Do you want to buy a book scanner but are confused because dozens of options are available on the market, and you don’t know which one to pick? Well, you are not alone as book scanners are a new gadget; therefore, it is difficult to find the best ones.
However, you don’t have to worry because here, we will share a list of the best book scanners available.
To make this list valuable, we have reviewed each product thoroughly, and in this article, we will share a quick summary of that review with you.
So, without any further ado, let’s kick things off –
Best Book Scanners For Preserving Your Favorite Reads
The world is going digital, and that’s why the traditional methods of keeping documents are also changing. The reason is simple – traditional methods are less effective and more time-consuming.
Nowadays, people prefer to have a digital copy of books that not only make them easy to store but also very easy to carry. Plus, you can easily share a digital copy of a book with 1000s of people, which is impossible with a physical book.
The reasons are endless, and I am not going to talk about each of them, but to sum up, I would say that having digital copies of books has many benefits.
To serve this purpose, people have used flatbed scanners for years, but flatbed scanners are less effective with books with over 100 pages. In such a scenario, textbook scanners came to save the day.
But there are hundreds of them, and each of them claims to be the best. To help you pick the right one, we have made this list of the best book scanners.
So, here we go –
1. Fujitsu ScanSnap SV600 – Best book scanners 2023
At around a price range of 500-800 USD, Fujitsu ScanSnap is surely a costly book scanner out there. But it is worth checking out if you can afford to invest such an amount.
It is similar to a document scanner but has additional capabilities to help you scan books and 3D objects.
The overall design appears like a desktop lamp. It has a wide base with a narrow vertical arm holding the scanner. The scanner can capture anything up to the size of 17 by 11.8 inches, or you can say A3 dimensions.
I think the scanning size is sufficient to scan big-page books and large art pieces.
The optical scan resolution ranges between 220 to 285 DPI, depending on how far the scanner is from the base. However, depending on your chosen scan mode, the final captured image can be found at as high as 1200 PPI.
The scanner works seamlessly for books but struggles with line work due to the low optical resolution range.
The scanner lets you scan two pages at once, making scanning a book easy and fast. On average, it takes around 3 seconds to scan an A3 page.
However, the scan of the page won’t be entirely flat, and the lines will appear a bit curved, but you can use the included software to fix these things.
The software further allows you to make multiple configurations with the resolution quality and other things.
Plus, it includes additional features such as a business card program, a PDF utility tool, a scan utility tool, and options to store scanning copies directly to DropBox, Evernote, SugarSync, Google Drive, and even Salesforce. A USB connection is the only way to connect this scanner to your device.
Overall, after looking at the functionality and features, I would say that Fujitsu ScanSnap can be a good scanner for scanning books and 3D objects. However, the costly pricing can be a big deal-breaker.
Specification:-
- Scan Resolutions – 285 DPI
- Scanning Speed – 20 PPM
- Feeder Capacity – 1
- Connections – USB
- Dimensions – 8.27 x 6.14 x 15.08 inches
Pros:-
- Can scan anything from an A3 document to a 3D object
- Very compact size
- Fast
Cons:-
- It cannot automatically correct page distortion and curvature
- Not suited for scanning transparencies
- Costly
2. ScanSnap iX1600
The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1600 should be your first choice if you’re looking for the best book scanners. This quick, cloud-enabled scanner is ideal for scanning books, paperwork, pictures, and invoices.
A large touchscreen that makes it simple to navigate through the numerous scan settings and choices is one of the ScanSnap iX1600’s distinguishing features. Before saving your scans, you can also preview them using the touchscreen.
The auto document feeder included with the ScanSnap iX1600 enables you to scan numerous sheets simultaneously without manually feeding each one through the scanner. This will save you a ton of time, particularly if you’re scanning a lot of documents or books.
You can select the connecting option that best suits your needs from the ScanSnap iX1600’s wifi and USB options.
Additionally, because its feature supports the cloud, you can quickly store your scans to well-known cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and others.
In conclusion, the Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1600 is an excellent book scanner that will simplify your scanning jobs. Anyone wishing to digitize their book collection or simplify their document management process should consider it because of its speed, usability, and connectivity.
Specification:-
- Scanning speed: up to 30 pages per minute
- Scanning resolution: up to 600 dpi
- Automatic document feeder capacity: 50 sheets
3. CZUR ET16 Plus – Best book scanner for resellers
Next, we have another scanner from a Chinese manufacturer, but this time from a less popular brand. CZUR, the company, was founded back in 2013 in Shenzhen, China, and mostly sells its products in the US market through Amazon or similar e-commerce platforms.
Even though their products generally receive great reviews from their users, the biggest problem is after-sale services.
Thankfully, the scanner we picked from their lineup comes with a year of warranty but finding the service centers can be the biggest headache.
We have been using the product for the past six months and haven’t faced any issues. The after-sale service is the only reason it is in the second position in this Best Book Scanners list. Otherwise, it deserves the first position.
Starting with the design looks very similar to the Fujitsu ScanSnap SV600. This scanner’s usable scan area is 16.5 by 11.5 inches, slightly less than the Fujitsu SV600. The standard optical scan resolution is also 250 DPI, slightly lesser than the scanner above.
However, unlike Fujitsu ScanSnap SV600’s scanner, CZUR ET16 Plus features a 16 MP Sony Camera. A scanner offers some additional benefits, but this 16 MP Sony Camera delivers an unmatchable performance with 1.5 seconds per page scanning speed.
As long as the scanner efficiently serves the purpose it is designed for, I have nothing to complain about.
Additionally, it comes with two supplement lights and ten LED lights to deliver the best possible scanning results even in low light conditions.
Along with this product, you get lifetime access to OCR software that supports over 186 languages that you can use to convert your books into editable PDF, Docx, and file formats.
Not to forget that it can even scan 3D objects along with documents, images, and pictures. Even though the automatic curve distortion flattening function does the job seriously, you can use CZUR’s software for minor improvements.
Overall, I would highly recommend buying this scanner.
Specification:-
- Scan Resolutions – 250 DPI
- Scanning Speed – 35 PPM
- Feeder Capacity – 1
- Connections – USB and Wireless
- Dimensions – 14.26 x 13.83 x 5.87 inches
Pros:-
- Incredibly fast
- Compact size
- Automatic curve distortion flattening
- Inbuilt LED lights with two supplement lights for better lighting
- Reasonably priced
- Supports wireless connectivity
Cons:-
- Using lamps can create glare on glossy paper surfaces
- There is a slight learning curve to the software
4. IRIScan Book 5 – Book scanners for libraries
There was a time when handheld wand scanners were in trend, but slowly, they started to become less common for a reason.
Even though the scanning speed of these scanners was far better than most book scanners nowadays, it requires a lot of effort. It is the main reason people avoid using wand scanners.
If you are on a tight budget and don’t scan books or other things very frequently, such wand scanners can be an excellent choice.
The one we picked comes from another Chinese manufacturer called IRIS, and arguably, this one is currently one of the best wand scanners on the market.
IRIScan Book 5 is available at less than $100, and it is worth every penny at this price. The best thing about this handheld color scanner is that it is portable. You can carry it in your pocket, scanning without a PC or a laptop.
It comes with an iON battery that the company claims gives sufficient juice to scan up to 250 pages on a single charge. To be frank, these are wildly exaggerated numbers, and while testing, we found that you can roughly scan 170-180 pages in one single charge.
The battery life is not that bad, especially if we compare it with other wand scanners, but it can be a problem for people who want to scan big books.
It also comes with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software that allows you to convert your books to editable text documents. It further supports three DPI scan resolution options that include 300 DPI, 600 DPI, and 1200 DPI.
The best thing about this book scanner is that it can scan documents up to 8.27 inches wide and 98 inches long. Plus, the scanning speed is comparatively great.
A black and white document takes around 1 second to scan, while for colored documents, it takes around 2 to 3 seconds. Overall, if you are on a tight budget and don’t scan documents very frequently, I would surely suggest this scanner.
Specification:-
- Scan Resolutions – 1200 DPI
- Scanning Speed – 24 PPM
- Feeder Capacity – 1
- Connections – USB
- Dimensions – 10.2 x 1.5 x 0.9 inches
Pros:-
- Fast scanning speed
- Very compact size
- Automatic curve distortion flattening
- Very budget-friendly
- It can be used to scan without a PC
Cons:-
- You have to scan documents manually
- Battery life isn’t that great
5. CZUR Aura-B – Best overhead document scanner
Unlike CZUR ET16 Plus, this one is more like a budget-friendly book scanning tool that uses improved technology to deliver optimal performance.
It uses CZUR’s CZ Curl Flattening AI technology that uses three thin laser lines to capture a digital copy of your document while maintaining accuracy and clarity.
This AI-based technology makes it pretty easy to scan a curved book without distortion. It further features automatic color optimization, automatic contrast, and other professional picture editing functions that make the scanning process much more accessible and convenient.
The basic design idea has been taken from its predecessor, but manufacturers have made multiple changes to make it look more futuristic and lightweight.
This one takes significantly less space on your desk and can be folded down easily to save more space on your desk. The overall build is made of high-quality CNC aluminum, giving it a robust feel.
The high-performance sensor and algorithm provide an exceptional scanning speed of 2 seconds per page, making it one of the fastest book scanners on the market currently.
Not to forget that this scanner is further equipped with the revolutionary Book Curve Flattening technology that automatically links books before capturing the scan copy.
You get lifetime access to the OCR software that converts your scanned images into editable and searchable Word, PDF, and Excel files.
This Aura OCR software supports over 180 languages and performs its job quickly and efficiently. The scanner can scan any page, picture, or other things up to the size of A3.
There is also a 2-inch display that lets you preview the scanned picture in real-time to ensure that you have made the perfect digital copy of your book.
Plus, it has 32 LED lights and two supplement side lights to give you the best lighting for reading and scanning. Yeah, you can use it as a table lamp as well.
Specification:-
- Scan Resolutions – 300 DPI
- Scanning Speed – 30 PPM
- Feeder Capacity – 1
- Connections – USB
- Dimensions – 7.08 x 5.11 x 17.44 inches
Pros:-
- Fast scanning speed
- Compact and robust design
- Features revolutionary book curve flattening technology
- Value for money
- It can be used as a desk lamp
- Speedy and precise OCR software
Cons:-
- The software is okay but could be improved
- Poorly designed documentation
6. IRIScan Desk 5 PRO A3
The IRIScan Desk 5 PRO A3 Large Color Scanner is one of the best book scanners on the market. It is ideal for scanning books, documents, and other things because of its size and high-quality scanning capabilities.
This scanner’s ability to scan documents in full color makes it one of its distinguishing qualities and perfect for scanning bright illustrations or graphics.
A high scanning resolution of up to 1200 dpi ensures that every feature of your book or paper is recorded with amazing clarity.
The IRIScan Desk 5 PRO A3 is incredibly user-friendly and has outstanding scanning capabilities. Even individuals without prior experience using scanners will find it straightforward and intuitive.
It also includes several helpful software tools, such as OCR software, which enables you to turn scanned text into editable documents.
Overall, the top-of-the-line book scanner IRIScan Desk 5 PRO A3 will satisfy all your scanning requirements.
Anyone wishing to digitize their book collection or preserve vital documents should choose this device due to its enormous size and high-quality scanning capabilities.
Specification:-
- Scanning resolution: Up to 1200 dpi
- Scanning speed: Up to 12 pages per minute (black and white), up to 8 pages per minute (color)
- Scanning area: Up to 297 x 420 mm (A3 size)
7. iOCHOW S1 – Best book scanners under 300$
If you are on a tight budget, this book scanner from iOCHOW can be a good option. Despite being a budget-friendly unit, it has many powerful features that make it a perfect contender for the best budget-friendly book scanner.
The scanner’s overall design looks similar to what you see on the other scanners in this list. However, one thing to notice is that it is very small and takes up very little space on your desk.
With the dimension of 9.5 x 3.2 x 14 inches, you can even easily carry this in your bag when needed. The overall design looks pretty stylish and minimal.
Instead of a scanning sensor, this scanner is equipped with an 8 MP camera that can easily scan pictures and books.
Not only that, but this scanner camera can also be used to make video calls which means you can use it easily for online teaching and other stuff. It supports automatic image segmentation, scanning barcodes, QR codes, and ID cards.
It is equipped with powerful enhanced Optical Character Recognition technology that can convert any digital image to editable Word, Excel, PDF, and Text files with utmost accuracy. This software supports over 100 languages.
This scanner can scan documents and other objects up to A3 in size. The size covers all the available documents, books, magazines, and other things.
It further incorporates 4 LED lights to offer perfect lighting for scanning, capturing and video calling. The built-in image processing algorithm brings the best imaging experience with this lighting setup.
The biggest drawback of this scanner is that it has poor customer support. The product performance and quality are best, but when it comes to connecting with customer support, there is no direct way available. On top of that, it only supports Windows operating system.
Specification:-
- Scan Resolutions – 300 DPI
- Scanning Speed – 30 PPM
- Feeder Capacity – 1
- Connections – USB
- Dimensions – 9.5 x 3.2 x 14 inches
Pros:-
- Great scanning speed
- Compact and robust design
- The 8 MP camera offers versatile features
- Value for money
- OCR software is pretty powerful and accurate
Cons:-
- Poor customer support
- Not compatible with macOS, Chromebook, or Linux OS
8. iCODIS X9 – Professional book scanner
Again, a Chinese book scanner offers superb performance but lacks reliable customer support. This scanner is priced at around $300, but it has many features that can easily outperform popular book scanners priced above $500-600.
This scanner offers the best value for money, which is why it has secured a position on this Best Book Scanners list.
This book scanner has a strong body of high-quality aluminum alloy, giving it enough sturdiness to last longer.
However, the scanner is quite heavy, especially on its base, making it more stable. It has a foldable design that makes it portable despite being heavy.
However, the star of the show for this scanner is undoubtedly the camera equipped with this scanner. This scanner features a 21 MP iCODIS camera that supports capturing A3 and A4 size documents in real-time, video recording, projection, and much more. This scanner can create videos, electronic books, and other things.
This scanner is equipped with the latest AI technology to help you with Intelligent Continuous Imaging, TWAIN, Optical Character Recognition, SDK, and many other functions.
The scanner also features functions such as filling scanned pages with damaged edges, automatic image segmentation, autocorrection, auto-merge profile identification, etc.
Additionally, this scanner has a built-in 9 LED lamp setup to deliver optimal lighting to scan bright-quality pictures, books, and documents. You can use this LED setup for reading purposes as well. Plus, the bundled software is quite intuitive and easy to use.
The only issue that I have with this product is customer support. Customer support is unavailable; therefore, the after-sale service is a major concern with this scanner.
On top of that, it only supports Windows operating system. So, if you own a macOS or Linux machine, this will not be an option.
Specification:-
- Scan Resolutions – 300 DPI
- Scanning Speed – 30 PPM
- Feeder Capacity – 1
- Connections – USB
- Dimensions – 19.49 x 3.31 x 13.74 inches
Pros:-
- Great scanning speed
- Compact and robust design
- The 21 MP camera offers versatile features
- Value for money
- OCR software is pretty powerful and accurate
- 9 LED lamp setup is great for scanning books and documents in low light conditions
Cons:-
- Poor customer support
- Not compatible with macOS, Chromebook, or Linux OS
9. CZUR Shine 800 Pro – Best book scanners under 150$
Again, we have a product from CZUR’s scanner lineup, but this one is more targeted toward the budget-friendly audience.
Therefore, the manufacturers have made a few cost-cutting to make the scanner price fall under $150. However, most commonly, you can find this scanner at around $120, which is worth every penny.
The design of the CZUR Shine 800 Pro is adapted from its predecessors. It features a foldable design, making it a compact and portable machine that you can even carry on your laptop bag.
Overall, the build quality is quite solid and has a metal finish, even on the scanner itself. The overall weight is around 1.75 KG, which is lightweight compared to other multifunction scanners.
Unlike CZUR ET16 Plus, which uses a laser scanner, it is equipped with an 8 MP camera. This 8 MP camera allows you to scan objects, documents, and books smaller than A4.
The optical scan resolution can go up to 300 DPI, which is quite impressive, considering it is a budget-friendly scanner.
The scanning speed is also quite fast, and it takes nearly 1 second to scan an A4 paper. Since it has a camera, you can use this scanner to record videos, live streams, and other purposes.
Other remarkable features of this scanner are auto-cropping and smart paging, stamp mode, multiple color modes, and more.
The scanner comes with powerful OCR software that can scan documents of up to 100+ languages and convert them into editable and searchable PDF, Word, and other text document formats.
You further get one year of warranty on the product. It also features two bright LED lights to create perfect lighting conditions for scanning.
Overall, I am quite impressed with the product. It supports almost all iterations of Windows OS and macOS 10.1 or above. The scanning speed is pretty fast, and I don’t think you can get a better option than this at this price.
Specification:-
- Scan Resolutions – 270 DPI
- Scanning Speed – 60 PPM
- Feeder Capacity – 1
- Connections – USB
- Dimensions – 11.6 x 6.2 x 15 inches
Pros:-
- Great scanning speed
- Compact and robust design
- The 8 MP camera offers versatile features
- Value for money
- OCR software (best book scanner app) is pretty powerful and accurate
- 2 LED lamp setup gives a great performance in low light situations
Cons:-
- Poorly designed documentation
- Not good with glossy papers
📗FAQ on the best book scanners list
What Is The Use Of A Scanning A Book?
It would be best if you scanned a book to store it in digital format- image, PDF, and others.
This is generally done when you want your book to always be with you, not physically, but on your phone or the device you are carrying. This also allows easy sharing of the books with anyone you want to.
What Is The Best Way To Scan Books?
The best and easiest way to scan a book is by using Adobe or any other app that can convert books into PDFs. You can use various scanning apps on your phone to scan your books and convert them into PDFs.
Can You Scan Books You Own?
Yes, you may scan your books for personal use. You can scan the books and save the digital copy of the books on your device.
Is There Any Book Scanner App?
Yes, there are many book scanner apps that you can use to Scan the book. If you convert your book into PDF format, then you can use Adobe Scan to scan the book and convert it to PDF.
You can also use Scanbot to scan the documents and barcodes at the back of the book.
Is There Any Free Scanner App?
You can use Cam Scan to scan books on Android and iOS devices. This free app allows you to scan book pages and convert them to PDF.
You can also merge multiple PDFs and store them on your Cloud storage. Though this app is free, it will add a watermark to your scanned files.
What Are Some Good And Inexpensive Scanners?
If you are looking for good scanners within the budget, you can go for Brother DS-640, Canon CanoScan Lide 300, Epson DS-320, Epson Workforce ES-55R, and Epson Workforce ES-50.
These are some of the best and most inexpensive scanners you can use.
What is the best way to scan in an old book?
Use a flatbed scanner: If you have one at home, you might try scanning the book page by page. Align the page’s edge with the scanning bed’s edge as you place the book on the scanner face down.
You might need to use a book cradle or weights to keep the pages flat and stop them from curling.
Use a camera: If you don’t have a scanner, you might be able to capture images of the pages using a digital camera.
Even though it might take a little longer, this method might work effectively if you have adequate lighting and a steady hand.
Use a scanning service: Several businesses provide book scanning services, which can be a smart choice if you don’t have the tools or time to conduct the scanning yourself.
In order to produce high-quality scans, these firms typically employ specialized scanners and software, but they can be pricey.
Is book scanner worth it?
When assessing if a book scanner is worthwhile, one should take into account the following:-
How many books must you scan in total? Spending money on a specialized book scanner might not be worthwhile if you only need to digitize a small number of books. It can be sufficient to use a smartphone camera or a flatbed scanner.
What kind of books do you need to scan, and in what condition? A book scanner that handles the pages more gently may be worth the expenditure if the volumes are damaged or old and delicate.
What level of scan quality are you looking for? You might wish to spend more money on a book scanner that can deliver better results if you need high-resolution scans with correct color reproduction.
Have you got the room and money for a book scanner? Specialized book scanners can be rather large, so you might need to set aside some space in your house or business for them.
You should consider whether you have the resources and room to accommodate one because they can be costly.
Which scanner is based for scanning pages of books?
Books and other bound materials need to be digitized in huge quantities. Hence book scanners are often employed in libraries, archives, and other institutions.
These scanners are typically flatbed scanners with a substantial glass scanning surface that can fit a book’s spine.
In addition to having built-in book cradles or supports, they frequently contain adjustable guides or rollers that hold the book open and in place while scanning.
Final Verdict on the best book scanners list
There you have it – a list of the seven best book scanners.
Buying a Best Book Scanners is difficult, especially when hundreds of options are available. However, the best scanner depends on your requirements, budget, compatibility, etc.
If you want an all-in-one solution and the budget is not a big issue, go with CZUR ET16 Plus. It is probably one of the best available in the market right now.
Alternatively, you can go with Fujitsu ScanSnap SV600, especially if you are more concerned about after-sale services.
On the other hand, if you are tight on budget, you can look at CZUR Shine 800 Pro, iOCHOW S1, or the handheld IRIScan Book 5. All these three are excellent solutions for people looking for cheap book scanners.
iCODIS X9 and CZUR Aura-B can also be great options, but they cost you around 300 bucks. To be frank, if you are looking for a cheap scanner, either go with CZUR Shine 800 Pro or, if you can raise your budget to $300, go with iCODIS X9 or CZUR Aura-B.
With that said, here is the time to wrap up this article. I hope you found our Best Book Scanners review helpful. Let us know what you think about the scanners mentioned in this list and which one you will buy.
Also, if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to share them with us in the comment section below. Our team will try to respond ASAP.
