10 Best Cheap Document Scanner 2025 in the United States

The Epson FastFoto FF-680W is a versatile scanner that excels in both photo and document scanning. It boasts the title of the world’s fastest personal photo scanner, capable of scanning a photo per second at 300 dpi, and can handle up to 36 photos in a batch. This is a significant advantage for users with large photo collections. The scanner supports various photo sizes and types, making it quite flexible.

It has powerful document scanning capabilities with speeds up to 45 pages per minute, aided by its built-in automatic document feeder (ADF) with duplex scanning, which is great for efficiency. The 600 dpi resolution is adequate for most document scanning needs, though it might fall short for those requiring ultra-high resolution. Connectivity options include both Wi-Fi and USB, offering flexible placement and ease of use, and the setup via the Epson FastFoto app is user-friendly.

On the downside, at 8.2 pounds, the scanner is somewhat bulky and less portable compared to other compact models. Also, while it offers impressive features for photo scanning, its higher price point might be a consideration for someone strictly looking for a cheap document scanner. The included Epson ScanSmart software with optical character recognition (OCR) is a plus, converting scanned images into readable text and making it easier to manage documents. This scanner would be most beneficial for users who need to digitize both photos and documents frequently, especially those who value speed and photo-specific features.

The Visioneer Xerox W110 stands out in the cheap document scanner category with its impressive scanning speed and high capacity. Boasting a fast throughput of up to 120 pages per minute and a reliable automatic document feeder capable of holding 500 sheets, it is well-suited for users with heavy scanning needs. The ability to handle a variety of media types including photos, receipts, and standard documents adds to its versatility. Duplex scanning capability means it can scan both sides of a document simultaneously, which is a significant time-saver for large jobs.

Its resolution of 600 dpi is adequate for most document scanning tasks, allowing for clear and readable scanned documents. However, for those needing exceptionally high-resolution outputs for detailed images, this may be a limitation. The inclusion of Visioneer Acuity technology helps enhance the scanned images, ensuring that even imperfect originals are improved in clarity.

Connectivity options, such as USB and Ethernet, provide flexibility for different setups, although the lack of wireless connectivity might be seen as a downside in an increasingly wireless world. The one-touch scanning feature simplifies the process, making it easy even for beginners to scan to various destinations without fuss.

One notable drawback is its size and weight; at 50 pounds, it's quite bulky and might not be the best choice for those needing a portable solution or with limited desk space. Its high power consumption at 800 watts could also be a concern for those mindful of energy use.

In summary, the Visioneer Xerox W110 is best suited for users who require fast, high-volume scanning and can accommodate its larger size. It offers robust functionality and ease of use, making it a practical choice for office environments dealing with substantial paper workloads.

The Epson Workforce ES-580W offers impressive features for a budget-friendly document scanner. One of its standout strengths is the 100-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) which allows for efficient batch scanning, making it suitable for users needing to scan high volumes of documents quickly. Additionally, the scanner supports duplex scanning, capturing both sides of a document in one pass at speeds up to 35 pages per minute, which is quite efficient for a device in this price range.

Connectivity options are robust, with wireless capabilities allowing scans to be sent directly to smartphones, tablets, computers, or cloud storage without needing a computer. The 4.3-inch touchscreen adds to its ease of use, providing an intuitive interface for managing scans and settings directly from the device. The ability to save scans directly to USB or email is a convenient feature that enhances its versatility.

However, the resolution is capped at 300 dpi, which might be lower than what some users require for high-quality image scans. The scanner is a bit on the heavier side at 3.7 kilograms, which might affect portability if you need to move it frequently. Despite these drawbacks, the inclusion of OCR for searchable PDFs and the capability to convert scans to editable Word or Excel files are significant advantages for document management. The ES-580W is a strong contender for users needing reliable, fast, and versatile scanning on a budget, with its main limitations being the lower resolution and weight.