Best Flatbed Scanner for Pros & Hobbyists 2022 | Comparison & Buyer’s Guide
What is the best flatbed scanner? In fact, there is no single answer to this question as much depends on what you need it for. Do you want to get high-resolution images or multipage documents? Are you going to digitize large-sized A3 sheets or, on the contrary, smaller slides and negatives?
Technically, flatbed scanners can be grouped into CCD like the Epson Perfection V600 and CIS models like the CanoScan LiDE220. While CCD scanners produce images of higher quality, CIS models are more energy-efficient, easy-to-use, and have no lens distortion.
In terms of application, flatbed scanners can be professional-grade like the Epson Perfection V850 Pro. They will give you sharper details, deeper colors, and can automatically improve the scan. If you need to digitize a variety of materials ranging from film and negatives to old photos and documents, such models would be the most appropriate for you.
For bulk scanning, use book scanners like the Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus designed specifically for this purpose. However, if you are dealing with multiple-page documents, models equipped with an ADF would be the best choice. For example, the Xerox XD-COMBO has a capacity of scanning up to 25 pages per minute.
Those who need to digitize large formats like A3 would benefit from models like the Plustek A3 Flatbed Scanner.
And finally, there are inexpensive flatbed scanners under $100, such as the Epson Perfection V39, that provide a good balance of price and performance.
Best Flatbed Scanners Compared
1. Epson Perfection V600 Color Scanner | |
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2. Xerox XD-COMBO Duplex Combo Flatbed Document Scanner | |
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3. Epson Perfection V850 Pro Scanner | |
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4. Plustek A3 Flatbed Scanner OS 1180 | |
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5. Canon CanoScan LiDE220 A4 for CIS Sensor | |
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6. Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus | |
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7. Epson Perfection V39 Color Photo & Document Scanner | |
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Advantages of Flatbed Scanners
While you can find different types of scanners on the market, flatbed models remain the most widespread. Why? There are several reasons for professionals and hobbyists to opt for a flatbed scanner:
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Flexibility. No matter how thick the paper is, a flatbed scanner can cope with it. You can scan a page out of a book or any other bulky thing like an album. There are models like the Epson Perfection V800 that can scan not only documents but also film of all sizes: 35mm, 120mm, and 4x5.
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Reduced Distortion. Since an uneven object can be held flat by the lid, such devices are good at eliminating distortions.
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Value for the Money. You can find a variety of flatbed scanners that are inexpensive yet provide good-quality scanning. Moreover, the quality has been increasing year by year.
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Higher Resolution. Basic models typically have a max resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi). More advanced flatbed scanners boast a resolution of 1200 dpi and can successfully scan more sensitive materials, such as photos and film. Besides, flatbed scanners come with software that allows the user to increase the resolution of scanned images up to 9600 dpi.
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Best for 2D/3D Objects. It is the easiest and most efficient way to digitize multidimensional objects, such as flowers or art canvas, given they fit well on the scanner’s surface.
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Independent from Ambient Lighting. Unlike overhead and portable scanners, this type of equipment is not sensitive to ambient lighting. You can place it near the window or near the source of bright light, without worrying that this would negatively affect the quality of your scan. Nor does it require you to set up studio lighting.
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Ease of Use. Generally, flatbed scanners can be used by anyone who has only a basic understanding of the process.
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Compact Design. This type of equipment can easily fit on a desk and does not take much space.
Different Types of Flatbed Scanners
CIS/CCD Flatbed Scanners
Technically speaking, there are two types of flatbed scanners: CCD and CIS. The former features optics with higher precision and high-density sensors, which illuminate the scanning objects with LED light. These advanced features of CCD scanners allow them to create sharper images with a higher resolution. Like old-fashioned digital cameras, they use an actual lens.
CCD scanners are good at capturing high-resolution details and offer a greater depth of field. They are also recommended for scanning folded sheets and thick objects. One of the examples is the Epson Perfection V600 that can achieve great productivity. It is versatile and can digitize different objects, including film, prints, slides, and negatives.
Contact image sensor (CIS) scanners like the CanoScan LiDE220 are more energy-efficient and boast a slim design. The technology is based on multiple fiber optic lenses that transfer information to a number of sensors. This type of equipment has several advantages. First, CIS scanners require less maintenance as they have no cameras to calibrate. In these devices, it is software that controls the sensors. Secondly, there is no lens distortion and the resolution is high enough, however, CIS scanners are quite sensitive to focus depth. Last but not least, they are generally less expensive and are a good value for the money.
Professional/Basic Models
Based on the number of features and capability, scanners can be categorized into professional and basic models. The choice is largely determined by the user’s needs.
If you are going to scan documents or some photos for personal use, without the necessity of color management, basic scanners would be the best bet for you. Some budget options like the Epson Perfection V39 have decent resolution and an expanded set of features.
Best Flatbed Photo Scanner for Old Photos
Professional-grade models like the Epson Perfection V850 Pro Scanner are more sophisticated. Not only do they provide higher quality scanning, but they also do a good job in terms of image enhancement. Using such a device, you will get scans with sharper details and deeper colors. The machine will automatically remove appearances of scratches and dust from the image as well as defects from film. One of the essential advantages of professional flatbed scanners is their versatility. They digitize not only photos and documents but also film, negatives, slides, and more.
A3 CCD Flatbed Scanner for Graphic Design, Artwork, Artists & Architects
While most flatbed scanners are meant to work with A4-sized documents, there are models, such as the Plustek A3 Flatbed Scanner, specifically designed for larger materials. They provide high-quality A3 scanning and generally come with a powerful software package. With a 17-inch maximum scanning area, the device can be useful for digitizing newspapers, scrapbooks, and artwork. It would be indispensable for libraries and universities to scan large books, building and architectural companies to digitize design projects as well as for home use.
With/Without an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)
Flatbed scanners are available with or without an automatic document feeder (ADF) like the Xerox XD-COMBO. The latter is a crucial feature for those who need to often scan multiple documents or pages at a time. The number of sheets scanned per minute typically ranges from 20 to 80. As for photos, such a device can digitize up to 160 images per minute. That said, they have a significantly smaller ADF size and a daily duty cycle compared to sheetfed scanners, which are made to deal with heavier scanning needs.
Flatbed Book Scanners
This is a separate type of flatbed scanners designed for digitizing books. They have a special book-edge design and can scan more than one hundred pages in less than half an hour. The speed is one of the factors to consider when choosing your book scanner as you will need to deal with large amounts of pages. For example, the Plustek OpticBook A300 Plus can digitize up to 200 pages in 20 minutes and has software for image processing. Using such models, you will get scans without distorted text and spine shadow.
Best-Selling Flatbed Scanners | Comparison Table
Customers' Choice
Epson Perfection V600 Color Photo, Image, Film, Negative & Document Scanner
- Create extraordinary enlargements from film: 6400 x 9600 dpi for enlargements up to 17 Inches x 22 Inches. Maximum Scan Area 8.5 x 11.7 inches. TPU 2.7 x 9.5 inches
- Remove the appearance of dust and scratches from film: Digital ICE for Film
- Remove the appearance of tears and creases from photos: Digital ICE for prints
- Restore faded color photos with one touch: Epson easy photo fix included
- Scan slides, negatives and medium format panoramic film: Built in transparency unit
- Achieve greater productivity: Energy efficient Ready Scan LED light source means no warm up time, faster scans and lower power consumption
- Convert scanned documents into editable text: ABBYY FineReader Sprint Plus OCR
- Take your photos further: ArcSoft PhotoStudio included, to help edit and enhance your digital images
- Quickly complete any task: Instantly scan, copy, scan to email and create PDFs with four customizable buttons
Best Value
Epson Perfection V39 Color Photo & Document Scanner with Scan-To-Cloud & 4800 Optical Resolution,Black
- High quality scanning for photos and documents : 4800 dpi optical resolution (1) for amazing clarity and detail
- Preserve priceless memories: Restore, archive and share family photos for generations to come
- Scan to Google Drive and other cloud services (2): Epson Document Capture Pro and Easy Photo Scan software included
- Convenient: Easy to use buttons for scan jobs, plus a space saving built in kickstand for vertical placement
- Scan over sized prints, documents and artwork : ArcSoft Scan n Stitch Deluxe 2 included (3)
- Restore color to faded photos: With one click, Easy Photo Fix technology makes it simple
- Scan books and photo albums: High rise, removable lid
- Remove dust from scanned photos : Advanced Digital Dust Correction
- Convert scanned documents into editable text: Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software included
- USB powered: No AC adapter required
Most Popular
Canon CanoScan Lide 400 Slim Scanner, 7.7" x 14.5" x 0.4"
- Enjoy high speed scanning in as fast as 8 seconds, with the included USB Type-C cable. With USB Type-C the Cano scan lied 400 has one cable for data and power.
- Preserve detailed photos and images thanks to 4800 x 4800 dpi resolution, and with image enhancements, such as color restore and dust removal, Your photos will continue to look great.
- Enjoy ease of use with 'EZ' Buttons. With auto scan mode, the Scanner automatically detects what you are scanning; built-in PDF buttons, scan and save multi-page pdf's that are editable and searchable
- Paper size: 8.27 x 11.69, 8.50 x 11.69
Best Budget
Xerox XD-COMBO Duplex Combo Flatbed Document Scanner for PC and Mac, Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)
- FAST SCANNING Duplex scanner with 35-page automatic document feeder scans in color grayscale and black/white Scans up to 25 ppm/50 ipm at 300 dpi Duty Cycle 1500 pages/day
- QUICK ORGANIZATION Get organized fast by quickly converting paper documents into searchable PDF files
- FLEXIBLE MEDIA HANDLING Scan ID cards passports photos documents receipts checks and more in color and black/white
- IMAGE ENHANCEMENT TECHNOLOGY Visioneer Acuity technology enables the scanner to instantly improve the visual clarity of every scanned image get perfect scans from imperfect originals
- ONE TOUCH SCANNING Users can quickly scan to the “destination” of their choice by pressing a single button eliminating the multiple steps usually required to save scanned documents in popular file formats
Most Discussed & Reviewed
HP ScanJet Pro 2500 f1 Flatbed OCR Scanner
- Speeds: Achieve scan speeds up to 20 pages per minute, 40 images per minute, and 1,500 pages per day with single-pass, 2-sided scanning to help automate workflows
- Auto document feeder: Load up to 50 pages for fast, unattended scanning
- Software features: Automatic crop, exposure, orient, page size detection plus blank page and hole removal, background cleanup & removal, edge erase, straighten content, merge pages, color drop out, black & white enhance
- Scan to: Use scan profiles for recurring jobs or send directly to email, SharePoint, Dropbox, FTP, network, local drive, custom locations, multiple destinations
- Paper sizes supported: Letter, legal, executive, business cards, 8x12, 6x8, 4x6, 7x10; handles paper sizes up to 122 inches
- Paper types: Paper (banner, inkjet, photo, plain), envelopes, labels, greeting cards, index cards, business cards
- Warranty: 1-year limited hardware warranty; phone and 24-hour, 7 days a week Web support included
- Save time: Create one-button scan settings for recurring tasks from LCD control panel
Best Trusted
Epson Perfection V19 Color Photo & Document Scanner with scan-to-cloud & 4800 dpi optical resolution
- Everyday scanning for photos and documents — 4800 dpi optical resolution (1) for amazing clarity and detail.
- Scan and share on cloud services (3) — includes Epson Easy Photo Scan software for scanning to Evernote and more
- Fast speeds — scan letter-sized documents in as few as 10 seconds
- Easy-to-use buttons — scan to email or create PDFs.
- Save space — built-in kickstand for vertical placement.
- USB powered — no AC adapter required
Best Cheap
Epson DS-1630 Document Scanner: 25ppm, Twain & ISIS Drivers, 3-Year Warranty with Next Business Day Replacement
- Versatile scanning: auto-duplex scanning through the Auto Document Feeder (ADF), plus a flatbed for photo IDs, passports, fragile items and more.
- 3-year limited warranty: includes Advance Exchange with free Next-Business-Day Replacement (4) to minimize downtime .
- Seamless compatibility: includes TWAIN and ISIS drivers for easy integration with existing software.
- Scan to online storage accounts: intuitively scan to Dropbox, SharePoint, Evernote and Google Drive with Epson Document Capture software.
- Intelligent color and image adjustments — auto crop, skew correction, blank page and background removal with Epson Image Processing Technology
- Scan originals in a variety of sizes — up to 8.5" x 11.7" on the flatbed and up to 8.5" x 14" using the ADF
- Scan stacks of documents up to 25 ppm: features a 50-page ADF. Standard Connectivity : (RJ-45, 10BaseT/100BaseTX)
Best A3 CCD Flatbed Scanner for Graphic Design, Artwork, Libraries, Artists & Architects
Plustek A3 Flatbed Scanner OS 1180 : 11.7x17 Large Format scan Size for Blueprints and Document. Design for...
- ✔WE SCAN SIZES - A3 11.69""x 17" Large Format Scanning
- ✔NO MORE WAITING - LED Light Source, Save Energy, No Warm Up
- ✔HASSLE-FREE OPERATION - Pre Set Function One-Touch Button for Your Quick Use.
- ✔POWERFUL SOFTWARE BUNDLE - Enhanced OCR Accuracy with ABBYY FineReader 12, and DocAction for File Sharing
- ✔SCAN MODE - 48 bit Color /16 bit Gray-Scale for Scan Art, Documents and Other Items
Other Popular flatbed scanners
Plustek OpticPro A320L - A3 CCD Graohic Flatbed Scanner, 1600 dpi Resolution with Dual Light Design. Suitable for...
- [A3 Scanning Solution] - up to 12x17" scan area , allows you to quickly and easily scan A3-sized and wide-format paper such as maps, drawings, or large bound books and even odd-shaped articles.
- [Extraordinary image quality] - A320L uses Sony ILX560K professional CCD sensor. Optical Resolution up to 1600dpi. If scan 12"x17" photo, user can get a 522,240,000 pixel image with 1.45GB size (BMP)
- [Easy File Management] - With Doc Action, you easily scan and save to different file format. It also provides quick access to post-scan destinations, including scan-to-print, email, Windows Public Folder, FTP Web Folder. OCR function can enables searchable content on your scanned PDFs for greater productivity.
- [TWAIN and WIA support] - Industry standard TWAIN drivers ensure compatibility with your software.
- [Windows, Mac and Linux] - Support Windows 7/8/10 , Mac OS X 10.8.x to 10.14.x. User can download the latest version on Plustek website. For LINUX and SANE driver, please ask seller before purchase
Fujitsu fi-65F Flatbed Card Scanner
- Compact A6 flatbed design suitable for front counter scanning of items such as passports, driving licenses, identification cards and more
- Verify personal identity accurately and speedily - perfect for capturing small documents
- Convenient power on/off button and USB power via High Speed USB 2.0 interface
- Mono, grayscale and color document scanning (1 - 2 seconds per A6 page)
- Can be used with or without cover for easier operation