Going to college is expensive – but you can save some money by making the most of the best textbook buyback sites.
Did you know that students at public four-year universities spend, on average, more than $1,000 per year on textbooks? That adds up, but you can get more for your money by reselling your textbooks once the course is finished. After all, you don’t need those dusty relics lining your bookshelves and taking up space!
Who really wants to read an anatomy and physiology textbook ever again, anyway?
If you’re looking for the best textbook buyback sites, consider some of these leading options. You’ll be able to save money – and declutter! – all at the same time.
How To Sell Your Unused Textbooks
There are several ways to sell back your unused textbooks, only one of which is selling your books online.
One of the most common is to sell used textbooks to the college bookstore. Although this is often the most convenient method – all you have to do is traipse over to the bookstore and fork over your unwanted texts – it tends to give you the least money back for your tomes.
After all, college bookstores need to make money somehow!
You could also sell used books directly to students, although this can be challenging because you’ll have to find your own market. However, if you have a friend that’s planning on taking the same class you just did, you might be able to pass off the book with minimal hassle – and for a maximum profit.
Selling textbooks online is one of the easiest ways to get rid of your unused books, though. Some websites not only sell books but also allow you to return them or resell them at the end of the semester for a large percentage of what you initially paid. Others allow you to compare textbook buyback prices so you can make sure you’re getting the best deal.
As long as you can make a trip to the post office and have a reliable Internet connection, selling textbooks back online is one of the easiest ways to get rid of your books when you’re done using them.
Regardless of how you choose to get rid of your books, it might be helpful to know that the best time to sell textbooks is between May and June. This window is when textbook resellers purport to see the most activity – which could mean more dollars in your pocket at the end of the day, too.
Best Textbook Buyback Sites
1. Chegg
Chegg is known for being one of the best places to buy and rent textbooks online – and it’s also one of the best textbook buyback sites.
The beauty of using Chegg is that this company accepts most textbooks that you might have, as they rent and sell a wide variety of titles to students. However, you will need to drop your books off at a UPS store instead of the post office, which can be a slight inconvenience to some students in rural areas.
That said, shipping is free, and you’ll receive your first payment in as little as 10 days after you’ve sent your books away. That equals more cash in your pocket to buy next semester’s books!
- Quality: 5
- Cost: 5
- Comparison to Alternatives: 5
- Ease of Use: 5
2. Cash4Books
Pardon this textbook buyback site’s simplified name, but know that the simpler the process, the easier it will ultimately be for you to sell back your books.
Cash4Books is an easy to use website that is a bit dated but still offers all the functionality you need to get rid of your books. All you have to do is enter the information for your book and you will receive a quote. Then, you’ll be paid via PayPal or check, depending on your preferences.
- Quality: 5
- Cost: 4
- Comparison to Alternatives: 5
- Ease of Use: 4
3. CampusBooks
CampusBooks doesn’t let you sell your books back directly, but instead serves as a convenient one-stop-shop where you can compare other reselling websites. You can search the website with the ISBNs of the books you want to sell. Then, you’ll be able to print a label and get paid quickly.
Some of the book reselling sites listed on CampusBooks allow you to access free shipping labels, too – you can choose which method is best for you. The site has dozens of buyback sites so you’re guaranteed to find the right deal. Payment is fast, usually made via check, PayPal, or even store credit. There’s also a mobile app to help you streamline the process.
- Quality: 5
- Cost: 4
- Comparison to Alternatives: 5
- Ease of Use: 3
4. BooksRun
BooksRun is a helpful website that will allow you to sell your textbook back to them – but you will also be able to view other available offers. All you have to do is type in the ISBN for your book and you can then sell it directly or see other options.
Once you’ve chosen a buyer, you’ll have up to five days to ship your book with the include shipping label. You’ll only have to wait a week or two to receive your payment, which can be made via PayPal or a mailed check.
- Quality: 5
- Cost: 3
- Comparison to Alternatives: 3
- Ease of Use: 3
5. BookScouter
BookScouter is one of the best textbook buyback sites because it allows you to compare prices for a whopping 38 vendors all at the same time. If comparison shopping for college was ever a thing, BookScouter is the website that truly has it down to a science.
To get started, all you have to do is enter your ISBN number. You’ll see a listing of all the buyback prices for the various reselling websites and you can then ship your book for free. As soon as the website receives your books, you’ll receive a payday.
- Quality: 4
- Cost: 3
- Comparison to Alternatives: 3
- Ease of Use: 5
6. BookByte
BookByte is one of the oldest textbook buyback sites out there, founded in 1999, this website accepts all kinds of books in varying condition, from acceptable to new. In fact, BookByte is one of the best textbook buyback sites to consider if you have some books that have seen better days. Many other textbook buyback sites only purchase books that are in excellent condition.
When you sell with BookByte, you’ll receive payment via check, cash, or PayPal.
- Quality: 4
- Cost: 3
- Comparison to Alternatives: 3
- Ease of Use: 3
7. Amazon
You already know and love everything that Amazon has to offer – so consider using them to resell your unused textbooks, too. You can buy and sell both used and new books here, plus you can rent textbooks – so you’re practically guaranteed to find a market for your textbooks.
Often, you’ll receive up to 80% of the original purchase price, making Amazon a smart choice if you need to offload a lot of books without taking a major hit. You can get a trade-in price for your books or you can sell them as a third-party listing (you’ll just have to wait a while for someone to buy your book).
Get paid in cash or Amazon gift cards – the choice is yours. Do keep in mind that Amazon will keep a commission of 15% if you decide to sell directly to other buyers, though.
- Quality: 5
- Cost: 2
- Comparison to Alternatives: 4
- Ease of Use: 3
8. Barnes & Noble
Believe it or not, even Barnes & Noble wants to buy back your unused textbooks. You’ll have to cash out at a $10 minimum to sell your books here, but otherwise, this textbook buyback site is easy to use. All orders are shipped via USPS. Once the bookstore receives your book, you’ll be paid via PayPal or check.
The only inconvenience of using Barnes & Noble to sell your books is that you can only search one ISBN at a time. This can be time-consuming if you have quite a few books to sell back, but it isn’t a major dealbreaker.
- Quality: 3
- Cost: 2
- Comparison to Alternatives: 2
- Ease of Use: 1
9. Sell Back Your Book
Sell Back Your Book is a website that buys your textbook directly from you – and it doesn’t have to be a formal college textbook to qualify for resale, either. These online giants accept all kinds of books, including novels and manuals. You won’t be able to sell encyclopedia sets, teacher editions, or books lacking ISBNs, though.
You can ship your books for free using FedEx Ground or USPS Media Mail, and you’ll be paid quickly via PayPal or check. This company even has a mobile app to make your life ten times easier!
- Quality: 4
- Cost: 2
- Comparison to Alternatives: 2
- Ease of Use: 2
10. ValoreBooks
Another textbook comparison website is ValoreBooks. Like the others we’ve mentioned, this one lets you search and compare prices from hundreds of textbook buyback sites. You can ship your sold books for free – they will provide you with a shipping label – and you’ll be paid quickly via PayPal or check. There are weight limits on how many books you can ship at once, though – so keep that in mind.
- Quality: 3
- Cost: 2
- Comparison to Alternatives: 1
- Ease of Use: 2
What To Look For In A Textbook Buyback Site
When you’re selling textbooks back, there are a few quick tips to follow to make sure you get the most “bang for your buck†– or so to speak.
First, make sure you compare buyback prices. Don’t leave any money on the table, especially when there are plenty of comparison tools you can use to make sure you’re getting the best price. Shop around!
Check the condition of your book, too. Some resellers only accept books in “like new†condition, so you might have to search elsewhere if you have some books that are run-down and ragged. Also, pay attention to shipping policies and regulations related to supplemental materials (some reselling websites won’t accept books that don’t have the included CDs or access codes that they were originally sold with).
Otherwise, know that selling back your textbooks is a great way to get some cash back in your pocket for next semester. After all, you have pizza and beer – er, more textbooks, that is! – to buy. Consider this list of the best textbook buyback sites to help you keep more cash in your wallet.
