Harry Potter Box Set Guide: Which Edition Should You Buy?

The short answer: for a first read, the classic seven-book paperback Harry Potter box set is the best value at £31.99 (price at time of writing). For a gift that will be kept for decades, choose a House Edition set or the hardback Owl Post trunk. For a child who loves pictures, go for the illustrated editions. This guide compares every type of Harry Potter box set we stock, explains the differences in plain English and suggests the right one for each reader.

Harry Potter box sets compared

Prices and formats are taken from our product pages in October 2026 and may change. Always check the product page before ordering.

The seven books, in order

Every complete box set contains the same seven novels. If you are buying for someone new to the series, read them in this order:

• Book 1: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
• Book 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Book 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Book 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Book 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Book 6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Book 7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The books grow up with Harry. The first two are gentle enough for confident readers of around eight or nine, while the later books are longer and darker. Many families read the first three aloud together and let children carry on alone from there.

Option 1: the classic paperback box set

If you want the whole story at the lowest price, the paperback seven-book set is the one to buy. Our Harry Potter 7 Books Collection Set and the Harry Potter Series 7 Books Collection Box Set were both £31.99 at the time of writing. Paperbacks are light, easy to carry to school and less painful if one gets dropped in the bath.

Choose this if: you're buying for a child aged roughly 8–12 reading the series for the first time, or replacing a battered old set.

Option 2: the hardback Owl Post box set

The Owl Post Box Set holds all seven novels in hardback inside a trunk-style box decorated with owls and postmarks. According to the listing, the books feature cover illustrations by Jonny Duddle and come with character stickers. It is the most "present-like" complete set we stock.

Choose this if: it's a milestone gift and you want the books to survive many re-reads and maybe the next generation.

Option 3: House Edition sets

House Editions are the same seven stories, styled for one Hogwarts house. Our listing for the Ravenclaw set describes the house crest on the jacket and line illustrations by Kate Greenaway Medal winner Levi Pinfold. The Gryffindor set mentions extra content such as fact files and character profiles, plus sprayed edges in house colours. We also stock the Slytherin set.

Choose this if: the reader already knows (or loudly insists on) their house. These make a brilliant gift for teenagers and adults who grew up with the books.

Can I buy a single House Edition book?

Yes, some individual titles are listed too, such as Chamber of Secrets – Ravenclaw Edition. Use our Harry Potter search to see what's currently available.

Option 4: illustrated editions

The illustrated editions retell the original, unabridged text with full-colour artwork on almost every spread. They are big, beautiful books, and they are the best way to bring the story to younger children who are not yet ready to read 300 pages of plain text alone.

• Illustrated Edition 1–4: the first four books in one set (listed as paperback), £55.99.
• Illustrated Edition 3-book hardback set: books 1–3, £64.49.
• Order of the Phoenix illustrated by Jim Kay, hardcover, £29.99, for families collecting the illustrated series book by book.

The MinaLima & Mountford 4-book set is different again: books 1–3 are illustrated by the design studio MinaLima and book 4 by Karl James Mountford, with interactive paper-engineered features. It's the priciest set here at £113.99, and really one for collectors.

Choose this if: you're reading aloud to a 6–9-year-old, or buying a showpiece for a fan.

Tips for reading Harry Potter with children

A box set is a big commitment, so a little planning helps it land well.

• Read book one together. The opening chapters at the Dursleys' are slower than the rest of the book. Reading them aloud carries a child through to the moment the letters arrive and Hogwarts begins.
• Don't race ahead. There's no prize for finishing all seven by ten years old. Book four onwards includes more danger and loss, and it's fine to take a break and come back to the series a year later.
• Talk about the big themes. Friendship, courage, prejudice and grief all run through the series and make great conversation starters at bedtime.
• Save the films for later. Many families make watching each film a reward for finishing the matching book, which keeps the pictures in a child's head their own.

If your child is not quite ready for 300-page novels, a shorter series can build stamina first. Our guide to children's book box sets by age suggests sets for every reading stage.

Extras for fans who have finished the series

Once the seven books are done, the wizarding world keeps going:

• The Reference Library 3-book set (£17.99) collects Quidditch Through the Ages, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and The Tales of Beedle the Bard.
• Pocket Potters (£23.99) are small hardback guides to Harry, Ron, Hermione and Luna, ideal for younger fans.
• The Wizarding World Movie Scrapbooks 8-book set (£15.99) suits children who came to the story through the films.
• For December, the Yule Ball Pop-Up Advent Calendar (£16.99) is a lovely countdown. See more festive ideas in our Christmas books for kids guide.

Which Harry Potter box set should I buy? A quick decision guide

• Child aged 8–12, first read: paperback 7-book set.
• Child aged 6–8, read-aloud: Illustrated Edition 1–4.
• Teen or adult fan: a House Edition set.
• Once-in-a-lifetime gift: Owl Post hardback box set or the MinaLima & Mountford set.
• Already read everything: Reference Library or Pocket Potters.

Finished Hogwarts and want more mythology and magic? Our Percy Jackson reading order guide is the natural next step, and the Lord of the Rings box set guide is perfect for older readers.

Frequently asked questions

What age is the Harry Potter box set suitable for?

Most children enjoy reading the first books on their own from around eight or nine. The later books are longer and darker, so some parents pause after book three or four with younger readers. Illustrated editions work well as read-alouds from about six.

How many books are in a complete Harry Potter box set?

Seven: from Philosopher's Stone to Deathly Hallows. Companion books such as Fantastic Beasts and Beedle the Bard are sold separately in our Reference Library set.

What's the difference between the House Editions and the standard set?

The text is the same. House Editions add house-themed covers, sprayed edges or illustrations and, depending on the edition, extra content such as fact files.

Are the illustrated editions abridged?

No. The illustrated editions use the full original text, with illustrations added throughout.

Is there a cheaper way to buy two or more sets?

Our Bundle Savings page lists multi-buy discount codes that apply when you add several items to your basket. Check the page for the current terms.

Start the journey to Hogwarts

Whether it's a first read or a collector's showpiece, there's a Harry Potter set to suit every reader. Explore more magical series in our fantasy books collection or browse all children's book box sets.