If you’re a bit of a bookworm like me, there’s a good chance you’ve accumulated a lot of books.

Books on the shelves.

Books beside the bed.

Books in boxes.

Books you’ve read and loved.

Books you’ve bought because they looked interesting.

And books you’ve been meaning to read for approximately the last ten years.

I’m definitely guilty of this.

The problem is that every now and then I have to admit that I’m running out of space. And as much as I don’t like getting rid of books, there is one thing that makes it slightly easier:

I can sell some of them and make a bit of extra money.

So if you’ve got a pile of unwanted books taking up space, you might be wondering:

Where is the best place to sell old books in the UK?

And more importantly…

How much money can you actually make?

The answer is: probably not a fortune.

But if you’ve got a few boxes of books, you could turn something that’s currently gathering dust into £20, £50, £100 or potentially more.

And that’s money you didn’t have before.

Some of the links in this article are referral links. If you use one of these links and sign up, you may receive a bonus between £5 and £25 and I may also receive a bonus too. (so beneficial to us both!) It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and I have only include services that I think are worth considering and that I have used myself. I’ll always be clear when a link is a referral link.

Can you really make money selling old books?

Yes — but I’d keep your expectations realistic.

Most ordinary second-hand books aren’t worth very much.

That paperback you paid £10 for might only be worth a few pence now. Even books that are in lovely condition can be difficult to sell if there are hundreds of copies available.

But some books can be worth considerably more.

You might have:

textbooks
specialist books
unusual editions
signed books
collectible books
first editions
popular boxed sets
older or out-of-print books
books that are suddenly in demand

So there are really two ways to approach selling your old books.

You can sell lots of ordinary books quickly to a book-buying service, or you can spend more time selling individual books yourself in the hope of making more money.

Neither is necessarily better.

It depends whether your priority is cash, convenience or getting rid of the books quickly.

Where can you sell old books in the UK?

There are quite a few options, from specialist book-buying websites to general marketplaces such as eBay and Vinted.

I’ve used some of these myself, and I’d probably use a mixture rather than relying on just one.

1. WeBuyBooks

WeBuyBooks is one of the easiest places to start if you’ve got a large pile of books to sell.

I’ve personally used the WeBuyBooks app and found it very easy.

You scan the barcode or ISBN on the book, and the app tells you how much they’re currently offering.

You can then decide whether to accept the offer and add the book to your collection.

The big advantage is speed.

You don’t have to photograph every book.

You don’t have to write a listing.

You don’t have to wait for somebody to find your book.

You don’t have to answer questions from potential buyers.

You scan it, see the offer and move on.

Is WeBuyBooks worth using?

I’d definitely give it a try if you’ve got a lot of books to clear.

The downside is that some books won’t be worth very much. But that’s the trade-off for convenience.

If you’re sitting on 100 unwanted books, I’d personally rather spend an hour scanning them than several days photographing and listing them individually.

One thing I learnt: books are heavy!

This sounds obvious until you’re standing there trying to move a huge box of books.

I’ve used these services myself and discovered that a box of books can get very heavy indeed.

I actually had to split my books into separate boxes.

So check the current weight and packaging requirements before you send your books.

Your back will thank you.

2. World of Books

World of Books – Sell Your Books is another option for selling unwanted books.

[Referral link – you get £5 if you sign up.]

If you’ve heard of Ziffit, you may recognise the service. Ziffit has been rebranded as World of Books – Sell Your Books.

Like WeBuyBooks, you can scan books and get a valuation before deciding whether to sell.

World of Books offers a way to sell books in bulk rather than requiring you to create individual marketplace listings.

This makes it particularly useful if your main aim is:

“Please take these books away and give me some money for them.”

That’s sometimes exactly what you need when you’re decluttering.

3. musicMagpie

musicMagpie is another service I’ve personally used.

[Referral link – you get £5 if you sign up.]

I’ve found the app easy to use, and the process is very similar to the other book-buying services.

You scan the books, receive your valuations and send the books away.

Again, the biggest advantage is convenience.

If you have a mountain of books, you don’t necessarily want to become a full-time second-hand bookseller.

You just want your shelves back.

And perhaps a little money in your bank account.

That’s where services like musicMagpie can make sense.

4. Bookloop

Bookloop is an interesting option, particularly if you’re a serious bookworm.

It is connected to WeBuyBooks, but instead of receiving cash, you receive Bookshop.org credit.

That credit can then be used to buy books.

Which sounds like a terrible idea for anyone trying to reduce their book collection.

“I’ve just got rid of 30 books. Brilliant! Now I’ll use the money to buy 15 more.”

If you’re going to spend the money on books anyway, though, it’s worth considering.

Bookloop also has the added attraction of supporting independent bookshops through Bookshop.org.

So if you’re happy receiving book credit rather than cash, this could be a good alternative.

5. The Book Buyer

The Book Buyer is a slightly different option.

It’s aimed more towards collections, specialist books and potentially more unusual titles.

This could be particularly interesting if you’re clearing:

an inherited book collection
specialist books
older books
collectible books
large quantities of books

However, it’s important to check the current situation before relying on this option.

At the time of writing, The Book Buyer’s website says that it is not currently buying due to stock levels.

So I’d treat this as one to keep an eye on rather than somewhere to send your books immediately.

6. Amazon

Amazon is an interesting one for me because I used to sell my old books on Amazon myself.

And at the time, I found it surprisingly easy.

My books sold reasonably well and I could sometimes make more selling them individually than I would have received from a bulk book-buying service.

However…

That was more than five years ago.

Things change, so I wouldn’t want to tell you that my old Amazon experience is exactly what you’ll experience today.

Amazon still allows sellers to list used books, but there are selling fees and more work involved than simply scanning a box of books.

You’ll need to create listings and provide information about the book’s condition.

So when would I consider Amazon?

If I had a book that appeared to be worth considerably more than the amount being offered by WeBuyBooks or musicMagpie.

For example, if a bulk buyer offered me 50p but similar used copies were selling for significantly more elsewhere, I’d investigate.

For a 50p paperback?

Probably not worth the effort.

For a £20 or £30 book?

That’s a different story.

Amazon’s current guide to selling books is worth checking before you start because fees and seller requirements can change.

7. eBay

eBay UK is another option if you’re prepared to do more of the work yourself.

I’ve sold things on eBay and I think it can be particularly useful for books that are:

unusual
collectible
signed
specialist
part of a desirable series
difficult to find elsewhere

The big advantage is that you control the listing and the price.

You aren’t simply accepting a bulk buyer’s valuation.

The disadvantage?

You have to wait for someone to buy it.

And that’s an important difference.

You could scan 50 books into a buying app and potentially have them all dealt with relatively quickly.

On eBay, you might list 50 books and still have some sitting there months later.

So I wouldn’t necessarily use eBay for every book.

I’d use it selectively.

If it’s a valuable or unusual book, check eBay.

If it’s an ordinary paperback worth £1, I probably wouldn’t spend half an hour creating a listing for it.

8. Vinted

Vinted UK might not be the first place you think of when someone says “sell books”.

And that’s exactly why I think it’s worth mentioning.

I’ve used Vinted myself and found it easy enough to list things, and books can certainly be sold there.

The attraction is that you can list your books without seller fees, although buyers pay a Buyer Protection fee.

I’d particularly consider using Vinted for bundles of books.

For example:

5 crime novels – £8

Harry Potter books 1–4 – £15

might be more attractive than listing four separate books.

I’ve sold books on Vinted myself, but I don’t think people necessarily go to Vinted specifically looking for books.

They’re more likely to be browsing clothes, shoes, homeware and other second-hand items.

So I’d definitely give it a try — particularly because listing is straightforward — but I wouldn’t expect it to be the fastest place to sell a huge collection of books.

What is the best place to sell old books?

There isn’t one simple answer.

It depends on what you’re trying to achieve.

What you want	Where I’d start
Quickly clear lots of books	WeBuyBooks
Compare bulk book-buying prices	World of Books
Another easy scanning service	musicMagpie
Book credit instead of cash	Bookloop
Sell valuable or unusual books	eBay
Sell books individually	Amazon or eBay
Try a free marketplace	Vinted
Sell a large specialist collection	Specialist book buyers

And here’s what I’d actually do.

I’d use more than one.

How to get the most money when selling your books

If you’re prepared to put in a little more effort, don’t simply accept the first offer you see.

Compare book-buying websites

Take the same book and scan it through two or three services.

You might find that one company offers 30p while another offers £1.

Do that across a big collection and the difference can add up.

Check valuable books separately

Don’t automatically send everything to a bulk buyer.

If you have a signed book, specialist textbook, unusual edition or collectible, check what similar copies are actually selling for.

Remember that asking prices aren’t the same as selling prices.

Someone can list a book for £100.

That doesn’t mean anyone is actually paying £100 for it.

Consider bundles

If you’ve got lots of inexpensive books, consider selling them together.

A buyer might be more interested in:

10 crime novels for £15

than buying ten separate £1.50 books.

Bundles can also save you time and packaging.

How much money can you make selling old books?

This is where I think it’s important to be honest.

You probably aren’t going to get rich selling your old books.

If you have 20 ordinary paperbacks, you might only make a few pounds.

If you have 100 books, perhaps you could make £20, £50 or more.

If you’ve got several hundred books and some of them are valuable, the amount could be considerably higher.

But there is no guaranteed figure.

The value depends on:

what books you have
their condition
whether they’re still in demand
how many copies are available
which selling platform you use
whether you’re prepared to sell them individually

And remember, you’re starting with something you already own.

That’s why I think this is a nice occasional money maker rather than a traditional side hustle.

You’re turning clutter into cash.

Could you make money selling other people’s books?

Now this is where things get a little more interesting.

Most people only have a limited number of books.

Once you’ve sold your unwanted collection, that’s it.

Unless…

You help somebody else.

You could offer to sort through books belonging to family or friends.

Perhaps someone is:

moving house
downsizing
clearing a parent’s home
dealing with an inherited collection
decluttering their spare room

You could offer to do the work of sorting, scanning, listing and posting the books and agree to split the profits.

For example:

“I’ll sort through them, sell the ones worth selling and we’ll split whatever we make.”

Obviously, make sure everyone agrees to the arrangement before you start.

But it could be a way of turning your knowledge of book-buying apps and marketplaces into a little extra income.

You don’t necessarily need to buy hundreds of books yourself.

You can help other people clear theirs.

Don’t underestimate how heavy books are!

I’m mentioning this twice because I’ve learnt the hard way.

Books are heavy.

One book isn’t.

Ten books aren’t.

But put 40 or 50 books into a cardboard box and suddenly you’re questioning every decision that led you to this moment.

When I sold books using these services, I actually had to split my books into multiple boxes because they were too heavy.

So:

Check the current weight limits.
Don’t overfill boxes.
Use strong packaging.
Make sure you can actually lift the box.
Remember you’ll need to get it to the collection point if you’re posting it yourself.

Trust me on this one.

What should you do with books nobody wants?

This will happen.

You scan a book.

Nothing.

Try another service.

Still nothing.

Check eBay.

Three copies available for 99p.

At this point, I’d stop.

Not every book needs to be monetised.

You could:

donate it to a charity shop
give it to a friend
donate it to a community project
put it in a Little Free Library
recycle it if it’s damaged beyond use

The aim is to make money from books that have some value, not spend three hours trying to sell a book for 10p.

Your time has value too.

Is selling old books worth it?

I think it is.

But I’d think of it as a small win rather than a huge side hustle.

If you’ve got a couple of unwanted books, you probably won’t make much.

But if you’ve got boxes of them gathering dust, why not see what they’re worth?

Start by scanning them with a couple of the book-buying services.

Then separate out anything unusual or valuable and investigate those individually on eBay or Amazon.

You might discover you’ve got a hidden gem.

More likely, you’ll discover that most of your books aren’t worth nearly as much as you imagined.

And that’s okay.

Because the real win could be:

£40 in your bank account + three empty shelves + space for more books.

And as a bookworm, I already know exactly what I’m going to do with those empty shelves.

Fill them again, obviously.

Quick checklist for selling your old books

Before you start, here’s my quick checklist:

☐ Gather the books you no longer want

☐ Check their condition

☐ Find the ISBN/barcode

☐ Scan them with several book-buying services

☐ Compare the offers

☐ Separate valuable or unusual books

☐ Check eBay or Amazon for potentially valuable titles

☐ Consider selling inexpensive books in bundles

☐ Check the current weight limits before packing

☐ Use sensible-sized boxes

☐ Keep a record of what you’re sending

☐ Don’t spend hours trying to sell something worth 10p

☐ Enjoy your newly cleared shelves!

Frequently Asked Questions About Selling Old Books

Where is the best place to sell old books in the UK?

There isn’t one best place for every book. WeBuyBooks, World of Books and musicMagpie are convenient options for selling lots of books quickly, while eBay and Amazon may be better for valuable, unusual or collectible books. Vinted is another option for individual books and bundles.

Can I sell old books for cash?

Yes. Several UK book-buying services allow you to scan books and receive a valuation before sending them in. The amount you receive depends on the individual books, their condition and current demand.

How much are old books worth?

Most ordinary second-hand books are worth relatively little, but some can be worth considerably more. Specialist books, textbooks, signed copies, unusual editions, collectibles and books that are currently in demand can be more valuable.

Is WeBuyBooks legitimate?

WeBuyBooks is an established UK book-buying service that allows people to scan books and receive valuations. As with any resale service, check the current terms, prices and payment arrangements before sending your books.

Is musicMagpie good for selling books?

musicMagpie can be useful if your priority is convenience. You can scan books using its app and sell them without creating individual marketplace listings. Compare its current offers with other book-buying services before deciding where to send your collection.

Can I sell books on Vinted?

Yes. Books can be listed on Vinted, and you can also create bundles. It can be worth trying, particularly for popular series or groups of books, although Vinted isn’t primarily a book-focused marketplace.

Is it better to sell books on eBay or to a book-buying service?

It depends on the book. A book-buying service is usually more convenient, particularly if you have lots of ordinary books. eBay can potentially produce more money for valuable or unusual books, but you’ll need to create listings and wait for buyers.

Can I sell books on Amazon?

Yes, used books can be sold through Amazon, although seller fees and requirements apply. Amazon can be worth considering for books that are likely to sell for considerably more individually than a bulk book-buying service would offer.

What should I do with books that won’t sell?

Consider donating them to a charity shop, giving them away, donating them to a community project or recycling them if they’re damaged. Your time is worth something too, so don’t spend hours trying to sell a book that is effectively worthless.

Can selling old books become a side hustle?

It can be an occasional source of extra money, particularly if you help friends or family clear larger collections. However, most people will eventually run out of their own unwanted books. If you start buying books specifically to resell for profit, that becomes a different type of activity and you should check the current HMRC rules.

Do I have to pay tax when I sell my old books?

If you’re simply selling unwanted personal possessions, this is generally different from running a trading business. However, buying items specifically to resell for profit can have different tax implications. Check the latest guidance from HMRC if you start selling regularly or turn it into a business.

Final thoughts

I don’t think selling your old books is going to make most people rich.

But that’s not really the point.

If you’ve already got books sitting around that you don’t want, why not see if somebody else will pay you for them?

You might make £10.

You might make £50.

You might find that one old book is surprisingly valuable.

Or you might discover that your entire collection is worth about the price of a takeaway coffee.

That’s the fun of it.

And if nothing else, you’ll have a little more space on your bookshelves.

Which means you can buy more books.

That’s how this works, right?

The prices, fees, payment methods and terms offered by the companies mentioned in this article can change. Always check the relevant website for the latest information before sending your books.

How to Sell Old Books for Cash in the UK: Best Places to Sell Second-Hand Books