8 Best Places to Sell Used Textbooks

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

Do you have old college textbooks lying around? You can possibly make some money off of them and help someone else avoid paying the full cost of a new textbook Selling Your Used Textbooks.

When I was in college, I used to buy old textbooks from online sites all the time. I don’t think I ever bought any new textbooks because they were always very expensive. And, I would always resell the ones I bought, because they always fetched such a high price without any effort (plus, I had no use for them after the semester ended).

In this article, I am going to share:

8 Places to Sell Used Textbooks
Best place to sell textbooks
How to Get the Best Price When Selling Textbooks
Who pays most money for used textbooks?
If Amazon or Barnes & Noble buys used textbooks

Here’s how you can sell your used textbooks and earn 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 instant quotes via barcode or ISBN (they even have an app where you can just scan the back of your textbook to find out the price) and even give you prepaid shipping labels, 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 carries 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 on World of Books.

Recommended Reading: Bookworld Review: Is It Worth Selling Your Used Books?

2. Your College Bookstore

If you want to sell your textbooks fast and recently purchased them, your college bookstore will likely buy them back for the next class of students (however, if the professor decides to change books, your college bookstore may not accept them, so in that case, you may 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 actual cash and instead offer store credit, which can be helpful if you’re still in college. But if you’re no longer in college, just getting store credit probably isn’t a good option.

College bookstores buy back books that have minimal highlighting, no torn 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 the work for you by telling you which website will buy your textbook for the most money. This website compares buyback offers from dozens of textbook purchasing websites, so you don’t have to check different websites 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 price for free. It also shows you who is paying the most after shipping.

4. Buxaran

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, ease of use and fast shipping being some of the top comments.

Booksaran buys not just college textbooks, but other types of books as well, such as fantasy books.

5. TextbookRush

TextbookRush is a popular online buyback and textbook resale website. It works similarly to other textbook buying websites, where you enter the ISBN of your book, and they give you an instant quote. TextBookRush gives you a prepaid shipping label, so you can ship the book and eventually receive payment via PayPal or check.

Condition matters, so books with too much highlighting, notes or damage may have a lower price or may be rejected entirely, so keep this in mind when selling your used textbooks.

6. Bravery

Valor is another online textbook buyback and resale platform. The platform is easy to use, as you simply input the ISBN of your book to check if they are buying the book and for how much.

Valor also offers a shipping label, so you don’t have to pay shipping fees. There are multiple payment options like PayPal, check or store credit. Their buyback prices are quite competitive compared to other textbook buying/selling websites, so keep that in mind.

7. eCampus.com

eCampus.com is a popular textbook purchasing website and is easy to use. To get a free quote online you simply enter your book’s ISBN, and if they are purchasing your textbook, they will provide a free shipping label so you can send it back to them.

Once they receive your textbook, you will be paid via check, direct deposit, PayPal, or store credit (which sometimes pays a little 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 need to send anything or pay any hidden/extra fees, and if students are in your area you can meet with them right away to sell textbooks.

You will want to post high-quality, clear photos of your textbook, showing the cover, the ISBN, and any damage to the book. If your book has any bonuses like access codes, workbooks, etc., be sure to include them.

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

Please remember to choose a safe, public place to meet, like inside a library or at a police station (some police stations also have a safe area for buy/sell meetups).

Two people exchanging books in a college bookstore

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 purchased your book and you know you need more for next semester, simply going to your college bookstore may be the best option. But, if you are no longer in college and your college bookstore won’t accept your book, or if you just want to make a little more money, selling the textbook yourself may make 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 on the most popular textbook buying/selling sites to 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 the semester starts, because that’s when students are buying textbooks. July, August, and December are some of the best months to sell old textbooks. Also, I recommend that you remove anything that doesn’t belong in the textbook, like sticky notes or loose-leaf paper, and wipe down the cover to make it look as clean as possible.

Who pays most money for used textbooks?

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

Does Amazon buy back textbooks now?

Amazon’s textbook buy-back program ended in 2020. It was a program where they purchased textbooks and paid with Amazon gift cards. If you want to sell your textbooks through Amazon, it is now a little more complicated as you will have to create an Amazon seller account and list your used textbook with the ISBN, condition, as well as ship it. Most people will probably be better off using one of the actual textbook buying/selling websites. However, if you have a lot of used textbooks to sell, selling on Amazon may work for you. It really depends on how much effort you’re willing to put into it.

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 receive a quote and then shipping it with a prepaid shipping label. After Barnes & Noble receives and accepts your book they pay you by check or PayPal. Whether they will buy your book or not depends on the demand for the book and the availability of the book.

Where is the best place to sell old 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 is the best place to sell used textbooks online?

The best place to sell your used textbook online depends on one main thing – how much time are you willing to spend selling the book? If you have some time, listing the textbook yourself will make you more money because you’re not sharing the sale with someone else. But, if you want to make money fast without having to contact customers, selling on a site like World of Books can be beneficial.