A flatbed scanner vs a sheetfed document scanner
Verdict
A flatbed scans anything that lies flat including photos, books and fragile documents, one page at a time. A sheetfed scanner feeds a stack automatically and scans both sides at speed, and it cannot handle a book or anything delicate. Choose the flatbed for photos and books; choose sheetfed for going paperless.
~$100
Check Epson Perfection V19 II Flatbed Scanner Price~$350
Check Epson WorkForce ES-400 II Duplex Scanner Price| Epson Perfection V19 II Flatbed Scanner | Epson WorkForce ES-400 II Duplex Scanner | |
|---|---|---|
| Photos | Excellent | Risk of damage |
| Books | Yes | No |
| Speed on a stack | Very slow | Very fast |
| Double sided | Manual | Automatic |
| Fragile documents | Safe | Risky |
| Cost | Low | High |
You are digitising family photos or scanning from books. A flatbed handles anything you can lay on the glass, at higher optical resolution than a feeder, without pulling the item through rollers.
Check Epson Perfection V19 II Flatbed Scanner on Amazon
You are digitising years of paperwork. A duplex sheetfed scanner does in an afternoon what a flatbed does in a fortnight, which is the difference between finishing the project and abandoning it.
Check Epson WorkForce ES-400 II Duplex Scanner on Amazon
Higher than for documents. Around 300 to 600 dpi covers reprints at the same size, and higher is worth it if you want to enlarge or the original is small.
You should not. Feeders pull items through rollers and can crease, scratch or tear anything delicate. Use the flatbed for anything irreplaceable.
They are genuinely good for receipts and quick captures, and they are not a substitute for a scanner when you care about colour, resolution or volume.
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.
For a machine that does both, our Brother MFC-L8930CDW review covers an 80-page feeder and legal-size flatbed glass in one device.