Where to Sell Your Textbooks: Comparing Buyback Sites

How textbook buyback sites work and what to expect

Textbook buyback sites buy used books directly from students and resell them. Most work the same way: you enter the ISBN (the 10- or 13-digit number on the back cover), the site shows you what it will pay, you ship the book for free or a small fee, and you get paid by check, PayPal, or store credit within one to three weeks. The price depends on demand for that edition, the book's condition, and how many copies the site already has in stock.

The amount you receive is almost always less than what you paid — often 25 to 50 percent of the original price, sometimes much less. Books that are several editions old, heavily marked up, or out of print may not sell at all. Some sites will still take them and donate them or recycle them, while others will return them to you at your expense. Before you ship anything, check what the site will do with books it won't buy.

Buyback sites compete on speed, shipping cost, and price. No single site pays the most for every book, so comparing across two or three sites for your stack takes 10 to 15 minutes and can add up to real money — especially if you have a full semester's worth of textbooks.

Key Takeaways

• Different buyback sites pay different amounts for the same book, so checking three sites before shipping can increase your total payout by 20 to 30 percent.
• Most sites offer free shipping, but some charge a fee or require a minimum order, so factor that into your comparison.
• Books in good condition — unmarked, no bent pages, no highlighting — sell for more than heavily used copies.
• Payment usually arrives within one to three weeks, and most sites offer PayPal or check; store credit often pays slightly more but locks you into buying from that site again.

Major buyback sites and what sets them apart

Amazon Trade-In accepts textbooks and pays by Amazon credit only. You print a shipping label, drop the book at a UPS location, and the credit appears in your account once Amazon receives and inspects it. Amazon's prices are often lower than specialty textbook sites, but if you already buy from Amazon, the credit is useful. No minimum order.

Chegg is one of the largest textbook buyback operations. It accepts books in any condition, offers free shipping, and pays by check or PayPal. Chegg also rents textbooks, so it buys copies to rent out — this means it may pay more for books in high demand during rental season (late summer and early fall). You can get a quote instantly by ISBN.

BookScouter is not a buyback site itself but a comparison tool. You enter your ISBN once, and it shows you offers from multiple sites at the same time. This saves the step of visiting five different sites individually. The offers update daily, so prices change. BookScouter does not handle payment or shipping; it directs you to the site you choose.

VitalSource (formerly Chegg's textbook rental arm) buys textbooks and pays by check or PayPal. It focuses on textbooks specifically and often competes closely with Chegg on price. Shipping is free.

ThriftBooks buys used books of all kinds, including textbooks. It pays by check or store credit, offers free shipping, and accepts books in worn condition. Payouts tend to be lower than Chegg or VitalSource, but it will take books that other sites reject.

How to get the best price for your books

Condition matters more than you might think. A textbook with no highlighting, no bent spine, and clean pages will sell for significantly more than one with notes in the margins or water damage. Before you list a book, flip through it and be honest about its state. Sites inspect books when they arrive, and if the condition is worse than you described, they may reject it or pay less.

Timing affects price. Textbook demand peaks in late August and early September when students are buying for fall semester, and again in late December for spring semester. If you sell during these windows, you may get 10 to 20 percent more than you would in the off-season. Conversely, selling a spring textbook in June, when the semester is over and demand has dropped, will net you less.

The ISBN matters. Make sure you are entering the correct ISBN for your exact edition. A newer edition of the same textbook may have a different ISBN and a very different buyback price. The ISBN is printed on the back cover, usually near a barcode. If you are selling multiple books, double-check each one.

Use a comparison tool or check two to three sites before committing. BookScouter shows multiple offers at once. If you prefer to check sites individually, Chegg, VitalSource, and Amazon Trade-In are the three largest and usually have the most competitive prices. Comparing takes five minutes and can mean the difference between $30 and $50 for a single book.

Shipping and payment options

Most major buyback sites offer free shipping, but read the terms carefully. Some require a minimum order (for example, $5 or more in total payout) before free shipping kicks in. Others charge a flat fee of $2 to $5 per order. If you are selling only one or two low-value books, a shipping fee can eat into your payout.

Payment methods vary. Check, PayPal, and Amazon credit are the most common. Store credit — where the site gives you money to spend on its own inventory — usually pays 5 to 10 percent more than cash, but only if you plan to buy from that site again. If you are done with textbooks, take the cash.

Payment timing ranges from one to three weeks after the site receives your book. Some sites pay faster if you choose store credit instead of check or PayPal. Factor this into your decision if you need the money quickly.

What happens to books the site won't buy

Not every book will sell. If a textbook is too old, too damaged, or simply not in demand, a buyback site may reject it. Before you ship, check what the site's policy is for unwanted books. Some sites will donate them to libraries or schools, some will recycle them, and some will return them to you at your expense.

Returning a book to you can cost $5 to $10 in shipping, which defeats the purpose of selling it. If a site charges for returns, and you are unsure whether it will accept your book, ask first. Most sites have a customer service email or chat. A quick message can save you the cost of shipping a book that will come back to you anyway.

Alternatives if buyback sites won't take your books

If your textbooks are too old or too damaged for buyback sites, you have other options. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist let you sell locally and avoid shipping altogether, though you may have to negotiate and meet in person. Goodreads has a used book marketplace. Half Price Books, a used bookstore chain with locations in several states, buys textbooks in person and pays cash on the spot.

If you cannot sell them, donating to a school library, a community college, or a nonprofit that serves students can be a tax deduction. Keep your receipt. Some textbooks, especially older editions, have little resale value but are still useful to someone learning the subject.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to sell all my books to the same site?

No. You can sell different books to different sites if one site pays more for a particular title. BookScouter shows you the best price for each ISBN, so you can pick and choose. Shipping costs may offset the savings if you are sending to multiple addresses, so factor that in.

What if my textbook has highlighting and notes in it?

Most buyback sites will still accept it, but you will receive less money. Heavy highlighting, margin notes, or underlined passages reduce the resale value because the next buyer will see them. If the book is otherwise in good shape, you may still get 15 to 30 percent of the original price.

Can I sell a textbook that is still in shrink wrap?

Yes, and it will sell for more than a used copy. However, check the ISBN carefully — if it is a different edition than the one your class used, buyback sites may not want it or may pay very little. Unopened books are valuable only if they are the edition students actually need.

How long does it take to get paid after I ship my books?

Most sites pay within one to three weeks of receiving your books. Some pay faster if you choose store credit instead of check or PayPal. Check the site's policy before you ship so you know what to expect.

Is it worth selling textbooks if I only get 25 percent of what I paid?

That depends on your situation. If you have five textbooks and can get $50 to $100 total, it may be worth the 15 minutes of work. If you have one book worth $8, it probably is not. Consider whether you would use the money and whether you have the time to compare sites and ship.