The 6 best 3D body scanners in 2022
Aniwaa helps professionals research, evaluate, and purchase additive manufacturing and 3D capture solutions.
What is a 3D body scanner?
3D body scanners are designed to capture your full body in 3D. The result is a 3D model (also called 3D avatar) of your exact body shape with accurate data such as body measurements, posture analysis, textures, …
Originally developed for the fashion industry as fast and accurate 3D measurement solutions, 3D body scanners are now used in various other fields such as healthcare, 3D figurines and 3D photos, fitness, and entertainment.
We’ve selected some of the best body 3D scanners available and listed them here in this guide. Our selection focuses on full-body 3D scanning systems that are exclusively designed for 3D body scanning. We list a few handheld 3D scanner options further down the article.
Best 3D body scanners 2022: our selection
The table below recaps our selection of some of the best full-body 3D scanning options. The goal is to provide a quick, visual overview of the market; there are of course numerous other factors to take into account (software, customer service, …) to get the full picture for each solution and eventually make the right choice.
| Brand | Product | Country | Price
Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …).
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit3D | Proscanner | United States | $ 10,000 | Quote |
| Size Stream | SS20 3D Body Scanner | United States | $ 15,000 | Quote |
| TG3D Studio | Scanatic™ 360 Body Scanner | Taiwan | $ 15,000 | Quote |
| Texel | Portal MX | United Kingdom | $ 34,900 | Quote |
| Texel | Portal BX | United Kingdom | $ 45,650 | Quote |
| botspot | BOTSCAN NEO | Germany | $ 200,000 | Quote |
The products in the table are ranked by price (low to high).
| Brand | Product | Technology | Max resolution | Country | Price
Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …).
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit3D | Proscanner | Structured light | – | United States | $ 10,000 | Get a quote |
| Size Stream | SS20 3D Body Scanner | Photogrammetry | – | United States | $ 15,000 | Get a quote |
| TG3D Studio | Scanatic™ 360 Body Scanner | Laser triangulation | – | Taiwan | $ 15,000 | Get a quote |
| Texel | Portal MX | Structured light | 1 mm | United Kingdom | $ 34,900 | Get a quote |
| Texel | Portal BX | Structured light | 1 mm | United Kingdom | $ 45,650 | Get a quote |
| botspot | BOTSCAN NEO | Photogrammetry | 0.1 mm | Germany | $ 200,000 | Get a quote |
Overview of the best full body 3D scanners
In this section, we give some more context and information about each 3D scanner from our selection.
| Country | United States |
| Technology | Structured light |
| Max resolution | – |
| Price
Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …).
| $ 10,000 |
The Fit3D Proscanner is a 3D body scanner for fitness and healthcare applications. It’s designed to provide a comprehensive wellness assessment based on a detailed 3D body capture.
This body scanning system is mainly used in gyms, health clubs, and fitness studios. The Fit3D Proscanner is able to accurately 3D scan a person in 40 seconds and to provide a posture analysis as well as a body shape wellness score.
| Country | United States |
| Technology | Photography |
| Max resolution | – |
| Price
Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …).
| $ 15,000 |
The Size Stream SS20 3D body scanner is a versatile full body measurement system, designed to capture thousands of data points to create a 3D model of a person’s body. This 3D body scanning booth is primarily designed for 3D measurement to create custom clothing.
The Size Stream body scanner can also be used for 3D printing, measurement tracking, size surveys, and healthcare and fitness applications.
| Country | Taiwan |
| Technology | Laser triangulation |
| Max resolution | – |
| Price
Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …).
| $ 15,000 |
The Scanatic 360 Body Scanner by TG3D is designed for the fashion industry. It is lightweight and easy to move, and can be fully integrated within a fitting room. Scans take 3 seconds, and measurement points are available in 30 seconds.
TG3D develops software and applications that are tailored for the clothing industry.
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Technology | Structured light |
| Max resolution | 1 mm |
| Price
Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …).
| $ 34,900 |
The Texel MX can be used for the entertainment and advertising industry, for medical applications, and even as a digital fitting room.
It takes the Texel MX 30 seconds to perform a full 3D body scan, and just 60 seconds to create a digital 3D model with automatic rigging. As with the BX version, results can be directly used for 3D printing or 3D animation.
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Technology | Structured light |
| Max resolution | 1 mm |
| Price
Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …).
| $ 45,650 |
Texel (or Texel Graphics) is one of the leading manufacturers of 3D body scanners. Their solutions are suitable for a wide range of applications and can be customized for specific events, stores, or environments.
The BX is able to scan up to 40 people per hour and comes with a registration tablet for users to input their names and email address. 3D avatars are directly sent to their inbox and can be shared via social media.
| Country | Germany |
| Technology | Photography |
| Max resolution | 0.1 mm |
| Price
Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …).
| $ 200,000 |
The botscan NEO by German manufacturer botspot features a modular design and is customizable. This system uses a combination of structured light and photogrammetry to provide accurate and colored meshes.
For an easy user experience, the NEO comes with an intuitive mobile app. Its maximum scanning volume capacity is 1000 x 1000 x 2000mm.
Handheld 3D body scanning options
Some handheld color 3D scanners are suitable for 3D scanning faces, hands, arms, … They can also perform full-body scans, though the process takes a while and requires the customer or patient to stay still during that time. The portable color 3D scanners listed below can therefore be good options to scan specific body parts (e.g. head and chest for 3D avatars, an arm or leg for prosthetics) or for infrequent full-body scans.
This brand is a certified partner from our network.
| Country | China |
| Technology | Structured light |
| Max resolution | 0.2 mm |
| Weight | 0.85 kg |
| Price
Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …).
| $ 3,980 |
The iReal 2E is a versatile 3D scanning option in the entry-level price range. It uses VCEL structured light to capture medium- to large-sized objects. Like infrared light, VCEL light is invisible to the human eye and is therefore also particularly adapted to face and body 3D scanning.
Scantech has reported diverse use cases for the iReal 2E 3D scanner, namely in forensic investigations, healthcare, and even culture preservation. In the latter, Scantech’s customer 3D scanned a woman performing different Tai Chi movements– an interesting and uncommon application!
This brand is a certified partner from our network.
| Country | China |
| Technology | Hybrid |
| Max resolution | 0.25 mm |
| Weight | 0.7 kg |
| Price
Approximate starting prices based on supplier-provided information and public data. Prices may vary by region, over time and do not include additional products or services (taxes, shipping, accessories, training, installation, …).
| $ 4,999 |
The EinScan H was launched alongside the EinScan HX in September 2020. It uses a combination of structured LED light and infrared light, with a built-in color camera for texture acquisition.
This 3D scanner can therefore serve a range of applications involving color capture, with uses in retail, art preservation, healthcare, and more. Furthermore, its infrared light is eye-safe and won’t blind users during a face or body scan.
Shining 3D’s versatile EinScan H is a great entry-level deal for most basic use cases, and its software is getting more intuitive by the update.
3D body scanning applications
Fitness and personal health
Fitness body scanners
Body scanners can be used in fitness clubs, gyms, and healthcare facilities. Fitness body scanners allow you to track the evolution of a person’s body through various 3D measurements such as body shape and posture.
Visualizing these evolutions on a 3D avatar is a strong motivational boost that can help increase gym members’ engagement and improve patient recovery processes.
Home body scanners
These 3D body scanners are consumer appliances made to monitor personal health and body shape as well as posture evolution, among other data points. Homebody scanners usually have a 360° rotating platform on which the user stands.
These 3D body scanners typically work with a smartphone app acting as a personal trainer, so users can easily track all their data and reach their fitness goals.
Fashion and apparel: made-to-measure clothing
The fashion and apparel industry was among the first to embrace 3D body scanning for several applications:
- Fast and accurate 3D measurements
- Made-to-measure clothing (custom clothing)
- Highly personalized recommendations
- Measurement surveys and anthropometric characterization
- Virtual fitting rooms
Users can obtain their own 3D avatar on their smartphone and use it to see how clothes fit without physically trying them on.
This is as useful for luxury, tailored clothing as it is for retail and e-commerce.
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The rise of 3D body scanning: Why digital avatars are the future
3D printed figurines and 3D photo
Also known as 3D selfies or 3D portraits, these miniature figurines of people are typically 3D printed from a 3D body scan. If you want to learn more about this application, you can visit our article dedicated to 3D printed figurines.
Here are a few 3D body scanner options that are designed for 3D figurines:
- Artec Shapify Booth
- Doob Dooblicator
- KODAK Full Body 3D Scanner
- Picanova 3D.me
- Pics3D Cobra
- Scanologics ScanLounge v2.5
- Twindom Twinstant Mobile
Healthcare
Healthcare and medical sectors are filled with opportunities for 3D body scanning. From monitoring body shape and posture during pregnancy to making custom 3D printed prosthetics and more, body scanners are increasingly used for use in the medical field.
Body scanning can also be used to accurately monitor skin recovery in the case of burns or to detect skin diseases at an early stage, thanks to specific 3D imaging systems.
How do 3D body scanners work?
To obtain a full body scan, the person holds a pose for a few seconds, which is the time it takes for the 3D scanner to capture images from all angles. The 3D software then reconstructs the final 3D model of the body by “stitching” all of the images together, generating a highly detailed 3D model. Models can have colors and textures depending on the type of body scanner that’s used.
During the 3D capture process, the subject can either stand on a rotating turntable facing a fixed 3D body scanner, or stand still while the sensors located all around the body scanning booth capture images from all angles.
Closed 3D body scanning booth (or body scanning cabin)
A body scanning booth is a closed cabin that is rigged with cameras or 3D scanners. These full-body 3D scanners look a bit like regular fitting rooms.
Full body scanner with rotating platform or turntable
To use these body scanners, the person stands on a rotating table facing a 3D body scanner, typically a vertical unit. During the scanning process, the turntable rotates 360°, allowing the subject to be captured from all angles. The 3D model is generated once the full rotation is complete.
