• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The College Investor

Student Loans, Investing, Building Wealth

  • About
  • Podcast
  • Research
  • Contact
  • Save For College
      • How To Start

      • How To Save For College
      • How To Pay For College
      • What Is the Average Cost of College?
      • What Is A 529 Plan and Where to Open One in Your State
      • How Much Should You Have In A 529 Plan By Age
      • How To Use A 529 Plan For Private Elementary And High School
      • What Are Qualified Expenses For A 529 Plan (And What Doesn’t Count)?
      • The Best Brokers To Open A 529 Plan
      • Tools + Accounts

      • 529 Plans: The Ultimate College Savings Plan
      • 529 Plan Contribution Limits
      • Prepaid Tuition Plans | What To Know
      • Understanding And Using 529A ABLE Accounts
      • Using A Roth IRA To Save And Pay For College
      • FAFSA Deadlines for Financial Aid
      • CollegeBacker Review
      • Upromise Review
      • UNest Review
      • Other Options

      • Student Loan And Financial Aid Programs By State
      • The Guide To Military And VA Education Benefits
      • How To Fill Out The FAFSA
      • How To Find College Scholarships
      • The Best College Scholarship Search Websites
      • How To Find Grants To Pay For College
      • Pell Grants: What They Are And How To Qualify
      • Understanding Federal Work-Study
      • How To Use A 529 Plan If Your Child Doesn’t Go To College
  • Student Loans
      • Borrowing

        • How Student Loans Work
        • How To Apply For A Student Loan
        • Best Student Loans And Rates In January 2023
        • 10 Best Private Student Loans Of January 2023
        • Best Student Loans To Pay For Graduate School
        • Best Student Loans To Pay For Medical School
        • Parent Loans To Pay For College
        • No-Cosigner Student Loan Options
        • Guide To Income Sharing Agreements (ISAs)
        • Best International Student Loans
      • Get Out Of Debt

        • Best Student Loan Refinance Companies In January 2023
        • Best Student Loan Repayment Plans
        • Best Student Loan Refinancing Bonuses And Promotional Offers Of January 2023
        • Student Loan Forgiveness Programs (The Complete List)
        • The Full List Of Student Loan Forgiveness Programs By State
        • Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
        • Top Student Loan Scams
        • Average Student Loan Monthly Payment
        • Average Student Loan Debt By Year
      • Reviews

        • Credible Review
        • Splash Review
        • Ascent Review
        • Citizens Bank Review
        • Commonbond Review
        • Earnest Review
        • ELFI Review
        • Laurel Road Review
        • LendKey Review
        • SoFi Review
  • Investing
      • How To Start

        • How To Start Investing in High School
        • How To Start Investing In College
        • How To Start Investing In Your Twenties For 22 – 29 Year Olds
        • How To Start Investing In Your 30s For 30 – 39 Year Olds
        • How To Start Investing With $100 Or Less
        • How To Give Kids The Gift Of Stock
        • What Is Dividend Growth Investing
        • IRA Rollover Chart
      • Tools + Accounts

        • Best Online Stock Brokers
        • The Best Traditional And Roth IRA Accounts
        • The Best Robo-Advisors
        • The Best Investing Apps
        • The Best Places to Trade Options
        • The Best Places To Open A Health Savings Account
        • The Best Solo 401k Providers
        • The Best Self-Directed IRA Providers Of 2023
        • Best Cryptocurrency Exchanges
      • Reviews

        • Vanguard Review
        • Fidelity Review 2023
        • M1 Finance Review
        • TD Ameritrade Review 2023
        • Charles Schwab Review
        • Robinhood Review
        • Webull Review
        • Betterment Review 2023
        • Wealthfront Review
  • Earn More Money
      • Extra Income

        • 20 Best Side Hustles You Can Start Earning With In 2023
        • 53 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Money Fast
        • 100 Ways To Make Money In College
        • 80 Ways To Make Money From Home In 2023
        • 5 Quick Money Making Ideas (That Take Less Than 1 Hour)
        • 10 Interesting Ways You Can Make Money Driving
        • High-Paying Side Gigs That Earn $1,000 or More Per Month
        • The 10 Best Money-Making Apps
        • Paid Surveys: Earn Money For Giving Your Opinion Online
        • 10 Crazy Ways To Make $10,000 You’ve Never Heard Of
      • Build Wealth

        • 40 Passive Income Ideas You Can Use To Build Wealth In 2023
        • 3 Ways To Make $50,000 Per Year Without Working With Passive Income
        • How To Become A Real Estate Investor With Just $500
        • 15 Best Online Business Ideas
        • Residual Income: 7 Super Smart Ways to Build It
        • The Most Common Multiple Income Streams
        • How To Become A Real Estate Mogul With Only $10,000
      • Reviews

        • Fundrise Review
        • RealtyMogul Review
        • FarmTogether Review
        • AcreTrader Review
        • Swagbucks Review
        • Survey Junkie Review
        • TopCashback Review
        • DoorDash Review
  • Personal Finance
      • Banking

        • 10 Best High Yield Savings Accounts Of January 2023
        • 10 Best Money Market Accounts Of January 2023
        • 10 Best Free Checking Accounts In January 2023
        • Best Bank CD Rates Of January 2023
        • 10 Best Business Checking Accounts In February 2023
        • Best Online Banks Of January 2023
        • Best Credit Unions Nationwide Of January 2023
        • Best College Student Checking Accounts Of January 2023
      • Insurance

        • Best Life Insurance Companies
        • Renters Insurance
        • Car Insurance
        • Pet Insurance
        • Umbrella Insurance
        • Disability Insurance
        • Tuition Insurance
        • Travel Insurance
      • Credit Tools

        • Best Budgeting Apps
        • Cash Advance Apps
        • How To Get A Free Credit Score Report
        • Best Credit Monitoring Services For 2023
        • Debt Settlement: Inside The Secret World
        • Credit Repair Explained: Should You Pay For Help?
        • Best Personal Loan Companies And Lenders
        • Online Loan Companies To Borrow From Home
      • Tax

        • Best Tax Software
        • Free Tax Software
        • IRS Tax Refund Calendar
        • Common IRS Questions and Errors
        • Federal Tax Brackets
        • Capital Gains Tax Brackets
        • 401k Contribution Limits
        • IRA Contribution Limits
        • HSA Contribution Limits
  • Forum
  • Search
Home » Student Life » Books » Best Places To Sell Your Textbooks In 2023

Best Places To Sell Your Textbooks In 2023

Updated: December 30, 2022 By Robert Farrington

Tweet21
Share11
Share
Pin94
Email
Print

At The College Investor, we want to help you navigate your finances. To do this, many or all of the products featured here may be from our partners. This doesn’t influence our evaluations or reviews. Our opinions are our own. Any investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. The College Investor does not offer investment advisor or brokerage services, nor does it recommend buying or selling particular stocks, securities, or other investments. Learn more here.Advertiser Disclosure

There are thousands of financial products and services out there, and we believe in helping you understand which is best for you, how it works, and will it actually help you achieve your financial goals. We're proud of our content and guidance, and the information we provide is objective, independent, and free.

But we do have to make money to pay our team and keep this website running! Our partners compensate us. TheCollegeInvestor.com has an advertising relationship with some or all of the offers included on this page, which may impact how, where, and in what order products and services may appear. The College Investor does not include all companies or offers available in the marketplace. And our partners can never pay us to guarantee favorable reviews (or even pay for a review of their product to begin with).

For more information and a complete list of our advertising partners, please check out our full Advertising Disclosure. TheCollegeInvestor.com strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. The information in our reviews could be different from what you find when visiting a financial institution, service provider or a specific product's website. All products and services are presented without warranty.

Best Places To Sell Your Textbooks

Students at public four-year colleges spend about $1,225 a year on textbooks. It's an unavoidable expense, but that doesn't mean students can't get their money back.

If you're smart about how you buy your textbooks (or even rent your textbooks), and you make it a focus to resell your textbooks after class - you might not find yourself as hard up as you'd have thought. 

Some savvy students have even found ways to make profits when reselling their textbooks. Try these five ways to make money from your textbooks so you'll have extra cash for other expenses.

Best Places To Resell Your Textbooks
1. AbeBooks
2. Amazon
3. Barnes and Noble
4. BookByte
5. BookScouter
6. BooksRun
7. Campus Books
8. Cash4Books
9. Chegg
10. Craigslist
11. Decluttr
12. eBay
13. Knetbooks
14. Slugbooks
15. Student2Student
16. ValoreBooks

Ways To Resell Your Textbooks

First, there are multiple ways to resell your textbooks - and each has pros and cons. 

1. Sell Used Textbooks to The College Bookstore

Most college bookstores will buy back used textbooks, especially if professors plan to use the same text next semester.

Pros: Bookstores will often pay you cash within minutes. Some people feel that convenience is worth more than money.

Cons: If you sell your books to a bookstore, don't expect to turn a profit. College bookstores need to make money reselling the books they buy from you. That encourages them to pay you as little as possible.

2. Sell Your Textbooks Online

Many students buy textbooks online to save money. If you already have books, you can use those sites to sell books to other students.

Pros: Websites like eCampus make it easy to compare buyback prices so you don't get ripped off. Selling online is also really easy. Just enter the book's information, wait for it to sell, and collect your profits.

Cons: Shipping textbooks might be inconvenient if you don't live near a post office. The good news is that some websites will pay your shipping expenses.

3. Sell Used Books Directly to Students

Some of your underclassmen will need to get the same textbooks you bought last semester. You can sell your books directly to these students.

Pros: You can potentially make a profit by cutting out the middleman.

Cons: Finding a buyer isn't always easy. Even students who want to save money might feel uncomfortable paying you for textbook. There's also the possibility that students will drop some classes. When that happens, they may come to you for a refund. You don't have to give them their money back, but it's an awkward conversation that can make you look like the bad guy on campus.

4. Auction Textbooks Online

Use auction websites to advertise and sell your old textbooks. Of course, we're thinking of eBay here. 

Pros: If you have a popular textbook, you can make a tidy profit from buyers who bid against each other.

Cons: Since students who use auction sites expect to save money, they're often unwilling to pay the full value of textbooks.

5. Know The Peak Resale Dates

Based on historical data from textbook resellers, here are the peak dates each year. May 4 through June 15 is historically peak textbook selling.

Based on historical trends, we think that May 11, May 18, and May 27 through 30 will be the peak resale dates this year.

Bonus Idea: Rent Your Textbooks During the Semester

You can rent your books instead of buying and then having to resell them.

Pros: Students are willing to spend more money on textbooks when they really need them. By renting your textbooks during the semester, you can get money from students who didn't plan ahead. You also have the opportunity to make more cash by renting your books several times.

Cons: There's no guarantee that you will get your books back. Even honest people might simply forget to return them when they're done. That means you'll have to waste time finding them.

With a little planning, it's possible to make a profit reselling your textbooks. Which method works best for you?

Best Places To Resell Your Textbooks

Now that you have some different ideas of ways to resell your textbooks, where can you actually do it? Here are our favorite places to do it!

1. AbeBooks

AbeBooks is a great place to resell your textbooks, but it does require a bit more work than some of the other places on this list. You setup your own shop, ship your own products, and basically run your own store. However, they do have great prices as a result.

Check out AbeBooks here >>

Sell Your Textbooks: Abebooks

2. Amazon

Amazon is the market leader in textbooks and one of the largest online marketplaces in the world. When it comes to reselling textbooks, Amazon makes it incredibly easy. All you have to do it enter the ISBN number, and you can quickly list your textbook. You do have to ship out your own book when it sells.

Check out Amazon here >>

Sell Your Textbooks: Amazon

3. Barnes and Noble

I think a lot of people forget about Barnes and Noble being online, not just a store, but they have a huge website and a great textbook resell program. They also make the process of reselling your textbooks easy, by simply having you enter your book's ISBN number, accepting their offer, and sending in your books.

The only drawback is your books have to be worth at least $10. 

Check out Barnes and Noble here >>

Sell Your Textbooks: Barnes and Noble

4. BookByte

BookByte focuses a lot of its effort on textbook buyback, and they make the process easy. You simply enter your book information, accept the offer, and send back your books. They offer free shipping back on any textbook valued at $10 or more. 

Check out BookByte here >>

Sell Your Textbooks: Bookbyte

5. BookScouter

BookScouter is another textbook selling search engine that compares 35 different vendors for you to sell your textbook. If you like an offer, accept it, send back your books, and get paid. 

Check out BookScouter here >>

ReSell Your Textbooks: Bookscouter

6. BooksRun

BooksRun allows you to sell both your textbooks and eBooks on their website. This is one of the only companies we've seen that facilitates eBook sales. Similar to the other companies, you simply enter you book information, accept the offer, send it in, and get paid.

Check out BooksRun here >>

resell your textbook: booksrun

7. Campus Books

CampusBooks is a search engine to help you find the best places to resell your books. However, they also help you streamline the process. You search their site, print the label, and then get paid. Most of the companies they search offer free shipping labels as well.

Check out Campus Books here >>

sell your textbooks: campus books

8. Cash4Books

Just like it sounds, this site lets you easily get cash for your books. A little dated, but still fully functional - the website allows you to enter your book information, get a quote, and get paid via check or PayPal. 

Check out Cash4Books here >>

sell your textbooks: cash4books

9. Chegg

Chegg is one of the oldest online textbook companies, and they allow you to sell your textbooks back just like the other companies on this list. You get a quote, ship it back for free, and get paid. Chegg uses UPS, which means you can also drop your box off at a UPS store to save time and effort.

Check out Chegg here >>

sell your textbooks: chegg

10. Craigslist

Craiglist isn't necessarily known for reselling books, but it can be an easy way to do it, especially if you want to connect locally with someone. There aren't a lot of tools here to help, but you can simply make a listing and see if anyone buys it.

Check out Craigslist here >>

best places to resell textbooks: craigslist

11. Decluttr

You might not think about Decluttr as a way to sell your own textbooks, but it can work great in many cases. Just like you would normally do, you can enter the ISBN or scan the book in your app, then send your books in. Quick and easy!

Check out Decluttr here >>

best places to resell textbooks: decluttr

12. eBay

eBay is the best auction site to sell your textbooks. This has the potential to get you top dollar, but on the flip side, there is more work involved in reselling your books here. You have to take pictures, but the listing together, and wait the 7 days plus payment time.

Check out eBay here >>

best places to resell textbooks: ebay

13. Knetbooks

Knetbooks is more well known for textbook rental, but they also have a textbook resell option. One of the factors that distinguishes them is that they have a direct deposit option that allows you to get paid right into your bank account.

Check out Knetbooks here >>

best places to resell textbooks: knetbooks

14. Slugbooks

Slugbooks is one of the few companies on this list that helps you market your textbook via Facebook. Just like the other companies, you can list your book, but Slugbooks help you promote it as well.

Check out Slugbooks here >>

best places to resell textbooks: slugbooks

15. Student2Student

Student2Student is a marketplace designed to connect students on campus to resell and buy textbooks. Instead of searching and shipping, you can create a listing on your campus, accept an offer, and then meet the buyer at your school.

Check out Student2Student here >>

Textbook exchange: Student2Student

16. ValoreBooks

ValoreBooks advertises that it can help you get the most cash for your used textbooks. Like most of the other options, you simply enter your ISBN number, get a quote, and ship the textbook back to them. They can then pay you by check or PayPal.

Check out ValoreBooks here >>

Sell Your Textbook: ValoreBooks
Robert Farrington
Robert Farrington

Robert Farrington is America’s Millennial Money Expert® and America’s Student Loan Debt Expert™, and the founder of The College Investor, a personal finance site dedicated to helping millennials escape student loan debt to start investing and building wealth for the future. You can learn more about him on the About Page, or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.

He regularly writes about investing, student loan debt, and general personal finance topics geared towards anyone wanting to earn more, get out of debt, and start building wealth for the future.

He has been quoted in major publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, Fox, ABC, NBC, and more. He is also a regular contributor to Forbes.

Editor: Clint Proctor Reviewed by: Claire Tak

Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, or other advertiser and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comment Policy: We invite readers to respond with questions or comments. Comments may be held for moderation and are subject to approval. Comments are solely the opinions of their authors'. The responses in the comments below are not provided or commissioned by any advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any company. It is not anyone's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Subscribe
Connect with
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of

I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree

4 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Primary Sidebar

Robert Farrington will teach you how to get out of student loan debt and how to start investing.

Hi! My Name is

America's Millennial Money Expert

Welcome to The College Investor. We're here to help you escape student loan debt so you can start investing and building wealth for the future

Our expert guides, reviews, and more are designed to help you achieve your financial goals.

Want to learn more? See what's in my wallet.

As Featured In

Social Media

Popular Posts

Side Hustling

53 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Money Fast

Best Side Hustles

20 Best Side Hustles You Can Start Earning With In 2023

Crazy Ways To Make $10,000

10 Crazy Ways To Make $10,000 You’ve Never Heard Of

Make $50,000 Per Year

3 Ways To Make $50,000 Per Year Without Working With Passive Income

Student Loan Scams

Top Student Loan Scams

Net Worth of Millennials

Average Net Worth Of Millennials By Age

Ways To Get Student Loan Forgiveness

Student Loan Forgiveness Programs (The Complete List)

529 Plan By Age

How Much Should You Have In A 529 Plan By Age

Passive Income Ideas

40 Passive Income Ideas You Can Use To Build Wealth In 2023

Make Money From Home

80 Ways To Make Money From Home In 2023

Ultimate Guides

529 Plan Guide

529 Plans: The Ultimate Guide To College Savings Plans

Student Loans and Financial Aid By State

Student Loan And Financial Aid Programs By State

Student Loan Advice

The Definitive Guide To Student Loan Debt

Student Loan Forgiveness By State

The Full List Of Student Loan Forgiveness Programs By State

newretirement

How to Start Saving Now: The College Graduate’s Guide to Saving for Retirement

Latest Research

How much to file taxes

Tax Survey: How Much People Paid To File And The No.1 Tax Software They Used

Inflation survey

Side-Hustles To The Rescue: Survey Shows 86% Stressed About Money & Inflation

students choose to work survey

75% Of Students Would Still Choose To Work Even If They Didn’t Have To

Institutional Merit Grants

Who Gets Institutional Merit Grants At Private Colleges?

Resume Student Loan Payments

Survey: Even With Higher Expenses, Most Student Loan Borrowers Are Ready To Resume Payments

Footer

Who We Are

The College Investor is an independent, advertising-supported financial media publisher, focusing on news, product reviews, and comparisons.

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Press & Media

About

  • About
  • Our Team
  • Podcast
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • How We Make Money
  • Archives

Social

Copyright © 2023 · The College Investor · Privacy Policy ·Terms of Service · DO NOT Sell My Personal Information

wpDiscuz