13 Best PLC Programming Books in 2026 (Beginner to Advanced)

How this list is organised

Tier 1 is for absolute beginners. Tier 2 is for engineers who know the basics and want to deepen their knowledge of a specific vendor or technique. Tier 3 is reference material — books that live on your desk and you reach for when you have a specific question.

For each book I've listed: who it's for, what's strong about it, what's missing, and a typical price range. Buy used where possible — most of these books retain their value because the underlying concepts don't change every year.

Tier 1 — Beginner

1. Programmable Logic Controllers (5th edition) — Frank Petruzella

The most-recommended introductory PLC textbook globally. Used in community college and university automation programs. Covers fundamentals of digital control, ladder logic, timers, counters, math instructions, sequencers, and an introduction to networking. Includes lab exercises with simulators.

Best for: complete beginners and students. Strong: clarity, broad coverage. Missing: deep coverage of any specific vendor (intentionally vendor-agnostic). Price: $80-150 new, $30-60 used.

2. Automating Manufacturing Systems with PLCs — Hugh Jack

Free PDF available online (the author has made it freely downloadable). Comprehensive coverage of PLC programming, hardware, control theory, and design. Used at GVSU and other engineering programs.

Best for: budget-conscious learners and engineering students. Strong: free, comprehensive, includes control theory. Missing: hands-on vendor IDE walkthroughs. Price: free download.

3. Programmable Logic Controllers (Bolton) — W. Bolton

A compact, accessible introduction. Bolton has been the entry-level UK textbook for decades. Covers basics through intermediate concepts in ~300 pages.

Best for: UK/European learners. Strong: concise. Missing: depth on advanced topics. Price: $50-80.

4. PLC Programming for Industrial Automation — Kevin Collins

A practical guide aimed at maintenance technicians moving into PLC programming. Strong on troubleshooting and real-world wiring as well as programming.

Best for: maintenance techs upgrading skills. Strong: troubleshooting orientation. Missing: advanced ST and FB programming. Price: $40-65.

Tier 2 — Vendor-specific deep dives

5. Allen-Bradley PLCs: An Emphasis on Design and Application — Kelvin T. Erickson

The senior textbook for Allen-Bradley programming. Covers SLC-500, ControlLogix, and the full Studio 5000 programming environment. Used by Rockwell training centers.

Best for: serious AB-focused engineers. Strong: thorough vendor coverage. Missing: nothing significant for AB. Price: $90-150.

6. Programming with STEP 7 — Hans Berger

Siemens' canonical text for S7-300/400 STEP 7 programming. Now somewhat dated as TIA Portal replaced STEP 7, but the underlying concepts (FB, FC, DB structure, instruction set) carry forward to S7-1500.

Best for: engineers with Siemens S7-300/400 legacy installations. Strong: deep Siemens-specific coverage. Missing: TIA Portal V19 specifics (look for newer Siemens publications). Price: $80-120.

7. Programming Industrial Automation Systems with PROFINET — Frithjof Klasen et al.

Comprehensive PROFINET protocol guide written by the people who built the standard. Covers RT, IRT, security, conformance classes, troubleshooting.

Best for: engineers designing or troubleshooting PROFINET networks. Strong: authoritative source. Missing: vendor-specific TIA Portal walkthroughs. Price: $60-100.

8. Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 Practical Programming — Frank Lamb

The leading TwinCAT 3 textbook, covering ST, motion, EtherCAT integration, and the unique aspects of Beckhoff's PC-based control philosophy.

Best for: engineers entering Beckhoff TwinCAT. Strong: only thorough English-language TwinCAT 3 book. Missing: very few. Price: $50-80.

Tier 3 — Reference and advanced

9. The Concise Industrial Cyber Security Manual — Ron Brash

Cybersecurity for industrial control systems following IEC 62443. Practical, oriented to working engineers rather than academic.

Best for: any engineer working on connected plants in 2026. Strong: pragmatic. Missing: deep coverage of the legal/compliance side. Price: $40-65.

10. SCADA: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition — Stuart A. Boyer

The classic SCADA textbook. Covers architecture, communications, HMI design, alarm management. Best balanced introduction to SCADA concepts independent of any specific platform.

Best for: engineers transitioning from PLC into supervisory systems. Strong: vendor-agnostic. Missing: modern MQTT/Sparkplug coverage. Price: $80-130.

11. Practical Industrial Communications — David Bailey

Communications protocols deep dive — Modbus, PROFIBUS, DeviceNet, CAN, EtherNet/IP, OPC UA, and more. Reference-grade depth on each.

Best for: engineers troubleshooting comm issues across multiple protocols. Strong: breadth + depth combination. Missing: PROFINET CC-D and TSN (newer than the book's last edition). Price: $60-100.

12. Industrial Network Security — Eric Knapp & Joel Langill

Cybersecurity for OT/ICS networks. Covers threats, controls, IEC 62443, NIST SP 800-82, and real incident analysis (Stuxnet, Ukrainian grid attacks, etc.).

Best for: senior engineers and architects responsible for plant cybersecurity. Strong: pragmatic + thorough. Missing: post-2024 incidents. Price: $60-100.

13. Programmable Controllers: Theory and Implementation — L.A. Bryan and E.A. Bryan

The classic reference textbook. Heavy on theory: control systems, scan cycle internals, instruction execution, timing analysis. Used in graduate engineering courses.

Best for: engineers seeking deep theoretical foundation. Strong: most rigorous theoretical treatment available. Missing: practical day-to-day programming guidance. Price: $100-180.

Honourable mentions

• PLC Hardware and Programming - Multi-Platform Approach — Jon Stenerson
• Process Control: A Practical Approach — Myke King (excellent for process control)
• The Mechatronics Handbook — Robert H. Bishop (broader but useful)
• Free online: PLCS.net textbook section, AutomationDirect's free downloadable PLC training book

What about online courses?

Books are still the most cost-effective way to build deep knowledge. But for hands-on practice, online courses outperform books — see Best PLC Programming Courses Online 2026.

Related guides

• Learn PLC Programming Roadmap
• PLC Programming Beginner's Guide pillar
• Self-Taught PLC: Lessons Learned
• Free PLC Software list — tools to practise what you read