Styling guide
How Much Do Books by the Foot Cost? Prices Explained
Books by the foot are priced per linear foot of shelf they fill, and the price depends on what you're getting: color-sorted or mixed, hardcover or paperback, wrapped or spines-out, and whether shipping is included. At River Birch Books, 1 foot of real hardcover books sorted by color is $69.99, 2 feet is $129.99, and a five-book shelf stack is $39.99, with free shipping to the continental U.S. and D.C.
Below: what "per foot" means, what drives price, how shipping changes the total, feet vs. yards vs. meters, and worked budgets for real shelves.
What "per foot" means
"Books by the foot" means you buy enough books to fill a stated length of shelf, measured along the spines. You're buying a length and a look rather than specific titles. Our lots run about 10-12 books per foot, depending on the thickness of the books in each lot.
For how book thickness affects counts, see how many books per foot of shelf.
Our prices
| Size | Approx. books | Standard palettes | Weathered Cloth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five-book shelf stack | 5 | $39.99 | $44.99 |
| 1 foot | about 10-12 | $69.99 | $79.99 |
| 2 feet | about 20-24 | $129.99 | $149.99 |
All lots are real hardcover books, sorted by color into named palettes on our books by the foot page. Shipping is free to the continental U.S. and D.C. We don't ship to Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, APO/FPO addresses or internationally.
What drives the price of books by the foot
When you compare offers anywhere, these factors explain most of the difference:
1. Color-sorted vs. mixed
Mixed books (any color, any subject) take less sorting. Color-sorted lots, where every book fits a palette, take more work and usually cost more per foot. If the look matters, color is usually what you're paying for. Not sure which colors suit the room? The palette quiz suggests a mix in about a minute.
2. Hardcover vs. paperback
Hardcovers hold their shape, stack neatly and look substantial on a shelf. Paperbacks are lighter and thinner, so a foot holds more of them, but they slump and curl.
3. Spines-out vs. wrapped or reversed
Some sellers wrap books in paper or linen, or turn them page-edges out. Wrapping adds labor and materials. We sell real hardcovers spines-out; for the trade-offs, see decorative book sets: real vs. faux vs. linen-wrapped.
4. Condition
Clean, intact books cost more than worn ones. Ours are described with one consistent line: Good used condition: clean and intact, with light shelf wear possible.
5. How specific the request is
A general palette is simpler than a custom request (a specific subject, a narrow height range, an exact shade). Custom work typically costs more.
6. Shipping
Books are heavy, so shipping can be a large part of the total. Some sellers include shipping; others charge it separately. When comparing, look at the price delivered to your door, not just the price per foot.
Shipping: compare the delivered total
Two offers with the same price per foot can end up very different once shipping is added. Questions to ask any seller: - Is shipping included in the price? - Where do they ship? - What's the return policy, and who pays return shipping?
Our answers: shipping is free to the continental U.S. and D.C., and we offer 30-day returns. The buyer pays return shipping, there's no restocking fee and sales tax is refunded. Details are on our shipping and returns page.
Feet, yards and meters
| Unit | In feet | Built from our lots |
|---|---|---|
| 1 foot | 1 ft | One 1-foot lot |
| 1 yard | 3 ft | One 2-foot lot + one 1-foot lot |
| 1 meter | about 3.3 ft | One 2-foot lot + one 1-foot lot, plus a five-book stack if you want it full |
So a yard of books from us is one 2-foot lot ($129.99) plus one 1-foot lot ($69.99) in the same palette.
Worked budgets
These examples use our current prices. Shelf counts are approximate.
A 30-inch floating shelf, styled
Styled shelves look best about two-thirds full, so a 30-inch shelf needs roughly 1.5 feet of books. - Option: one 1-foot lot ($69.99) plus one five-book stack ($39.99).
A five-shelf, 30-inch bookcase
Total shelf length is about 12.5 feet. Styled with objects, plan on roughly 6 to 8 feet of books. - Option: three or four 2-foot lots ($129.99 each), in one or two palettes.
A built-in wall
A wall 8 feet wide with 6 shelves has about 48 feet of shelf. Styled at about two-thirds full, that's roughly 30 to 32 feet of books. - Option: about fifteen or sixteen 2-foot lots ($129.99 each). For projects like this, see our trade page.
A coffee table or mantel
- Coffee table: one five-book stack ($39.99).
- Mantel: two five-book stacks, one at each end.
For your own shelves, use the bookshelf calculator or our guide to how to measure shelves for books by the foot.
How to keep the cost down
- Style, don't pack. Shelves about two-thirds full look better and need fewer books.
- Use objects. Vases, plants, art and baskets take up space on every shelf.
- Mix in your own books. Put color-matched lots on the most visible shelves and your own books lower down.
- Use stacks on surfaces. A five-book stack finishes a coffee table, console or nightstand.
- Buy in stages. Start with eye-level shelves, then add.
- Use a code on your first order. New customers can use WELCOME10 for 10 percent off a first order (one promo code per order).
Price per foot vs. price per shelf
It's easy to fixate on the price per foot, but what you're really buying is a finished shelf. A styled shelf with a vase, a plant and a framed print needs fewer books than a packed library shelf, so the cost of the finished look can be lower than the per-foot math suggests. Plan the whole bookcase first, decide how full you want each shelf, and then work out the feet. Our how to decorate bookshelves with books guide shows how books and objects share a shelf.
Is "cheap books by the foot" a good idea?
Low prices per foot can be fine for a shelf you won't look at closely. For eye-level shelves, coffee tables and anything that will be photographed, consistency of color, hardcover construction and clean condition matter more. Compare what you'll actually receive, and the delivered total, rather than the headline price.
What you get with our lots
- Real hardcover books, sorted by spine color into a named palette
- About 10-12 books per foot
- Good used condition: clean and intact, with light shelf wear possible.
- Titles vary from lot to lot; the palette is what's matched
- Free shipping to the continental U.S. and D.C., with tracking emails
To understand the process from order to shelf, see how buying books by the foot works.
Shop books by the foot
Choose a palette and a length on our books by the foot page, or browse five-book stacks and every color in our decorative books shop.
Frequently asked questions
How much do books by the foot cost at River Birch Books?
A 1-foot lot is $69.99 and a 2-foot lot is $129.99. A five-book shelf stack is $39.99. Weathered Cloth, our older cloth-bound palette, is $79.99, $149.99 and $44.99. Shipping is free to the continental U.S. and D.C.
How many books are in a foot?
Our lots run about 10-12 books per foot. Exact counts vary with the thickness of the books in each lot.
Can I buy books by the yard?
A yard is 3 feet. You can build a yard from one 2-foot lot and one 1-foot lot, or three 1-foot lots.
What makes some books by the foot cost more than others?
Whether books are color-sorted or mixed, hardcover or paperback, wrapped or spines-out, condition, how specific the request is, and whether shipping is included.
Is shipping included?
For our lots, yes: shipping is free to the continental U.S. and D.C. Always check whether a price includes shipping when comparing, because books are heavy.
