Styling guide
How Buying Books by the Foot Works: 7 Checks First
Buying books by the foot means you choose a look (usually a color palette or style) and a length of shelf you want to fill, and the seller sends enough books to cover roughly that length. You're buying a length and a look, not particular titles. It's the fastest way to get a cohesive shelf, as long as you check a few things before you order: shelf size, what kind of books you'll get, how many per foot, condition, shipping and returns.
Below: how the process works, what you actually receive, real vs. wrapped vs. faux, and a seven-point checklist, with our own answers to each point.
How it works, step by step
- Measure your shelves. Note the width, height and depth of each shelf.
- Decide how full you want them. Styled shelves with objects need fewer books than a packed library wall.
- Choose a look. Usually a color palette (cream, navy, black, green) or a style.
- Choose a length. Add up the feet you need and order lots to match.
- Receive and style. Books arrive grouped to your chosen palette; you arrange them with bookends and objects.
With our lots, step 4 is simple: a five-book stack, 1 foot (about 10-12 books) or 2 feet (about 20-24 books), all on our books by the foot page.
What you actually receive
- A matched look, not a reading list. Titles vary from lot to lot. What's matched is the palette.
- A length, approximately. Book thickness varies, so the count per foot is an estimate.
- A mix of sizes within reasonable limits, which looks natural on a shelf.
If you want specific books to read, buy those individually and use color-matched lots around them.
Real vs. wrapped vs. faux
The phrase "books by the foot" covers several products:
| Type | What it is | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Real books, spines out | Real hardcovers or paperbacks with visible spines | Natural look, restyling, photos |
| Wrapped books | Real books covered in linen or paper | Uniform, title-free look |
| Faux books | Boxes, blocks or blank books | High shelves, storage, light weight |
Ours are real hardcover books, spines out, sorted by color. For a deeper comparison, see decorative book sets: real vs. faux vs. linen-wrapped.
The 7 things to check before you order
1. Shelf height and depth
Measure the clear height of each shelf. Tall books won't fit short shelves, and very deep shelves can make small books look lost. Note your shortest shelf.
Our answer: our lots are standard hardcovers in mixed sizes. If you have unusually short shelves, measure before you order and use the shortest shelf as your guide.
2. How much shelf you're really filling
Measure total shelf length and decide how full you want each shelf. Our guide to how to measure shelves for books by the foot and the bookshelf calculator help.
Our answer: styled shelves look best about two-thirds full, so you often need less than total shelf length.
3. Books per foot
Ask how many books come in a foot, and whether that's an average.
Our answer: about 10-12 books per foot. For how thickness affects counts, see how many books per foot of shelf.
4. Real, wrapped or faux
Make sure the listing says what you're getting.
Our answer: real hardcover books with real pages.
5. Spine color and text
Color-sorted lots match by spine color. Spine text (titles, author names, gold lettering) will vary. If you want no visible text at all, wrapped books or turning books page-edges out are options; see books spines backwards: pros and cons.
Our answer: our palettes are matched by spine color; spine text varies.
6. Condition
Look for clear condition language.
Our answer: Good used condition: clean and intact, with light shelf wear possible.
7. Shipping and returns
Books are heavy. Check whether shipping is included, where the seller ships and what happens if the look isn't right.
Our answer: - free shipping to the continental U.S. and D.C., with tracking emails, - no shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, APO/FPO addresses or international addresses, - 30-day returns; the buyer pays return shipping, there's no restocking fee and sales tax is refunded.
Full details are on our shipping and returns page and FAQ.
Is buying books by the foot legit?
It's an established way to buy decor. Designers, stagers, rental hosts and homeowners use it to fill shelves quickly with a consistent look. As with any purchase, the quality of the experience depends on clear listings: what kind of books, how many per foot, the condition, the delivered price and the return policy. If a listing doesn't answer those questions, ask before buying.
Is it worth it?
It's worth it when: - you want a cohesive look quickly, - you have a lot of shelf to fill, - you're staging, styling a rental or finishing a new room, - you'd rather not hunt book by book and sort by color.
It's less suited when: - you want specific titles to read, - you're filling only a few inches (a five-book set may be enough), - you want a single, very specific shade.
For a look at what drives price, see how much do books by the foot cost.
After the books arrive
- Unbox on a clean surface and sort by size.
- Dust gently with an unscented magnetic cloth or soft brush, outward from the spine, as the Northeast Document Conservation Center recommends.
- Place objects first, then books, alternating upright runs and horizontal stacks.
- Use bookends. The Library of Congress recommends books stand upright, not leaning, and suggests shelving books of similar size together so covers are supported.
- Keep them out of direct sun to avoid fading.
For a full styling method, see how to decorate bookshelves with books.
Mixing lots with your own books
Most people don't fill every shelf with purchased lots. A common approach is to put your own books, the ones you read, on lower and middle shelves, and use color-matched lots on the most visible shelves and in stacks on tables. Pull a few of your own books that already fit the palette and mix them in; the shelf will look personal and cohesive at the same time. For ideas on choosing colors, see books by color for decorating.
Common mistakes
- Not measuring shelf height.
- Ordering for 100 percent full when you plan to add objects.
- Choosing too many palettes for one bookcase.
- Comparing price per foot without shipping.
- Expecting specific titles.
Start with a palette
Browse palettes and lengths on our books by the foot page, or start smaller with a five-book stack from our decorative books shop. Unsure which color? Take the palette quiz.
Frequently asked questions
How does buying books by the foot work?
You choose a look (often a color palette or style) and a length of shelf to fill. The seller sends enough books to fill roughly that length. You're buying a look and a length, not specific titles.
Are books by the foot real books?
It depends on the seller and product. Some are real hardcovers spines-out, some are wrapped real books, and some decorative products are faux. Ours are real hardcover books with real pages.
Do you get to choose the titles?
Usually not. With our lots, titles vary from lot to lot; the palette is what's matched.
Is buying books by the foot worth it?
It's worth it when you want a cohesive look quickly and don't want to hunt book by book. If you want specific titles to read, buy those individually.
How many books come in a foot?
Our lots run about 10-12 books per foot, depending on book thickness.
