Buying second-hand books in India has never been easier. Whether you’re a student preparing for UPSC, a parent hunting for NCERT textbooks, or someone looking to relax with a Paulo Coelho or Chetan Bhagat novel, the online used book market has something for everyone. If you’ve got old books gathering dust at home, now’s the perfect time to list them online as someone, somewhere is probably looking for exactly that title.
At BookMandee, we’ve noticed a steady shift – more Indians now buy used books and actively sell them too. However, not all books move at the same speed. While school books and exam guides tend to fly off the shelves around March and June, fiction titles like The Alchemist or Rich Dad Poor Dad enjoy a steady stream of interest all year round. This guide will walk you through the most popular book categories people are either buying or selling regularly on BookMandee. Whether you’re here to declutter your bookshelf or grab a bestseller at half the price, you’ll find this list super handy.
Let’s dive into what sells well and why.
Top 10 Most Popular Book Categories in India (Used Book Market)
Every used book has a story in its journey, not just in its pages. On BookMandee, we see thousands of books being bought and sold every month. Some categories have clearly emerged as crowd favourites over time.
Here’s a look at the top 10 book categories that Indians actively buy and sell online:
| Category | Avg. Resale Price | Popular Cities | Top Buyer Type |
| Academic Textbooks | ₹100-₹600 | Delhi, Pune, Coimbatore | College Students |
| Competitive Exam Books | ₹150-₹500 | Patna, Bhopal, Lucknow | UPSC, SSC, Banking Aspirants |
| Fiction Novels | ₹80-₹400 | Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad | Casual Readers, Youth |
| Children’s Books | ₹50-₹250 | Chennai, Gurgaon, Jaipur | Parents, Schools |
| Self-Help & Motivation | ₹120-₹450 | Hyderabad, Indore, Nagpur | Working Professionals, Teens |
| Biographies & Memoirs | ₹150-₹350 | Kolkata, Surat, Chandigarh | History Buffs, Academicians |
| Non-fiction & Business | ₹100-₹500 | Noida, Kochi, Thane | Entrepreneurs, MBAs |
| Comics & Graphic Novels | ₹80-₹300 | Bengaluru, Delhi, Pune | Hobbyists, Young Readers |
| College Books | ₹100-₹1100 | Ludhiana, Ghaziabad, Ranchi | Parents of School-going Children |
| Language Learning & Literature | ₹100-₹300 | Mysuru, Trivandrum, Nashik | Language Enthusiasts, Students |
Quick Takeaways:
- Textbooks and competitive exam books are top sellers, especially during academic transitions.
- Fiction novels remain evergreen favourites.
- Children’s books move fast, especially if they’re in good condition.
- Titles like Think and Grow Rich, Ikigai, and Wings of Fire are always in demand in the self-help category.
These categories reflect what real people in India are searching for. So, if you’re planning to sell used books online, it’s worth knowing what’s trending.
Why Do Most Popular Book Categories Sell the Most?
| Category | Why Does It Sell So Well? | Popular Book Examples |
| Academic Textbooks | Always in demand due to semester cycles and syllabus changes. Students prefer saving money by buying used textbooks. | RD Sharma, TS Grewal, Physics by HC Verma |
| Competitive Exam Books | Exam prep books are time-sensitive. Aspirants buy them every year to prepare for UPSC, SSC, Banking, etc. | Arihant Guides, Lucent GK, Previous Year Papers |
| Fiction Novels | Casual readers love fiction. Once read, they’re often resold, creating a continuous buy-sell cycle. | Half Girlfriend, The Alchemist, The Fault in Our Stars |
| Self-Help & Motivation | These books offer long-term value and are often recommended. High demand from professionals and students alike. | Atomic Habits, Rich Dad Poor Dad, Think Like a Monk |
| Biographies & Memoirs | Inspiring life stories have loyal readers, especially among students and civil service aspirants. | Wings of Fire, Steve Jobs, Playing It My Way |
| Children’s Books | Parents frequently look for affordable, mark-free books for kids. Books for early learning or moral stories are top picks. | Panchtantra, Moral Stories for Children, My First 100 Words |
| School Books (CBSE/ICSE) | Schools change books often. Parents sell last year’s books and buy the next class’s books second-hand to save costs. | NCERT Class 6-12, Evergreen Guides, Together With Series |
| Non-fiction & Business | Appeals to working professionals, entrepreneurs, and MBA students. Helps with interviews, start-ups, and personal growth. | Zero to One, The Lean Startup, How to Win Friends… |
| Comics & Graphic Novels | Always popular among teens and collectors. Affordable second-hand comics are a big draw. | Tinkle, Amar Chitra Katha, Marvel Essentials |
| Language Learning & Literature | Huge demand in Tier 2/3 cities. Many learners prefer affordable second-hand English learning books. | English Speaking, Word Power Made Easy |
How to Sell Your Used Books under the Most Popular Book Categories: Tips for Sellers
- List before academic seasons (Feb-July for colleges, Oct-March for exams).
- Mention edition & publication year as this matters a lot to buyers.
- Add tags like ‘latest syllabus’, ‘notes included’, or ‘no highlights’.
- Mention author name and genre clearly. E.g., Romance by Durjoy Datta
- Bundle series (e.g., all Harry Potter books) for faster sale
- Add a quick line about the book’s condition, something like ‘read once, like new’.
- Be specific about the classes or subjects. E.g., CBSE Class 5 Term 1 English Workbook
- Use catchy phrases in your title like ‘Best-selling motivational book’.
- Mention if it helped you, like ‘Helped me crack my first interview’.
- If it’s a language book, mention the target audience (e.g., beginners, advanced learners)
How Buyers Use the Most Popular Book Categories to Decide Quickly?
When someone visits BookMandee to buy a second-hand book, they usually have a clear purpose, whether it’s preparing for an upcoming exam, replacing a lost schoolbook, or adding a bestseller to their personal collection. That’s why the most popular book categories help buyers find what they’re looking for without wasting time.
Here’s how that process typically works:
-
They Start by Selecting a Category
Most buyers head straight to a category, like Competitive Exams, Fiction, or CBSE School Books, from our All Old Books page. This helps them filter out irrelevant results and focus only on what they need.
If your book is listed under the right category, it has a much higher chance of being noticed.
Example: A book like NCERT Class 10 Science – 2024 Edition should go under School Books.
-
They Compare Listings Based on Condition & Price
Once they’re inside a category, buyers usually scan for two things:
- A clean, readable title and description
- A reasonable price for the condition offered
- Location
Books that clearly mention their condition tend to attract more clicks. Similarly, pricing and location also plays a key role, but it’s not always about being the cheapest.
This matters to sellers because:
When a book-ad/listing is categorised correctly, priced fairly, and described clearly, it builds trust and speeds up the decision-making process for buyers. This means fewer messages, quicker responses, and a higher chance of your book being sold.
Steps to List Books Under the Most Popular Book Categories on BookMandee
Listing your books the right way can help buyers find them faster and increases the chances of a successful sale. The process is simple, and you don’t need any technical know-how. Here’s how you can do it in just a few minutes:
-
Create a user account on BookMandee
Sign up on BookMandee using your mobile number or email ID. It’s free, and you’ll be ready to list in no time.
-
Upload Book Details via a Book-Ad
Add the key information about your book in a book-ad:
- Title (e.g., Class 12 Chemistry by Pradeep – 2023 Edition)
- Author and Publisher
- Condition (Like New, Good, Used)
- Your selling price (based on condition and market value)
- Location
If you want to know more about the process, click here.
-
Select the Right Category and Subcategory
Choosing the right category ensures your listing appears where buyers are already searching.
First, choose a main category to help define the broader type of book you want to sell. Some of the commonly used categories on BookMandee include:
- School Books
- Competitive Exam Books
- Fiction / Non-fiction
- Children’s Books
- Self-Help & Motivation
- Business & Startups
- Biographies / Memoirs
- Language Learning / Literature
- Comics & Graphic Novels
Then, choose a subcategory (if available) to help narrow down the listing. This helps buyers filter more accurately.
Note: At BookMandee, you can choose from around 180+ categories and sub-categories to either list your books or buy books online.
-
Submit & Share Your Listing
Once you’re done, submit the listing for approval. Once it is approved by our team, your book listing will be made live!
Note: You can also share your listing on WhatsApp, Telegram, or local groups to increase visibility and get quicker responses.
From here, you’ll start getting enquiries or messages from interested buyers. Respond quickly, answer honestly, and sell the book locally or beyond.
Recommended Read: Top-Rated Books on BookMandee
There’s (Will Be) a Buyer for Every Book on BookMandee
India is a country where books rarely lose value; they simply find new hands. Whether you’re a student who just cracked an exam, a parent decluttering your child’s study shelf, or someone with a stack of fiction novels gathering dust, there’s someone out there actively looking for those exact titles.
At BookMandee, our mission is to make it easy, fast, and rewarding for people to sell or buy used books across the country. Once you know about the most popular book categories here, listing your books under the right segments and adding a few buyer-friendly details becomes easier..
Let BookMandee’s growing community of book lovers do the rest. Take a look at your shelf again – maybe it’s time to pass on that Rich Dad Poor Dad or Concepts of Physics to someone who needs it next.