He's one of the most recognizable names in fiction and easily one of the most prolific American authors. With so many great works, this list of books by Stephen King, voted on by the Ranker community, attempts to rank his top novels and best books ever. This list of King's writings is the definitive ranking of his body of work. King's stories range from thick novels to short stories and collections, and include some of the most popular horror novels of our time. Many Stephen King books and stories have been adapted into popular horror movies as well, including The Shining, Misery, Carrie, and The Shawshank Redemption.
What are Stephen King's best books? This list is focused only on Stephen King's published work, not the resulting movies or TV shows. Enjoy this list of Stephen King books ranked, and vote for the novels you think are the best Stephen King books of all time. Then, see if they're available on audiobook.
Ranking Stephen King books isn't easy, with so many to choose from, so help us out and vote! His works cover many genres, primarily horror, fantasy, supernatural fiction, and dark fantasy. He has written memorable series such as The Dark Tower series, as well as stand-alone horror novels, like The Stand. King has also branched out from horror writing during his career, such as with the time-travel novel, 11/22/63, about the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
The best Stephen King novels on this list have combined to sell over 350 million copies, and King himself has received numerous writing and literature awards throughout his career. So vote for the best among his many top works below, or rerank the list if you don't agree with the order.
1
4,380952It
1986Author: Stephen King
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Horror Film
Original Language: English Language
It is a 1986 horror novel by American author Stephen King. The story follows the exploits of... more
2
3,553788The Shining
1977Author: Stephen King
Subjects: Adventure, Family
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Horror Film, Fiction, Gothic fiction
Original Language: English Language
The Shining is a horror novel by American author Stephen King. Published in 1977, it is King's... more- 33,990940
The Stand
1978Author: Stephen King
Subjects: Research
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, Children's literature, Horror Film, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
The Stand is a post-apocalyptic horror/fantasy novel by American author Stephen King. It... more - 42,767550
The Green Mile
1996Author: Stephen King
Subjects: Death row inmates -- Fiction, Prisons -- Fiction
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Horror Film, Fantasy
Original Language: English Language
The Green Mile is a 1996 serial novel written by Stephen King. It tells the story of death row... more - 52,948711
Pet Sematary
1983Author: Stephen King
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Suspense, Horror Film, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Pet Sematary is a 1983 horror novel by Stephen King, nominated for a World Fantasy Award for... more - 62,767700
'Salem's Lot
1975Author: Stephen King
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Horror Film, Gothic fiction
Original Language: English Language
'Salem's Lot is a 1975 horror fiction novel written by the American author Stephen King. It... more - 72,708830
Misery
1987Author: Stephen King
Subjects: Suspense
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Psychological thriller, Horror Film, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Misery is a psychological horror novel by Stephen King. The novel was nominated for the World... more - 82,130468
11/22/63
2011Author: Stephen King
Genres (Book): Alternate history, Science Fiction
Original Language: English Language
11/22/63 is a novel by Stephen King about a time traveler who attempts to prevent the... more - 91,629461
Author: Stephen King
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Horror Film
Original Language: English Language
Different Seasons is a collection of four Stephen King novellas with a more serious dramatic... more - 101,457491
Night Shift
1978Author: Stephen King
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Horror Film, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Night Shift is the first collection of short stories by Stephen King, first published in 1978.... more - 111,935706
Needful Things
1991Author: Stephen King
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Horror Film, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Needful Things is a 1991 horror novel by American author Stephen King. It is the first novel... more - 121,741639
The Dead Zone
1979Author: Stephen King
Subjects: New England, Adventure
Genres (Book): Children's literature, Horror Film, Mystery, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
The Dead Zone is a supernatural thriller novel by Stephen King published in 1979. It concerns... more - 132,194823
Carrie
1974Author: Stephen King
Subjects: Classics
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Suspense, Horror Film, Mystery, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Carrie is an American epistolary novel and author Stephen King's first published novel,... more - 141,167386
Skeleton Crew
1985Author: Stephen King
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Horror Film, Fiction, Short story
Original Language: English Language
Skeleton Crew is the second collection of short fiction by Stephen King, published by Putnam... more - 151,167339
Dr. Sleep
2013Author: Stephen King
Original Language: English Language
Doctor Sleep is a novel by Stephen King, a sequel to King's novel The Shining, released in... more - 161,015329
Author: Stephen King
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Horror Film, Science Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Nightmares & Dreamscapes is a short story collection by Stephen King published in 1993.... more - 171,787752
Author: Stephen King
Subjects: Epic film
Genres (Book): Western, Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Horror Film, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
The Gunslinger is a novel by American author Stephen King, and is the first volume in the Dark... more - 18859286
Author: Stephen King
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Horror Film, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Four Past Midnight is a collection of four novellas by Stephen King, published in 1990. The... more - 191,528638
Author: Stephen King
Subjects: Epic film
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Horror Film, Fiction, Western fiction
Original Language: English Language
The Drawing of the Three is the second book in The Dark Tower series of novels written by... more - 20657172The Mist is a horror novella by the American author Stephen King, in which the small town of... more
- 21496100
Author: Stephen King
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption is a novella by Stephen King, from his 1982 collection... more - 221,203471
Author: Stephen King
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Horror Film, Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Original Language: English Language
The Waste Lands is the third book of the The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. The original... more - 23808262
Mr. Mercedes
Jan 01 2014Author: Stephen King
Genres (Book): Crime Fiction, Hardboiled, Detective fiction
Original Language: English Language
Mr. Mercedes is a novel by Stephen King. He calls it his first hard-boiled detective book. It... more - 241,571687
Cujo
1981Author: Stephen King
Subjects: Espionage
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Suspense, Children's literature, Horror Film, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Cujo is a 1981 psychological horror novel by Stephen King about a rabid dog. The novel won the... more - 251,167415
Author: Stephen King
Subjects: Women, Confession, Maine
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Psychological thriller, Horror Film, Thriller
Original Language: English Language
Dolores Claiborne is a 1992 psychological thriller novel by Stephen King. The novel is... more
