Types of scanners: Finding the right fit for your business

Not all scanners are built the same. Each type is designed with a specific functionality in mind — whether it’s high-speed capture, integration with cloud storage and business systems, or the ability to capture mixed-size and specialty documents.

High-volume scanners

High-volume scanners — sometimes called production scanners — are designed for organizations that need to process massive volumes of documents every day, such as service bureaus, BPOs, government offices, and financial institutions. These scanners are engineered for speed, endurance, and accuracy. With large input capacities and advanced paper-handling, they keep essential processes moving without bottlenecks.

Key benefits:

• Fast throughput – Capture hundreds of pages per minute to handle demanding workloads.

• Large-capacity feeders – Load big batches of documents at once to reduce downtime.

• Advanced paper handling – Manage mixed document sizes with care.

Network scanners

Network scanners are standalone, shared devices with built-in Ethernet/Wi-Fi and a walk-up control panel, so teams can capture and send documents without a connected PC. They’re ideal for departments and front-of-house areas — like reception, healthcare intake, or branch offices — where many users need quick access to the same scanner.

Key benefits:

• Seamless shared scanning – Multiple users can scan from one device, no PC needed.

• Direct send options – Push scans to designated network folders, email or cloud storage directly from the panel.

• Standard file formats – Output to PDF, JPEG, or TIFF for easy viewing, sharing, and storage.

Duplex scanners

Duplex scanners capture both sides of a document in a single pass, eliminating the need to flip pages manually. Offices that regularly handle double-sided paperwork — like contracts, patient forms, or financial records — can streamline document capture, process high volumes more quickly and reduce the risk of missing important information.

Key benefits:

• One-pass, two-sided capture – Scan both sides of a page simultaneously for faster results.

• Time-saving efficiency – Process high volumes of double-sided documents without manual intervention.

• Accurate feeds – Reduce misfeeds and missed pages with reliable paper handling.

Flatbed Scanners

Flatbed scanners — sometimes called book scanners — are designed for materials that can’t pass through an automatic document feeder. They’re ideal for bound items such as books, magazines, or passports, as well as delicate or irregularly shaped documents that need extra care. By capturing a page while it’s laid flat on an integrated glass platen, these devices preserve detail and reduce the risk of damage.

Key benefits:

• Handles what feeders can’t – Capture bound, fragile, or irregular materials with ease.

• True-to-original scans – Retain fine detail in text, photos, and illustrations without distortion.

• Gentle handling – Protects delicate or valuable items during scanning.

Large format and 11x17 scanners

Not all documents fit neatly into a letter or legal-sized scanner. For offices that deal with oversized materials, two categories of devices are designed for this purpose: large format scanners and 11x17 scanners.

• 11x17 scanners are built to handle tabloid or ledger-sized pages (11” x 17” or A3). They’re commonly used in offices where spreadsheets, financial ledgers, newsletters, or other wide-format documents need to be digitized. These devices extend everyday scanning capabilities without requiring highly specialized equipment.

• Large format scanners, are designed for documents that go far beyond tabloid size — such as engineering drawings, architectural blueprints, or posters. They capture documents up to several feet wide or many feet long. By digitizing these oversized materials, organizations can share, annotate, and preserve them more easily than managing bulky physical copies.

Key benefits:

• Oversized document capture – From tabloid pages to large-scale drawings, they handle what standard scanners can’t.

• Detail preservation – Clear, accurate scans of fine lines and complex layouts.

• Digital collaboration – Large documents can be shared electronically, reducing reliance on physical copies.

ID card scanners

Many industries need to quickly capture hard plastic cards — from driver’s licenses and employee badges to insurance and membership cards. Standard document scanners often struggle with rigid or embossed cards, making dedicated ID card scanners a more reliable option. They’re especially useful in healthcare intake desks, bank branches, hotels, and government offices where fast, accurate capture of ID information is part of daily operations.

Key benefits:

• Specialized media handling – Designed to scan rigid, embossed, or laminated cards that don’t pass smoothly through standard feeders.

• Front-desk efficiency – Quickly capture IDs and insurance cards during check-in or registration.

• Compact design – Small footprint for reception areas and customer service counters.

Receipt scanners

Receipts are among the trickiest documents to digitize — they’re small, thin, and often crumpled. Dedicated receipt scanners are designed to handle this type of fragile media and limit jamming, making them useful for accounting, expense management, and retail environments where piles of receipts need to be captured quickly.

Key benefits:

• Reliable paper handling – Prevent tears or jams with scanners designed for lightweight documents.

• Batch processing – Scan stacks of receipts in one run to save time.

• Digital organization – Convert receipts into searchable PDFs or export data into expense systems.