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The Best Sheetfed Document Scanners for 2024

Need to scan multipage documents in a hurry? A sheetfed scanner will do the trick. Here are our favorites among the many we've tested, plus some tips for finding a fast document scanner that's right for you.

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Need to scan one- and/or two-sided multipage documents in a hurry? Sheetfed scanners are designed to do just that.

I've covered the document scanner industry for well over 20 years, and each year I find myself more impressed with the sheer number of machines. You'll find everything from tiny single-sheet portables capable of processing just a few pages per minute (ppm) to high-volume workhorses that can handle hundreds of pages per minute. Today's sheetfed document scanners are true workhorses; if you've only used the relatively slow scanner of an all-in-one printer, you'll be amazed at how a dedicated scanner can make short work of the stacks of documents cluttering up your work area.

Every multi-sheet scanner—except combination sheetfed/flatbed machines—has a relatively compact build and an automatic document feeder (ADF) for sending page after page to the scanning sensors. Unlike a flatbed scanner, a sheetfed model processes only individual pages and can't be used to scan objects such as books or magazines. Most sheetfed scanners have two sensors for simultaneously reading both sides of a page. These top-notch, high-speed document scanners, the best we've tested, are optimized for processing plenty of text quickly and efficiently.

This roundup focuses primarily on desktop document scanners, but to keep it comprehensive, we've also included PCMag’s favorite sheetfed portable document scanner and our top pick for a flatbed scanner with an ADF attachment (or a from-the-ground-up combination sheetfed/flatbed). Our goal is to help you choose the best possible scanner for your needs, and there are plenty of factors to consider. Let's start by going over the pros and cons of each of our top picks, followed by a detailed guide that explains how to choose the best sheetfed scanner for your needs.

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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

  • Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1600

    Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1600

    Best Desktop Document Scanner for Most Users
    4.5 Excellent

    Why We Picked It

    If you're going to name a product as Best Desktop Document Scanner for Most Users, it has to be versatile above all. The ScanSnap iX1600's comprehensive software runs on PCs, Macs, and Android and iOS phones and tablets. A similar version runs on the control panel of the scanner itself, from which you and your team can set up, scan, configure, edit, execute OCR, and perform some rudimentary document management tasks. You get both wired and wireless connectivity, scanning directly to USB drives, a great price—and a rare 4.5-star PCMag rating.

    Who It's For

    This and other Fujitsu scanners are so easy to learn and use that a better question might be "Who is it not for?" Families and home-based offices; small offices and workgroups; moderate document archiving applications; scanning into bookkeeping, tax, spreadsheets, and other financial programs; and more—the low- to mid-volume environments that would benefit from the ScanSnap iX1600 are many.

    • Pros

      • Comprehensive ScanSnap software
      • Simple to learn and use
      • Accurate OCR
      • Versatile connectivity options, including mobile
      • 6,000-scan daily duty cycle rating
    • Cons

      • Lacks Ethernet support
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  • Epson RapidReceipt RR-600W

    Epson RapidReceipt RR-600W

    Best Receipt Scanner
    4.5 Excellent

    Why We Picked It

    With the RR-600W, you get a highly capable midrange sheetfed document scanner, Epson's ScanSmart scanner interface, and the ScanSmart Accounting Edition—a.k.a. Receipt Manager—plug-in. In other words, in addition to capable all-purpose scanning and document management, you get an intuitive, polished interface for capturing and archiving invoices, receipts, and other financial documents. Many scanners nowadays come with receipt scanning software, but few apps are as well-developed as Epson's.

    Who It's For

    Designed for home offices, small businesses, and workgroups with workflows up to about 4,000 scans daily, the RR-600W and its software can handle and archive not only financial data but business cards and everyday document management. A small office can't do better.

    • Pros

      • Fast
      • Accurate OCR
      • Strong software bundle, including ScanSmart Accounting Edition
      • Huge 4.3-inch color touch screen
      • 100-sheet ADF
      • Robust mobile device and USB thumb drive support
      • Low price for what you get
    • Cons

      • ScanSmart not supported on mobile devices
  • Epson Workforce ES-300W Portable Wireless Duplex Document Scanner

    Epson Workforce ES-300W Portable Wireless Duplex Document Scanner

    Best Portable Document Scanner
    4.0 Excellent

    Why We Picked It

    Even though we reviewed it years ago and later models have come close, we've yet to find a portable sheetfed document scanner that stands feature-to-feature with the WorkForce ES-300W. Epson's grab-and-go scanner has it all: wireless connectivity, support for handheld mobile devices, a battery for remote operation, and just about every other feature you'd want in a portable scanner. Software upgrades have only improved its speed and accuracy.

    Who It's For

    Travelers who need to capture data from multipage documents (either one- or two-sided), business cards, ID cards, credit cards, and more will wonder how they got along without the WorkForce ES-300W. That includes traveling execs, home-based business entrepreneurs (both at home and on the road), and trade-show attendees. This Epson is a bargain for anyone who needs to scan documents on the fly or in tight spaces.

    • Pros

      • Highly portable.
      • Fast scanning and saving to PDF.
      • Comes with document and business card management software.
      • Battery and integrated Wi-Fi.
    • Cons

      • Finicky when scanning documents with frayed edges.
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  • Raven Pro Document Scanner

    Raven Pro Document Scanner

    Best Walk-Up Scanner and Document Manager
    4.0 Excellent

    Why We Picked It

    In addition to a strong software bundle that scans pages, converts them to the desired file format, and lets you and your team perform fairly sophisticated document management routines, the Raven Pro gives you an 8-inch color touch screen that lets you do more or less all of the above from its front panel instead of your PC. It can also digitize, sort, and store financial and business contact data. This is a fast, accurate, versatile, and easy-to-use sheetfed scanner well suited for mid- to high-volume document management.

    Who It's For

    The Raven Pro is a speedy, high-volume machine that can keep up with a busy office, workgroup, or enterprise with serious scanning activity. It's designed to allow easy access and operation by even your least tech-savvy staffers or team members.

    • Pros

      • Fast scanning and saving to both image and searchable PDF
      • Accurate OCR
      • Onboard editing and document management
      • Supports wireless and wired networking
      • Scans to external USB flash and other USB drives
      • Slick tablet-like interface
      • Excellent software for scanner operation and document management
      • 100-sheet ADF
      • Free unlimited (Raven Cloud) cloud space
    • Cons

      • Lacks dedicated handheld mobile device app
      • Expensive accessories
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  • Fujitsu Image Scanner fi-800R

    Fujitsu Image Scanner fi-800R

    Best Front-Desk Document and Card Scanner
    4.0 Excellent

    Why We Picked It

    What makes this little powerhouse uniquely suitable for front desk environments? Its ability to operate in two configurations that Fujitsu calls Return Scan and U-Turn Scan, which give the scanner a remarkably small footprint compared to ordinary sheetfed desktop models. Pages perform a U-turn into an output tray that stands nearly upright, instead of onto a protruding paper tray or the desktop itself. There's also a handy toggle to switch between ordinary paper and business cards and thicker content such as IDs and credit cards, making the fi-800R all the more suitable for quick and easy data harvesting.

    Who It's For

    By front desk environments, we mean oh-so-many businesses and organizations. Doctors' and dentists' offices, hospitals, insurance office, auto parts or tire or rental counters—nearly anywhere that clients, customers, or patients provide data that needs to be scanned and archived.

    • Pros

      • Fast and compact.
      • Accurate OCR.
      • Robust software bundle.
      • High daily volume rating.
      • Well-suited to front-desk applications.
    • Cons

      • Expensive.
      • Connectivity limited to USB.
    Get It Now
  • HP ScanJet Pro 2600 f1

    HP ScanJet Pro 2600 f1

    Best Flatbed/Sheetfed Combo Scanner
    4.0 Excellent

    Why We Picked It

    Flatbed/sheetfed combo scanners like this one offer the best of both worlds—relatively fast scanning of one- and two-sided multipage documents via the automatic document feeder (ADF) plus manual scanning of book and magazine pages, photos, or delicate or easily damaged originals. We've looked at a number of combos this year (including the enterprise-worthy Raven Pro Max below), and the ScanJet Pro 2600 f1 checks most of the boxes for a scanner designed to accommodate busy small and home-based offices.

    Who It's For

    It's not built for high-volume, heavy-duty work, but this HP is an exemplary entry-level sheetfed/flatbed combo scanner for small offices or home offices. It's ideal for digitizing modest stacks of documents via the ADF and high-res photos via the flatbed.

    • Pros

      • Excellent scanner interface software
      • Accurate OCR and useful document archiving
      • Lean, compact design
      • Strong security
      • Easy to use
    • Cons

      • No network, wireless, or mobile device support
      • On the pricey side
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  • Fujitsu fi-8170 Color Duplex Document Scanner

    Fujitsu fi-8170 Color Duplex Document Scanner

    Best Scanner for Heavy-Duty Document Archiving
    4.0 Excellent

    Why We Picked It

    Our review called the Fujitsu fi-8170 "the state of the document-scanning art," and that about sums it up. This mid- to high-volume flagship isn't cheap ($1,195), but is formidably well-equipped for document archiving in busy offices and workgroups. It combines fast, reliable, and accurate performance with USB and Ethernet connectivity; a 100-sheet ADF and 10,000-scan daily duty cycle; and first-class PaperStream Capture software. If you're not sliding the scanner into your company's existing document management solution, you can create one with Fujitsu's optional PaperStream Capture Pro and PaperStream NX Manager.

    Who It's For

    Ready for the enterprise or an office or workgroup just south of the enterprise (but overkill for a small office), the fi-8170 oddly lacks Wi-Fi and handheld mobile device support, but otherwise raises the bar for corporate document management.

    • Pros

      • Comprehensive PaperStream Capture interface with document management features
      • Fast and reliable
      • Accurate OCR
      • Ready for fleet deployment
      • USB 3.2 and Ethernet connectivity
    • Cons

      • No wireless support
      • No handheld mobile device support
    Get It Now
  • HP Digital Sender Flow 8500 fn2 Document Capture Workstation

    HP Digital Sender Flow 8500 fn2 Document Capture Workstation

    Best High-Volume Enterprise Scanner
    4.0 Excellent

    Why We Picked It

    With its tablet-sized control panel, built-in QWERTY keyboard, and onboard hard drive, the HP Digital Sender Flow 8500 fn2 Document Capture Workstation is an industrial-strength network document scanner. Not only is it ultra-fast and -accurate, but it lets you digitize, edit, and archive your documents all from the same device. To share the wealth, you can connect it to a Gigabit Ethernet network and let some or all of your team members have at it.

    Who It's For

    The words "Best High-Volume Enterprise Scanner" don't leave a lot of room for interpretation. This HP heavyweight is built for capturing and digitizing reams of documents, converting them to searchable or editable text, and saving the results to your desired file format. It's most likely to make up the heart of your company's existing document management system or one created with HP's bundled and optional enterprise software.

    • Pros

      • Fast scanning.
      • High daily duty cycle.
      • Robust software.
      • Built-in tablet control panel, keyboard, and hard disk.
    • Cons

      • Costly.
      • Big and heavy.
    Get It Now
  • Raven Pro Max Document Scanner

    Raven Pro Max Document Scanner

    Best Networkable Enterprise Sheetfed/Flatbed Combo Scanner
    4.0 Excellent

    Why We Picked It

    A good value at under $1,000, the Raven Pro Max is a fast, accurate, feature-rich scanner with a tablet-like, 8-inch touch screen and a highly competent software bundle. You get both wired and wireless networking as well as document editing and management from both the control panel and the Raven Desktop software.

    Who It's For

    Scanners of this enterprise-class caliber are primarily used for document management—turning printed pages into searchable PDF or editable Microsoft Word files. Given the Pro Max's speed, capacity, and volume rating, it's ready to handle thousands of pages via the ADF or individual photos, book pages, or fragile documents one at a time on the flatbed. Busy offices and workgroups will get excellent results from this combo scanner.

    • Pros

      • Snappy scanning and conversion to editable text, with great OCR accuracy
      • Excellent scanning (and decent document-management) software
      • Onboard document-editing and entry-level archiving functionality
      • Handy 8-inch control panel and 100-sheet ADF, plus flexible connectivity
      • Price includes unlimited cloud space
    • Cons

      • Lacks a dedicated app for mobile devices
      • A detachable flatbed would increase versatility, overall value even more
  • Brother ADS-4900w

    Brother ADS-4900w

    Best Office Network Scanner
    4.0 Excellent

    Why We Picked It

    Faster and $100 cheaper than its Best Office Network Scanner predecessor the ADS-3600W, this Brother scanner boasts an ADF that holds twice as many pages, and its 9,000-scan daily duty cycle is a rare find in an under-$700 scanner. Connectivity options abound—Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, USB 3.0, Apple AirPrint, Brother Mobile Connect—and you can scan straight to a USB drive with no PC involved. Brother's comprehensive software bundle covers not only the key aspects of document scanning and archiving but even limited photo scanning and editing.

    Who It's For

    Given its speed, capacity, accuracy, and bundled scanner interface, editing, and document management software, the ADS-4900W is best suited for environments with serious daily scan volumes over either a wired or wireless network (or both). Smartphone and tablet users can also access the scanner via Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi Direct. In short, this business-class scanner is ready for hectic offices with a variety of users.

    • Pros

      • Deep document management features
      • Fast scanning and reliable feeding
      • Accurate OCR
      • Can scan to USB memory devices without a computer
      • Versatile connectivity and strong mobile device support
      • Large touch screen control panel
    • Cons

      • Lacks strong Mac support
    Get It Now
  • Epson DS-30000 Large-format Document Scanner

    Epson DS-30000 Large-format Document Scanner

    Best Sheetfed Scanner for Oversize Documents
    4.0 Excellent

    Why We Picked It

    While there are other scanners that support wide-format tabloid-size (11-by-17-inch) documents, most are too bulky for the average desk. The Epson DS-30000 is certainly bigger than the other scanners in this roundup, but relatively trim considering its ADF accommodates up to 60 tabloid-size originals—or 120 letter-size sheets or 40 postcards or 30 business cards or 10 envelopes or (with an optional carrier sheet) one passport. You can load letter-size originals in either portrait or landscape orientation—try that with an 8.5-by-11-inch scanner—and take advantage of resolutions from 50 to 1,200 dots per inch (dpi).

    Who It's For

    Obviously, this wide-format workhorse is designed for offices and organizations that need to digitize and archive plus-sized pages as well as high volumes of standard-size documents. Its 30,000-scan daily duty cycle and speeds up to 140 images per minute (ipm, where each page side counts as an image) make it ideal for fleet and enterprise deployment.

    • Pros

      • Fast and accurate scanning and text conversion
      • High volume rating, including large ADF
      • Scans documents up to 12 by 17 inches
      • Versatile scanner-interface software
      • Moderate-size footprint
    • Cons

      • Lacks wireless or mobile connectivity
      • USB interface only; no networking option available
      • Lacks business-card scanning and archiving software
  • Ricoh fi-8040

    Ricoh fi-8040

    Best Entry-Level Sheetfed Document Scanner
    4.0 Excellent

    Why We Picked It

    Archival-quality software and accurate OCR scanning are fundamentals that anyone surrounded by fearsome paper stacks (from the casual user taming their personal-finance printouts, to the most harried paralegal on deadline) needs from a document scanner. Scanner ace Fujitsu delivers for the lower end of the market with the fi-8040, which packs a big color touch screen, the ability to scan without a PC, and some impressive image-processing chops, such as automatic rotation and blank page removal. It also features a hardwired network interface (Ethernet).

    Who It's For

    Users with moderate scanning loads and a need for both cost-effectiveness and above-average archiving software will find the fi-8040 a solid fit for their page-stack-reducing needs.

    • Pros

      • Comprehensive software with document management features
      • Highly accurate OCR
      • Standalone network mode
      • USB 3.2 and Ethernet ports
      • Relatively inexpensive
    • Cons

      • Slower than other fi-8000 series scanners
      • Modest ADF capacity
      • No wireless connectivity
    Get It Now

Buying Guide: The Best Sheetfed Document Scanners for 2024

Document scanners are classified and priced according to capacity, volume, and speed ratings, followed by connectivity and functionality (including the ability to scan to smartphones and tablets) and their software bundle. Size, weight, and specialized features may also be factored in, but the main things that push up the price of a document scanner are (1) how much work the scanner can do and (2) how quickly it can do it.

To keep from spending an arm and a leg on functionality you don't need, start by figuring out how many pages you need to scan each day. A sheetfed portable scanner might be rated for a daily duty cycle of 500 pages or so. On the high end, some scanners meant for professional use have daily duty cycles of 10,000 pages or more.

Another question is how many pages you'll have to scan at a time. If you're dealing with lengthy documents, you don't want to have to break them up. A relatively inexpensive desktop model might come with a 50-sheet ADF; a heavy-duty one could hold as many as 250 sheets for serious batch scanning.

The faster or higher the volume and capacity the scanner, the larger the ADF.
(Credit: PCMag)

One speed factor is whether the scanner has one or two sensors for scanning double-sided documents. Another is the size of the page that you want to scan. All sheetfed document scanners can accept letter- and legal-size pages, but if you're working with larger sheets, make sure the scanner is big enough to handle them. A few high-end models can feed through sheets up to 20 feet long! On the small side, some scanners have special features for receipts and business cards, with software to help manage expense reports and contact databases.

No one wants to stand around waiting for a scan job to finish, and in the real world, that doesn't just mean the physical process of scanning. When we test scanners, our speed ratings also factor in the time it takes for the scanner's bundled software to process the scan and save it to either image or searchable PDF. (We'll look more closely at bundled software below.) In general, the more you scan, the faster your scanner should be.


How Will You Operate the Scanner?

The most basic scanner interface is a Scan or Start button, which is fine if all you want to do is basic scanning directly to your PC. Touch-screen panels with limited or extensive menus give you more walk-up options. Sometimes scanning software lets you set up predefined profiles for file type, resolution, and destination that you can then select and run from the scanner's control panel.

In a few cases, the scanner's own operating system handles profile management and other features. One of the better implementations of this shared functionality is on Fujitsu's consumer and small-office ScanSnap machines. Whether you're using ScanSnap software on your computer or operating the touch screen, functions are almost identical, saving you from having to learn two different ways to do the same thing.

Some scanner software, such as Fujitsu’s ScanSnap, runs not only on your computer or mobile device but also directly on the scanner’s touch-screen display.
(Credit: PCMag)

If you already have a document management system in place, you may not even need most of the software included with your new scanner. However, scanning software packages can do a lot. Various apps and plug-ins enhance and manipulate photos, convert scanned pages to editable text with optical character recognition (OCR), organize and archive business cards, and even extract financial data from receipts and invoices and send it to your tax prep software. Scanning apps for mobile devices are increasingly feature-rich as well.

Nowadays, most scanners come with at least one app for operating them remotely, or from your Android or iOS tablet or smartphone.
(Credit: PCMag)

Software varies widely from manufacturer to manufacturer and from product to product. This is one of the places where our reviews and roundups come in handy: We zero in on the specific features that make document scanners suited for particular tasks and needs.


Which Devices Will Connect to the Scanner?

Each scanner comes with a different mix of wired and wireless connectivity options. These control which computers and mobile devices the scanner can work with. They also affect how quickly the scanner can send a scan to your device, as data transfer over Wi-Fi will likely be slower than over an Ethernet or USB 3.0 connection.

USB will suffice for connecting a single computer. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, and near-field communication (NFC) will let a scanner talk to a single smartphone or tablet. If you're looking for a scanner that multiple people can use, make sure it has Ethernet or Wi-Fi to connect to an office network or Bluetooth LE for handling multiple mobile devices. Some models don't have Ethernet pre-installed but can be expanded with an optional network interface unit.

Your computer's or phone's operating system matters a lot less than it used to. Most major scanner manufacturers offer drivers and software for both Windows and macOS, as well as apps for both iOS and Android handheld devices, wherever some sort of wireless–NFC (near field communication), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct–are available. Some devices can also scan directly to USB flash drives.

Some scanners let you plug in and scan to a USB flash drive.
(Credit: Brother)

Which Sheetfed Document Scanner Should You Get?

Before you purchase a scanner, make sure you know what you want it to do: how much you'll scan, how fast the scanning process should be, which devices the scanner will connect with, and what the software should do with your scans once they're processed. Then be prepared to make some trade-offs between features and budget. Multi-sheetfed scanners are often intended for business use and priced accordingly. But with a little research, you should be able to find one that meets your needs and doesn't break the bank.

Want to know more about the many scanning options out there? Check out our roundup of the best scanners we've tested. And if you need to print, copy, and fax too, an all-in-one printer might be your best choice.

Compare SpecsThe Best Sheetfed Document Scanners for 2024
Our Pick
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Editors' Choice
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Flatbed
Maximum Optical Resolution
1200 ppi1200 ppi1200 pixels600 pixels600 pixels600 pixels600 pixels600 pixels600 pixels1200 dpi
Mechanical Resolution
600600600120012006006001200
Automatic Document Feeder
Ethernet Interface
Maximum Scan Area
8.5" x 14"8.5" x 240"Letter8.5" x 14"Legal8.5" x 120"8.5" x 240"8.5" x 14"8.5" x 35"8.5" X 197"
Film Scanning

About John Burek

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