Top-selling book genres on Mercari

Bookshelf getting a bit too full? If you’re looking to make space for new reads, why not find new homes for the books you’ve already enjoyed? Here’s a list of the top-selling genres on Mercari, along with some tips for selling and keeping buyers happy.

1. Literary Fiction

Novels are a popular choice among readers. Shoppers especially love bestsellers, novels adapted for film and the classics. If you don’t intend to read it again, now’s a great time to give these books another life.

Recently sold fiction books 

2. Children’s Books 

From daycares to playrooms, people are always looking for gently used kids books. Preloved board books, picture books and chapter books sell well on Mercari. Even better if you have a set or bundle to sell.

Recently sold children’s books 

3. Biographies and memoirs

It’s hard to resist fascinating biographies or juicy tell-alls of historical figures, celebrities, and pop-culture icons. Turn these popular page-turners into sales.

Recently sold biographies and memoirs 

4. Cookbooks

Shoppers love cookbooks – especially if they’re vintage, written by pop-culture figures or designed for specific appliances (air fryers, pressure cookers, etc). 

Recently sold cookbooks 

5. Mystery and True Crime

From fictional mystery and suspense novels to true crime tales, shoppers are always looking for their next thriller.

Recently sold mystery and True Crime 

Book-selling tips:

1. Embrace the bundle feature.
Selling books in a lot is an easy way to get rid of a bunch at a time, but you can also take advantage of bundle offers by listing multiples by the same author or genre, separately. Be sure to mention in your description that you have multiple books available and you’re open to bundle offers.

2. Describe the condition fairly.
‍Accurately list the condition of the item, especially if it’s well-loved. Be sure to mention if a book has dogeared pages, rips, markings or even a noticeable scent. Most shoppers don’t mind a little wear, and people appreciate when sellers are transparent.

3. Use Media Mail.
‍The new Media Mail option for shipping can save your shoppers money and make them more prone to shop with you. If you’ve already got books listed, consider changing the shipping to Media Mail if they fit within the guidelines. Read more here.

Ready to list your books? It’s quick and easy. Try it here.

‍*Top-selling genres as of December 5, 2022 using a 12-month lookback window.