Dunes Cream & Ivory Decorative Books
Soft, sandy neutrals that make any shelf look calm and finished.
From $39.99 · 1 ft $69.99
Books by the foot
Books by the foot, sorted by color.
Measure your shelves, choose a palette and order the feet you need. A foot is about 12 inches of shelf, usually 10–12 books.
Measure in two minutes
How many feet do you need?
- Add up the inside width of every shelf you’re styling, in inches.
- Multiply by about 0.6 for a styled look (0.5 for staging, 0.75 for fuller shelves).
- Divide by 12. That’s your total feet of books.
- Example: five 30-inch shelves × 0.6 ÷ 12 ≈ 8 feet.
Shelf stack 5 books
1 foot about 10–12 books
2 feet about 20–24 books
Size helper
Which size do I need?
Enter your shelf width and how many shelves you’re styling. Styled shelves are usually only half to two-thirds full, so you need less than you think.
Prices shown are for our standard palettes; Sea Glass is $74.99 per foot. Each Buy button checks out one lot, so check out once per lot you need.
Open the full bookshelf calculator (printable) →
Common setups
| Setup (styled, ~60% full) | Feet | Lots | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| One 30-in. shelf | 2 ft | 1 × 2 ft | $129.99 |
| Five-shelf 30-in. bookcase | 8 ft | 4 × 2 ft | $519.96 |
| Pair of 36-in. built-ins, 5 shelves each | 18 ft | 9 × 2 ft | $1169.91 |
| Staged bookcase, 5 × 30 in. (half full) | 7 ft | 3 × 2 ft + 1 × 1 ft | $459.96 |
Mantel, coffee table or console? A five-book stack ($39.99) is usually enough.
Prices
Every palette, every size.
| Palette | Stack (5) | 1 ft | 2 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunes Cream & Ivory | $39.99 | $69.99 | $129.99 |
| Driftwood Tan & Soft Brown | $39.99 | $69.99 | $129.99 |
| Tidewater Navy & Blue | $39.99 | $69.99 | $129.99 |
| Sea Glass Aqua & Soft Blue-Green | $42.99 | $74.99 | $139.99 |
| First Day of Spring Green | $39.99 | $69.99 | $129.99 |
| Storm Black & Charcoal | $39.99 | $69.99 | $129.99 |
| Autumn Oak Burgundy, Rust & Deep Brown | $39.99 | $69.99 | $129.99 |
| Sandbridge Navy & Cream | $39.99 | $69.99 | $129.99 |
| Vintage-Look Muted mixed | — | — | $64.99 |
Free shipping is included in every price. Tax is added at checkout where it applies.
Shop
Choose your palette
Driftwood Tan & Soft Brown Decorative Books
Warm, weathered neutrals with the patina of well-loved cloth bindings.
From $39.99 · 1 ft $69.99
Tidewater Navy & Blue Decorative Books
Deep harbor blues with a crisp, nautical edge.
From $39.99 · 1 ft $69.99
Sea Glass Aqua & Soft Blue-Green Decorative Books
Washed aqua and soft blue-green, like glass worn smooth by the tide.
From $42.99 · 1 ft $74.99
First Day of Spring Green Decorative Books
Fresh, leafy greens from sage to moss.
From $39.99 · 1 ft $69.99
Storm Black & Charcoal Decorative Books
Moody, graphic darks for modern and dramatic shelves.
From $39.99 · 1 ft $69.99
Autumn Oak Burgundy, Rust & Deep Brown Decorative Books
Rich, warm library tones for a cozy, collected look.
From $39.99 · 1 ft $69.99
Sandbridge Navy & Cream Decorative Books
A ready-made navy-and-cream mix, the classic coastal pairing.
From $39.99 · 1 ft $69.99
Representative photo. Your books will match the color palette shown. Every lot is real hardcover books in good used condition.
Why shop with us
- Free shippingContinental U.S. & D.C., included in every price.
- 90-day returnsNo restocking fee. Buyer pays return shipping.
- Real hardcoversSorted by spine color. Good used condition.
- TrackingEmailed on every order. Secure Stripe checkout.
Questions, answered
How many books are in a foot?
About 10 to 12 books per foot and about 20 to 24 in two feet, depending on thickness. A shelf stack is 5 books.
What does “1 foot” of books mean?
Enough books to fill about 12 inches of shelf, standing upright side by side. That’s about 10 to 12 books, depending on thickness.
Will the books fit my shelves?
Measure your shelf height before you buy. Books need to stand upright with a little room to spare. On shorter shelves, stack them flat instead.
Where do you ship?
Shipping is free and included in every price. We ship to the continental U.S. and D.C. only. We can’t ship to Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, APO/FPO or international addresses. You’ll get an email with tracking when your order ships.
Can I return my books?
Yes. 90-day returns: the buyer pays return shipping, there’s no restocking fee, and sales tax is refunded along with the purchase price. Email info@riverbirchbooks.com to start a return.
Related guides
Styling guide · 8 min read
How Many Books per Foot of Shelf? A Stylist's Guide
How many books per foot of shelf? Plan on roughly 8-12 per linear foot, depending on thickness. Use our charts to work out how many feet your shelves need.
Styling guide · 7 min read
Books by the Foot: How to Measure Your Shelves
Buying books by the foot? Learn to measure shelf width, height and depth, account for objects and stacks, and turn it into the right number of feet to order.
Styling guide · 4 min read
How to Style Built-Ins and Floating Shelves With Books
How to style built-ins and floating shelves with books: layouts for fireplace built-ins, wall-to-wall units and floating shelves, weight and how much to order.