Best Flatbed Document Scanners of 2026
* We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
Flatbed document scanners are an essential tool for any office or home workspace. These scanners are designed to quickly digitize documents, photographs, and other materials into high-quality digital files. With their flatbed design, they can accommodate a wide range of document sizes and thicknesses, making them ideal for scanning everything from business cards to legal-sized documents. Many models also offer advanced features such as automatic document feeders, duplex scanning, and optical character recognition (OCR) software, which can help streamline workflows and improve productivity. Whether you need to scan documents for archiving, sharing, or editing, a flatbed document scanner is a versatile and reliable solution.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Flatbed Document Scanners
Brother DS-640
The Brother DS-640 Compact Mobile Document Scanner is a versatile and portable scanning solution for all your document needs. With fast scanning speeds of up to 16ppm, you can quickly and efficiently scan both color and black and white documents without any slowdown. Its ultra-compact design makes it easy to carry around, weighing only about 1.5lbs. You can take it with you anywhere, whether it's in a bag, purse, or even a pocket. The scanner is powered via a micro USB 3.0 cable, allowing you to use it even when there is no outlet available. Simply plug it into your PC or laptop and you're ready to scan. The Brother DS-640 works your way, supporting multiple "Scan-to" destinations like PC, Network, cloud services, Email, and OCR through the Brother free iPrint&Scan desktop app. It also comes with software that allows you to optimize images and text, with features such as automatic color detection/adjustment, image rotation, bleed-through prevention/background removal, text enhancement, and color drop to enhance scans.
Epson FastFoto FF-680W Wireless Scanner
The Epson FastFoto FF-680W Wireless Scanner is the world's fastest personal photo scanner that can scan thousands of photos at a speed of 1 photo per second. It can restore, organize, protect, and share photos with features like auto enhancement, color restoration, red-eye reduction, and de-skew. The scanner can handle multiple sizes in one batch, and the Epson FastFoto app allows users to add voice and text over photos or create slideshows. The scanner can scan documents up to 240" with a scan speed of up to 45 ppm/90 ipm. It includes USB and wireless connectivity options, and SafeTouch Technology allows for worry-free scanning of delicate photos.
Epson WorkForce ES-50 Portable Sheet-Fed Document Scanner
The Epson WorkForce ES-50 is the fastest and lightest mobile single-sheet-fed document scanner in its class. It features fast speeds, scanning a single page in as fast as 5.5 seconds. This small, portable scanner accommodates extra-long pages, ID cards and more. It is USB powered, Windows and Mac compatible, and includes Nuance OCR software to create searchable PDFs and editable Word and Excel files.
Canon imageFORMULA R10 Portable Document Scanner
The Canon imageFORMULA R10 Portable Document Scanner is a great choice for home or office use. It is lightweight and small in size, making it easy to take with you wherever you go. It can handle various media types, including receipts, business cards, plastic or embossed cards, reports, legal documents, and more. It scans both sides of a document at the same time, in color or black-and-white, at up to 12 pages-per-minute, and with a 20 sheet automatic feeder. It is compatible with both Windows and Mac devices, and the powerful scanning software is already built-in, requires no installation, and updates automatically. It also leverages the same technology used in Canon's camera products, so you can save great-looking output in color, black-and-white, or grayscale.
Epson ES-400 II Document Scanner
The Epson ES-400 II Document Scanner is a versatile and efficient desktop scanner that helps you stay organized. With its Single-Step Technology, you can scan both sides of a document in one pass, saving you time and effort. The robust 50-sheet Auto Document Feeder easily accommodates multiple paper types and sizes, allowing you to quickly scan stacks of paper. The included Epson ScanSmart Software makes scanning easy, with features like previewing, emailing, and uploading to the cloud. You can also create searchable PDFs and convert scanned documents to editable Word and Excel files. With intelligent color and image adjustments, Ultrasonic Double Feed Detection, and Paper Protection, this scanner ensures reliable and accurate scanning. Optional flatbed dock allows for scanning photos or thicker media. Stay organized and efficient with the Epson ES-400 II Document Scanner.
Epson Workforce ES-580W Wireless Color Duplex Desktop Document Scanner
The Epson Workforce ES-580W is a powerful desktop document scanner that offers wireless connectivity, a 100-sheet Auto Document Feeder, and intuitive 4.3" touchscreen. It can scan up to 35 ppm/70 ipm and create searchable PDFs with Optical Character Recognition (OCR). It also features a reliable paper feeding system, auto crop, blank page deletion, background removal, and more. Customers appreciate its fast and accurate scanning, easy sharing and collaboration, and simplified file management.
ScanSnap iX2500 Document Scanner
The ScanSnap iX2500 Scanner offers a large touchscreen that makes it easy for you to select personalized scanning profiles, speeding up your workflow. With fast double-sided scanning at 45 pages per minute and a 100-sheet automatic feeder, you can quickly handle large batches of documents without constant attention. It connects seamlessly through Wi-Fi 6 or USB-C, giving you flexible options to scan directly to your computer, mobile devices, or cloud services. Plus, it helps keep your files organized by automatically optimizing and sorting scanned documents, receipts, photos, and business cards, saving you time on managing your digital files.
Canon imageFORMULA R40 Office Document Scanner
The Canon imageFORMULA R40 Office Document Scanner is a fast and efficient scanner that can handle many different document types, including receipts, photos, business cards, reports, contracts, and more. It features a 60-sheet automatic feeder, one-touch operation, and is compatible with both Windows and Mac. It also comes with easy-to-use Canon CaptureOnTouch scanning software, Readiris PDF and OCR software, and Cardiris business card software.
Brother DS-740D Mobile Document Scanner
The Brother DS-740D Scanner lets you quickly scan both sides of your documents in one go, saving you time whether you're handling black and white or color pages. Its compact size means you can easily carry it in a bag or fit it on a small desk, making it perfect for work on the move or tight spaces. Powered through a USB cable, you don’t need a power outlet, so you can scan anywhere with just your laptop or PC. Plus, it works smoothly with multiple operating systems and offers versatile scanning options, making it easy for you to save and share your documents however you prefer.
Epson Workforce ES-500W II Wireless Color Duplex Desktop Document Scanner
The Epson Workforce ES-500W II is a versatile wireless color duplex desktop document scanner that allows you to scan up to 35 ppm/70 ipm with Single-Step Technology. It features a 50-sheet Auto Document Feeder that can accommodate various paper types and sizes in one batch. The scanner comes with powerful software, including the intuitive Epson ScanSmart Software, and allows for easy sharing and collaboration through email or cloud storage services. Additionally, it includes Optical Character Recognition to create searchable PDFs and convert scanned documents to editable Word and Excel files. The scanner also features Epson Image Processing Technology for intelligent color and image adjustments, Ultrasonic Double Feed Detection, and the ability to scan extra-long pages and business/ID cards.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are flatbed scanners better?
Yes, flatbed scanners can scan documents. Some even have software for multi-page files. However, scanning a lot of documents at once with a flatbed scanning will be really slow, because you'll be scanning one page at a time. For a lot of documents, you're better off with a dedicated document scanner.
2. What is the difference between a document scanner and a flatbed scanner?
A flatbed model is the smaller type out of the two and works by placing paper onto the scanning panel. Although flatbeds are able to scan documents at a higher quality than the sheetfed alternative, they are much more time consuming as they cannot scan as fast.
3. What is flatbed in scanning?
A flatbed is a type of scanner or copier that uses a flat, glass surface for scanning documents or other objects. Most flatbed scanners have an adjustable lid that can be raised to allow magazines, books, and other thick objects to be scanned.
During our flatbed document scanner research, we found 24 flatbed document scanner products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 121,094 customer reviews through our big data system to write the flatbed document scanners list. We found that most customers choose flatbed document scanners with an average price of $310.00.
The flatbed document scanners are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of flatbed document scanners, including Brother, Epson, Canon, ScanSnap. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 384 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
Rebecca Cantu grew up in a family-owned retail store for home and kitchen products. She worked online and gave assistance to people to buy ideal products for their sweet home after graduating from Northwestern University with a marketing degree. She has been writing content for online shopping guides since 2011 with her professional knowledge and natural sensitivity of appliances.