Have you ever stopped by your favorite bookstore, with an open heart that a bunch of books you’ve been dreaming about… and blink twice in total? Likewise. I love books, like him indeed I love them, but I also know all too well what it’s like to choose between the latest bestseller and staying on budget.
For years, I’ve been on a mission to feed my passion for reading without breaking our monthly budget, and along the way I’ve found many great places to buy books without paying full price.
You’ve probably heard about getting books for free through the library or swapping with friends (and that’s great), but sometimes, you just want to have a book, or you’re looking for a certain topic that you can’t find anywhere else for free.
This is where smart book buying comes in. Whether you’re on the hunt for paperback favorites, hardcovers on your shelf, or textbooks for school, here are my favorite and authentic places to find cheap books that won’t break your wallet.
Where To Find Cheap Books Locally:
Local Used Bookstores
One of my favorite book hunting adventures is visiting used bookstores. These stores often have heavily discounted books (think 25–75% off in stores) and you can browse titles you might not find online. Many stores also offer store credit when you bring in books to sell or trade. This means that your old books become new titles for you with almost no out-of-pocket costs.
Pro tip: Ask if they have special discount days or categories; sometimes children’s books are priced very low because families read them quickly.
Thrift Stores
If you love bargains like I do, don’t skip the book section at places like Goodwill, Salvation Army, or local thrift stores. Reader Stephanie once shared that she found difficult people at the Salvation Army for 79¢ each – including the books on her wish list! Thrift stores often have books at low prices, and the inventory changes all the time, so checking in often can pay off.
Thrift stores often have them too fill the bag deals or very low prices are almost free.
Goodwill, in particular, can be a great option. According to reader Teri from Readers Gotta Read: “Adult books are $2.99, adult paperbacks are $1.99, and children’s books are 99¢. Plus, weekly items are often 50% off — or even 99¢ on Sundays.”
You can also sometimes buy books cheap and trade or swap them later at the Little Free Library or with friends.
Library Book Sale
Libraries often receive more donated books than they can put on the shelves, so they hold book sales to raise funds – giving you the chance to get a huge discount on books. again support your library at once! Win-win!
Most library book sale prices range from $0.50 to $3, depending on the book and location, making it easy to find a bargain. And don’t forget to ask if your branch stocks a year-round sales shelf so you don’t have to wait for the next big event.
Dollar Deals & Discount Dealers
Don’t forget about discount retailers like Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Dollar Tree, or clearance sections at big box stores. These places sometimes carry excess stock or close publishers at very low prices.
And here’s an idea I’ve come up with myself: keep an eye out for deals on children’s books, like when sites offer lots of books for just a few dollars shipped. For example, there was a recent offer where you could get one 5 children’s books for just $5 shipped – that’s about $1 per book!
Deals like that don’t come around all the time, but when they do, they’re a great way to pick up some cheap cash.
Garage Sale
Garage sales and yard sales are also goldmines for cheap reading, and don’t be afraid to bundle books together ask for a deal if you buy more than a few.
Where to Find Cheap Books Online:
Online booksellers are like a treasure chest for thrifty readers and there are so many great options. Teri from Readers Gotta Read shares this advice about buying used book sites online:
“These sites allow you to select the quality of the book (new, like new, very good, good, and accepted), which affects the price of the book. If I’m after just one book, I’ll usually order it from Abe Books with free shipping on that one book. If I have several titles I want, I’ll try to get my order up to $15 to qualify for free Worldwide Thrift or free Booking. get sale coupon codes if sign up for these sites’ mailing lists.
The Book Outlet
A personal favorite of many readers, Book Outlet offers discounted books, children’s titles and adult favorites, in general 50% off list price or more. You can sign up for their emails or newsletter to get more coupons and special deals.
ThriftBooks & World of Books
Online stores like ThriftBooks and World of Books specialize in used books with very low price tags, and often offer free shipping once your order reaches a threshold (such as $15). You can browse by genre, format, or condition to pay only for what you are comfortable with.
Pro tip: Request email notifications when books on your wishlist drop in price!
Abe Books
Abe Books is a large marketplace where you buy books directly from third-party booksellers. They often offer free shipping, depending on the book. Abe Books is great for buying out of print titles.
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eBay
eBay has a lot of variety in prices and shipping, which means you’ll sometimes pay more than you would elsewhere, but it’s an option if you can’t find a cheap book on one of the sites above. Great for textbooks or homeschool curriculum.
Amazon & Barnes & Noble Uses Marketplace
Sometimes the easiest way to a cheap book is through a place you’ve already bought.
If you use Amazon or Barnes & Noble, check the used market listings before buying new. You can often find paperback or hardcover copies significantly below the new price and if you use gift cards you’ve earned through rewards programs (like Swagbucks) and/or shop through a cashback site, you can actually get books for no cash cost at all.
Price Matching and Smart Timing to Find Cheap Books
Here’s a clever trick that doesn’t get enough attention: price testing and price matching. If you find a cheap book in one place but want to buy it locally todayask your local bookstore or shop if the prices will be the same as the online price. Some stores will, especially small indie stores trying to keep business in the community.
Also, the seasons are important! Stores often mark books about back-to-school, end-of-year sales, or holiday clearance. Watching prices over time can really pay off for the titles you put up with.
Student Tips Worth Sharing
Readers have found some creative ways to buy cheap books too!
- One reader suggested paying attention to Goodwill’s strategies, such as buying “color of the week” stickers to get extra discounts. This helps you get books even cheaper.
- “I’ve always used my Swagbucks to buy books on Amazon.com but recently I’ve started going to grocery stores.” – Stephanie
- “Netgalley.com also gives you advance reading copies for the e-reader. You need to write a review and post the review online later, but I’ve gotten a few books since then.” – Sara
Stick to Your Book Assignment Without Sacrificing Happiness
Books are one of the most enjoyable things in life, and they shouldn’t break your budget. With a little patience, ingenuity, and a willingness to explore options or second-hand deals, you can keep the shelves full and your wallet happy.
Whether you’re browsing the thrift shelf, shopping online, or finding a great discount on a used copy, there are many ways to make your reading habit more affordable.
Also, be sure to check out all our latest book deals!
Where do you find cheap used books? Share your experience in the comments below!
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