Scanning Boxes of Old Photos: Scanners, Services, and a Realistic Plan
Last verified: August 2026
Those shoeboxes in the closet won't scan themselves — and the prints fade a little more every year. Here's an honest look at doing it yourself versus mailing them off, with real 2026 prices.
About scanning old photos
There are two honest ways to get a box of printed photos onto a computer: scan them yourself, or mail them to a service that does it for you. Which is right depends on how many photos you have, your budget, and whether you'd enjoy the project or dread it.
For do-it-yourself, a dedicated photo scanner is worlds faster than a flatbed. The Epson FastFoto FF-680W (about $630 in 2026) feeds a whole stack of prints at roughly one photo per second and even scans handwriting on the back. It's an investment, but for thousands of photos it pays off — and you can sell it or share it afterward.
For mail-in, 2026 prices run roughly $0.35 per photo (ScanCafe's Value Kit) to about $0.49 (iMemories) to $0.71 (Legacybox), and these companies run near-constant promotions, so prices change often. Services save you the labor and handle fragile or odd-sized prints — but your originals leave your hands for a few weeks. This is a close cousin of our “Scanning Your Photos” and “Save Your Photos” guides; use whichever fits your project.
When to skip the DIY and just call: Deciding DIY vs. service for your specific pile · Setting up a scanner and folders · Handling fragile, stuck-together, or one-of-a-kind prints.
Common Questions
1 Should I scan them myself or mail them off?
- Mail-in makes sense for very large collections, fragile prints, or if the project would otherwise never get done.
- DIY makes sense if you want your photos to stay home, you enjoy the process, or you'll keep scanning over time.
- Do the math: a service at ~$0.50 each for 2,000 photos is about $1,000; a $630 scanner plus your time may cost less and you keep the tool.
- Whichever you choose, sort first — you don't need to scan every blurry duplicate.
2 How do I get ready before scanning?
- Set aside a few hours to sort into “keep,” “maybe,” and “toss” piles — this alone can cut the job in half.
- Group keepers by rough era or event so the digital folders make sense later.
- Gently wipe dusty prints with a soft, dry cloth; don't use liquids.
- Pull out anything stuck together or very fragile to handle separately.
3 What scanner settings should I use?
- Scan at 600 dpi for standard prints — sharp enough to reprint and enlarge, without giant files.
- Save as JPEG for everyday use; use TIFF only for a few irreplaceable images.
- Turn on the scanner's color-restore and dust-removal features if it has them.
- Scan the backs too if there's handwriting — those notes are half the memory.
4 How do I keep the digital photos organized?
- Make folders by year or event (for example, “1975 — Family Reunion”) as you go.
- Rename files in batches where you can, so “IMG_0001” becomes something meaningful.
- Back them up in two places the same day you scan (see our storage guide).
- Share a copy with family — a USB stick or shared album makes a wonderful gift.
5 If I mail them, how do I do it safely?
- Choose a service with tracking and a good reputation, and read exactly how they return your originals.
- Photograph the box's contents first so you know what you sent.
- Ship in a sturdy box with tracking and, for a large collection, insurance.
- Consider sending in two batches so your whole collection is never in one truck at once.
Want a Real Person?
Sometimes the fix takes five minutes — and sometimes you'd rather just have someone come fix it. Either way, I'm a call away. Flat $99 first visit, 30-day follow-up included. No surprises.
This guide is yours, free.
No sign-up, no email, no catch — it's free the way it looks free. Print it, save it, or share it with family. And if you'd rather hand the job off, Bill's two choices are right above: a $99 flat in-home visit or $49 remote help, often same day.