Have you ever wondered what the best-selling books of all time are? With billions of books sold around the world, only a small number of titles have reached the extraordinary milestone of selling 100 million copies or more.
Some of the books on this list probably won’t surprise you. Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit have become cultural phenomena that continue to attract new readers decades after publication.
But the book at the very top is much more unexpected.
According to Guinness World Records, the Xinhua Dictionary holds the record for the best-selling regularly updated book, with more than 567 million copies recorded by July 2015.
There is an important caveat when ranking the best-selling books in history: exact numbers are difficult to verify, particularly for books published hundreds of years ago. Public-domain classics have appeared in countless editions from different publishers, and comprehensive sales records simply do not exist.
As a result, the figures below should be considered widely reported estimates rather than precise lifetime totals.
With that in mind, here are 10 of the best-selling books of all time.
The 10 Best Selling Books of All Time
- Xinhua Zidian – 567 million
- Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes – 500 million
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, – 200 million
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien – 150 million
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – 140 million
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling – 120 million
- And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie – 100 million
- Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin– 100 million
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien – 100 million
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill – 100 million
Note: Rankings can differ depending on the source, whether dictionaries and reference books are included, and how sales of older public-domain works are estimated. Religious and political texts that were distributed extensively without traditional commercial sales are generally excluded from lists like this one.
1. Xinhua Dictionary — More Than 567 Million Copies
The best-selling book on our list isn’t a novel at all.
The Xinhua Dictionary, or Xinhua Zidian, is a Chinese-language dictionary first published in 1953. It became an enormously influential reference work in China and has been widely used by generations of students learning Standard Mandarin Chinese.
Guinness World Records recognized the Xinhua Dictionary as the best-selling regularly updated book, recording 567,007,232 copies sold as of July 28, 2015. That figure included an estimated 400 million copies sold between its first edition in 1953 and 2004, followed by more than 167 million verified additional sales.
Its presence at the top of the list also explains why discussions about the world’s best-selling novel often produce a different answer.
That title is generally associated with our next book
2. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes — Estimated 500 Million Copies
Published in two parts in 1605 and 1615, Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes is one of the most important novels ever written.
The story follows Alonso Quixano, a man who becomes obsessed with stories of knights and chivalry. Reinventing himself as Don Quixote, he sets off in search of adventure alongside his famously practical companion, Sancho Panza.
More than four centuries later, the novel remains widely read and studied around the world.
Lifetime sales are commonly estimated at around 500 million copies, although that number cannot be independently verified. The book predates modern publishing records by centuries and has appeared in countless editions and translations.
That makes its exact position impossible to prove, but Don Quixote is nevertheless routinely regarded as one of the most widely sold novels in literary history.
3. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens — Estimated 200 Million Copies
Charles Dickens is one of literature’s most recognizable authors, and A Tale of Two Cities may be his biggest commercial success.
Published in 1859, the novel takes place primarily in London and Paris during the years surrounding the French Revolution.
At the center of the novel are characters whose lives become intertwined with political upheaval, imprisonment, sacrifice, and revolution. Its famous opening and dramatic conclusion have helped make it one of Dickens’ most enduring works.
Lifetime sales are often estimated at approximately 200 million copies.
As with Don Quixote, however, readers should approach that figure cautiously. A Tale of Two Cities has been in the public domain for generations and has been published by many different companies, making a definitive lifetime sales total virtually impossible to calculate.
4. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien — More Than 150 Million Copies
Few books have influenced modern fantasy as much as The Lord of the Rings.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic follows Frodo Baggins and his companions as they attempt to destroy the One Ring before the Dark Lord Sauron can use it to dominate Middle-earth.
Although frequently described as a trilogy because it is typically published in three volumes—The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King—Tolkien conceived The Lord of the Rings as a single novel.
HarperCollins says more than 150 million copies of its many editions have been sold worldwide.
Its influence extends far beyond its sales numbers. Tolkien’s worldbuilding, languages, mythology, characters, and storytelling helped establish many of the conventions readers now associate with epic fantasy.
And Tolkien isn’t finished on this list.
5. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry — More Than 140 Million Copies
A children’s book with a surprisingly profound message comes next.
Published in 1943, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry follows a young prince who travels from planet to planet and encounters a series of unusual characters.
Beneath its simple storytelling and illustrations, however, is a thoughtful exploration of friendship, loneliness, love, adulthood, and loss.
That combination has helped the story connect with both children and adults.
Sales estimates vary considerably depending on the source, with figures of at least 140 million copies commonly reported. It has also become one of the world’s most extensively translated books, helping it reach readers across cultures and generations.
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling — More Than 120 Million Copies
Very few modern books have experienced anything resembling the success of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Originally published as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in the United Kingdom in 1997, the novel introduces readers to an orphan named Harry Potter who discovers that he is a wizard.
His arrival at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry launches one of the most successful book franchises ever created.
The first novel alone is widely reported to have sold more than 120 million copies worldwide.
Its success becomes even more impressive when you consider that this was merely the beginning of a seven-book series that turned Harry, Hermione, Ron, Hogwarts, and the Wizarding World into globally recognized cultural icons.
7. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie — More Than 100 Million Copies
It wouldn’t feel right to have a list of the best-selling books ever without Agatha Christie.
Published in 1939, And Then There Were None brings ten strangers to an isolated island. One by one, members of the group begin dying, and the survivors quickly realize that the killer may be among them.
The setup has influenced countless mysteries, thrillers, movies, television shows, and games.
Christie’s official website describes And Then There Were None as the best-selling crime novel of all time, with approximately 100 million copies sold worldwide.
That accomplishment is even more fitting considering Christie’s incredible overall popularity. Her official estate says her books have sold more than a billion copies in English and another billion copies in translation.
For mystery readers, And Then There Were None remains one of the genre’s essential novels.
8. Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin — Estimated 100 Million Copies
Western readers may be less familiar with Dream of the Red Chamber, but it is one of the most important works in Chinese literature.
Written by Cao Xueqin during the Qing dynasty and published in the 18th century, the massive novel focuses on the rise and decline of an aristocratic family.
But it is much more than a family drama.
The novel examines relationships, wealth, social class, tradition, religion, politics, and the changing fortunes of an enormous cast of characters.
Sales are often estimated at around 100 million copies, although, as with many centuries-old classics, establishing an exact worldwide total is difficult.
Its cultural importance is undeniable, and the novel is commonly considered one of China’s great classical works.
9. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien — More Than 100 Million Copies
J.R.R. Tolkien becomes one of the few authors to appear twice on the list with The Hobbit.
First published in 1937, the novel follows Bilbo Baggins, a comfortable and adventure-averse hobbit whose peaceful life changes when the wizard Gandalf arrives at his door.
Before long, Bilbo joins a company of dwarves on a quest to reclaim their homeland and treasure from the dragon Smaug.
Along the way, he encounters trolls, elves, goblins and a mysterious creature named Gollum.
The book ultimately became the gateway to Tolkien’s larger Middle-earth mythology and set the stage for The Lord of the Rings.
The Hobbit is widely reported to have sold more than 100 million copies, placing Tolkien in an extraordinarily small group of authors with multiple books reaching that milestone.
10. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill — Around 100 Million Copies
Rounding out our list is one of the most famous self-help and personal-development books ever published.
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill was released in 1937 during the Great Depression.
Rather than providing a simple investment strategy, Hill’s book focuses heavily on ideas surrounding ambition, persistence, goal-setting, mindset, and personal achievement.
The book became a cornerstone of the personal-development genre and has remained in print for decades.
Lifetime sales are frequently reported at approximately 100 million copies, although, as with several books on this list, historical totals vary between sources and editions.
Regardless of the precise figure, few self-improvement books have achieved the same level of long-term cultural recognition.
What Is the Best-Selling Book of All Time?
The answer depends on what counts as a book.
If regularly updated reference books are included, Guinness World Records recognizes the Xinhua Dictionary as the best-selling regularly updated book, with more than 567 million copies recorded as of July 2015.
If you’re asking specifically about novels, Don Quixote is frequently cited as the best-selling novel of all time, with an estimated 500 million copies.
Because Don Quixote was first published more than 400 years ago, however, its lifetime sales cannot be verified with the precision possible for a modern release.
What Is the Best-Selling Mystery Book of All Time?
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is considered the best-selling crime novel in history.
Christie’s official website reports sales of approximately 100 million copies worldwide.
The novel remains one of Christie’s most famous books and one of the defining works of the mystery genre.
What Is the Best-Selling Fantasy Book of All Time?
J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is among the strongest contenders.
HarperCollins reports that more than 150 million copies of its many editions have been sold worldwide.
Tolkien also appears on this list with The Hobbit, giving him two of the most commercially successful fantasy books ever published.
Why Are Best-Selling Book Numbers Difficult to Verify?
Book sales have not always been tracked the way they are today.
Classics such as Don Quixote and A Tale of Two Cities were published long before modern sales databases existed. Many are also in the public domain, allowing numerous publishers around the world to release their own editions.
That means there is no single database containing every copy sold over hundreds of years.
Translations, international editions, collected editions, school editions, and different publishing formats make the numbers even more complicated.
For that reason, any list of the best-selling books of all time should treat historical numbers as estimates rather than exact totals.
Final Thoughts
The best-selling books in history show just how varied the reading world can be.
A Chinese dictionary can sit beside a 17th-century Spanish novel. A Victorian historical epic can share a list with Harry Potter, Bilbo Baggins, Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries, and a classic self-help book.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about these titles isn’t simply how many copies they have sold. It is their longevity.
Many were published decades or even centuries ago and continue finding new readers today.
And with millions of copies still being printed, translated, adapted, gifted, and discovered, the rankings may continue to evolve.
How many of these best-selling books have you read? And which one do you think deserves its incredible popularity? Let us know in the comments.
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This is a fascinating list as it includes such a variety of genres. I’ve heard of seven, known people who have read these seven, but I’ve only read two of them. Now my TBR list just got longer!