: Easy as 1-2-3

Though buyback vendors offer a fast, streamlined way to sell your books, the process can be confusing for those using them for the first time. Here’s how to sell your books with a buyback vendor in three easy steps:

Step 1: Check for resale value and the best offers

Before selling your books, it’s essential to do a bit of research to determine your book’s resale value. Prices may vary depending on your book’s condition, but websites like BookScouter can help you determine your book’s condition, market value and identify the vendors that are currently offering the best prices for your specific titles. All you need to do is enter your book’s title or ISBN number, and the website will provide you with a long list of buyback vendors and what they’ll offer you for your book.

Step 2: Create a buyback order and receive a prepaid shipping label

After you have narrowed the list down and identified the vendor offering the best price for your book, you’ll need to proceed to the vendor’s website and create a buyback order. This is a straightforward process, as the vendor’s site will prompt you for information about the books you wish to sell, such as title, ISBN number, edition, and condition.

Once you have placed the buyback order, the vendor will generate a prepaid shipping label and send it to your email. This way, you can print the label and attach it to a box (with your book in it, of course) without the need to pay for shipping yourself.

Step 3: Pack and ship your books

Carefully clean books and pack the book (or books) you are selling to the buyback vendor, ensuring that you provide adequate protection for the book by using the properly sized box and, if needed, any protective materials such as biodegradable packing peanuts. Affix the prepaid shipping label the buyback vendor sent to you on the outside of the box, then take the package to the post office and voila! You’re good to go.

Once the vendor receives your books and verifies their condition, they will send your payment to you. Depending on the buyback vendor, this should happen within a reasonable timeframe, typically within a week or so.

Selling your books for cash shouldn’t be difficult

Though many people would tell you that there’s no money to be made in selling books, this simply isn’t true. Selling books for cash has become increasingly convenient, thanks to online platforms and buyback vendors. By exploring the options available and following our simple, step-by-step guide, you can turn your book collection of unused or unread books into cold, hard cash. Whether you choose to sell books online or utilize a buyback vendor—we highly recommend the latter—the process is designed to be as user-friendly as possible.

Don’t let your books gather dust on your shelves any longer. Instead, unlock their value and enjoy the benefits of decluttering your space while earning some cash along the way. Happy selling!

Are you one of those people who like examining staff and looking for something special to buy for yourself or someone else? You enjoy spending time at antique shops, and you were always inspired by the idea of making money reselling goods?

Selling books can be a great way to turn your passion into a profit. In this blog, we’ll explore the different ways you can make money selling books, from leveraging online marketplaces to setting up your brick-and-mortar store. Whether you’re a retail arbitrage enthusiastic starter or a professional bookseller, you’ll learn how to make money on book arbitrage. So let’s get started!

Let’s discuss some key points of selling books. Below you’ll find a step-by-step guide on how to make money selling books confidently and profitably.

1. Research the Market

Researching the market can help you identify the most lucrative category and the best pricing for those books. Try to analyze the demand for different book categories. You’ll want to identify what categories are popular and what categories are not. This will help you determine which categories are the most profitable to focus on.

Generally, you can pay attention to those niches that are always selling well; they are:

• Textbooks
• Non-fiction books
• Children’s books
• Religion and self-help books
• Modern first-edition books
• Craft books
• Sheet music
• Collectibles and antique books

Regarding which books are best to sell, it can also depend on what kind of books you’re personally interested in. For example, if you’re a fan of science fiction, fantasy books, or classic literature, you’ll want to focus on selling books in those categories.

Advice

Start small. If you’re just getting started in the bookselling business and afraid of a plausible failure, it’s best to start with one category just to test the ground. It’ll be a simple step to undertake without taking risks and investing in a lot of overhead.

Let the BookScouter Pro tools help you make money selling books. Use high resale value books to develop the best bookselling strategy based on real data. You can track popular ISBNs with the high resale value, analyze book prices, and identify the best categories and titles by accessing BookScouter users’ search history. The tool shows the books above a certain buyback value searched within the last 14 days by BookScouter users. You can enter the minimum and maximum price and the number of days to search through. It is the best assistant for those who make money on book arbitrage.

2. Find Sources for Books

One of the best things about selling books for profit is that you can find cheap books that you can resell for a higher price. You can find these books anywhere, from secondhand bookstores to online marketplaces. Here are some of the best places to search for cheap books that you can sell for a profit:

• Thrift stores and local used bookstores (like Goodwill)
• Garage sales
• Online marketplaces (such as eBay or Amazon)
• Library sales
• Book fairs
• Yard sales
• Flea markets
• Craigslist (for cheap textbooks)
• Family and friends

By searching for cheap books, you can make some extra money by reselling books for a profit. Just be sure to determine a book’s condition before reselling it and look for books that can be resold for a higher price.

3. Setting Up Your Business

The next step to setting up a business to sell books for profit is choosing the right platform. Many options are available, e.g., through online bookstores, book fairs, flea markets, and even your website. Each has advantages and disadvantages, so you should research the different websites to sell your books and determine which is best for your business.

Amazon and eBay are great starting points, booksellers actively use them to make money selling books, and these popular platforms also provide helpful tools and services to help you list and manage your inventory.

If you don’t have time to list your books on these websites and wait too long for buyers, you can sell your books to buyback vendors through BookScouter, especially if you’re mainly involved in selling textbooks for profit.

If you want to build your own website, you should look into using a platform like Shopify with all the tools you need to get your store up and running.

Once you have chosen your platform, the next step is to create a plan for organizing your books. If you have your own website for selling books, you will need to decide how you want to categorize your books, as well as how you want to list and price them. Additionally, you should map out a plan for handling inventory, packaging, shipping, receiving funds, and customer service.

Working with Amazon requires thoroughly studying shipping, customer fulfillment methods (FBM or FBA), and different seller plans to choose the most suitable and profitable business model. If you are new to selling books on Amazon, check out a step-by-step guide on how to sell textbooks on Amazon to help you sort things out.

As you can see, setting up your business takes some work to get off the ground, but with the right plan, you will successfully pass this stage and start making money.

Advice (for those who sell books on Amazon)

Taking quality photographs of your books is essential for your book-selling business. Customers want to be able to see what they are buying, so you should make sure to take clear, high-quality photos of each book you are selling.

You will also need to write informative book descriptions. This is your chance to tell potential buyers that they are buying exactly the book they were looking for, so make sure to include all of the details about the book.

An equally important detail is indicating the right book condition. It’ll be of no good to lie about the condition saying that it’s ‘Like New’ when it’s basically ‘Used’.

It is crucial to keep your customers satisfied, i.e., you need to organize high-quality customer service, communicate with your customers, promptly answer their questions, and effectively solve any problems to ensure your store’s rating is constantly high.

4. Market Your Book-Selling Business (for those who sell books on their own website)

There are numerous ways to reach potential customers and get your bookstore noticed. First of all, you can take advantage of social media, which is an invaluable tool for marketing your brand. You can reach the masses quickly with a few clicks of a button and some marketing budget. Create a Facebook page and post regular updates regarding your bookselling business. You can also hire an SMM specialist who will grow your brand on social media by publishing images and videos, posting reviews of books, or even hosting contests and giveaways to draw in more followers.

Online advertising networks are a great option if you’re looking for more targeted marketing. With these networks, you can create ads tailored to a specific audience. For example, you may target people fond of rare and antique books you sell in your boutique. If you have a brick-and-mortar business, you can also target ads to people by location to get more local customers.

Following these tips can effectively market your bookselling business and attract more customers.

Advice

Be patient, and don’t expect to make much money immediately. Building a successful bookselling business takes time and dedication, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t make a lot of money right away. Finally, be flexible and open to trying new things. There are many ways to sell books for profit, so don’t get stuck in the same old routine.

Bottom Line

Making money selling books can be a great way to make some extra cash, especially when you’re a student looking for a side hustle (feel free to read about more alternatives for side hustles for college students). With the right resources, research, and year-by-year experience, you can succeed with this and try scaling your processes and building a bookselling business. With the proper knowledge and understanding of the market, you can become a successful bookseller and make a living from it.

Good luck, and happy selling!

If you want to sell your textbooks at the end of the semester, it’s important to take care of books from your first day of ownership. If this is your first semester of college and you aren’t really sure how to take care of your books, don’t worry. We’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks so you can make sure your textbooks are in the best condition possible by the end of the semester so that you can sell them well and make good money.

We understand your books are probably going to receive some wear and tear—you’re in college, after all. But keeping your textbooks in great condition will give you your best chance at receiving some money for them when the term is over. Here are three easy ways you can keep your textbooks looking their best.

How to Take Care of Hardcover Books and Textbooks

Use Textbooks for Studying Only

If you’re using your book as a lap desk, dinner plate, or coffee coaster, it’s going to look worn. Coffee will inevitably splash a little; food will spill, and then suddenly, your textbook will look more like a menu than an instructional manual. Use your textbook for studying, assignments, and reading—avoid having food around it at all.

Don’t Write in Textbooks

Don’t make any highlights, either. This is why Post-It Notes were invented. We know writing in your textbook may be the easiest way to keep your thoughts organized, but when you write in a textbook or highlight a sentence, it actually decreases the value of your book. If your book was brand-new when you bought it, and you write in it, the condition immediately goes from new-ish to looking-used-ish.

If you buy a textbook and there are already notes in it, you may think that adding your own doesn’t make it look any worse. Imagine if all previous owners had the same thought. Companies that sell used textbooks rate them by their condition, so the more notes a book has, the worse the book condition rating is. There are plenty of sticky notes and notepads you can use to take notes while you read.

Keep Textbooks in Their Own Place

This may seem silly, but having a designated place for your textbooks will help you take care of books and keep them in top condition, protecting their covers and edges. If you have a specific bookshelf or area on your desk for your books, you are less likely to just toss the books wherever there’s room. Rather than dumping them in a pile with other miscellaneous items, put your books in their own place.

How to Take Care of Library Books

Library books require even better care. After all, these are the books you don’t own; therefore, you are responsible for returning them in exactly the same condition you received them in. Keep the library books on a designated shelf; always leave them upright and firmly supported. While using, don’t crack open the spines of the tightly bound books. Never use library books as coffee trays or supports for writing. Be very careful not to do any damage. And, it goes without saying that you must not write in library books.

How to Take Care of Old Books

If you have old books that you plan to sell in the future, you need to take measures to preserve them in a great state. Apart from all the above-mentioned recommendations that apply to the old books as well, there are a few specific ones. To keep your old books fine, place them away from direct sunlight and air vents, dust them regularly, store them vertically and snug against other books of the same size. Never leave them stacked in a pile or open.

Conclusion

It’ll take some thought and effort, but if you can treat your textbooks well throughout the semester, you stand a better chance of selling them when the semester ends. Selling textbooks is a great way to make some money. By utilizing a website that allows you to compare online bookstore prices, you can earn some extra money. Remember that the better the book’s condition, the more money a vendor is likely to pay you.

There are dozens of book buyback companies out there. When the time comes for you to sell textbooks, how do you know if you’re selling them to a legitimate buyback company or to someone anxious to cheat you? Distinguishing legitimate companies from sham operators can be tricky. Believe me, there are predatory companies out there, even in the textbook field.

How to Decide Where to Sell and Where Not to Sell Your Textbooks

Here are a few red flags to look for when you decide where to sell textbooks.

1. If the company asks for information it doesn’t need, then hang up! Vamoose! Get out! If a business wants to know your Social Security number or birthdate, it’s probably a scam. It’s reasonable for a company to ask for your name, street address (so they can mail you a check), or even your phone number. If they need more personal information than that, you should reconsider selling your books to that company.
2. If the company tells you it’ll be an unreasonable amount of time before they can send you your money, it’s probably a scam. It’s normal for a company to take a couple of weeks before sending your check. If it’s going to take several months, then you should reconsider dealing with them.
3. If the company you’ve chosen plans to give you an IOU for the money, run away. Any time a company offers to send you a note promising money at a later time, it’s most likely a scam. Normally, when you sell textbooks to a company, it will give you a date by which it will pay you (assuming there isn’t a shipping complication with your textbooks, and they arrive by the promised time). If it doesn’t, you’ve spotted a red flag.

Where to Sell Your Textbooks

Is BookScouter Legit?

BookScouter is a very old website that allows you to compare online bookstore prices. Since its launch in August 2007, BookScouter has been featured in the press: on national television and syndicated radio shows and in newspapers and magazines like Forbes and The New York Times. There’s a  Wikipedia page about BookScouter. BOOKSCOUTER LLC is a legit company. You can entrust Bookscouter with finding the perfect book buyback company for you. BookScouter uses information only from accredited companies, so you can rest assured that your sale will be secured—from the beginning of the textbook-selling process to the end. The odds of selecting a scam company are lessened dramatically if you rely on BookScouter. To further ensure the high quality of BookScouter, we recommend reading user reviews.

Is ThriftBooks Legit?

Yes. Founded in 2003, ThriftBooks is a real company, and it is one of the earliest sellers of used books on Amazon. You can trust ThriftBooks and rest assured that the books you buy will come to you in great condition. You can check their reviews on Reddit and Trustpilot; they are all favorable. However, this is a place that sells second-hand books; they don’t offer buyback. Keep this in mind.

Is Better World Books Legit?

This is another company that offers used books for sale online. Founded in 2001 by two college friends, the startup grew into a huge venture. Today Better World Books offers a great variety of second-hand books, from fiction to textbooks. They also donate books and raise funds for literacy and libraries. They do not offer buyback, unfortunately, so you won’t be able to sell your old books to them. But you can donate the books you no longer need. Feel free to check out Better World Books reviews on BookScouter.

Is DiscoverBooks Legit?

Yes, it is. DiscoverBooks, “your online corner bookshop,” is the place to both buy and sell books. In contrast to the online resources we’ve already covered, this website can help you get some extra cash for your old textbooks (starting from $6 for a minimal buyback order). DiscoverBooks has been doing business for a while now, so they are reliable and trustworthy.

Is SellBackYourBook Legit?

Yes, SellBackYourBook is a real company registered in Illinois. Don’t pay attention to the slightly outdated design of their website; SellBackYourBook has been buying back books since 2008 and is BBB accredited. Check their buyback prices on their website (Sellbackyourbook.com) and their rating and reviews on the BBB’s website. They’ve got an A+, which is saying something about the way they do business and handle all the complaints that may scare you at first.

Is CampusBookRentals Legit?

Sure, CampusBookRentals has been serving students since 2007. The service is BBB accredited (A rating); you can rely on them both if you need to rent textbooks or sell your books back.

Is Book Depository Legit?

Yes, it is a leading international book retailer that ships books for free and offers affordable prices. However, if you’ve been looking for a place to get cash for your used books, this is the wrong resource. Book Depository doesn’t buy second-hand books back; this website only sells new books at affordable prices. You won’t find very cheap offers here, either. Yet, you can find plenty of good books here, nonetheless.

Is Chegg Books Legit?

Absolutely. If you are a college student, you probably know all about Chegg, and yes, this is a legit resource both to get help with your studies and rent/buy books. You can also sell your old books back to them. They may not always offer the best prices, but if there is a reliable resource, this is Chegg.

Is World of Books Legit?

Correct. WoB (World of Books) is a global seller of used books online; you can definitely trust them. Founded in 2002, the company grew into an international business that was awarded B Corporation® (B Corps) status in 2018. If you are in search of a resource to get books on the cheap, WoB is a great choice. Keep in mind that as a second-hand store, it may have all sorts of books, from ‘like new’ to ‘very good’ to ‘well-read.’

Is Bigger Books Legit?

Yes, BiggerBooks can definitely be trusted as this is a quite popular online textbook vendor that specializes in discounted books and textbooks. The company has been in the business since 2001 and is BBB accredited (A+). They have plenty of offers and, judging by the way they handle complaints, they are quite reliable. You can find BiggerBooks reviews on BookScouter.com.

Is Half Price Books legit?

Definitely! It’s the largest family-owned bookstore in the U.S., with 50 years of history and more than 120 stores across the country! Half Price Books sells used books, so you can find many interesting offers at low prices. However, they don’t have a buyback offer. Still, if you need a reliable vendor, here is one.

Is Alibris Books Legit?

This company has BBB accreditation (A+) and the highest BBB customer review rating among the vendors we reviewed earlier: 3.66/5. Which is saying something, right? Alibris is not just a bookseller; it’s an entire marketplace for books, music, and movies. It’s also a place to find used books at low prices (as low as 99¢). Trust it and give it a try.

Is BooksRun Legit?

BooksRun is a trustworthy and reliable online book and textbook provider. It’s a legit company founded in 2014 and based in Philadelphia, PA that has been serving customers for more than a decade. You can check it by reading all the positive reviews on ShopperApproved, SiteJabber, and Trustpilot, as well as endorsements from university libraries and mentions in the media. BooksRun is dedicated to ensuring customers’ peace of mind and aims to deliver consistent, high-quality experiences. You can rest assured that with BooksRun, you’re not just choosing a service but a legit and trusted partner.