Handheld 3D scanners 2020: top 10 selection and buying guide
What is the best handheld 3D scanner on the market?
There are hundreds of 3D scanners available on the market, from desktop 3D scanners to advanced metrology systems. However, handheld 3D scanners are gaining popularity in this fast-growing market. They offer various benefits in comparison with other types of 3D scanners:
- Ability to access hard-to-reach places
- Relative ease of use
- Portability
Today, many portable 3D scanners are available on the market. From affordable handheld 3D scanners to advanced, industrial-grade portable 3D scanners, the market caters to almost every need.
Our goal is to cut through the clutter and showcase the best handheld 3D scanners currently on the market. This “best handheld 3D scanner” selection is based on a combination of our own experience and feedback from our partners.
If you’re looking for a desktop 3D scanner, check out our Best 3D scanners article or use our 3D scanner comparison engine to see even more options.
Best handheld scanners and portable 3D scanners in 2020
| Handheld 3D scanner | Technology | Accuracy* | Resolution** | Weight | Country | Price*** | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shining 3D EinScan Pro 2X | Structured light | 0.04 mm | 0.2 mm | 1.13 kg | China | $5,499 | Quote |
| THOR3D Calibry | Structured light | 0.1 mm | 0.3 mm | 0.7 kg | Russia | $5,790 | Quote |
| Shining 3D EinScan Pro 2X Plus | Structured light | 0.04 mm | 0.2 mm | 1.13 kg | China | $6,899 | Quote |
| Peel 3D peel 2 | Structured light | 0.25 mm | 0.5 mm | 0.95 kg | Canada | $7,490 | Quote |
| FARO Freestyle3D X | Laser triangulation | 1 mm | 0.2 mm | 0.98 kg | United States | $12,000 | Quote |
| Mantis Vision F6 | Structured light | 0.5 mm | 1.0 mm | 1.0 kg | Israel | $15,000 | Quote |
| Artec Eva | Structured light | 0.1 mm | 0.5 mm | 0.9 kg | Luxembourg | $19,800 | Quote |
| Artec Leo | Structured light | 0.1 mm | 0.5 mm | 2.6 kg | Luxembourg | $25,800 | Quote |
| Creaform Go!SCAN SPARK | Structured light | 0.05 mm | 0.2 mm | 1.25 kg | Canada | $30,000 | Quote |
| Creaform HandyScan BLACK | Laser triangulation | 0.035 mm | 0.1 mm | 0.94 kg | Canada | $50,000 | Quote |
*Accuracy: single scan accuracy when possible. Note that some manufacturers only provide volumetric accuracy or do not specify which kind of accuracy they are providing.
**Resolution: mesh resolution or point-to-point distance when possible.
***Price: manufacturer's suggested retail price. These prices can vary greatly depending on the accessories and versions you choose. Prices are also subject to change over time and/or from one country to another (shipping fees, taxes, etc.). Contact us to obtain specific quotes.
Overview of the best handheld 3D scanners
Below, find more details and information about each portable 3D scanner from our selection.
Shining 3D EinScan Pro 2X
- Accuracy: 0.04 mm
- Resolution: 0.2 mm
- Weight: 1.13 kg
- Technology: Structured light
- Country: China
- Price: $5,499
Those who are looking for a cheap handheld 3D scanner can set their eyes on the EinScan Pro 2X. This 3D scanner offers a great price-to-performance ratio, delivering quality results in a matter of minutes. It is suitable for small to medium-sized objects.
You can use this 3D scanner with an automatic turntable for more accurate 3D models or use it in handheld mode for hard-to-reach areas.
More information: Shining 3D EinScan Pro 2X
THOR3D Calibry
- Accuracy: 0.1 mm
- Resolution: 0.3 mm
- Weight: 0.7 kg
- Technology: Structured light
- Country: Russia
- Price: $5,790
The THOR3D Calibry is one of the most lightweight 3D scanners you will find on the market. Despite weighing only 700 grams, this handheld scanner is equipped with a built-in touchscreen. The screen allows you to see what you’re scanning in real time.
According to THOR3D, the Calibry is able to 3D scan sharp edges, complex surfaces (e.g. black or shiny), as well as hair and fur.
More information (full review): THOR3D Calibry
Shining 3D EinScan Pro 2X Plus
- Accuracy: 0.04 mm
- Resolution: 0.2 mm
- Weight: 1.13 kg
- Technology: Structured light
- Country: China
- Price: $6,899
The 2X Plus is one of the most affordable handheld 3D scanner solutions on the market, yet it still offers impressive results. Its 3D scans are detailed and, when the scanner is equipped with the Color module, can include accurate colors and textures.
In comparison with the regular EinScan Pro 2X version mentioned earlier, the 2X Plus boasts a larger scan area and a greater stand-off distance. It is therefore more convenient when it comes to 3D scanning larger objects.
More information (full review): Shining 3D EinScan Pro 2X Plus
Peel 3d peel 2
- Accuracy: 0.25 mm
- Resolution: 0.5 mm
- Weight: 0.95 kg
- Technology: Structured light
- Country: Canada
- Price: $7,490
This second-generation peel 3D scanner offers a higher resolution than its previous iteration, and is capable of capturing textures and colors.
Peel 3D scanners are easy to use even for beginners with little 3D scanning knowledge. The software that comes with the peel 2 is also intuitive and user-friendly, offering multiple editing functionalities.
More information: Peel 3d peel 2
FARO Freestyle3D X
- Accuracy: 1 mm
- Resolution: 0.2 mm
- Weight: 0.98 kg
- Technology: Laser triangulation
- Country: United States
- Price: $10K – $50K
It is able to quickly measure rooms, structures, and all kinds of objects in 3D. Hence, the Freestyle3D X is ideal for architects, construction workers, designers, forensics, and industrial engineers.
This scanner may not seem to be the most accurate on this list when comparing specs; but in reality, it is extremely precise given the fact that it scans very large objects and rooms, whereas most other handheld 3D scanners are used for smaller use cases.
More information: FARO Freestyle3D X
Mantis Vision F6 SMART
- Accuracy: 0.5 mm
- Resolution: 1.0 mm
- Weight: 1.0 kg
- Technology: Structured light
- Country: Israel
- Price: $10K – $50K
The F6 SMART uses a color camera in order to deliver photorealistic mesh textures. According to Mantis Vision, this handheld scanner (which can also be used on a tripod, like most other portable 3D scanners) is able to 3D scan objects even in complete darkness.
This can be particularly useful in exploration and archaeology for example (caves, ruins, etc).
More information: Mantis Vision F6 SMART
Artec Eva
- Accuracy: 0.1 mm
- Resolution: 0.5 mm
- Weight: 0.9 kg
- Technology: Structured light
- Country: Luxembourg
- Price: $19,800
In addition to being able to 3D scan different-sized objects (small, medium, and large), the Eva 3D scanner is able to capture colors and textures. It comes with user-friendly Artec Studio software and is even able to perform 3D body scans.
If you’re looking for a more precise 3D scanner for small object measurement, Artec’s best solution is the Space Spider.
More information (full review): Artec Eva
Artec Leo
- Accuracy: 0.1 mm
- Resolution: 0.5 mm
- Weight: 2.6 kg
- Technology: Structured light
- Country: Luxembourg
- Price: $25,800
The Artec Leo boasts a very large field of view and is capable of quickly 3D scanning large objects, all while capturing fine details. It is designed to capture even complex objects with shiny or black surfaces.
The Leo’s technology enables it to 3D scan objects even in mediocre lighting conditions.
More information: Artec Leo
Creaform Go!SCAN SPARK
- Accuracy: 0.05 mm
- Resolution: 0.2 mm
- Weight: 1.25 kg
- Technology: Structured light
- Country: Canada
- Price: $30,000
This handheld 3D scanner is one of the easiest scanners to use (it is a plug-n-play 3D scanner) and it features an interesting hybrid tracking scanning technology. You just need to point and shoot at the object to scan, and the software will instantly display your mesh in real time on your PC.
The GoSCAN SPARK is Creaform’s fastest 3D scanner, acquiring up to 1,500,000 measurement points per second.
More information: Creaform Go!SCAN SPARK
Creaform HandyScan BLACK
- Accuracy: 0.035 mm
- Resolution: 0.1 mm
- Weight: 0.94 kg
- Technology: Laser triangulation
- Country: Canada
- Price: $50K – $100K
Creaform advertises this professional laser scanner as an ideal tool for quality inspection and for product design, for each step of the value chain.
Boasting dynamic referencing, the HandyScan BLACK is able to know its exact position. If you take a break, you can pick it back up and keep 3D scanning from where you left off or even from a different perspective.
More information: Creaform HandyScan BLACK
Portable and handheld 3D scanner buying guide
Before choosing a portable 3D scanner, it’s important to take certain elements into account.
Purpose: what do you need your 3D scanner for?
This is the absolute first question you or your team need to ask yourselves.
For example, to 3D scan large objects, scenes, or rooms, you’ll need a 3D scanner with a large 3D scanning volume. Also, in these cases, you may not need an extremely high accuracy.
If you’re looking to 3D scan small objects, you can make do with smaller 3D scanning areas. Various 3D scanners have different scanning modes in order to adapt to small, medium, and relatively large objects.
Need a free quote or advice?
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For reverse engineering, accuracy and resolution may be the most important specs to you. However, if you want to 3D scan your products for e-commerce, then maybe you’ll put accuracy to the side and rather focus on 3D scanners that can provide full color meshes.
3D scanning can serve an amazing amount of purposes– determine yours before you proceed to choosing a 3D scanner.
Take a look at our 3D scanner buying guide for more detailed explanations and tips.
Desired 3D scan results
Accuracy
A 3D scanner’s accuracy is its ability to obtain exact measurements. In certain industries, like quality inspection, high accuracy is of utmost importance.
Resolution
Just like with photos or screens, the level of 3D scanning resolution counts depending on the amount of detail you need.
Speed
The speed factor is especially important when 3D scanning large objects and landscapes, or for 3D body scanning. Large objects take a while to scan, and some 3D scanners require you to stand still for a few seconds before moving on to the next perspective. Other scanners are much quicker, and they’ll therefore be more comfortable for large objects.
Prior knowledge and experience
Some 3D scanner manufacturers insist more on user-friendly experiences that others. Choosing a more complex 3D scanner implies hours of training, and beginners may find it more interesting to get an easy-to-use 3D scanner.
Budget
Last but not least, and as it is the case for so many other products, budget is definitely something to take into account. There are cheap handheld 3D scanner options for under $1,000 if you’re willing to sacrifice accuracy and performance.
Industrial 3D scanners are the most expensive, with advanced 3D scanning technologies and prices around $100K. Unless you need a 3D scanner for 24/7 quality inspection or other very specific use cases, an entry or mid-level 3D scanner will suit you.
For more detailed 3D scanner tech spec explanations, don’t hesitate to take a look at our 3D scanner buying guide.
More resources
- Interested in 3D printing? Check out the numerous articles we have regarding 3D printers and their applications.
- Use our 3D scanner comparison engine to find even more 3D scanners, including handheld scanners, desktop 3D scanners, 3D body scanners, and more.
- Discover 3D scanning with these free 3D scanner smartphone apps.
- We also have articles dedicated to makers. Check out the best CNC routers and the best laser cutters!