How many times have you finished an amazing book and passed it straight on to a friend or family member? It feels pretty good to share a brilliant novel with someone important to us in the hope they’ll enjoy it as much as we did.
But what if you could get that feeling by passing a preloved book onto a complete stranger, and get paid for it too?
In this beginner’s guide, we’ll show you how you can earn some extra cash by selling your old books online. Find out which sites pay most, which offer instant cash, and which are most trusted by other booksellers.
Whether you’re decluttering your home or just making space for a load more titles, selling books for cash can be an easy side hustle.
We’ve got the lowdown on the best online platforms for selling every type of book, from the latest thriller to old academic textbooks. After reading our seller guide, you’ll be clued up on which websites or apps are best suited to you and the books you’re selling.
If you're a book lover on the lookout for cheap and free reads, we've got a money-saving Kindle guide to help you bag an eBook bargain. Prefer to listen along? Discover the best sites for cheap and free audiobooks.
Why sell old books online?
Selling your old, preloved books online is a really quick and simple way to make a bit of money. With the current cost of living, every penny counts, and if you have books lying around gathering dust, why not turn them into cash?
Having a clear-out of your bookshelf is not only a fantastic way to make space, but it's also good for the planet. When we buy, sell and donate old books, this saves someone, somewhere down the line, from having to buy a brand-new copy.
This reduces the amount of paper and other resources used, making the second-hand book market a more eco-friendly alternative to buying new books. After all, why make two copies when two people can pass one copy between them?
Where to go to sell books online
The first thing to consider is what types of books you’re planning to sell.
Most of the platforms we’ll talk about in this guide will accept all kinds of books, but others are specifically designed for buying and selling old and rare titles, which tend to be worth more money.
We’ve been investigating the biggest book-selling platforms in the UK, to help you decide which might be the best fit for you. We’ve split them into categories:
Bulk-buying apps Listing platforms Places to sell old and rare books
Book-buying apps
If you’ve got lots of low-value books to get rid of, a book-buying app can save you time. This method is great for selling off items in bulk, and it’s probably the quickest way to do it too. However, what you get in convenience, you’ll probably lose in cash value.
All of the platforms in this section can be accessed via their website or app, although the apps are easier to use thanks to their barcode scanner features. Just download your chosen app from the App Store or Google Play Store, and you can start scanning without even needing to set up an account.
Amy at TopCashback made some cash with a book-buying app:
"I used World Of Books many years ago before a major house move. I had a huge collection of books from childhood, school, university, and everything in between that I needed to pare down. It was definitely more about convenience; being able to get rid of a large quantity of books in one go was ideal. Having them collected at my door by a courier made it even easier than taking them to a charity shop, plus the money was an added bonus."
You’ll need to scan the barcodes of each book using your app’s inbuilt barcode reader or enter the ISBN manually (an ISBN is a title’s unique 13-digit book number that can be found by the barcode).
Get an instant valuation for any books you scan without having to commit to selling them. You could even compare the price you’re offered by each app and go with the best one overall.
All of the apps below offer free postage, although they have varying minimum order requirements.
World of Books/Wob (previously Ziffit)
Trustpilot score: Excellent 4.6 (419,000+ reviews)
Payment method: Bank transfer, PayPal or cheque
Minimum order total: £5 or 10 items
You can sell all kinds of books to World of Books, whether they’re in perfect condition or very well-read. Ship books using their drop-off service or courier collection service (both are completely free of charge).
World of Books are a great sustainable option because they don’t send any items to landfill, reselling or recycling every single item. They work to support charities as well as the authors themselves.
Wob buy unwanted books from charity shops to prevent the charities from having to destroy books they can't sell or don't have space to keep.
As well as this, authors who are members of the Author’s Licensing and Collecting Society are able to earn a commission from the sales of their books through Wob.
Wob are also on TopCashback, which means you could earn cashback on top of your book sale. When our members shop with brands via us, the brand pays us a commission for sending people to them. We give 100% of that commission back to you, in the form of cashback.
Fancy earning £15 cashback today? Join TopCashback by clicking the green button below and you can get £15 cashback when you spend £15 or more with any one of our retailers.
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musicMagpie
Trustpilot score: Excellent 4.4 (317,000+ reviews)
Payment method: Bank transfer
Minimum order total: £5
musicMagpie are a very reliable and highly trusted book-buying app. They offer a range of free delivery options, including an Evri courier service.
If you want to drop off your parcel, you can do so via Royal Mail or your nearest Evri ParcelShop or ASDA SMARTDrop Kiosk. Once they receive parcels, musicMagpie customers get same-day payments.
Earn a £5 referral fee every time you refer a friend to musicMagpie (your friend will get £5 too). You can also enjoy 10% extra cash if you’re a student with a valid Student Beans ID.
musicMagpie are also on TopCashback, so you can earn an extra bit of cash on top of your total selling price.
We Buy Books
Trustpilot score: Excellent 4.4 (18,000+ reviews)
Payment method: Bank transfer, PayPal or cheque
Minimum order total: £5
We Buy Books offer a free Evri courier collection service and you’ll get your payment the day after they receive them.
They also sometimes run bonus cash offers, such as an extra 5% on baskets over £25 and 10% bonuses when customers use the app for the first time.
We Buy Books have quite strict item condition guidelines and will reject books that don’t meet their requirements. However, they will send rejected books back to you if you request them and pay a £2.40 postage fee.
Any rejected books that they don’t return will be recycled at their cost. You won’t make money from books they recycle, but you’ll be doing your bit for the environment.
Sell It Back
Trustpilot score: Average 4.0 (400+ reviews)
Payment method: Bank transfer, PayPal or reward voucher
Minimum order total: £10 or 10 items
Sell It Back have a minimum order total of £10, which is pretty high considering you might only get a few pence for each book.
There is a way to get around the £10 threshold, though. If you have 10 or more books accepted by Sell It Back, that’s enough to complete your order, even if your total payment doesn’t reach £10.
Sell It Back offer free Evri collections, so you won't even need to leave the comfort of your home. You can also choose to receive payments in the form of gift vouchers and get a bonus on top of your earnings.
Like We Buy Books, Sell It Back are relatively strict with their acceptance criteria. However, if any of your books get rejected, you won’t be able to have them returned to you. They’ll simply recycle books they’ve rejected and distribute the money among their charity partners, instead of sending the cash to you.
If your books are in good condition, you won’t have anything to worry about, but keep these restrictions in mind if you are selling particularly well-read copies.
Which book-buying app is best?
We ran a test to see which book-buying app would give us the best total price for a collection of books. We ran 10 popular books: a mix of non-fiction, fiction, academic, hardback, paperback, kids’ books, recent releases and classics.
We re-run this test quite regularly, and find a different app seems to come out on top each time. On our most recent test, World of Books came in first place, offering a total of £8.71 for the collection of books.
We love World of Books because their app is incredibly easy to use, with quick and simple courier collections and parcel drop-offs available. Their £5/10-item minimum is more generous than all other apps we've tested, and they accepted all 10 of our titles.
They also help authors earn royalties from future second-hand sales, so they're helping you do your bit for the environment, your wallet, and the authors who write your favourite books.
Sell It Back came second on price, but the total figure came in at just under £5 (£4.68 to be precise). As they only accepted seven of our titles, the basket didn’t qualify for trade-in. The same went for We Buy Books (offering £3.74) and musicMagpie (£3.32).
Listing platforms
If you’ve time to dedicate to your book-selling, listing platforms like Amazon, eBay, Vinted or Depop can be more profitable.
As you'll be selling online directly to customers, you get full control over how much you charge, meaning you could make a better profit than if you used an app.
However, this method involves a fair bit more work. You’ll need to create a seller account on your chosen platform and individually list each book you’d like to sell. Make sure to include an accurate description of the book’s condition, with high-quality images of the book (including any imperfections or damage).
You’ll also be responsible for sorting postage. You choose whether you charge customers for it or foot the bill yourself, although listings will be more attractive to potential buyers if they come with free shipping.
Many listing platforms charge listing and/or selling fees, so you’ll need to bear this in mind too. See the infographic below for a breakdown of fees for online sales from the main selling websites.
While books do tend to sell for more on listing platforms than book-buying apps, there’s no guarantee your listings will sell for the price you set. It can take months or years for a listing to sell, or it may never sell, so this isn't usually a method for instant cash.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that while people do sell old books on Vinted and Depop, these apps are designed for selling preloved clothes, so there may be a smaller customer pool looking for what you’re selling.
One great thing about selling on listing platforms is that you can list your books on multiple platforms at once, increasing your chances of making a sale. Just make sure you delete any listings that sell, as you don’t want to sell the same item twice!
Are book-buying apps or listing platforms better?
The answer to this question depends on your priorities. Do you want as much cash as possible, regardless of effort? Or, are you happy to settle for a lower amount but with the convenience of having someone else do most of the work for you?
If you’re in this for the long haul, there may be more money that comes your way, but it could take a long time to reap the profits.
How to sell academic, rare and old books
But what other types of books can you sell online?
If you've got any older publications or unwanted textbooks gathering dust, you may be able to get more money per book. Academic books in particular can be pricey to buy in the first place, so reselling them can be a great way to make back some of your costs.
Old and rare books can also be very valuable, so it’s worth investing some time in getting the best price for them.
Textbooks
While there are American sites like TextbookRush specifically designed for buying back academic books, there aren’t any reliable equivalent sites in the UK.
Listing academic books on Amazon or eBay might be the most reliable way of getting somewhere near what the book is actually worth, whereas book-buying apps will probably underpay.
Selling old textbooks using social media can be a good way to get rid of them fast, even better if you’re able to sell them to someone in your local area. Why not do a search for a Facebook group for students or graduates in your field, or list your books on Facebook Marketplace?
If your textbooks are annotated or highlighted, this could significantly reduce their value. Make sure you’re prepared for this when selling textbooks online, and never lie about a book’s condition.
TopCashback staff member James had success selling textbooks in bulk on eBay:
"I think eBay is a really good way to sell textbooks as you can list everything from one course as a bundle. This means someone can buy everything all in one go, which prevents you from having the odd straggler that just won't sell.
I had issues selling my textbooks individually through Amazon but as soon as I put them all in one listing on eBay, they sold the next week."
Old and rare books
If you own any old books like limited edition or first edition releases, you could be in for a big payday.
While you could try your luck with eBay or Amazon, people aren’t necessarily going to be checking those platforms if they’re looking for rare and valuable books.
AbeBooks
AbeBooks are a Canadian subsidiary of Amazon where people can buy and sell rare books, art and collectables.
We saw a signed 1958-edition paperback of The Cat in the Hat and a complete Jane Austen collection from 1813. In fact, in March 2023, a true first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone sold on AbeBooks for more than £68,000.
Sellers pay monthly subscription fees to have their own online store, which start from $25 per month for up to 500 listings.
Alibris
Alibris accept books at all points on the value spectrum. You don’t pay listing fees for the first 1,000 listings but there is a one-time sign-up fee of $19.99.
When we checked out Alibris, we spotted a first edition hardcover of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and a signed copy of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.
Tips for selling books online
If you choose to sell your old books using any listing platform (whether that’s eBay, Vinted or AbeBooks), there are best practices for ensuring you get good money while also keeping your customers happy.
Have a read of our tips below and make sure you consider all of these things whenever listing a book to sell online.
Set competitive prices
If you want your books to sell, you’ll need to set your prices in keeping with what other people are selling the same titles for.
If a book is listed by 50 different sellers and they’ve all set their prices under £5, your listing will need to compete with all of those. So, if you list your book at £10, or even £5.50, it's not going to sell before the cheaper ones do.
The exception to this is if your book is in far better condition than all the listings already online. If you’re offering a hardback book in perfect condition, you can expect a higher price than the same book in paperback with a torn cover.
Selling bundles of books together
If you have multiple low-value books in the same genre or written by the same author (or even a full book series), you might have better luck selling them in a bundle.
Bear in mind that a bundle will cost more to send than an individual book because the parcel will be heavier, but it’s probably worth it if you’re able to sell a few books in one go.
Be honest about the condition of each book
Whether you’re selling a book directly to a customer or sending it to a buy-back scheme, it does nobody any favours if you’re dishonest about the book’s condition.
A customer receiving a book that isn’t as described in the listing may ask for a refund or leave you a bad review. Weigh up what condition of book you’d accept as a buyer and make sure you’re not short-changing any of your customers. Be honest about the condition of the book and include photos of any damage.
Similarly, a buy-back scheme may have your book recycled without paying you what they quoted for it. If you have a book that’s in bad shape, you could donate it to charity instead, or recycle it if it’s not in a readable condition.
Package books properly
Following on from the point above, you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure each book arrives at its destination in the best possible condition. This isn’t too difficult to do as most postage bags and cardboard book boxes provide enough protection on their own.
If you’re sending a book that might be easily damaged (such as a hardback that could get scuffed corners), you could add a layer of bubble wrap for protection.
Drawbacks of selling second-hand books
Before you start selling books, it’s important to know the potential obstacles that could arise. None of the points below are by any means reasons not to bother, but they’re worth factoring in.
1. It can be time-consuming
Selling your books online can be very time-consuming, so make sure it’s worth the effort you’re putting in.
With that said, once you’ve listed your items on your chosen platforms, you can sit back and wait for them to sell. So, while there may be a long period between listing and selling, you don’t have to do anything in that period in between.
2. You may have to pay postage
If you’re paying the shipping costs yourself, you should factor this in when pricing your books. There’s no point pricing a book at £1 with free shipping if it’s going to cost you more than £1 to send it.
Some platforms like Vinted encourage customers to pay postage costs, but if you're offering free shipping, we’d advise that you absorb some or all of the shipping cost into your listing price.
If you’re sending a book that isn’t hugely valuable, Royal Mail are usually the cheapest option. Parcels under 2.5cm thick and weighing less than 750g can be sent as a large letter via a postbox. Anything bigger will need to be sent as a small or medium parcel.
If your books are valuable or you’re sending a bundle, you might want to opt for a tracked service. Couriers like Evri are best for this as they’re relatively cheap and will often pick up your parcel from your home.
For more information about postage prices, check out our handy stamp prices guide.
3. You’re not necessarily supporting the author
At its core, passing on a book to someone else will help spread the word about that particular author and book, so there’s always value in sharing. However, authors generally don’t make money from secondary sales.
If you’re selling via a book-buying app, World of Books is your best bet because they give authors royalty fees for second-hand sales via the Author’s Licensing and Collecting Society.
If you want to give direct support to authors, you should buy their books firsthand from a bookstore or the author’s website. Borrowing books from your local library can also benefit the author as they tend to get a small fee each time one of their books is taken out.
The story doesn’t end here…
So, now you’re clued up on all the necessary steps to sell your old books online. Whether you’re hoping to sell children’s books your kids no longer read, old university textbooks or the complete Harry Potter book series, you have a range of methods to choose from.
If you’re looking for an instant cash offer, try a handy app like World of Books or We Buy Books, but if you’re happy to play the long game, setting up an eBay or Amazon seller account may be more worthwhile. Take a look at the table below to weigh up the pros and cons of each method.
Book-buying apps
- Easy and convenient, with many companies offering a courier service to pick up your books
- You can get paid almost instantly
- You may not get as much money for your books using this method (some apps only offer a few pence per title)
Listing platforms
- You can get a better price for your old books (if they sell)
- You have control over the price you set and how you list each book
- You may have to pay listing and selling fees
- Books can take a long time to sell
- You'll probably have to organise your own postage
Websites for selling old and rare books
- Valuable books can go for a great price
- Selling directly means you can share your passion with like-minded people
- As these are also listing platforms, it may take a while for your books to sell
- You may have to organise your own postage
By selling your old books online, you can do your bit for the planet while making a decent bit of money for yourself.
But don’t forget that supporting authors is very important if we want our favourite writers to be able to continue doing what they do. Because of this, we’d still encourage you to buy directly from authors and bookstores where you can.
If you do sell a book on for your own gain, why not find a way to benefit the writer at the same time? You could leave a review on their website or on Goodreads, or buy another of one of their books directly from them.
Have you had any success selling unwanted books online? Let us know how you got on in the comments.
