Textbook Market Statistics
Analysis of 14,502,875 textbook listings to determine current market value.
What you'll usually pay
💡 Buying used saves about 79% here.
👉 In short easy summary
The best value is found in used copies, which have a median price of 7.86 compared to 36.72 for new. Significant savings are available for books published between 2000-2009, showing a -74% delta from the median.
💚 Best value for your money
Price by format
Why? Prices range from 11.99 for DVDs to 29.99 for general Books.
Price by publication year
Why? Modern texts (2010-Now) command a premium at 35, while 2000-2009 texts have dropped to 7.96.
Price by subject
Why? Mathematics is the most expensive subject at 19.99, while Computer Science is the lowest at 11.71.
Price by publisher
Why? Cengage Learning has the highest median at 29.57, whereas McGraw-Hill is the lowest at 11.25.
🛒 Some on sale right now
Common questions
What is the price difference between new and used textbooks?
New textbooks have a median price of 36.72, while used textbooks have a median of 7.86.
Which textbook subject is generally the most affordable?
Computer Science textbooks have the lowest median price at 11.71.
How do older textbooks compare in price to recent ones?
Textbooks from 2010-Now have a median price of 35, while those from 1950-1999 have a median of 8.48.
How we got these numbers
Worked out from 199 live eBay listings (price range $4–$87, odd outliers ignored). These are asking prices, so use them as a guide. Last checked July 1, 2026.