The Best Photo Scanners for 2025

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Today's all-in-one printers suffice for the occasional scan, but photo buffs and family archivists alike turn to dedicated photo scanners to digitize their prints and film. High sensor resolutions and the ability to scan slides and negatives (not just photo prints) are part of the reason why, but many models also include useful software for retouching scans and removing scratches. That said, photo scanners are now niche items; you'll see relatively few models for sale, and their shelf lives tend to be very long. Of the models in our pick list, many were reviewed years ago but remain current, including our best photo scanner for most people, Canon's CanoScan LiDE 400. PCMag has been testing and reviewing scanners for decades, and our picks are grounded in our extensive experience and hands-on testing. Read on for a guide to choosing the right model, plus a detailed spec comparison of our picks.

A few dedicated photo scanners are sheetfeeders, specializing in snapshot-size prints. But one feature most "true" photo scanners share is a flatbed design. In these scanner designs, you lift a lid to expose a glass platen, where you place the image to be scanned.

A key differentiator among such models is the platen size; most are letter-size (8.5 by 11 inches) or legal-size (8.5 by 14 inches). You'll want to be cognizant of that spec depending on the size of the originals you will tend to scan.

We strongly urge you to avoid making a habit of scanning photos (or any delicate originals, for that matter) through the mechanical feeder of "any old" sheetfed document scanner, whether it's a standalone model or one built into a multifunction or all-in-one printer (more on that in a moment). This works in a pinch, but it risks damaging your originals, even if they're enclosed in a protective sleeve. A notable exception is the class of autofeed snapshot photo scanners, such as Epson's FastFoto line. The FastFoto models are built specifically for scanning shoeboxes full of photo prints and are engineered to treat the prints gently.

What to Look for in a Good Photo Scanner

Photo scanners are available in a wide range of prices and capabilities. As a rule, low-cost photo models are limited to scanning photo prints. Many do a very good job of this, generally for less than $100. Scanners starting in the $200 range can handle slides and/or film negatives. Such models come with plastic frames or holders that fit multiple slides or negatives and secure them in place on the platen during scanning. This helps with alignment and spacing during the scan and reduces the need to handle the transparencies directly off the platen.

Most scanners offer basic and advanced modes, accessible through their driver or scanning software. Typically, a scanner utility's basic mode will select the scan settings for you, while the advanced mode will let you customize the settings.

Many scanner drivers also have dust- and scratch-removal capabilities. The dust feature sometimes works well, but effective scratch removal really requires a hardware-based solution. To pinpoint this, look for something called Digital ICE technology, which is generally built into some higher-end photo scanners.

Is the Scanner on an All-in-One Printer Good Enough?

Though most people who scan many photos will want a single-function scanner, nearly all multifunction printers (MFPs), also known as all-in-ones (AIOs), include a flatbed that can scan photo prints and other material. The quality of their photo scanning varies widely, depending on the hardware and software involved. Most fall well short of single-function photo scanners in terms of scan quality and/or photo-centric features. (See our picks for the best AIO printers.)

A few models, which we call home photo labs, can scan slides and negatives in addition to prints, providing a variety of photo-centric features as well as the normal MFP functions (printing, copying, and—in some cases—faxing). They're worth considering if you're a scrapbooker or a photo buff in need of a versatile photo scanner that can also print and make copies. Look at a printer vendor's specifically photo-minded AIOs to identify these models. Undoubtedly, an AIO can save a lot of desk space versus a separate printer and flatbed scanner.

Ready to Buy the Right Photo Scanner?

We trust our advice and picks here have helped. The models we highlight here run the gamut from inexpensive consumer units to scanners aimed at serious photographers, be they professionals or advanced amateurs. What all these products have in common is that they're the best photo scanners in their respective categories on the market today.

For more on what to look for in a scanner, check out our top overall scanner picks. Also, before you start that big digitizing project, you'll want to check out our top tips for preserving your photos.