To sell new and used books on Amazon, choose your selling plan, create a seller account, source your inventory, list your books with accurate details, set competitive prices, and choose a fulfillment method. Amazon offers two selling plans—Individual and Professional—so you can pick the option that fits your business goals.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- How to source, list, and sell new and used books on Amazon
- What types of books you can sell online
- Why selling books online is a strong business opportunity
5 steps to selling new and used books on Amazon
Step 1: Source new and used books to sell
Starting a book-selling business means finding books people want to buy. You can sell books you already own or find new ones to resell. Book resale on Amazon is popular because readers are always looking for their next great story.
Whether you want to sell used books on Amazon or brand-new titles, you can build your inventory through sources like:
Whether you want to sell used books on Amazon or brand-new titles, you can build your inventory through sources like:
- Wholesalers
- Publishers
- Distributors
- Library sales
- Auctions
- Used book stores
- Yard sales
- Estate sales
- Thrift shops
Pro Tip
Find books with strong sales potential
Before you buy a book to resell, evaluate its condition carefully and check its Best Seller ranking on the product detail page to see how it's performing in the Amazon store. You can also scan the barcode with the Amazon Seller app to pull up pricing and sales data on the spot, or browse the Amazon Best Sellers in Books list to see what's trending right now.
Step 2: Choose an Amazon selling plan and create an account
Most online stores offer different account options based on how much you plan to sell. Amazon makes it simple with two plans to fit your needs: Individual and Professional.
If you’re only planning to sell a few books here and there, Amazon’s Individual plan might be the best fit. You pay a per-item fee, plus applicable selling fees. If you want to establish a book-selling business, we’d recommend Amazon’s Professional plan. You pay a monthly fee plus applicable selling fees, and you can sell as many books as you want. The Professional plan also offers a larger set of tools and programs than the Individual plan to help you manage and grow your business.
You can switch between Amazon’s Individual and Professional plans at any time. Once you’ve selected your selling plan, you can create an Amazon selling account.
If you’re only planning to sell a few books here and there, Amazon’s Individual plan might be the best fit. You pay a per-item fee, plus applicable selling fees. If you want to establish a book-selling business, we’d recommend Amazon’s Professional plan. You pay a monthly fee plus applicable selling fees, and you can sell as many books as you want. The Professional plan also offers a larger set of tools and programs than the Individual plan to help you manage and grow your business.
You can switch between Amazon’s Individual and Professional plans at any time. Once you’ve selected your selling plan, you can create an Amazon selling account.
Step 3: List and price your books on Amazon
When selling books online, how you present and price your inventory can affect whether customers buy. Accurate descriptions build buyer trust, and competitive pricing helps your books stand out.
Make sure to include accurate information about each book so customers can make informed purchasing decisions. Be fully transparent about the book’s condition and share important details to set appropriate expectations and avoid issues like returns and negative feedback.
Book prices can depend on several variables, including type and condition. One way to set prices is to monitor the prices of other bestsellers and adjust your prices accordingly to make sure your offers are competitive. Don’t forget to take costs and fees related to things like packing and shipping into account when you set your prices.
Try Amazon’s Revenue Calculator to compare fees, costs, and estimated net profits when using different fulfillment methods.
Make sure to include accurate information about each book so customers can make informed purchasing decisions. Be fully transparent about the book’s condition and share important details to set appropriate expectations and avoid issues like returns and negative feedback.
Book prices can depend on several variables, including type and condition. One way to set prices is to monitor the prices of other bestsellers and adjust your prices accordingly to make sure your offers are competitive. Don’t forget to take costs and fees related to things like packing and shipping into account when you set your prices.
Try Amazon’s Revenue Calculator to compare fees, costs, and estimated net profits when using different fulfillment methods.
Did you know?
You can manage prices automatically with ecommerce automation
Amazon’s Automate Pricing tool lets you adjust prices based on real-time demand with customized pricing rules.
Step 4: Choose how to fulfill book orders
After a customer buys a book from you online, you need a way to get it to them. That process is called ecommerce fulfillment.
In the case of ebooks, fulfillment could be as simple as providing a download option. For physical copies, you might want to work with a print-on-demand service that can create and ship paperbacks and hardcovers as orders come in.
You can fulfill orders directly, maintaining your own inventory and shipping to customers. Self-fulfillment can be a cost-effective approach when you have a low volume of orders and adequate storage space. Amazon also offers Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM), which provides a suite of solutions to help you save time and money when you fulfill customer orders yourself.
If you want to outsource fulfillment, you can turn to a program like Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). With FBA, you ship inventory into Amazon’s global fulfillment network, and we’ll pick, pack, and ship orders on your behalf, as well as handle customer service and returns. FBA can help you save time, reduce operational costs, and grow your business.
If you want to manage fulfillment yourself, keep these tips in mind while packing book orders:
In the case of ebooks, fulfillment could be as simple as providing a download option. For physical copies, you might want to work with a print-on-demand service that can create and ship paperbacks and hardcovers as orders come in.
You can fulfill orders directly, maintaining your own inventory and shipping to customers. Self-fulfillment can be a cost-effective approach when you have a low volume of orders and adequate storage space. Amazon also offers Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM), which provides a suite of solutions to help you save time and money when you fulfill customer orders yourself.
If you want to outsource fulfillment, you can turn to a program like Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). With FBA, you ship inventory into Amazon’s global fulfillment network, and we’ll pick, pack, and ship orders on your behalf, as well as handle customer service and returns. FBA can help you save time, reduce operational costs, and grow your business.
If you want to manage fulfillment yourself, keep these tips in mind while packing book orders:
- Use the right packing materials. Appropriate packaging could involve a combination of bags, craft paper, or bubble wrap.
- Protect book corners, edges, and dust jackets.
- When shipping more than one book, consider wrapping each one individually or using single book boxes for protection.
- For multiple books, you can place pieces of flat cardboard between each book.
- Books should fit snugly in the padded envelope or box, so there’s little wiggle room.
Step 5: Market your books and grow sales
Use promotions and advertising to help attract customers. Here are some ideas:
- Get the word out about your book business on social media.
- Increase your exposure through special promotions like seasonal sales.
- Offer digital deals and coupons.
- Start a blog or vlog.
- Send email campaigns and build a loyal following.
You can also boost visibility with cost-per-click (CPC) ads in the Amazon store like Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and Display. Learn more in Amazon’s guide to ecommerce marketing techniques.
Hoping to increase sales? Try looking at what you’re already selling to spot trends. If specific genres are selling well, scaling up in those genres could help boost sales.
Brands enrolled in Amazon Brand Registry—a free resource to help you build and protect your brand—can access Amazon Brand Analytics. Brand Analytics is a collection of dashboards that offer customer and brand performance data like clicks, impressions, cart adds, conversions, and much more. Use these insights to identify what customers are searching for, refine your product listings, and make data-driven decisions that can help grow your sales.
Hoping to increase sales? Try looking at what you’re already selling to spot trends. If specific genres are selling well, scaling up in those genres could help boost sales.
Brands enrolled in Amazon Brand Registry—a free resource to help you build and protect your brand—can access Amazon Brand Analytics. Brand Analytics is a collection of dashboards that offer customer and brand performance data like clicks, impressions, cart adds, conversions, and much more. Use these insights to identify what customers are searching for, refine your product listings, and make data-driven decisions that can help grow your sales.
Pro Tip
Get customer reviews to help boost sales
Good reviews can go a long way in winning customer trust and earning more sales. To get excellent reviews, focus on providing a great experience at every stage of the shopping journey, including:
- Creating great product listings
- Shipping orders on time
- Responding to customers and resolving issues quickly
Brands enrolled in Amazon Brand Registry can also generate reviews through Amazon Vine. Vine is a program that allows you to provide your product to a community of trusted reviewers who can try it and share high-quality reviews.
Why sell books online?
Even in a world packed with a variety of entertainment options, the demand for books remains strong. Choosing to sell books online also connects you to millions of readers.
- Offer as many or as few books as you like without inventory constraints.
- Provide convenience for your customers—no traffic, no lines, and you're always open.
- Sell new or used books and offer a wide variety of genres, titles, and authors.
With ecommerce, you don't necessarily need to build a website or create systems for managing inventory, processing orders, and handling customer communications. You can get started by setting up an ecommerce storefront on an established website like Amazon.
What types of books can you sell online?
You can sell almost any type of book online—new, used, collectible and rare books, textbooks, comic books, children’s books—the list goes on.
Common formats include hardcovers, paperbacks, and ebooks. Often, you can offer a single title in more than one format or condition. For example, new releases are frequently available in paperback and ebook versions.
When selling books online, it’s important to examine and accurately describe the book’s condition. Amazon book condition categories include:
Common formats include hardcovers, paperbacks, and ebooks. Often, you can offer a single title in more than one format or condition. For example, new releases are frequently available in paperback and ebook versions.
When selling books online, it’s important to examine and accurately describe the book’s condition. Amazon book condition categories include:
- New
- Used -Like new
- Used - Very good
- Used - Good
- Used - Acceptable
How do you know if a book’s condition is acceptable? Ask yourself: As a customer, would you be satisfied? If the answer is yes, chances are good someone else might like it too, and it might be worth listing for sale online.
New books
Some customers love the feeling of holding a brand-new book in their hands. You can typically find new books through wholesalers or other suppliers, distributors, or publishers. If you want to sell new books, be aware that you might need to purchase large quantities in bulk.
Used books
Compared to new books, secondhand books can be easier to find and cheaper to acquire. They can also be profitable if you find good deals locally or online.
Here are some tips for selling used books:
Here are some tips for selling used books:
- Do pricing research before you buy. Used books can often sell for around half the price of a new edition, but factors like quality can drive down prices.
- Pay close attention to the book condition. If the condition isn’t acceptable, you could end up with dissatisfied customers and negative feedback.
- Check any guidelines for selling used books based on the channel where you want to list them.
Books without an ISBN
A book’s International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a code you can usually find inside the dust jacket or on the barcode. It identifies a book’s edition and publisher in addition to physical properties like format, trim size, and binding type. ISBNs can help differentiate books and specific editions. If the book doesn’t have an ISBN, you can request an exemption to list the book in the Amazon store. This might be the case for rare or collectible books, or books printed before 1970.
Ebooks
Offer ebooks to customers who like to read on tablets and other electronic devices. Ready to share your own masterpiece with the world? Consider self-publishing with Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). With KDP, you can adjust prices, make content changes, and earn money.
Textbooks
Do you have used college textbooks taking up space? If they’re in good condition, you might be able to get them off your shelf and make some cash in the process.
New and used textbooks can be a lucrative niche. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
New and used textbooks can be a lucrative niche. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Textbook sales tend to be seasonal with the highest demand at the start of a new semester, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t sell any right away.
- Do some pricing research on similar textbooks to figure out how to set price points.
- Take great product photos to help customers make informed purchasing decisions.
To sell textbooks in the Amazon store, double check the ISBN to make sure you aren’t selling the wrong edition. Some types of textbooks might be prohibited, like teacher’s editions and solutions manuals. Reference our guidelines for selling textbooks.
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Helpful resources
Whether you’re looking to start a new brand, expand an existing brick-and-mortar business, or increase ecommerce sales, here are some resources to support your path to success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is selling books online profitable?
Selling books online can be profitable. In the Amazon store, independent sellers in the US averaged more than $375,000 in annual sales in 2025. Whether you sell books on Amazon as a side gig or a full-time business, the demand for new and used books makes this a strong niche for online sellers.
What types of books can I sell in the Amazon store?
You can sell nearly any type of book in the Amazon store, including new, used, collectible books, textbooks, and more. Amazon supports multiple formats, like paperback, hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. Some types of textbooks, like instructor's editions or solutions manuals, may be prohibited. Books without ISBNs may require an exemption to list.
How much does it cost to sell books in the Amazon store?
Amazon’s selling plans give you the option to pay $0.99 per item sold with the Individual plan, or $39.99 per month with the Professional plan, plus applicable selling fees. You can decide which option is best for you based on your business model and goals. To get started, register for a selling account.
How do I price used books competitively for online resale?
Price used books on Amazon based on condition and competition. Check what other sellers charge for the same title in similar condition, then factor in Amazon selling fees, shipping costs, and your desired profit margin. Use Amazon’s Revenue Calculator to estimate net profits based on fulfillment method and the Automate Pricing tool to adjust prices based on real-time demand.
Is it better to use a fulfillment service or ship books myself?
Both can work depending on your volume. Shipping books yourself is cost-effective when you have low order volume and storage space. A fulfillment service like Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) handles packing, shipping, returns, and customer service on your behalf, saving you time and helping you scale your book-selling business.
Can I sell internationally through online book stores?
Yes, many online bookstores let you reach readers in other countries. With Amazon Global Selling, you can list books in multiple Amazon stores around the world, expanding your customer base beyond the US without setting up separate businesses in each country.
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