Books vs E-books Calculator

Cost factors

Comparing physical and e-books means more than sticker price. Device cost, used buys, and how much you read all change the math.

Physical

• New books often $10–30; used $3–8
• Storage and shelving
• Shipping or delivery
• Resale possible (often 10–50% of cost)

E-books

• E-reader $80–300; replaced every 3–5 years
• E-books often $2–15 each
• Subscriptions $10–15/month for unlimited
• No resale; charging cost is small

Environmental impact

Paper books use trees, water, and transport. E-readers use manufacturing and energy. The break-even is usually around 10–15 books.

Physical

• Paper, printing, transport, storage
• Unsold copies often destroyed

E-books

• Device making (materials, energy)
• Servers and data centers
• E-waste when devices are replaced

Rough guide: ~7.5 kg CO₂ per physical book; ~0.5 kg per e-book plus device share. After about 22–23 e-books, e-reading usually has lower carbon.

When to choose which

Pick physical if you read fewer than ~10 books a year, like paper, lend often, or want to support bookstores. Pick e-books if you read a lot, travel often, or want one device for many books.

• Hybrid works for many: e-books for convenience, physical for favorites or reference.
• Try library e-books or a subscription before buying a dedicated e-reader.