Bookstores in United States:Which are searched most?
In September 2026, Barnes & Noble was the most searched among bookstores in United States, with an estimated 7.5M branded searches and 81.8% estimated Share of Search within this set.
Barnes & Noble81.8%
Half Price Books10.9%
Books-A-Million7.3%
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Share of SearchLeaderboard
Compare the bookstores shoppers use. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Barnes & Noble, Half Price Books, Books-A-Million. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Barnes & Noble | Half Price Books | Books-A-Million |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 80.4% | 10.8% | 8.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 83.4% | 9.1% | 7.5% |
| Dec 2025 | 84.8% | 7.6% | 7.6% |
| Jan 2026 | 80.5% | 10.7% | 8.8% |
| Feb 2026 | 80.4% | 10.8% | 8.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 82% | 9% | 9% |
| Apr 2026 | 80.4% | 10.8% | 8.8% |
| May 2026 | 80.5% | 10.7% | 8.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 83.4% | 9.1% | 7.5% |
| Jul 2026 | 81.8% | 10.9% | 7.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 80.5% | 10.7% | 8.8% |
| Sep 2026 | 81.8% | 10.9% | 7.3% |
This month’s ranking, September 2026
| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 81.8% | 7.5M | -0.08% | +1.3 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 10.9% | 1M | 0% | +0.2 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 7.3% | 673K | -18.2% | -1.5 points |
81.8%
Held 1st. 7.5M estimated branded searches, -0.08% vs prior month. Share +1.3 points.
10.9%
Held 2nd. 1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
7.3%
Held 3rd. 673K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.5 points.
Compare search popularity between leading brands
Which brand is most popular in search among bookstores in United States?
3 brands
In September 2026, Barnes & Noble was the most searched among bookstores in United States, with an estimated 7.5M branded searches and 81.8% estimated Share of Search within this set. Half Price Books is in 2nd place, 70.9 percentage points behind at 10.9% Share of Search.
| Brand | Share of Search | Peak | Low | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes & Noble | 80.4% → 81.8% | 84.8%Dec 2025 | 80.4%Oct 2025 | 1st |
| Half Price Books | 10.8% → 10.9% | 10.9%Jul 2026 | 7.6%Dec 2025 | 2nd |
| Books-A-Million | 8.8% → 7.3% | 9%Mar 2026 | 7.3%Jul 2026 | 3rd |
Each finding as a sentence
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Barnes & Noble’s estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United States increased from 80.4% to 81.8%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Books-A-Million’s estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United States decreased from 8.8% to 7.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Barnes & Noble’s estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United States peaked at 84.8% in December 2025 and was lowest at 80.4% in October 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Half Price Books’ estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United States peaked at 10.9% in July 2026 and was lowest at 7.6% in December 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Books-A-Million’s estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United States peaked at 9% in March 2026 and was lowest at 7.3% in July 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Half Price Books held steady: its estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United States moved less than 0.5 percentage points.
How did search popularity change for United States bookstores in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, Barnes & Noble gained estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United States, from 80.5% to 81.8%.
In September 2026, Books-A-Million lost estimated Share of Search among bookstores in United States, from 8.8% to 7.3%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Half Price Books in United States rose 21.5% over 12 measured months, from 823K to 1M in September 2026.
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