CBS News
Free yourself from clutter with the best document scanners in 2024
Epson
Using one of these best document scanners, it’s easy and quick to create digital versions of important papers and keep them stored securely in your computer or the cloud. And once your files have been digitized, it’s easy to find them by a search term, date, file name or other criteria.
So, if you’re looking to free up some space in your home, get rid of filing cabinets altogether, cut down on clutter and better organize your important files and documents, consider investing in a document scanner.
While this roundup focuses on dedicated document scanners, all of the latest all-in-one printers, including those featured in our roundup of the best for 2024, also offer scanning capabilities. Our top pick in that category is the Canon Maxify GX6021.
Our picks for the best document scanners
Our in-house team of tech experts has curated this list of the best document scanner, all of which fit nicely on a desk and are easy to operate. When you choose the right scanner, the content you scan will wind up being accessible and readable in digital form. You can also choose what file format to store them in. For paper documents, a scanner can create PDF files which you can view, annotate or work with on any computer or mobile device platform.
The best scanners are loaded with useful features, making it easy to name and organize your precious files into custom folders. And searching for them is easy, too, via date or keywords. So your 2024 tax return paperwork won’t get mixed up with your work contracts, legal documents, personal medical records or travel receipts.
Best document scanner overall: Canon ImageFormula RS40
Canon
This dedicated desktop scanner is so versatile, that it can scan documents in almost any size, from a business card or ID, up to 8.5 x 14 inches. This means it can quickly scan receipts, letter or legal size pages at up to 1,200 x 1,200 dpi. We also like this scanner because it does a great job capturing photos, too.
The integrated auto document feeder handles a stack of up 60 pages and can scan up to 40 items per minute. Documents can be edited and saved using the supplied CaptureOnTouch software. File formats supported include PDF, JPG, TIF, BMP, PNG and PPTX.
The system automatically saves scanned documents locally on your computer, or you can them to the cloud. OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox and SharePoint are supported. This scanner connects to a PC or Mac using a supplied USB cable and offers an intuitive user interface.
Best portable document scanner: Brother DSmobile DS-940DW
Brother
For people on the go, or anyone who only needs to do occasional scanning, the Brother DSmobile DS-940DW is a portable and lightweight scanner that measures just 12.6 x 2.5 x 1.8 inches and weighs a mere 1.5 pounds. It’s also battery-powered.
Once connected (wirelessly or using a USB cable) to your PC or Mac, the DS-940DW can capture documents as small as a business card or up to 8.5 x 71.97 inches. It supports a maximum resolution of 300 x 300 dpi. This makes it great for quickly scanning receipts, financial documents, tax documents or other important papers — one sheet at a time.
We like this portable scanner because it can handle single or double-sided documents, in black and white or full color, in a single pass. One additional feature we found particularly useful: When you insert an optional microSD memory card into the scanner, you can process documents and store them on the card without needing to connect a computer or mobile device. A storage and travel case ($19) is sold separately.
Best batch document scanner: Ricoh FI-800R
Ricoh
For a household that needs to get rid of a lot of paper clutter, the Ricoh FI-800R dedicated scanner is up to the job. This scanner can accommodate documents as small as 2 x 2 inches, business cards, IDs, envelopes, passports, letter or legal size pages. The scanner’s maximum resolution is 600 x 600 dpi.
While it lacks wireless connectivity, the scanner uses an included USB cable to connect to a PC or Mac computer. It comes with PaperStream ClickScan software that makes it easy to scan, enhance, organize and store scanned documents.
When documents are fed into the scanner using the auto document feeder, scan speed is up to 40ppm. Single, manually-fed sheets scan be scanned in as little as 3.5 seconds. One useful feature is that when you load a document into the input tray, after being scanned, it will return that document to the same tray. The scanner itself measures just 11.7 x 4.1 x 3.3 inches, so it takes up very little desk space.
Best document scanner for receipts: Epson RapidReceipt RR-70W
Amazon
Epson’s version of a portable and battery-powered scanner is ideal for scanning receipts and then importing expense data into a spreadsheet or your favorite expense reporting software. It works with black and white or full-color documents up to 8.5 x 72 inches.
While individual sheets can be fed into the scanner one at a time, there’s a 15-sheet capacity ADF built-in. Scanning resolution is up to 300 x 300 dpi. Receipt management software is included, but scanned document data can easily be exported into QuickBooks, Quicken, TurboTax or Excel.
The supplied software will transform scanned documents into editable and searchable PDFs automatically. Documents can then be stored locally on your computer or uploaded directly to Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive or OneDrive. Scanning speed is up to 15ppm.
This scanner does not support double-sided scanning, but it measures 10.7 x 1.8 x 1.3 inches and weighs a mere 11 ounces. The rechargeable battery is included. A carrying and storage case is sold separately ($20).
Best combo document and photo scanner: ScanSnap iX1600
Amazon
While some scanners specialize in paper documents and others are better suited for photos, the ScanSnap iX1600 scans both — and does it well.
This scanner features a large, full-color touchscreen that makes it super easy to use. The built in ADF allows you to insert small stacks of documents to get scanned at up to 600 x 600 dpi resolution. The scanner connects wirelessly or USB cable with a PC, Mac or mobile device. It can handle documents or prints as small as 2 x 2 inches or as large as 11 x 17 inches.
This is a versatile scanner that measures 11.5 x 6.3 x 6 inches and weighs 7.5 pounds. It can handle single or double-sided scanning at up to 40ppm. Documents can be stored on your computer or mobile device or uploaded to a supported cloud-based service. It comes with the ScanSnap Home software, which makes it easy to scan, manage, edit, organize and share documents or photos.
How to pick the best document scanner
First, consider the types and sizes of documents you’ll be scanning the most frequently; are they individual sheets or multi-page documents that would require an auto document feeder? Next, determine if you want a portable scanner or one that fits nicely on a desktop.
Features to consider include the scanner’s resolution, which is measured in dots-per-inch (dpi). The higher the dpi, the more detailed the scans. For basic text documents, 300 x 300 dpi is more than adequate, but for full-color documents, 600 x 600 dpi is typically better to ensure clarity of images and legibility of text.
You also want to consider the scanner’s speed. Again faster is better. As for connectivity, a wireless connection with your computer or mobile device is often more convenient. The alternative is using a standard USB cable. Based on how you’ll be using the scanner, make sure it can accommodate all of the sizes necessary.
We also suggest paying attention to additional features, such as the ability to handle two-sided scanning with a single pass, to transfer scanned content to the cloud, or to store a file on a microSD memory card.
Finally, make sure you’ll be able to export the scanned content into file formats you can access. If you’ll be creating PDF files, you want the option to have those files be editable and searchable, so you can easily export the data to other applications.
And be sure to learn whether your scanner can export data from scanned pages into applications you already use for tasks like tax preparation or expense reporting.
The best scanners handle a wide range of scanning tasks and make it easy to edit, manage, view, organize, store and share. You also want to make sure the scanner works with your laptop or desktop computer, or your tablet. And if you plan to store your important scanned documents locally, we highly recommend a reliable and secure backup via external SSD or cloud service.
To learn all about the latest consumer tech, read in-depth product reviews, discover informative buyer’s guides for popular products and find the best deals, be sure to check out our constantly updated tech coverage.
TRENTON, N.J. — Democratic Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver has defeated Republican small businessman Carmen Bucco in a contest in New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District that opened up because of the death of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. in April.
McIver will serve out the remainder of Payne’s term, which ends in January. She and Bucco will face a rematch on the November ballot for the full term.
McIver said in a statement Wednesday that she stands on the “shoulders of giants,” naming Payne as chief among them.
She cast ahead to the November election, saying the right to make reproductive health choices was on the ballot as well as whether the economy should benefit the wealthy or “hard working Americans.”
“I will fight because the purpose of politics and the purpose of our vote is to give the people of our communities and our nation a bold voice,” she said.
Bucco congratulated McIver on the victory in a statement but said he’s looking forward to the rematch in November.
“I am not going anywhere,” he said in an email. “We still have a second chance to make district 10 great again!”
Who are LaMonica McIver and Carmen Bucco?
McIver emerged as the Democratic candidate in a crowded field in the July special election. A member of the city council of New Jersey’s biggest city since 2018, she also worked for Montclair Public Schools as a personnel director and plans to focus on affordability, infrastructure, abortion rights and “protecting our democracy,” she told The Associated Press earlier this summer.
Bucco describes himself on his campaign website as a small-business owner influenced by his upbringing in the foster system. He lists support for law enforcement and ending corruption as top issues.
The 10th District lies in a heavily Democratic and majority-Black region of northern New Jersey. Republicans are outnumbered by more than 6 to 1.
It’s been a volatile year for Democrats in New Jersey, where the party dominates state government and the congressional delegation.
Among the developments were the conviction on federal bribery charges of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, who has denied the charges, and the demise of the so-called county party line — a system in which local political leaders give their preferred candidates favorable position on the primary ballot.
Democratic Rep. Andy Kim, who’s running for Menendez’s seat, and other Democrats brought a federal lawsuit challenging the practice as part of his campaign to oust Menendez, who has resigned since his conviction.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
CBS News
Sean “Diddy” Combs at same Brooklyn detention center that held R. Kelly, Sam Bankman-Fried, other high-profile inmates
A second judge refused to grant bail to Sean “Diddy” Combs on Wednesday and he could remain in federal custody at a Brooklyn detention center until his trial for sex trafficking charges. Combs joins other high-profile inmates, such as singer R. Kelly, fallen cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried, rapper Ja Rule —even Al Sharpton served a brief stint— who were held at the same federal detention center.
Notorious for its horrible conditions —inmates won a $10 million class action settlement after enduring frigid conditions during an 8-day blackout in 2019— the waterfront industrial complex, MDC Brooklyn, houses 1,200 inmates.
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images
Violence and corruption have long plagued the facility; U.S. District Judge Gary R. Brown of the Eastern District of New York wrote the detention center had “dangerous, barbaric conditions” in a recent sentencing opinion. Two inmates were stabbed to death in recent months and several correction officers have been convicted for smuggling contraband and accepting bribes.
Combs joins a list of high-profile personalities that have landed at the MDC Brooklyn, partly because the city’s other federal detention center, MDC New York, closed in 2021, also due to horrible conditions. The disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in his cell there in 2019. “Numerous and serious” instances of misconduct among corrections staff gave Epstein the opportunity to kill himself, a subsequent federal watchdog investigation found.
Kelly sued the federal detention center in 2022 for wrongly putting him on suicide watch after his sentencing. Kelly sought $100 million because he said the detention center knew he wasn’t suicidal after he was convicted in 2021 for racketeering and violating the Mann Act, which bars transporting people across state lines for prostitution.
Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Former crypto billionaire Bankman-Fried survived on bread, water and sometimes peanut butter when he was in the MDC Brooklyn, his attorney said, because the detention center continued to serve him a “flesh diet” despite requests for vegan dishes.
Ja Rule stayed at the MDC Brooklyn for a brief time before being released after serving most of his two-year sentence for illegal gun possession. Most of his prison time was spent in a state prison in New York.
Sharpton served a 90-day sentence in 2001 and went on a hunger strike for protesting the U.S. Navy bombing of the island of Vieques, in Puerto Rico.
Combs was taken into custody on Monday and according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday he was charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution.
His attorney Marc Agnifilo told CBS News, “It’s impossible to prepare for a trial from where he is,” after a first federal judge denied Combs bail on Tuesday.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky agreed with prosecutors who argued the hip-hop mogul, who is accused of using his business empire as a criminal enterprise to conceal his alleged abuse of women, is a flight risk and poses an ongoing threat to the safety of the community.
Agnifilo said the part of the detention center where Combs is being held is “a very difficult place to be.”
contributed to this report.
