Every Harry Potter Book Published

The Harry Potter series is the best-selling book series in history, with over 600 million copies sold worldwide and translations into more than 85 languages. What started as a modest 77,000-word children’s novel published by Bloomsbury in 1997 grew into a seven-book saga totalling more than 1,084,000 words – plus a handful of companion volumes that expanded J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World even further.

Below you’ll find every mainline Harry Potter novel and officially published companion book, complete with UK and US publication dates, page counts for both the Bloomsbury and Scholastic first editions, word counts, and ISBNs. Whether you’re planning a series re-read or settling a pub-quiz debate, this is the definitive reference.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Published on 26 June 1997 in the United Kingdom by Bloomsbury and on 1 September 1998 in the United States by Scholastic (retitled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone), this debut novel launched what would become the most successful book franchise in history. The initial UK print run was just 500 copies, of which 300 went to libraries – making first editions among the most valuable modern books, with copies selling at auction for over $400,000.

Rowling famously wrote much of the manuscript in Edinburgh cafés while living as a single mother on benefits. The book was rejected by twelve publishers before Bloomsbury’s chairman gave it a chance after his eight-year-old daughter read the first chapter and demanded more. It won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize and the British Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year, signalling the beginning of a cultural phenomenon.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Released on 2 July 1998 in the UK and 2 June 1999 in the US, Chamber of Secrets arrived to enormous anticipation after the first book’s unexpected success. The novel introduced the concept of Horcruxes (though readers wouldn’t know it yet) through Tom Riddle’s diary and expanded the mythology of Hogwarts with the legend of the Chamber itself.

Rowling completed the manuscript under increasing media pressure and fan expectations – a stark contrast to the anonymity in which the first book was written. The UK first edition is notable for a printing error on the back cover where “Philosopher’s Stone” prices are listed. The book solidified Harry Potter as a series phenomenon rather than a one-off hit, and its film adaptation in 2002 grossed $879 million worldwide.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Published on 8 July 1999 in the UK and 8 September 1999 in the US, Prisoner of Azkaban marked a tonal shift toward darker, more complex storytelling. It’s the only mainline novel in which Voldemort does not directly appear, yet it introduced fan-favourite characters Sirius Black and Remus Lupin while deploying one of the series’ most inventive plot devices: the Time-Turner.

The book won the Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year – making Rowling the first author to win the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize three years running. Many fans and critics regard it as the best book in the series for its tight plotting and emotional depth. At 107,253 words, it represented a significant jump in length from the first two books, foreshadowing the increasingly epic scale to come.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Released simultaneously in the UK and US on 8 July 2000 – the first time a Potter book launched on the same date in both markets – Goblet of Fire shattered records immediately. It sold over 372,000 copies in the UK on its first day and became the fastest-selling book in history at the time. Amazon.com reported pre-orders of 282,000 copies, an unprecedented figure.

At 190,637 words, the book was more than double the length of Philosopher’s Stone, and its darker themes – including the death of Cedric Diggory and Voldemort’s full return – signalled that the series had matured alongside its readership. The Triwizard Tournament structure gave Rowling room to expand the Wizarding World internationally, introducing Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. The book won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2001, making Rowling the first children’s author to receive that honour.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Published on 21 June 2003 after a three-year gap – the longest wait between Potter books – Order of the Phoenix is the longest novel in the series at 257,045 words. It sold five million copies in its first 24 hours in the US alone, setting a new single-day sales record.

The book introduced Dolores Umbridge, widely regarded as one of literature’s most despised villains, and the secret resistance group that gives the novel its name. Rowling has spoken about the difficulty of writing this instalment, partly because of the immense pressure and partly because of Harry’s angry, alienated characterisation – a deliberate choice that divided readers. The death of Sirius Black remains one of the series’ most emotionally devastating moments. At 766 pages in the UK edition and 870 in the US, it’s a genuine doorstopper.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Released on 16 July 2005 in both the UK and US, Half-Blood Prince sold 6.9 million copies in the US in its first 24 hours – the fastest-selling book in American history at that point. It earned near-universal praise for its character development, backstory revelations about Voldemort’s origins through the Pensieve memories, and Rowling’s increasingly sophisticated prose.

The death of Albus Dumbledore at the end of the novel became one of the most talked-about moments in modern fiction, with newspapers running spoiler warnings on their front pages. The identity of the “Half-Blood Prince” and the revelation of what Horcruxes truly meant for Harry’s quest gave the penultimate book a sense of mounting dread. At 168,923 words, it was actually shorter than the two preceding novels – a tighter, more focused narrative leading into the finale.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The final instalment arrived on 21 July 2007 and obliterated every previous sales record. It sold 2.65 million copies in the UK and 8.3 million in the US within 24 hours, making it the fastest-selling book of all time – a record that still stands. Bookshops hosted midnight release parties worldwide, and the book’s ending was guarded with security measures rivalling a military operation.

At 198,227 words, Deathly Hallows brought the series to an emotionally shattering conclusion. The Battle of Hogwarts, the revelations about Snape’s true allegiance, and the “King’s Cross” chapter with Dumbledore are among the most celebrated passages in modern literature. The epilogue – “Nineteen Years Later” – divided fans but gave Rowling’s sprawling saga a sense of closure. Combined, the seven mainline novels total 1,084,170 words.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Published on 12 March 2001 in both the UK and US, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was the first of two companion books Rowling wrote for Comic Relief. Presented as Harry Potter’s own copy of the Hogwarts textbook by fictional author Newt Scamander, it features handwritten annotations supposedly scribbled by Harry, Ron, and Hermione – a charming meta-fictional touch.

The slim volume catalogues 75 magical creatures from Acromantula to Yeti, blending Rowling’s signature humour with the encyclopaedic worldbuilding fans craved. It was updated and expanded in 2017 with new content, including six new creatures. Of course, the book’s title and central character later spawned a five-film franchise beginning in 2016. Combined with its sister title Quidditch Through the Ages, the two books raised over £30 million for Comic Relief by 2008.

Quidditch Through the Ages

Also published on 12 March 2001 alongside Fantastic Beasts, Quidditch Through the Ages is credited to the fictional author Kennilworthy Whisp. It traces the history of the Wizarding World’s favourite sport from its origins on Queerditch Marsh to the modern rules and professional teams, complete with Rowling’s dry wit throughout.

At just 56 pages, it’s the shortest book in the Harry Potter universe, but it’s packed with inventive detail – from the evolution of broomsticks to the 700 Quidditch fouls (all of which occurred during the 1473 World Cup final). The audiobook version, narrated by Andrew Lincoln of The Walking Dead fame, was released in 2018 and included over 90 minutes of bonus content. Like its companion, all royalties went to Comic Relief, later extended to Lumos, Rowling’s children’s charity.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

First produced in 2007 as a limited run of just seven handwritten and illustrated copies by Rowling herself, The Tales of Beedle the Bard was published for the general public on 4 December 2008 in the UK and US. One of the original seven copies was auctioned at Sotheby’s and bought by Amazon for £1.95 million ($3 million) – the highest price ever paid at auction for a modern literary manuscript.

The book contains five wizarding fairy tales, most notably “The Tale of the Three Brothers,” which plays a pivotal role in Deathly Hallows. Each story is followed by commentary from Albus Dumbledore, adding another layer of worldbuilding and humour. Proceeds went to the Children’s High Level Group (now Lumos). At 110 pages and roughly 5,800 words of actual story content, it’s a brief but beloved addition to the canon.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay

Note: This is a published screenplay, not a traditional novel. Published on 18 November 2016 by Scholastic (US) and Little, Brown (UK), the screenplay for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was released alongside the film of the same name. Written by J.K. Rowling, it marked her first screenplay and expanded the Wizarding World beyond the original seven novels. The story follows Magizoologist Newt Scamander as he arrives in 1920s New York with a suitcase full of magical creatures. ISBN (US): 978-1-338-10903-0. Publisher: Scholastic / Little, Brown. Year: 2016.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay

Note: This is a published screenplay, not a traditional novel. Published on 16 November 2018, the screenplay for The Crimes of Grindelwald was written by J.K. Rowling and published by Scholastic and Little, Brown to coincide with the film’s release. The story continues Newt Scamander’s adventures as Albus Dumbledore enlists him to help thwart the plans of the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. ISBN (US): 978-1-338-21679-0. Publisher: Scholastic / Little, Brown. Year: 2018.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – The Complete Screenplay

Note: This is a published screenplay, not a traditional novel. Published on 8 April 2022 by Scholastic and Little, Brown alongside the third film in the Fantastic Beasts series. Written by J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves, the screenplay follows Dumbledore as he tasks Newt Scamander and a team of wizards with thwarting Grindelwald’s plans to seize control of the wizarding world. ISBN (US): 978-0-593-11231-1. Publisher: Scholastic / Little, Brown. Year: 2022.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Note: This is a stage play script, not a novel, and its canonical status is debated among fans. It is listed on the official harrypotter.com as part of the Harry Potter series. Published on 31 July 2016 – Harry Potter’s birthday – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the script of the original West End stage production, written by Jack Thorne based on a story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Thorne. Set nineteen years after the events of Deathly Hallows, it follows Harry’s son Albus Severus Potter as he struggles with the weight of his family’s legacy. The play premiered at the Palace Theatre in London to widespread acclaim and won nine Olivier Awards including Best New Play. ISBN (UK): 978-0-7515-6535-5. Publisher: Little, Brown / Scholastic. Year: 2016.