A Book Lover’s Guide to Cheap Books Online and In-Person: Save Money and Read More

As cool as it would be to have a library like Belle’s in Beauty and the Beast, owning that many books requires a decent amount of space and a lot of money. And having a personal collection is all fun and games until you realize that new hardcover releases have a price tag of $28 or more. Sure, heading to your local library or reading on an electronic device is great, but what happens when you want a physical copy of that book you just read and loved that you can keep forever or jot down notes in? Rather than spending a fortune, looking for cheap books is an easy alternative. Here, a reader’s guide on the best places to get cheap books, whether you’re shopping online or in person. 

Where to buy cheap books online

While you can find cheap, used or sometimes new books on eBay or Amazon Marketplace, you may have more luck with e-commerce platforms that solely focus on selling books for less. Check out some sites where you can find a steal:

Book Outlet

With a large selection of books from the publisher’s excess inventory, bookstore returns or special orders, and prices marked down to 50 percent or more off the list price, Book Outlet is a book lover’s dream. 

The site lists every category and genre and even has popular BookTok books, celebrity book club picks, or Goodreads challenge winners available to purchase. The books are always in new or like new condition—just like if you’re buying from Barnes and Noble. We recently found Rebecca Yarros’ juggernaut hit Iron Flame for less than $10 (list price is $30!)

In addition to its already low prices, Book Outlet has a “discount aisle,” where books are discounted by as much as $3. Plus, any cart with $35 or more gets free shipping.

Better World Books

Another great website to check out is Better World Books. Their used books are in like-new, very good, good or acceptable condition, and the prices vary depending on your selection. I always go for the like-new option, but it all comes down to what you prefer your books to look like. Some of the used books may have more wear and tear as well. The site has a mix of current releases and backlist titles, and the prices are great! We found Emily Henry’s Happy Place for $6.25.

Also, whenever you buy a book, they donate one to someone in need. So, you’re getting cheaper books and making reading more accessible for others. You can also subscribe to emails for 15 percent off your first purchase; shipping is free once you hit $15.

ThriftBooks

Like Better World Books, ThriftBooks has a wide selection of books in any genre. The conditions are the same as above and may require extra perusing if you want a specific title. You can also earn points to save more. They’re always running deals for rewards members (the program is free to join), and shipping is free after $15. It’s easy to shop guilt-free with prices as low as the ones here, such as Ruth Ware’s The Woman in Cabin 10, which we spotted for just $4.19.

Other websites with cheap books include:

• AbeBooks
• HalfPrice Books
• Powell’s 

And if you’d rather listen to your books, ChirpBooks has thousands of titles and deals available for less than $5. 

Where to buy cheap books in person

Finding cheap books is an art; if you’re lucky, you can find some hidden gems. You might find a copy of the latest release somewhere or discover a new book you’ve never heard of but is worth buying for the price alone. Garage sales are a great place to start, but don’t forget these other  places to look for cheap books in person:

Goodwill

While heading to Goodwill may not be the first place you think of for reading material, their book selection may surprise you. Some stores have shelves and shelves full of books—it’s like a treasure hunt—and they don’t usually cost more than $5 each. Since people donate items, you really never know what the selection will be like. Some states even have Goodwill bookstores, and they only sell books, movies, music and games.

Libraries

We all know libraries are the place to go to borrow books, join community events and so much more, but did you know some libraries also hold book sales? That’s right! Friends of the Library programs often have book sales where you can find books for as low as $0.25. All the money from the book sale goes back into funding the library. These books also come from donations, which means you could find rare, out-of-print books or other titles you’re interested in reading. 

Used bookstores

If you’re a book lover who wants to save money but also loves to browse, used bookstores are the way to go. To find the closest one to you, search used bookstores near me or in your town or state. The cost depends on the store, but one of my favorite used bookstores offers half off the list price for paperbacks, five-dollar hardcovers and 20 percent off on newly released titles.