CASH for YOUR TEXTBOOKS

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Order as early as possible to get your textbooks by the first week of school. Also, consider upgrading to Expedited shipping.

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Find books by ISBN

Search by ISBN to ensure that you start school with the correct edition.

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Buy new & used textbooks online

What is an ISBN?

The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a 10-digit or 13-digit number (e.g., 1-55953-882-4 or 978-1-55953-882-4) used to identify books.
An ISBN is found on a book's back cover (near the bar code) or on the title page with the copyright information.
Check your course requirements for the ISBNs of the books you need.
Enter a single ISBN or a series of ISBNs in our search box to find and order the correct textbook edition or a bundle of them.

Save money (and time) with multi-ISBN search.

List up to 25 ISBNs in our multi-ISBN search box—the ISBNs for all the textbooks you need. We'll take your ISBNs, find the books that best match your request, and bundle them together according to the absolute best price for each title.

Searching multiple ISBNs at one time is the fastest way to find what you need and be offered the lowest price, without having to do a title-by-title price evaluation.

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Save on new & used textbooks, plus international editions

Why buy used textbooks online?

Rising tuition and textbook prices are wreaking havoc on families trying to pay for college, private school, or homeschooling. Used textbooks can save you a significant amount of money. Our independent sellers offer you a wide variety of used textbooks online, as well as international editions allowed for sale in the U.S., with details about their condition so you can easily find the best price. Buying used books is good for the environment and helps support the independent online booksellers who are an important part of the used-book supply chain.

How can you save money on textbooks online and get the best quality and price?

Buy used and/or international editions: Used textbooks and international editions that are allowed for sale in the U.S., available at online at Alibris, can reduce textbook costs without sacrificing quality. When buying textbooks online, look for details about the condition and edition to get the best textbook at the best price, and pay attention to shipping discount offers.

Buy textbooks online and buy early: Textooks may be coming from an individual seller (such as through Alibris), so order early to get low-priced used textbooks on time. See our Textbook Tips for more on buying textbooks online.

Why are textbooks so expensive?

According to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG), students pay about $900 per year for college textbooks (about 20% of tuition at an average university), and these high prices apply to K–12 textbooks as well. Government studies attribute rapid price increases to a market driven by supply rather than demand: Professors select textbooks from publishers, bookstores order those textbooks, and students must pay. Students can't control or influence the textbook price, but they can seek lower prices through used textbooks online, plus international editions allowed for sale in the U.S.

Help with international edition, new, & used textbooks

What is an international edition?

An international edition is a version of a textbook or other book that has been published for distribution outside the U.S. Most international editions have different ISBNs than the U.S. edition. International editions often have different covers, usually contain the same content, and sometimes are printed on lower-quality paper. Alibris allows the sale of international editions, except for international editions that are not authorized by the publisher or author for importation into, or sale in, the U.S. and those that may not otherwise lawfully be imported into, or sold in, the U.S., Canada, or Australia. more on international editions

Can I find multiple textbooks with a single search?

Yes! The big blue "Find Textbooks" search box at the top of this page helps you to search many ISBNs with a single click. To find a batch of textbooks online, simply enter your textbook ISBNs in the Multi-ISBN search field, separating each ISBN with a hard return. Click the Search button when you're ready, and you'll be presented with "best cart" search results—a list of each textbook you want, at its best price for a copy in acceptable condition. Then you can quickly and easily add each textbook to your cart, check out, and pocket your textbook savings. Find many textbooks online—with a single click!

Will you buy back my textbooks when I'm finished with them?

Sell your textbooks back to us! At the end of your semester, remember that we may buy back your textbooks—whether or not you bought them from us. We may also buy back literature, study guides, and more. Before you sell back your textbook to your college bookstore or to another textbook buyback program, come back to our marketplace and see how much cash your textbooks will bring you. See that "Cash for Your Textbooks" form at the top-right of this page? Just enter your textbook ISBNs there, as well as other book ISBNs, and click the button for a quote of how much we'll pay you. Selling back your textbooks is easy, fast, and lucrative!