How to Sell Used Books on Amazon: A Step-by-Step Guide

Used books are one of the easiest ways to start selling on Amazon. You can find them almost anywhere, they cost very little to buy, and Amazon already has a product page for nearly every book with an ISBN. You don't need to create listings from scratch, design packaging or hold a big inventory.

This guide walks through the whole process: setting up your account, finding books, checking what they're worth, grading condition, choosing how to fulfill orders, listing, pricing and shipping. It's written for beginners, but experienced sellers will find a few time savers too.

Is selling used books on Amazon still worth it?

Yes, if you buy the right books. Most books sell for a few dollars, so profit comes from volume and from spotting the titles worth more than you paid. Textbooks, niche nonfiction, out-of-print titles and collectible editions often sell for far more than common paperbacks.

Before you start, know the main costs. As of October 2026, Amazon charges books a 15% referral fee plus a $1.80 closing fee per item sold (Amazon pricing). On a $15 book, that's $4.05 in Amazon fees before shipping or FBA fees. Factor this in on every book you buy, and the books worth buying become obvious.

How to sell used books on Amazon, step by step

Step 1: Set up your Amazon seller account

Amazon offers two selling plans (Amazon pricing):

• Individual: $0.99 per item sold. Best for testing the waters, under about 40 sales a month.
• Professional: $39.99 per month. Best for regular sellers, and required for most listing software.

Once you sell more than about 40 books a month, the Professional plan costs less than paying $0.99 per item. It also unlocks tools like ScanLister that connect to your account. Our guide on how to create an Amazon seller account covers each signup step.

Step 2: Find used books to sell

Good sources are cheap and turn over often:

• Library sales and Friends of the Library book sales
• Thrift stores and charity shops
• Estate sales, garage sales and yard sales
• Used bookstores' clearance shelves
• Online lots on marketplaces and auction sites

Our post on where to find used books to sell on Amazon goes deeper on each source, and our BookSaleFinder.com guide shows how to find book sales near you.

Step 3: Check what each book is worth before you buy

Scan the barcode (ISBN) with a scanning app on your phone. For each book, look at three things:

1. Sales rank. A lower number means the book sells more often. A book that never sells is not a bargain at any price.
2. Current offers. Note the lowest prices for your condition, and whether Amazon itself is selling the book.
3. Profit after fees. Subtract Amazon's fees, shipping or FBA costs and what you paid. If little is left, put it back.

Our guide to finding profitable used books explains which numbers to aim for. Also watch for restricted titles; our post on product gating explains why some books can't be listed by every seller.

Step 4: Grade the condition honestly

Accurate grading prevents returns and bad feedback. Amazon's used book conditions are (Amazon condition guidelines):

• Used, Like New: Light cosmetic marks only; dust cover intact; no notes or tears.
• Used, Very Good: Like New with minor wear; missing dust cover allowed.
• Used, Good: All pages present, cover intact; spine wear and limited notes or highlighting allowed.
• Used, Acceptable: More wear, possibly minor water damage, but fully readable.

Books with missing pages or text you can't read can't be sold. Advance reader copies and uncorrected proofs aren't allowed either. Add a short condition note, such as "Clean pages, light shelf wear on cover," so buyers know exactly what they're getting. When in doubt, grade one level lower.

Step 5: Choose FBA or merchant fulfilled (FBM)

With Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), you ship books to Amazon's warehouses and Amazon handles storage, shipping, customer service and returns. FBA books qualify for Prime, which usually helps them sell faster and at higher prices.

With merchant fulfilled (FBM), you store the books and ship each order yourself. You avoid FBA fees but take on packing and shipping. Many book sellers use both: FBA for faster-selling books, FBM for slow sellers and low-priced titles. See our full comparison of Amazon FBA vs FBM.

Step 6: List your books

Because nearly every book already has an Amazon product page, listing means attaching your copy to that page. For each book, you enter:

• Condition and a condition note
• Price
• Quantity
• A SKU, your own inventory code (see 6 ways to create a useful SKU)

You can do this one book at a time in Seller Central, which works for a handful of books. Once you're listing dozens or hundreds, listing software saves hours. ScanLister lets you scan each barcode, see live Amazon offers while you set your price, pick the condition and move to the next book. It prints FBA labels as you go and builds your shipment for you.

Step 7: Price to sell

Check the offers for your condition and match or slightly beat comparable sellers. Keep in mind:

• Compare FBA offers to FBA offers and FBM to FBM. Prime buyers often pay more.
• A better-condition copy can be priced higher than a worse one.
• Don't race to the bottom. A one-cent undercut on a book that sells weekly rarely makes sense.

Review your prices every week or two, because book prices change often.

Step 8: Prepare and ship

For FBA: create a shipment, label each book with its FBA barcode, pack your boxes and send box content information to Amazon. Then print the box labels and ship.

For FBM: pack each order in a padded mailer or box and ship within your stated handling time, using a tracked service. Media mail is a popular low-cost option in the US.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Buying on price alone. A $0.25 book with a terrible sales rank can sit for years. Check rank and offers first.
2. Forgetting fees. The 15% referral fee and $1.80 closing fee add up fast on low-priced books.
3. Over-grading condition. Calling a "Good" book "Like New" leads to returns, A-to-z claims and negative feedback.
4. Skipping condition notes. One honest sentence about wear builds buyer trust and cuts down on questions.
5. Listing by hand at scale. Typing in every book in Seller Central is fine for 10 books, not for 300.
6. Never repricing. A price that was right last month may be far off today.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a business to sell used books on Amazon?

No. You can sell as an individual. You'll still need to provide identity, bank and tax information when you sign up.

Can I sell books without an ISBN?

Most books with an ISBN already have an Amazon product page. Older books without an ISBN may need a new product page created, which takes more work.

How much money can you make selling used books on Amazon?

It depends on how much you source and how well you choose. Many sellers start part time with a few dozen books a week and grow from there. Profit per book varies from under a dollar to well over $20 for textbooks and collectibles.

Can I sell textbooks?

Yes, and they're often the most profitable category, especially at the start of each semester. See our guide to selling textbooks on Amazon.

Is FBA or FBM better for books?

FBA usually sells faster thanks to Prime, while FBM avoids FBA fees on low-priced or slow-selling books. Many sellers use both.

Start selling smarter

Selling used books on Amazon comes down to a simple loop: find books cheaply, check what they're worth, grade them honestly, list them quickly and price them to sell. The faster you can run that loop, the more you can sell.

ScanLister was built by Amazon sellers to speed up every step after sourcing. Scan a barcode, see live Amazon offers while you price, grade the condition, print FBA labels and build your shipment, all in one app for Windows and Mac. Start your 14-day free trial and list your next batch of books in a fraction of the time.