Do you have old college textbooks lying around? You can probably make some money off of them and help someone else avoid paying the full cost for a new textbook by selling your used textbooks.
When I was in college, I bought used textbooks all the time from online sites. I don’t think I ever bought a new textbook because they were always crazy expensive. And, I always resold the ones I bought, because they always fetched such a high price for almost no effort (plus, I had no use for them after the semester ended).
In this article, I’m going to share:
- 8 places to sell used textbooks
- The BEST place to sell textbooks
- How to get the best price when selling textbooks
- Who pays the most money for used textbooks
- If Amazon or Barnes & Noble buys used textbooks
Here’s how you can sell your used textbooks and make extra income.
Where To Sell Used Textbooks for Cash
Here are the best places to sell used textbooks.
1. World of Books
World of Books is a popular online used-book retailer that buys back used textbooks. They give you an instant quote via barcode or ISBN (they even have an app where you can simply just scan the back of your textbook to get a price) and also give you a prepaid shipping label, so you don’t have to pay for shipping.
Payment is usually received within a few days of arrival via PayPal, bank transfer, or check.
World of Books also buys other types of books, such as children’s books, nonfiction, fiction, and more.
Please click here to see how much you can sell your textbooks for at World of Books.
Recommended reading: World of Books Review: Is It Worth It To Sell Your Used Books?
2. Your college bookstore
If you want to sell your textbooks fast and have recently bought them, your college bookstore will likely buy them back for the next class of students (if the professor decides to switch books, though, then your college bookstore may not accept them, so in that case, you will want to try selling them online instead).
This is usually the easiest, fastest, and most guaranteed way to get cash back from your textbooks, but it usually pays the least.
Please note that some college bookstores don’t even pay you real cash and offer store credit instead, which can be helpful if you’re still in college. But if you’re not in college anymore, then only getting store credit probably isn’t a good choice.
College bookstores buy back books that have minimal highlighting, no torn off papers, and clean covers. Current or widely used editions are usually 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 of the heavy lifting for you by telling you which website will buy your textbook for the most money. This website compares buyback offers from dozens of textbook buying websites, so you don’t have to check websites individually to see where you’ll get the most money. BookScouter tells you instantly where the best offers are.
There’s no cost to use BookScouter, so you can compare and find the best prices for free. It even shows you who’s paying the most after shipping is factored in.
4. BooksRun
BooksRun is a popular textbook buyback and resale service where students can sell or buy/rent used textbooks. The site has been around for a few years, with many users reporting good experiences, with ease of use and fast shipping being some of the top comments.
BooksRun also buys other types of books, like fiction books, not just college textbooks.
5. TextbookRush
TextbookRush is a popular online buyback and textbook resale website. It works similarly to other textbook buying websites, where you enter your book’s ISBN, and they give you an immediate quote. TextbookRush gives you a prepaid shipping label, so you can ship the book and eventually get paid via PayPal or check.
Condition matters, so books with a lot of highlighting, notes, or damage can get downgraded in price or rejected altogether, so keep that in mind when selling your used textbooks.
6. Valore
Valore is another online textbook buyback and resale platform. The platform is easy to use, as you simply input your book’s ISBN to check if they’re buying the book and for how much.
Valore also provides a shipping label, so you don’t have to pay for shipping fees. There are multiple payout choices, such as PayPal, check, or store credit. Their buyback prices are pretty competitive compared to other textbook buying/selling websites, so keep that in mind.
7. eCampus.com
eCampus.com is a popular textbook buying website and is easy to use. You simply enter your book’s ISBN to get a free quote online, and if they’re buying your textbook, they’ll provide a free shipping label so you can mail it back to them.
Once they receive your textbook, you’ll get paid out via check, direct deposit, PayPal, or store credit (which sometimes pays out slightly more).
8. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is one of the best places to sell used textbooks because you keep 100% of the money you make. You don’t have to ship anything or pay any hidden/extra fees, and you can meet with students right away to sell textbooks if they’re in your area.
You’ll want to post high-quality, clear photos of your textbook showing the cover, ISBN, and any damage the book has. If your book has any bonuses like access codes, workbooks, etc., make sure to include that.
You can also try selling your used textbooks in local college Facebook groups, textbook buy/sell groups, and student housing groups.
Please remember to choose a safe, public place to meet, like inside a library or at the police station (some police stations even have a safe area for buy/sell meetups).
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about selling used textbooks.
Where is the best place to sell textbooks?
The best place to sell your used textbooks depends on what you’re looking for. If you want the easiest option, and you recently bought your book and you know you need more for next semester, then simply heading to your college bookstore may be the best option. But, if you are no longer in college and your college bookstore will not accept your book, or if you want to make a little more money, then selling the textbook yourself may earn you a little more money.
How can I get the best price when selling my used textbook?
To get the best price when selling your used textbooks, compare prices across the most popular textbook buying/selling sites so you can see where you’ll get the biggest payout. BookScouter does a great job of doing this.
The best time to sell textbooks is right before a semester starts, as that’s when students are buying textbooks. July, August, and December are some of the best months to sell used textbooks. Also, I recommend that you remove anything that doesn’t belong in the textbook, such as sticky notes or loose-leaf paper, and wipe down the cover to make it look as clean as possible.
Who pays the most money for used textbooks?
Selling used textbooks on Facebook Marketplace in college towns is one of the most popular spots to get good money for your old books.
Does Amazon buy back textbooks anymore?
Amazon’s textbook buy-back program ended in 2020. This was a program where they bought textbooks and paid with Amazon gift cards. If you want to sell your textbooks through Amazon, it’s a bit more complicated now since you’d have to create an Amazon seller account and list your used textbook with the ISBN, condition, and ship it as well. Most people are probably better off using one of the actual textbook buying/selling websites. If you have a lot of used textbooks to sell, then selling on Amazon may work for you, though. It really just depends on how much effort you want to put toward this.
Does Barnes & Noble buy back textbooks?
Barnes & Noble buys back textbooks, but only in certain situations, and not all locations participate in this program. Their buyback program works by submitting your book’s ISBN online to get a quote and then shipping it with a prepaid shipping label. They pay you either by check or PayPal once Barnes & Noble receives and accepts your book. Whether or not they buy your book depends on the book’s demand and availability of the book.
Where’s the best place to sell used books for cash near me?
If you’re looking to sell your used books for cash near you, I usually recommend trying your local college bookstore or listing your books on Facebook.
What’s the best place to sell used textbooks online?
The best place to sell your used textbook online depends on one main thing – how long do you want to spend selling the book? If you have some time, then listing the textbook yourself will earn you more money because you’re not splitting the sale with anyone else. But, if you’re looking to make money fast without having to deal with customers, then selling to a site like World of Books may be worthwhile.
8 Best Places To Sell Used Textbooks – Summary
I hope these tips and resources helped you find ways to sell your used textbooks.
Doing this is a great way to make money off things you don’t use anymore while helping students save money on supplies they need. Whether you’re a student right now trying to sell old books to pay for next semester’s books or were a student years ago, selling your old college textbooks can be a great idea to make extra money.
Here’s a recap of the best places to sell used textbooks:
- World of Books
- Your college bookstore
- BookScouter
- BooksRun
- TextbookRush
- Valore
- eCampus.com
- Facebook Marketplace
I have bought and sold many used textbooks over the years, and I highly recommend doing so if you want to save and make money as well.
Where are you going to sell your used textbooks?
Recommended reading:
- 16 Best Places To Sell Used Books For Cash
- 12 Best Places To Sell Video Games
- 14 Best Places To Sell VHS Tapes For Cash
- 21 Best Side Hustles for College Students to Make $500+ a Month
- Learning How To Survive On A College Budget
- 6 Ways I Saved Money On College Costs
- 16 Best Selling Apps For Selling Stuff Online And Locally
- 17 Best Side Hustles for Book Lovers
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