5 Best Legal Size Flatbed Scanners (2023 Reviews & Guide)

One Thing To Note

We would like to mention here that a finding a stand alone flatbed scanner for legal sized documents is quite difficult.

The legal size scanning feature is generally found in robust scanners and therefore, you baiscally have three options.

List Of Best Legal Size Flatbed Scanners in 2021

Here is a list of best legal size flatbed Scanners.

1. Xerox DocuMate 3220 – Popular Legal Flatbed Scanner with ADF

Xerox DocuMate 3220 is a popular scanner for legal size sheets.

The reason we highly recommend this scanner is because it is a flatbed scanner with a an automatic document feeder (ADF) scanner as well.

So basically, you would be able to scan delicate and large documents using the flatbed and you can use the sheetfed ADF mechanism for scanning loose sheets of paper automatically.

The ADF has the speed to scan about 23 papers per minute (ppm) or 46 images per minute (ipm), which considered a fair speed for an ADF mechanism.

Another important feature to note here is that the ADF has the capacity to scan 50 pagess at a time. It also has the single pass duplex scanning feature so basically it can scan both sides of a document in a single go.

Both ADF as well as the Flatbed on this scanner have the capacity to scan legal size documents. The Maximum paper size for ADF is 8.75 inches x 38 inches. Whereas the Maximum paper size for Flatbed is 8.5 inches by 14 inches.

All in all, if you need a popular and a robust scanner, then we highly recommend this as one of the best legal size flatbed scanners.

Related: Flatbed Vs Sheetfed Scanners: Ultimate Guide

2. Plustek A3 OS 1180 – Recommended Large Format Scanner – A3 Size

Plustek OS 1180 is another flatbed scanner for large format papers.

It can scan documents much bigger than legal sized documents.

In fact, this is a wide format scanner that can scan upto A3 sized documents.

It has a fairly high color input bit depth of 48 and therefore, if you are interested in high fidelity scans, then this will interest you.

Unfortunately, this is an expensive scanner. Although this is a versatile scanner, if you specifically require a legal sized flatbed scanner, then there are cheaper option available like the Epson WorkForce WF-7710.

If you are looking for a scanner that can not only scan legal but also A3 size documents, then this is one of the best legal size flatbed scanners.

3. Epson WorkForce WF-7710 – All in One Wide Format Pritner/Scanner

As we mentioned earler, a standalone scanner built specifically for legal size documents is quite difficult to find. Because of this, an all in one printer is a good alternative to a flatbed scanner. 

You either have the option to go for flatbed scanners with ADF like Xerox DocuMate 3220 or you have the option to go for Wide Format scanners like Plustek A3 OS 1180 – both of  which cost a lot.

Epson WorkForce WF-7710 give you a third option. Basically, if you want a budget option, then we highy recommend you look into an all in one machine like the Epson WorkForce WF-7710.

This is not just a robust printer, it has one of the best scanning mechanism.

It too has an ADF mechanism along with a flatbed scanner. The ADF can also scan both sides of the document. Therefore as far as the scanner is concerned, it check out.

The best part about this is that it costs half as much as the Plustek A3 OS 1180 above.

This machine can fax and copy your documents as well.

All in all, if you have enough desk space and if you are looking for an all in one option that too at a budget, then we highly recommend this as one of the best legal size flatbed scanners.

4. Mustek A3 2400S – Large Format High Speed Scanner – A3 Size

Mustek 2400S is another wide format scanner like the Plustek A3 OS 1180 above.

However, it is slighly more expensive than the Plustek Scanner.

For starters, this too can scan upto A3 in size. Besides that, it differentiates itself from the rest with a fairly fast speed.

It can scan an entire A3 sized document in 6.8 seconds. Therefore, a legal sized document would be scanner much quicker.

Furthermore, it has a daily duty cycle of 2500 pages. With this you can scan entire books for legal sized pages per day.

Again, due to its expensive price tag, this may not be suitable for all legal firms.

5. HP ScanJet Pro 4500 – Network Scanner

This is the most expensive legal sized documents scanner in this list. Why?

This is a Flatbed Scanner with ADF but with networking.

In terms of functionality, it is much similar to the Xerox DocuMate 3220 above. However, it is highly intended for large legal firms as supposed to smaller offices.

The scanner has a daily document scanning capacity of 4000. The ADF has the speed to scan 30 ppm and 60 ipm. It also has a duplex scanning mechanism instead of simplex.

With the WiFi networking option, you can scan the documents remotely and send it to your computer. This is essential if you are working in a large workgroup.

Besides that, since this is a premium scanner, it comes with plenty of high quality features such as a robust software as well as HP’s proprietary EveryPage technology that minimizes miss-feeds for the ADF.

In the end, this is one of the best legal size flatbed scanners if you need network capability or if you work in a large legal firm.

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What is the size of a standard legal document?

A legal document has the dimensions of 8.5×14.0”.

Why should I digitize Legal documents?

There are many benefits of saving the electronic files of your digital documents. Some of them are:

Better Access

You can retrieve even old and forgotten documents in a few seconds if they are saved in digital forms.

Finding documents in paper form can take hours but not if they are saved in your hard drive or any cloud service.

You can tag the document file or folder with names, places, or dates, and that makes finding them even easier.

Safety

Safety of your legal documents means a lot. Saving their digital files omit any chance of losing them, and you can keep them as long as you wish.

Paper Quality may Deteriorate

If you have the important legal documents merely in paper form, the writing on them or paper will fade with time and may not remain as crisp and neat as you would want them to be.

Stay with you anywhere in the world

Carrying physical copies of your important documents may not be possible for you, but if they are saved in any cloud service, you can access them anywhere in the world.

Clears Space

Legal documents in any business incur the high storing cost and cover a considerable amount of space in your office.

Storing them instead in digital files will clear up a lot of space and make your workplace better organized with less paper clutter.

Offers more document handling flexibility

The digital files of your legal documents are easy to view, share, or edit. You can share the documents easily within your network without risking it to be damaged or lost.

Improve workflow and Efficiency

Saving the digital files of your important documents with the help of the best legal size flatbed scanners allow you to manage your workflow more easily. It will improve the efficiency of your business.

Things to consider while selecting a scanner for legal documents

Following things should be considered:

Speed

You may need to scan legal documents, contract papers, or other documents daily.

A good speed scanner can save a lot of your time.

Document Enhancement

Ideally, the scanner should be able to remove the document fasteners, staples, or clips.

Leaving their marks would look unprofessional. Many scanners come with the option to remove these document fasteners.

File Indexing and OCR technology

The scanner with paper managing and organizing options will work best for file indexing and saving them in the correct order.

OCR technology is important as it is the only way your documents are read as editable and searchable text files.

Most modern high end scanners come equipped with software that can handle file indexing.

Quality of Scans

Legal documents are important, and you can’t risk the low-quality scans.

The document should be clear and sharp with all the minute details captured as well.

However, this does not mean that you should go about investing a fortune one a scanner like Epson V850 that are speficailly designed for photos.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, standalone legal size flatbed scanners are generally not available.

Standalone flatbed scanners are available in either letter size format or wide A3 format. While you can use the expensive A3 sized scanners for scanning legal sized documents, you cannot do so with the budget letter sized flatbed scanners.

Therefore, in the end you are left with a bunch of versatile options to choose from.

You can go for a Flatbed + ADF scanner like the Xerox DocuMate 3220 that are large enough.

Alternatively, you can go for A3 format scanners like the Plustek A3 OS 1180 or you can can go for a wide format All in One printer like the Epson WorkForce WF-7710.