Duplex scanning vs single sided
Verdict
Single-sided scanning means feeding every stack twice and then interleaving the pages, which is where most paperless projects die. Duplex scans both sides in one pass. If you are digitising more than a drawer of paper, duplex is the difference between finishing and giving up.
~$350
Check Epson WorkForce ES-400 II Duplex Scanner Price~$100
Check Epson Perfection V19 II Flatbed Price| Epson WorkForce ES-400 II Duplex Scanner | Epson Perfection V19 II Flatbed | |
|---|---|---|
| Scans both sides in one pass | Yes | No |
| Speed on a stack | Very fast | Very slow |
| Handles books | No | Yes |
| Handles fragile items | No | Yes |
| Cost | High | Low |
| Suits a filing cabinet | Yes | No |
You have years of paperwork to digitise. Duplex plus a document feeder is what makes it a weekend rather than a season, and OCR turns the output into something searchable.
Check Epson WorkForce ES-400 II Duplex Scanner on Amazon
Some documents cannot go through a feeder: bound items, receipts on thermal paper, photographs, anything torn. A cheap flatbed alongside covers those.
Check Epson Perfection V19 II Flatbed on Amazon
Optical character recognition turns scanned images into searchable text. Without it you have pictures of documents you cannot search, which defeats much of the point of going paperless.
Searchable PDF is the usual choice for documents. Keep the resolution modest for text and higher for anything you may need to enlarge.
Some documents must be kept in original form for legal reasons and the rules vary by country and document type. Check before shredding anything official.
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these units side by side. Confirm current prices and specifications before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Our Brother MFC-L8930CDW review covers single-pass duplex scanning at 104 images per minute, which is the specification that turns scanning from a chore into a task.