10 Best Portable Document Scanners 2025 in the United States

The Epson WorkForce ES-50 is a strong contender in the portable document scanner category. One of its standout features is its speed, capable of scanning a single page in as little as 5.5 seconds, making it suitable for users who need quick scans on the go. Additionally, its lightweight design (0.59 pounds) enhances its portability, making it easy to carry around in a bag or briefcase. The scanner's resolution of 1200 DPI is quite good for most document scanning needs, ensuring clear and detailed scans.

The device supports a variety of document types and sizes up to 8.5 x 72 inches, which is quite versatile for a portable scanner. It's also capable of handling ID cards and receipts, adding to its usefulness for business travelers and mobile professionals. Connectivity is straightforward with a USB interface, which also powers the device, eliminating the need for batteries or an external power supply. This makes it convenient to use with a laptop on the go. The included Epson ScanSmart Software and Nuance OCR are great additions, providing tools to easily organize documents and convert them into searchable PDFs or editable Word and Excel files.

Compatibility with both Windows and Mac, along with the inclusion of a TWAIN driver, ensures it can work with most users' existing systems and software. However, it’s worth noting that the document feeder is manual, which might not be ideal for bulk scanning tasks as it requires individual feeding of each sheet. Users looking for automatic multi-page document handling might find this aspect limiting. Additionally, while the USB connectivity is simple, users who prefer wireless connections may find this setup less convenient. In conclusion, the Epson WorkForce ES-50 is best suited for individuals needing a portable, fast, and reliable scanner for occasional use rather than high-volume scanning tasks.

The Brother DS-640 is a compact and lightweight portable document scanner designed for professionals who need to scan documents on the go. It offers a resolution of 300 dpi, which is sufficient for clear text and image scans but might not capture fine details as well as higher-end models. The scanner can process documents at speeds up to 16 pages per minute, making it fairly quick for its size and helping save time during busy workdays.

Connectivity is straightforward with USB powering and data transfer, allowing you to plug it into your laptop or PC without needing an external power source. This makes it very portable and suitable for mobile use. However, it only scans one sheet at a time, so it’s best suited for smaller scanning tasks rather than large batches of documents. The DS-640 handles a variety of document sizes, including long receipts, invoices, business cards, and plastic IDs, which adds flexibility for different scanning needs.

Its bundled software supports multiple scan-to options such as saving files, sending emails, or uploading to cloud services, and includes useful features like OCR to convert scanned text into editable documents. Compatibility extends across Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. The scanner’s compact size and ease of use are strong points, though the single-sheet feeding and average resolution may limit its appeal for users needing fast, high-volume scanning or ultra-high-quality images. It is ideal for students, remote workers, or anyone requiring reliable, portable scanning for occasional to moderate use rather than heavy office scanning. The one-year warranty and responsive support provide added assurance for buyers.

The Epson Workforce ES-500W II is a versatile document scanner that offers several impressive features. One of its main strengths is its wireless capability, allowing you to scan directly to smartphones, tablets, computers, and cloud storage with ease. This is facilitated by the Epson Smart Panel mobile app. The scanner is also quite fast, capturing both sides of a document in a single pass at up to 35 pages per minute (ppm) or 70 images per minute (ipm). The robust 50-sheet Auto Document Feeder (ADF) is another plus, handling various paper types and sizes efficiently.

Additionally, the scanner includes powerful software such as the Epson ScanSmart, which offers features like automatic file naming and the ability to create searchable PDFs and editable Word/Excel files using Optical Character Recognition (OCR). This makes file management and document digitization streamlined and efficient. The device also ensures reliable paper feeding with Ultrasonic Double Feed Detection, preventing missed pages and damage from staples.

However, there are some drawbacks. The scanner's resolution is 300 dpi, which may be lower than some high-end models that offer higher resolution for more detailed scans. Also, at 8.1 pounds, it is not the lightest option available, which may affect portability for users who need to frequently move the device. Despite these minor issues, the Epson Workforce ES-500W II is a solid choice for users looking for a reliable and fast document scanner that integrates well with various devices and cloud services.