While Providence, RI, is the #1 book city in America, with 139 libraries and 70 indie bookstores, Denver hasn’t gone that far from it: with 110 libraries and 278 bookstores (and taking into consideration the number of residents in both locations), it makes #13 in the list of the best book cities (according to Clever Real Estate’s report on The Best Book Places in the U.S. (2022 Data).
Denver scores higher in this respect, compared to Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Antonio and even New York, giving way to Boston and Seattle.
Some of the bookstores in the city sell new books or a mix of used and new titles, while others offer a buyback or a donation program. This data shows the city’s potential for this business and highlights the opportunities available.
In Denver, you have the option to sell used books and textbooks either to a brick-and-mortar bookstore or online. The first option is usually better suited for trade books, while textbooks get better offers online. Nonetheless, in this post, we’ll discuss both options so you can choose the one that works best for you.
- Where to Sell Used Books in Denver? Brick-and-Mortar Stores
- Where to Sell Textbooks in Denver?
- Where to Donate Books in Denver?
- How to Sell Books Online in Denver?
Where to Sell Used Books in Denver? Brick-and-Mortar Stores
Here’s a list of stores in where you can take your used copies for trade credit or cash:
| 🛒 Bookstore | 📚 Books They Buy |
| 🛒 Capitol Hill Books 📞 (303) 837-0700 📌 300 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203 🗓️ Mon – Sun: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
📚 Used books, including fiction, non-fiction, and some rare books.
📚 Not accepted: Abridged books, computer books, hardcover mystery/thriller books, textbooks, ex-library books, anything out of date such as old travel books, formerly current events, obsolete technology, and books in poor condition. 📚 They do not purchase books for cash but offer store credit. 📚 Contact the store in advance. |
| 🛒 Printed Page Bookshop 📞 (303) 777-7653 📌 1416 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80210 🗓️ Wed – Sat: 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Sun: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. |
📚 They specialize in rare and antiquarian books but also buy gently used modern titles.
📚 Accepted: Hardback books with dust jackets that are free of any kind of damage; books in fine bindings, such as those produced by the Easton Press, Franklin Library, First Edition Library, and Folio Society. 📚 Not accepted: They do not purchase romance novels or heavily damaged books. 📚 Contact the store in advance. |
| 🛒 The Book Stop 📞 (303) 423-BOOK 📌 10840 West 44th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 🗓️ Mon – Sat: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sun: Closed |
📚 Used books in good condition for cash. Average payments are up to 75 cents for paperbacks and $1 for hardcovers.
📚 Not accepted: Textbooks, encyclopedias, and reference materials are not accepted. 📚 They also take donations for those not looking to sell. |
| 🛒 Black & Read 📞 (303) 467-3236 📌 7821 Wadsworth Blvd. Arvada, CO 80003 🗓️ Mon – Fri: 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Sat: 10 p.m. – 7 p.m.; Sun: 11 p.m. – 7 p.m. |
📚 Used books in good condition for cash or store credit.
📚 They also trade books for books. |
| 🛒 The Hermitage Bookshop 📞 (303) 388-6811 📌 290 Filmore Street, Denver, CO 80206 🗓️ Mon –Fri: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Sat: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Closed on Sundays and Federal Holidays |
📚 They specialize in used, rare, collectible, and antiquarian hardbacks.
📚 Accepted: Fine bindings, science fiction, fantasy, mythology, fairytale, and folklore. 📚 Not accepted: Textbooks, encyclopedia sets, magazines, yearbooks, or incomplete sets. Paperbacks are only accepted if they are fine or scarce originals. 📚 Contact the store in advance. |
| 🛒 The Park Hill Community Book Store 📞 (303) 388-6811 📌 4620 E 23rd Ave Denver, CO 80207 🗓️ Mon –Fri: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sat: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sun: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. |
📚 They don’t buy books back but have a trade-in system of sorts.
📚 They offer individual membership and give 10 book credits for books. ($20 for families, $10 for students and seniors). Paperbacks are 1 credit; hardbacks—2. 📚 1/2 a credit is given for bringing in paperbacks and 1 credit for hardbacks. 📚 Any books they don’t select are donated to area charities. |
| 🛒 Denver Book Rack 📞 (303) 756-9891 📌 4061 E Wesley Ave, Denver, CO 80222 🗓️ Tue – Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sun: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Closed on Mondays |
📚 They offer store credit for books in good condition (up to 25%).
📚 Accepted: Used paperbacks and limited hardbacks (only children’s and young adult titles). 📚 Not accepted: Textbooks and encyclopedias. |
| 🛒 The Bookworm 📞 (303) 449-3765 📌 3175 28th St Boulder, CO 80301 🗓️ Mon – Fri: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sat: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed on Sundays |
📚 Used books in great condition fortrade-in credit.
📚 The price is generally half of the list price; a quarter of the list can be expected as credit. 📚 Not accepted: Hardcover fiction. |
| 🛒 Trident Booksellers 📞 (303) 443-3133 📌 940 Pearl St Boulder, CO 80302 🗓️ Buyback hours: Mon – Thu: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. |
📚 Used books in excellent condition.
📚 Contact the store in advance. |
| 🛒 Gallagher Books 📞 (303) 756-5821 📌1454 South Broadway, Denver, CO 80210 🗓️ Mon – Sat: 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Sun: Noon – 5:00 p.m. |
📚 The store specializes in rare, unusual, out-of-print books, vintage posters, and library-related antiques.
📚 There’s no direct indication regarding buyback, but you can contact the store to inquire. |
| 🛒 The Read Queen 📞 (303) 974-5978 📌 129 N Harrison Ave, Lafayette, CO 80026 🗓️ Mon – Fri : 7a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sat – Sun: 8a.m. – 7 p.m. |
📚 Used books for 30% of the price they set in RQ Dollars.
📚 Read Queen Dollars program offers 10% off new books, gifts, toys, stationery, and 50% off used books. |
| 🛒 Friends of the Aurora Public Library 📞 (720) 747-7977 📌 2243 S Peoria St, Aurora, CO 80014 🗓️ Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
📚 The Friends of the Aurora Public Library Book Outlet primarily accepts donations of gently used books (in a wide range of genres like bestsellers, mysteries, and romance), DVDs, CDs, and records. No direct buybacks. |
| 🛒 Mile High Comics 📞 (303) 455-2659 📌 4600 Jason St, Denver, CO 80211 🗓️ Store Hours: Mon-Sat: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sun: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
📚 Comics
📚 Please email Pam Brandle at pamb@milehighcomics.com for information. |
| 🛒 The Tattered Cover Bookstore 📞 (303) 322-7727 📌 2526 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206 🗓️ Mon – Sun: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m |
📚 Used books for store credit only, no cash buybacks.
📚 You can bring up to 25 books at a time; more by appointment only. 📚 Not accepted: Textbooks, dated materials like travel guides, or heavily worn/damaged copies. |
| 🛒 West Side Books 📞 (303) 480-0220 📌 3434 W 32nd Ave, Denver, Colorado 80211 🗓️ Tue: By appointment |
📚 Used books for cash or store credit only.
📚 They currently only buy books on Tuesdays by appointment. Not more than three boxes. 📚 Not accepted: Textbooks, newspapers, or magazines. |
Where to Sell Textbooks in Denver?
Here’s a list of campus stores and other places in Denver where you can sell your textbooks:
| 🛒 Bookstore | 📚 Books They Buy |
| 🛒 Kilgore College Bookstore 📞 (903) 983-8277 📌 1100 Broadway, Kilgore, TX 75662 🗓️ Mon –Thu: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Fri: 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
📚 Textbooks
📚 Textbooks are bought based on condition and quantities needed by the store. 📚 Buyback is subject to demand; some books may be dropped from the buyback list without prior notice. |
| 🛒 Barnes & Noble 📞 (303) 691-2998 📌 960 S Colorado Blvd Glendale, CO 80246 🗓️ Mon – Thu: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m., Fri – Sat: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sun: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. |
📚 Buys back used textbooks and trade books, though the availability of buyback services may vary.
📚 Check their Sell Your Textbooks page to understand their current demand. |
| 🛒 Campus Store—University of Denver 📞 (303) 556-4286 📌 1201 5th Street, Denver, CO 80217 🗓️ Mon – Fri: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
📚 Used textbooks in good condition with minimal highlighting or damage.
📚 The buyback offer may depend on demand for the title in upcoming semesters. 📚 Not accepted: Books that are water-damaged, missing pages, or excessively worn. |
| 🛒 Pack & Ship etc. 📞 (303) 979-9121 📌 9878 W Belleview Ave, Denver, CO 80123 🗓️ Mon-Fri: 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.; Sat: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Sun: Closed |
📚 Textbooks for cash, especially during textbook buyback season.
📚 Areas served: students and residents of Littleton, Lakewood, Highlands Ranch, Denver, and the Front Range. 📚 Not accepted: Heavily damaged copies. |
| 🛒 Dream Books Co. 📞 (720) 767-2478 📌 4250 N Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 🗓️ Mon – Fri: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
📚 Used books and textbooks from educational institutions (in bulk) (e.g., schools, libraries, etc.) They currently do not purchase books from the general public.
📚 Areas served: Arvada, Aurora, Boulder, Centennial, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Greenwood Village, Littleton, Lone Tree, Longmont, and Westminster. |
| 🛒 University of Colorado Boulder – CU Book Store 📞 (303) 492-6411 📌 1669 Euclid Ave 36 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0036 🗓️ Mon – Fri: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
📚 Textbooks for cash.
📚 Not accepted: Damaged copies. |
| 🛒 Bluebird Books 📞 303-912-4559 📌 8201 S. Santa Fe Drive #245 Littleton, CO 80120 |
📚 High-quality used, rare, and out-of-print books—hardcovers (seldom softcover or paperbacks) in great condition in the Denver Area and the Front Range.
📚 Accepted: Classic fiction, Modern Library editions, Everyman’s Library editions, books published by the Limited Editions Club, Folio Society, Heritage Press, Easton Press, and the Franklin Library. Books about birds (bird art & photography, birding), Natural History, poetry, cookbooks, History, and Biographies. 📚 Not accepted: Self-help books, “How-to” books, etc. |
| 🛒 Colorado Mesa University’s official bookstore 📞970.248.1422 📌 1455 N 12th Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501 |
📚 Textbooks (in good condition to be eligible for buyback) for 15–50% of the new price (depending on a range of factors; check their buyback terms). |
| 🛒 Book Driver–Coyote Ridge Books booths 📞 303-665-0433 📌 The Lafayette Collectables & Flea Market— 130 E Spaulding St, Lafayette, CO 80026 |
📚 Newer textbooks for 20% to 50% of the resale value (in cash) in the Denver metro area, Boulder, Parker, and Castle Rock. |
| 🛒 CSU Bookstore 📌 CSU Bookstore Inside the Lory Student Center: December 9-13, 2024 during Normal Store Hours. |
📚 Textbooks (in good condition)
📚 Not accepted: Damaged, defective, and no-value books. You can send those for donation. |
Where to Donate Books in Denver?
Alternatively, you can donate your reads to organizations that support people and give opportunities to those who have limited access to education.
Denver Public Library
📍 10 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204
Denver Public Library accepts donations for its book sales, with proceeds benefiting the library. “When you invest in the library, you invest in critical support for free literacy programs, lifelong learning, workforce development, and equitable access to resources and knowledge for the millions of adults, children, and youth of Denver.”
ARC Thrift Stores
📍 1515 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80210 and other locations ARC Thrift Stores accepts most things, including books, which help fund programs and “enhance the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” Drop off is available at any ARC location.
Goodwill Denver
📍 21 S Broadway, Denver, CO 80209
Just like in other locations, Goodwill stores in Denver accept book donations. These copies are then sold to fund job training and education programs.
Friends of the Aurora Public Library
📍 2243 S Peoria St, Aurora, CO 80014
Friends of the Aurora Public Library supports the Aurora Public Library by selling donated books at their Book Outlet. They accept books, CDs, LPs, DVDs, audiobooks, puzzles, and sheet music four days a week: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
BookGive
📍 4890 Lowell Blvd, Denver, CO 80221
BookGive is a nonprofit that accepts books in good condition and distributes them to underserved communities.“We’ll make sure they find their way into the hands of people—your neighbors—who would LOVE to read them.”
The Salvation Army
📍 2085 S Sheridan Blvd, Denver, CO 80227
The Salvation Army accepts donations that they sell to support their social programs. Make sure you bring items in good condition.
How to Sell Books Online in Denver?
For some people, selling online is faster, easier, and more convenient. This is understandable, especially when it comes to textbooks. Campus stores may not accept anything off-season, and independent stores may not accept textbooks at all (as you may have noticed, there are plenty of places where textbooks are specifically mentioned as “not accepted.” Naturally, people turn to online services.
While online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, as well as booksellers like SellBackYourBook or TextbookRush, are quite reasonable solutions for buyback, we have another suggestion.
Using BookScouter can make things even more convenient and help you sell your books even more profitably. This comparison platform shows offers from more than thirty vendors all over the US, not just in Denver or Colorado. One of the greatest benefits of the platform is that it gives you a very broad picture of buyback prices. You simply enter the ISBN and see all available offers right away.
Let’s take a look at an example. If you’ve been taking part in the Japanese program at DU to improve your language and cultural communication expertise or might have an MA in Asian Languages and Civilizations—Japanese, you must have plenty of Japanese literature and study materials left from your classes. For instance, you’ve long passed N1 and N2, so you probably don’t need Genki 1 Third Edition: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese 1 Textbook & Workbook Set anymore. Let’s see how much you can get for it:
Ok, not much, but let’s add all your Japanese-related textbooks and course materials to the list and get all the offers in one place. Simply enter the ISBNs in the search space separated by a return, space, or comma:
Ok, Japanese books might not be that popular, but still, it’s almost $50:
BookScouter also offers a free mobile app where you can scan book barcodes and get this information even faster. It’s more convenient if you’re a book scout and resell books as a side hustle. If you’re a seasoned reseller, you may consider Pro Tools offered by BookScouter, where you can review the book buyback price history, access the best deals, remove your excess stock profitably, and use versatile book data to improve your sales strategy.
Conclusion
As you can see, Denver has plenty of used bookstores with a trade-in program or those that offer cash. Not all of these places accept textbooks, so we’ve placed these stores separately for your convenience. We hope you find these lists useful. We also hope that you check BookScouter when you consider selling books online.
Whether you’re in Florida, or Ashburn, we have detailed guides to help you find the best places to sell your used books.
