If you are planning to publish or sell books on Amazon, the very first question that comes in mind is: “Will people actually buy this book?” 📚 That’s where demand checking becomes important. You don’t want to waste time writing or selling a book that no one is searching for. Luckily, there are quick ways to test book demand on Amazon before you even spend money or energy on it.
Let’s go step by step in very simple words.
Why checking book demand matters
Imagine you spend months writing a book, designing the cover, uploading it… and then it gets zero sales. That’s frustrating. The truth is, Amazon is a search-driven marketplace. People come with intent—they search for titles, keywords, and topics they already want to read about. If you align your book with what they are searching, sales will follow. If not, it can sink in the huge ocean of books.
So demand research helps you answer:
-
Are people searching for this topic?
-
Are they buying books in this category?
-
How strong is the competition?
Look at Amazon Best Seller Rank (BSR)
One of the fastest tricks is to check the Best Seller Rank. Every book on Amazon has a BSR number. It shows how well that book is selling compared to others.
-
A book with a BSR of under 10,000 means it’s selling really well.
-
A BSR around 50,000–100,000 is still pretty good—maybe a few sales per day.
-
If it’s above 300,000, the sales are probably very low.
Here’s a quick reference:
| BSR Range | Approx Sales per Day |
|---|---|
| 1 – 10,000 | 50+ sales per day |
| 10,000 – 50,000 | 5 – 50 sales per day |
| 50,000 – 100,000 | 1 – 5 sales per day |
| 100,000+ | Less than 1 sale per day |
👉 The lower the BSR, the higher the demand.
Use Amazon Search Bar
Sometimes the simplest tool is right in front of us. Just type your topic in the Amazon search bar. Amazon will automatically suggest keywords that people are already searching for.
For example, if you type “keto diet”, you might see:
-
keto diet for beginners
-
keto diet cookbook
-
keto diet meal plan
These suggestions are actual customer searches, which means there is demand. If no suggestions appear, it means very few people are looking for that term.
Check the number of reviews
Another quick way: look at reviews. Books with hundreds or thousands of reviews clearly have consistent buyers. A book with zero or very few reviews may mean low demand (or it’s brand new).
But here’s a trick—sometimes reviews don’t always tell the full story. A book could be selling well but hasn’t collected reviews yet. That’s why you should combine reviews with BSR for a more accurate picture.
Look at publishing date
If you see a book published very recently (say, within the last 6 months) already having a good BSR and reviews, it shows the topic has fresh demand. If older books are still ranking and selling, that means the demand is evergreen (long-lasting).
Check category rankings
Amazon allows you to see which categories the book is listed in. If a book is ranking in a niche category (like “Self-Help > Stress Management”), it means there’s a target audience. Browse the categories your book idea fits into, and see how many books are selling well there.
Use free and paid tools
There are some tools that make this process faster. For example:
-
Amazon’s own search bar (free) – for keyword demand
-
Publisher Rocket (paid) – gives you search volume and competition level
-
KDSpy (paid) – quick BSR and sales estimates
-
Helium 10 (paid, mostly for general Amazon sellers but still useful)
If you’re just starting, stick to the free methods first.
Spy on “Customers also bought” section
When you open a book, scroll down to the section called “Customers also bought”. This shows related books that readers are actually buying. If you see many books in the same niche with good BSRs, that’s a clear green signal of demand.
Think like a reader
Sometimes research tools can only tell half the story. Step into the shoes of a customer. Ask yourself:
-
Would I spend money on this topic?
-
Does it solve a real problem or provide entertainment?
-
Is it trendy or evergreen?
For example, books on “AI tools” may be trendy now, while “basic cooking for beginners” will always have demand.
Balance between demand and competition
Here’s a secret: just because a topic is popular doesn’t mean you should jump in blindly. High demand often means high competition too. The trick is to find a middle ground—topics that people want but don’t have overwhelming competition.
For instance:
-
“Weight loss” → very high demand, but too competitive.
-
“Weight loss for busy moms” → narrower niche, still demand but less competition.
Practical quick test
Here’s a 5-minute test you can do:
-
Go to Amazon.
-
Type your topic in the search bar.
-
Open the top 5–10 books.
-
Note their BSR, reviews, and publishing dates.
-
If at least 3 books have good BSR (<100,000) and recent activity, demand is strong.
This way, in just a few minutes, you’ll know whether your book idea has a chance.
Common mistakes to avoid
-
Relying only on one book as a sign of demand. (Look at several books.)
-
Ignoring publishing date—older books may not show today’s demand.
-
Assuming high competition is always bad. Sometimes, competition means there’s a lot of money in that niche.
Extra tip: Trends outside Amazon
Don’t just rely on Amazon. Check Google Trends or social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or Reddit to see if people are talking about your topic. If something is trending outside, chances are demand will also rise on Amazon.
Quick Recap
To check book demand on Amazon quickly:
-
Look at Best Seller Rank (BSR)
-
Use Amazon search suggestions
-
Check reviews and publishing dates
-
Study category rankings
-
Use “Customers also bought” section
-
Balance demand vs competition
By combining these, you’ll get a clear picture of whether your book idea can sell. 🚀
FAQs
Q1: How many sales does a book need to rank under 10,000 BSR?
A: Usually around 50+ sales per day, depending on the category.
Q2: Do I need paid tools to check demand?
A: Not really. Free methods like Amazon search bar, reviews, and BSR checks are enough for beginners. Paid tools just make things faster.
Q3: Is it better to go for high-demand topics or low-competition ones?
A: The best strategy is a balance. A topic with demand but manageable competition is ideal.
Q4: Can a new book beat old books in ranking?
A: Yes, if your book is well-written, keyword-optimized, and marketed properly, it can rise even in competitive niches.
Q5: How often should I check demand before publishing?
A: At least twice—once before writing and once before publishing. Trends can shift quickly.
✅ Bottom line: Checking book demand on Amazon isn’t hard—it just takes a few smart checks. Once you know what people want, your chances of success increase massively. Instead of guessing, let the data guide you.
