Buying guide
Where to Buy Used Books Online and Locally: The Smart Buyer's Map
The best places to buy used books, from big online marketplaces to library sales and swap sites, plus how to compare total cost, condition and edition so you never overpay.
Used books are one of the best bargains left: the same words as a new copy for a fraction of the price, with no new paper consumed. But prices for the same book can vary enormously between sellers. This guide maps where to buy used books and how to make sure you pay the right price for the right copy.
Online: the big marketplaces
- AbeBooks connects you with independent booksellers worldwide. It is especially strong for out-of-print titles, specific editions, first editions and rare books, and its search filters (first edition, signed, dust jacket) are useful.
- ThriftBooks sells a huge range of used books at low prices with condition grades and a loyalty programme. Good for everyday reading copies.
- Better World Books sells used books with a literacy-funding mission and is a good source of ex-library and donated stock.
- Alibris and Biblio are marketplaces of independent and antiquarian booksellers, useful for comparing against AbeBooks.
- eBay offers auctions and fixed prices, bundles and series lots, and the ability to check what books actually sold for.
- Amazon shows used offers from many third-party sellers alongside new copies.
- Powell’s Books sells new and used side by side from its famous Portland store.
- BookFinder searches many of these at once.
Our price comparison tool opens the same title or ISBN on all of them in one step.
Free or almost free: libraries and swaps
If you only need to read a book once, check whether a nearby library has it. WorldCat shows library holdings, and many libraries offer inter-library loan. Open Library lends digital copies of many titles. Swap networks such as BookCrossing (release and “catch” books in public) and PaperBackSwap (trade books by post), plus neighbourhood Little Free Libraries, are good for casual reading.
Local: the treasure-hunting routes
- Used bookstores offer curated stock, staff knowledge and the joy of browsing. Many have bargain shelves and give trade credit if you bring books in.
- Library book sales run by Friends of the Library groups are among the cheapest sources anywhere, with bag days at the end of many sales. See our library book sales guide.
- Thrift and charity shops are unpredictable but cheap, and restock often.
- Estate sales, garage sales and flea markets can turn up older and collectible books.
Our bookstore and book sale finder opens map searches for all of these near you.
How to compare like a pro
Compare the total, not the price
A $1 book with $5 of shipping costs more than a $4 book with free shipping. Many marketplaces charge shipping per item, so buying several books from one seller can save significantly. Check whether the seller combines shipping.
Read the condition description
One seller’s “Good” is another’s “Acceptable”. Look for specifics: highlighting, underlining, ex-library stamps, water damage, missing dust jacket, loose binding. If it matters, message the seller before buying. Learn the scale in our condition grades guide.
Decide how much the edition matters
For reading, any edition will do, so search by title and author and pick the cheapest acceptable copy. For a textbook, a course, a gift or a collection, search by ISBN so you get exactly the right book. Watch for international editions of textbooks, which can differ in content and page numbers, and for listings that use a stock photo of a different edition.
Check the seller
Look at ratings, number of reviews, location (for shipping time) and return policy. For expensive books, buy from sellers who describe their copies in detail and offer returns.
Buying collectible books
For first editions and rare books, slow down. Confirm the edition using the publisher’s identification method, compare several copies, and look at photos of the actual copy rather than a stock image. Buying from members of professional bookseller associations adds protection. Our first-edition guide and collecting guide explain what to check.
Quick rules for great used-book buying
- Search by ISBN when edition matters; by title when it doesn’t.
- Compare at least three sources, including the library.
- Always compare totals with shipping.
- Read the description, not just the grade.
- Buy multiple books from one seller to share postage.
- Be patient with scarce books: prices change as copies sell.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to get used books?
Library book sales, thrift stores, swaps and Little Free Libraries are usually cheapest. Online, compare total prices including shipping and buy several books from one seller to share postage.
Are used books from online marketplaces reliable?
Generally yes, if you read the condition description and check the seller's rating and return policy. Grades vary between sellers, so the written description matters more than the one-word grade.
How do I make sure I get the right edition?
Search by ISBN. Each edition and format has its own ISBN, so matching it guarantees the right book. Search by title and author only when any edition will do.