What Fueled The Previous Growth In The Second Hand Books Market?
The second hand books market has seen considerable growth due to a variety of factors.
• The second-hand books market has seen strong growth in recent years. It will grow from $25.32 billion in 2024 to $27.13 billion in 2025, at a CAGR of 7.1%.
This growth is attributed to rising consumer interest in affordable reading materials, increasing environmental awareness about reuse and recycling, expanding literacy programs, economic factors influencing book purchases, and the rising cost of education.
How Does the Forecast Look for the Second Hand Books Market?
The second hand books market is expected to maintain its strong growth trajectory in upcoming years.
• The second-hand books market is expected to grow strongly, reaching $35.39 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 6.9%.
Growth is attributed to the value placed on unique books, cross-border trade, and the rise of reading clubs. Trends include digital libraries, logistics innovations, and the growth of digital marketplaces.
What Are The Leading Drivers Of Growth In The Second Hand Books Market?
The expected growth of the second-hand book market is set to be propelled by an increasing number of readers. This rise in readership can be attributed to the ease of accessing digital books via e-readers, smartphones and tablets, as well as the proliferation of different literary genres and topics that cater to a wide audience with varying reading tastes. Additionally, worldwide initiatives and educational programs that promote literacy and reading among different populations contribute to this growth. Second-hand books offer affordable access to a extensive collection of literature, support sustainability by encouraging reuse, and provide opportunities for enthusiasts to delve into various genres and authors without having to expend a significant amount of money. For example, a January 2023 survey conducted by THGM Writing Services, a Canada-based provider of professional writing and editing services catering to a variety of global clients, among 945 book readers found that in 2022, 27% of respondents said they read more than 20 books, while 32% read between one and five books. Looking forward to 2023, a remarkable 64% of readers expressed their plans to read even more books compared to the previous year. As such, the escalating readership is projected to spur the growth of the second-hand book market.
How Are The Segments Defined Within The Global Second Hand Books Market?
The second hand books market covered in this report is segmented –
1) By Book Type: Action And Adventure, Art, Music, Film, And Photography, Academic Books, Biographies And Comics, Crafts, Home And Lifestyle, Fantasy, Horror And Science Fiction, Health, Personal Development, Politics, Politics And Religion, Sciences, Technology And Medicine, Other Book Types
2) By Price Range: Mass Or Economy, Premium
3) By Sales Channel: Wholesalers Or Distributors, Hypermarkets Or Supermarkets, Specialty Stores, Multi-Brand Stores, Independent Bookstores, Online Retailers, Other Sales Channels
4) By End User: Adults, Kids
Subsegments:
1) By Action And Adventure: Thriller, Spy Novels, War And Military Fiction
2) By Art, Music, Film, And Photography: Art History, Music Theory, Photography Techniques, Film Studies
3) By Academic Books: Textbooks, Reference Books, Study Guides
4) By Biographies And Comics: Memoirs, Celebrity Biographies, Graphic Novels, Comic Books
5) By Crafts, Home, And Lifestyle: DIY Guides, Home Décor, Gardening, Cooking And Recipes
6) By Fantasy, Horror And Science Fiction: Epic Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Mythical Fiction, Gothic Horror, Supernatural Fiction, Space And Time Travel, Dystopian Fiction
8) By Health, Personal Development: Fitness And Wellness, Self-Help, Mental Health
9) By Politics And Religion: Political Theory, Religious Studies, Historical Politics
10) By Sciences, Technology And Medicine: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Earth Science, Computer Science, Medical Textbooks, Engineering
1
2) By Other Book Types: Poetry, Travel And Adventure, Children’s Books
Pre-Book The Second Hand Books Global Market Report 2025 Report For Swift Delivery And Comprehensive Insights:
What Trends Are Shaping The Second Hand Books Market?
Leading corporations in the used book market are adopting a strategy centered on strategic alliances to broaden their coverage and magnify their service provisions. Such strategic alliances typically denote a cooperative relationship between multiple entities, blending their resources, knowledge, and initiatives to accomplish shared objectives. For instance, WH Smith, a UK-based retailer known for selling books, stationery, and traveler’s essentials, established a partnership with Zeercle, a British tech-centric firm specializing in book repurchasing and resale services, back in October 2023. This partnership resulted in the launch of the BookCycle program, an innovative buy-back framework allowing customers to trade their unwanted books for e-gift cards. Through an online registration process, customers can have their books assessed based on their condition, popularity, and market demand, to establish trade-in valuations. Once these books are evaluated, customers may deposit them at designated WH Smith outlets in return for e-gift cards that can be used on future shopping sprees. The main objective behind this scheme is to foster sustainability through the resale of most traded-in books at reduced prices and responsibly putting up those that can't be sold for recycling.
Who Are the Key Players In The Second Hand Books Market?
Major companies operating in the second hand books market are:
• Amazon.com Inc.
• eBay Inc.
• Half Price Books Records Magazines Incorporated
• Chegg Inc.
• Powell's Books Inc.
• World of Books Group
• Better World Books
• Thrift Books Global LLC
• Gumtree.com Limited
• Crossword Bookstores Limited
• Valore Inc. (ValoreBooks)
• TextbookRush
• Alibris Inc.
• Decluttr Limited
• AbeBooks Inc.
• Strand Book Store Inc.
• StudentVIP
• BookMooch
• Biblio.com
• PaperbackSwap.com
• BookScouter
• BookChor Literary Solutions Private Limited
• UsedBooksFactory
• Kitabay
• BooksRun
What Is The Most Dominant Region In The Second Hand Books Market?
North America was the largest region in the second hand books market in 2024. The regions covered in the second hand books market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.
