Here’s a clear, practical guide on how to make easy money selling your old used books on Amazon—perfect for beginners who want to turn dusty shelves into real cash.
How to Make Easy Money Selling Your Old Used Books on Amazon
Earn Money Selling Used Paperback and Hardcover Books on the Amazon Marketplace
Selling used books on Amazon is one of the simplest ways to make extra income. You don’t need special skills, you don’t need to buy inventory, and you don’t even need a business—just books you already own.
Below is a complete step-by-step guide.
1. Gather the Books You Want to Sell
Look for books that tend to sell well:
High-value categories
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Textbooks (even older editions)
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Nonfiction (business, self-help, health, history)
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Reference books
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Hobby & niche books (chess, coding, cooking, woodworking)
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Classic literature in good condition
Textbooks (even older editions)
Nonfiction (business, self-help, health, history)
Reference books
Hobby & niche books (chess, coding, cooking, woodworking)
Classic literature in good condition
Lower-value categories
(Some still sell, just for less)
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Mass-market fiction paperbacks
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Children’s books
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Old bestsellers
Tip: Books in good condition sell faster and for more money.
2. Create Your Amazon Seller Account
You have two options:
Individual Seller (free to start)
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No monthly fee
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Amazon charges $0.99 per item sold
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Ideal if you sell fewer than 40 items per month
No monthly fee
Amazon charges $0.99 per item sold
Ideal if you sell fewer than 40 items per month
Professional Seller ($39.99/month)
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No per-item fee
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Better tools for higher volume
No per-item fee
Better tools for higher volume
For most beginners, Individual is perfect.
3. Look Up Profitability Using the Amazon Listing Tool
Once your account is created, use:
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Amazon Seller App (free)
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Scan the book’s barcode OR search ISBN
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Review:
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Lowest used price
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Sales rank (lower = sells faster)
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Amazon fees
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Your net profit
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If Amazon offers less than ~$3 profit, the book may not be worth selling individually.
4. List Your Book for Sale
When listing, you’ll need to choose:
Condition
Use Amazon’s official categories:
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Like New
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Very Good
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Good
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Acceptable
Be honest—buyers appreciate accuracy.
Price
You can:
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Match the lowest price
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Undercut slightly
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Price higher if your copy is better conditioned
Description
Write a short, honest condition note like:
“Very Good – No writing or highlighting. Clean pages. Minor shelf wear on cover. Ships quickly.”
5. Choose Fulfillment Method
You can sell used books two ways:
A. FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant)
You pack and ship the book yourself.
Pros:
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Lowest cost
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Easy for small sellers
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No storage fees
Lowest cost
Easy for small sellers
No storage fees
Cons:
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You handle shipping & customer service
You handle shipping & customer service
This is best for beginners.
B. FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon)
You send books to an Amazon warehouse upfront.
Pros:
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Amazon handles shipping & service
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Books get Prime shipping → faster sales
Amazon handles shipping & service
Books get Prime shipping → faster sales
Cons:
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Storage fees
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Prep work and inbound shipping
Storage fees
Prep work and inbound shipping
FBA is great if you have many books with higher value.
6. Package & Ship Your Sold Books
If selling FBM:
What you'll need:
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Bubble mailers (6×9 or 8.5×11)
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Tape
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Printer for shipping labels
Bubble mailers (6×9 or 8.5×11)
Tape
Printer for shipping labels
Steps:
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Print the shipping label from your Amazon dashboard
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Package the book securely
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Drop it off at USPS or UPS
Print the shipping label from your Amazon dashboard
Package the book securely
Drop it off at USPS or UPS
Books typically ship USPS Media Mail (low cost).
7. Get Paid
Amazon pays sellers every 1–2 weeks and deposits earnings directly into your bank account.
8. Tips to Maximize Profit
✔ Scan everything
Books you think are worthless may be worth $10–$50 or more.
✔ Sell textbooks in August & January
Demand skyrockets at semester start.
✔ Price competitively
Buyers often sort by lowest price.
✔ Maintain great feedback
Good ratings = more sales.
✔ Watch for rare editions
First printings, signed copies, and out-of-print books can be very valuable.
9. How Much Can You Realistically Earn?
Many casual sellers make:
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$100–$500/month selling books already in their home
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More if they source books from thrift stores, yard sales, or libraries
With consistent effort, some sellers earn thousands per month, though this requires scaling.
Summary
Selling used books on Amazon is a simple and profitable side hustle. With only a few tools and a free Amazon account, you can turn your old paperbacks and hardcovers into cash—fast.
If you want, I can also help you with:
📌 A price-profit calculator
📌 A sample Amazon listing description
📌 A script for sourcing books at thrift stores
📌 A checklist for shipping books cheaply
Just tell me what you’d like!
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