Print books remain more popular than ebooks in the United States

While ebook sales have been increasing, print books are still preferred by American readers of all ages and demographics. In 2022, Americans purchased 788.7 million print books, compared to only 191 million ebooks.

Overall, 65% of adults surveyed by the Pew Research Center (2021) reported reading print books in the last year, compared to 30% who read ebooks. Both figures include Americans who reported reading both.

While no demographic group reported reading more ebooks than print books, Gen Z readers had the smallest gap between the two formats, with 68% reading print books and 43% reading ebooks. Urban readers were also slightly more likely to read ebooks than rural or suburban readers.

A surprise to some, COVID-19 quarantines and social distancing increased hardcover book sales as well as ebooks. Some believed the pandemic would result only in ebook sale growth, as bookstores shuttered and people no longer browsed their physical stores, but that wasn't the case. Although, it is worth noting that indie and small press publishers did not fare nearly as well as larger publishing houses during the pandemic.

Will The Trend Toward Digitization Change This?

It's too soon to say if people will ever prefer digital books, but for now, print books persevere despite overarching trends towards technology in other areas. 2023 projections show that print books are on track to earn over $6 billion more in worldwide revenue than their electronic counterparts.

Interestingly, even Gen Z is opting for print books despite the generation's embracing and normalization of most technologies. There is just something about hard-copy books that people prefer, even when they enjoy a high comfort level with technology.

Suggestions for Further Reading

Interested in more info? Check out the following links:

• Printed Books vs eBooks Statistics, Trends and Facts [2023] - Toner Buzz

• Three-in-ten Americans now read e-books | Pew Research Center

• Americans are buying more books—but reading fewer of them than ever. What gives? ‹ Literary Hub (lithub.com)

• Print Books Had a Huge Sales Year in 2021 (publishersweekly.com)

• Americans are buying more books—but reading fewer of them than ever. What gives? ‹ Literary Hub (lithub.com)

• The Coronavirus Pandemic Is Changing How People Buy Books | WIRED

• COVID-19: Why book sales have soared and what we’re reading | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

• Publishing in 2020 - Publishers Association

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