Today’s all-in-one printers suffice for the occasional scan, but photo buffs and family archivists alike turn to dedicated photo scanners to digitize their prints and film. High sensor resolutions and the ability to scan slides and negatives (not just photo prints) are part of the reason why, but many models also include useful software for retouching scans and removing scratches. That said, photo scanners are now niche items; you’ll see relatively few models for sale, and their shelf lives tend to be very long. Of the models in our pick list, many were reviewed years ago but remain current, including our best photo scanner for most people, Canon’s CanoScan LiDE 400. PCMag has been testing and reviewing scanners for decades, and our picks are grounded in our extensive experience and hands-on testing. Read on for a guide to choosing the right model, plus a detailed spec comparison of our picks.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
November 23, 2025: With this update, our list of top recommended photo scanners remains unchanged. Our existing picks have been vetted for currency and availability. We currently have one new scanner under evaluation in PC Labs, the HP FilmScan 5″ Touch Screen Film Scanner.
Pros & Cons
Vibrant photo scans.
Excellent software bundle.
Comes with kickstand for upright positioning.
Very simple to use.
Lacks mobile device and wireless support.
Could be more accurate when scanning serif fonts.
Why We Picked It
The Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 is an entry-level flatbed photo scanner priced under $100, but it fills a useful niche for non-professional photographers who need to scan both photos and, occasionally, documents. Since it doesn’t have an automatic document feeder (ADF), it may not be the best choice for frequent multipage jobs. However, it combines document management and optical character recognition (OCR) with impressive photo scanning and touch-up software. It also saves desk space with a vertical kickstand and can stitch together multiple scans of plus-size photos.
Who It’s For
PC users OK with a direct cable connection: The LiDE 400 lacks Wi-Fi or wired networking, but it capably serves a personal or small-office PC connected via USB.
People who need to digitize a few photos at a time: Its vibrant color and crisp detail make it a great pick for light-duty photo-quality scanning.
Specs & Configurations
Maximum Optical Resolution
4800 ppi
Mechanical Resolution
4800 ppi
Automatic Document Feeder
Maximum Scan Area
8.5″ x 11.7″
Learn More
Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 Review
(Credit: Epson)
(Credit: Epson)
Pros & Cons
High-quality photo scans
Fully automatic mode for easy scanning
Separates out individual photos
Scans to editable text in a searchable PDF
Comes with kickstand for upright positioning
Can’t scan film
Lacks bundled applications
Why We Picked It
Want higher-quality scans of photo prints than your typical multifunction printer/copier/scanner can provide, but don’t need to scan film? Head straight for the Epson Perfection V39 II, an affordable flatbed photo scanner that also scans to editable text and searchable PDF formats. Its resolution is fine-grained enough to let you crop and enlarge a small section of a photo. And it gives you a choice between an easy Automatic mode and granular settings, such as a Remove Background option that lets you erase distracting background elements from your scanned image.
Who It’s For
People with cramped desks: A single USB cable for both power and data, along with a semi-vertical kickstand, saves desk space.
Newbies: The Perfection V39 II is simple to operate, and it outshines its competitors at also handling the occasional short document.
Value seekers: Both casual and serious photographers will find it a good deal.
Specs & Configurations
Maximum Optical Resolution
4800 pixels
Mechanical Resolution
4800 pixels
Automatic Document Feeder
Maximum Scan Area
8.5″ x 11.7″
Learn More
Epson Perfection V39 II Review
Pros & Cons
Strong software bundle for the price.
Easy to use.
Good photo-scanning quality.
Scanning serif fonts with the default utility could be more accurate.
Limited mobile device support.
Why We Picked It
Sometimes every cent counts. Canon’s CanoScan LiDE 300 has only half the resolution and is a tad slower than the LiDE 400 that earned a PCMag Editors’ Choice award, and it lacks that flatbed’s ability to stand upright to save desk space. But it costs around a Jackson less and combines good photo scanning quality with a helpful software bundle. Its adjustable lid accommodates thicker items such as books and magazines, as well as prints.
Who It’s For
Shoppers on a budget: We wouldn’t call the CanoScan LiDE 300 better than its model 400 sibling or Epson’s abovementioned Perfection V39 II, but it does a great job of digitizing photos on a budget.
People who need to digitize old photos: This scanner’s Fading Correction and Auto Dust & Scratch Reduction filters pep up aging prints.
College students: It’s a solid choice for dorm rooms and other low-volume scanning environments.
Specs & Configurations
Maximum Optical Resolution
2400 ppi
Mechanical Resolution
2400 ppi
Automatic Document Feeder
Maximum Scan Area
8.5″ x 11.7″
Learn More
Canon CanoScan LiDE 300 Review
Pros & Cons
Quickly scans stacks of photo prints.
Decent as a document scanner.
Scans to searchable PDF.
Solid OCR performance.
Somewhat pricey.
Slower at photo scanning than its predecessor.
Why We Picked It
Got a shoebox full of snapshots? You need Epson’s FastFoto FF-680W, whose automatic document feeder (ADF) is specially designed to handle stacks of prints. (It has plastic guides with marks for 5-by-7- and 4-by-6-inch originals, and it can adjust to other sizes.) It feeds through stacks of pics without tearing or creasing them as a text-oriented scanner’s feeder might. It’s much quicker than manually placing photos on a flatbed scanner’s glass, one after the other, and it does a decent job of turning document pages into searchable PDF or Word files when you’ve emptied the shoebox.
Who It’s For
Scrapbookers: Home archivists who want to digitize stacks and scrapbooks full of photo prints will think the FastFoto FF-680W is heaven-sent. It’s smart about scanning both sides of postcards and other items (ignoring flip sides if they’re blank).
People who need to lightly edit their scanned photos: It can help you rotate, crop, or restore images and upload them to Dropbox or Google Drive.
Family groups that have loads of pictures to digitize: The FF-680W makes perfect sense as a group purchase to pass from family member to family member, to each digitize their own cache of old photos for posterity and sharing.
Specs & Configurations
Maximum Optical Resolution
600 ppi
Mechanical Resolution
1200 ppi
Automatic Document Feeder
Maximum Scan Area
8.5″ (wide)
Learn More
Epson FastFoto FF-680W Review
(Credit: David English)
(Credit: David English)
Pros & Cons
Fast scan speeds
Connects via USB, Ethernet, or Wi-Fi
QR code for quick-launch connections
Supports a wide range of file formats
4.3-inch color touch screen
Saves up to 99 workflow profiles
Expensive
No USB port for saving scans to a thumb drive
Why We Picked It
Enterprise-class photo and document scanners aren’t inexpensive gear, and the Canon imageFormula DR-S350NW is no exception. But it’s worth the hefty price tag: The S350NW is a speedy digitizer that can help you convert your stacks of pics to shareable, editable, and printable files. In our testing, all the scans were clean and professional-looking, and scanned photographic images showed pleasing and accurate colors with an appropriate amount of contrast. Once you’ve tackled your lifetime backlog of snaps, you don’t have to retire it or sell it; it can serve on as an able document scanner. (Maybe you’d like to empty that stuffed file cabinet next?)
Who It’s For
Scrapbookers: Looking to digitize a lifetime’s worth of snapshots (followed by those old paper tax returns)? The DR-S350NW is an excellent solution for photo hoarders, declutterers, genealogy enthusiasts, and scrapbookers.
Offices: This top-notch scanner is designed for office use and priced to match.
People who can split the cost: It’s also an ideal option for a shared-cost purchase among a family or a group of friends, allowing each person to digitize their paper-snapshot life in turn.
Specs & Configurations
Maximum Optical Resolution
600 pixels
Mechanical Resolution
1200 pixels
Automatic Document Feeder
Maximum Scan Area
8.5 by 220 inches
Learn More
Canon imageFormula DR-S350NW Review
Pros & Cons
Optical resolution rated at 7,200 pixels per inch
Automated loading of four 35mm slides or a six-image 35mm film strip
Hardware-based dust and scratch removal
Bundled with powerful SilverFast Ai Studio 9 software
Includes color calibration target slides
Special tools for Kodachrome film
Limited to 35mm media
Pricey
Why We Picked It
Over the years, Plustek has refined its 35mm scanners to a remarkable degree. They have essentially one purpose: to draw out the best possible digital representation of an analog piece of film. The key improvement of the OpticFilm 135i Ai is its ability to load four individual 35mm slides or a six-image 35mm film strip at one time. This eliminates the tedious and time-consuming process of loading and unloading each slide or image.
Who It’s For
People who have 35mm negatives: If you have 35mm negatives, this scanner’s results are impressive, albeit costly. It makes sense mainly if you’re a photo pro or have loads of 35mm film to digitize. You’ll want to look elsewhere if you’re on a tight budget or trying to digitize slides of other sizes (or full-size images).
Those with extensive scanning needs: This scanner can scan multiple slides at once, making marathon scanning sessions much easier.
Specs & Configurations
Maximum Optical Resolution
7200 pixels
Mechanical Resolution
7200 pixels
Automatic Document Feeder
Maximum Scan Area
36mm by 24mm
Learn More
Plustek OpticFilm 135i Ai Review
Pros & Cons
Great price.
Fast photo scanning compared with flatbed models.
Designed to minimize potential harm to photos.
Scans up to letter-size prints.
Manual document feeder.
Limited document-scanning abilities.
Mediocre scan quality for photos.
Why We Picked It
Plustek’s ePhoto Z300 is a sheetfed rather than flatbed photo scanner, which makes it snappy at processing a stack of prints even though, with no automatic document feeder (ADF), you must insert items one at a time. It’s also affordable—one-third the price of Epson’s FastFoto FF-680W—and scans up to letter-size prints, with a gentle feed mechanism that won’t damage old or fragile photos. Its document-scanning abilities are limited, and its photo quality is no match for fancier scanners, but it’s fine for household tasks such as archiving snapshots.
Who It’s For
Family archivists: If you have a bunch of family photos that need digital preservation, and you don’t have the patience to place them one or two at a time on a flatbed scanner, the ePhoto Z300 and its bundled software are a handy solution.
People on a budget: This scanner is ideal if you’re on a tight budget. The FF-680W offers both higher volume and better quality, but it costs a lot more.
Specs & Configurations
Maximum Optical Resolution
600 ppi
Mechanical Resolution
600 ppi
Automatic Document Feeder
Maximum Scan Area
8.5″ (wide)
Learn More
Plustek ePhoto Z300 Review
Pros & Cons
Small, light, and portable
Good scan quality and software bundle
Rechargeable, replaceable battery
Scans to SD memory cards
Supports Wi-Fi
No ADF
Limited page sizes
Why We Picked It
The Epson FastFoto FF-680W’s automatic feeder can scan up to 36 prints in one gulp. In contrast, the ClearClick QuickConvert 2.0 scans only one photo at a time. But on the other hand, it’s portable and can scan slides and negatives, as well as prints. This four-pound, battery-powered gadget features a 2.4-inch color LCD for viewing images or making setup changes, and it comes with a variety of bases and holders for everything from 4-by-6-inch snapshot prints to 126 or 110 negatives. It offers resolution up to 14 megapixels and supports both Wi-Fi and USB connectivity. (Plus, you can scan to SD memory cards.)
Who It’s For
Archivists: Casual archivists will be satisfied with this model, though the ClearClick requires a little patience to use. It’s more for casual or everyday snapshots than prized wedding or prom photos.
Newbies: It’s a simple device to use if you don’t need professional imaging quality. For short stacks rather than shoeboxes or scrapbooks filled with pictures, it does the trick.
Specs & Configurations
Maximum Optical Resolution
14 megapixels
Mechanical Resolution
14 megapixels
Automatic Document Feeder
Maximum Scan Area
4″ x 6″
Learn More
ClearClick QuickConvert 2.0 Review
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The Best Photo Scanners for 2025
Compare Specs
Buying Guide: The Best Photo Scanners for 2025
A few dedicated photo scanners are sheetfeeders, specializing in snapshot-size prints. But one feature most “true” photo scanners share is a flatbed design. In these scanner designs, you lift a lid to expose a glass platen, where you place the image to be scanned.
A key differentiator among such models is the platen size; most are letter-size (8.5 by 11 inches) or legal-size (8.5 by 14 inches). You’ll want to be cognizant of that spec depending on the size of the originals you will tend to scan.
(Credit: David English)
We strongly urge you to avoid making a habit of scanning photos (or any delicate originals, for that matter) through the mechanical feeder of “any old” sheetfed document scanner, whether it’s a standalone model or one built into a multifunction or all-in-one printer (more on that in a moment). This works in a pinch, but it risks damaging your originals, even if they’re enclosed in a protective sleeve. A notable exception is the class of autofeed snapshot photo scanners, such as Epson’s FastFoto line. The FastFoto models are built specifically for scanning shoeboxes full of photo prints and are engineered to treat the prints gently.
What to Look for in a Good Photo Scanner
Photo scanners are available in a wide range of prices and capabilities. As a rule, low-cost photo models are limited to scanning photo prints. Many do a very good job of this, generally for less than $100. Scanners starting in the $200 range can handle slides and/or film negatives. Such models come with plastic frames or holders that fit multiple slides or negatives and secure them in place on the platen during scanning. This helps with alignment and spacing during the scan and reduces the need to handle the transparencies directly off the platen.
Most scanners offer basic and advanced modes, accessible through their driver or scanning software. Typically, a scanner utility’s basic mode selects the scan settings for you, while the advanced mode lets you customize the settings.
(Credit: Canon)
Many scanner drivers also have dust- and scratch-removal capabilities. The dust feature sometimes works well, but effective scratch removal really requires a hardware-based solution. To pinpoint this, look for something called Digital ICE technology, which is generally built into some higher-end photo scanners.
Is the Scanner on an All-in-One Printer Good Enough?
Though most people who scan many photos will want a single-function scanner, nearly all multifunction printers (MFPs), also known as all-in-ones (AIOs), include a flatbed that can scan photo prints and other material. The quality of their photo scanning varies widely, depending on the hardware and software involved. Most fall well short of single-function photo scanners in terms of scan quality and/or photo-centric features. (See our picks for the best AIO printers.)
Recommended by Our Editors
A few models, which we call home photo labs, can scan slides and negatives in addition to prints, providing a variety of photo-centric features as well as the normal MFP functions (printing, copying, and—in some cases—faxing). They’re worth considering if you’re a scrapbooker or a photo buff in need of a versatile photo scanner that can also print and make copies. Look at a printer vendor’s specifically photo-minded AIOs to identify these models. Undoubtedly, an AIO can save a lot of desk space versus a separate printer and flatbed scanner.
Ready to Buy the Right Photo Scanner?
We trust our advice and picks have helped. The models we highlight here range from inexpensive consumer units to scanners aimed at serious photographers, be they professionals or advanced amateurs. What all these products have in common is that they’re the best photo scanners in their respective categories on the market today.
For more on what to look for in a scanner, check out our top overall scanner picks. Also, before you start that big digitizing project, you’ll want to check out our top tips for preserving your photos.
