The 5 Best Barcode Scanners for Excel Reviewed (2024 Update)

Written by co-founder Kasper Langmann, Microsoft Office Specialist.

If you’re using Microsoft Excel for stock, inventory, and tracking – you might as well pair it up with a barcode scanner to get data easier from the floor to the (Excel) sheet.

Or maybe you’re already using a barcode scanner but considering upgrading to a newer version? Maybe wireless? A less chunky one than the old one you’ve got already?

We’ve got you covered!

There are hundreds of different barcode scanners out there. I’ve boiled it down to the best 5 for different purposes.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto

⚠️Spoiler alert⚠️

My favorite scanner is the Tera Pro 2D Wireless Barcode Scanner.

It’s easy to use, is insanely precise, has a long scanning range, and a huge memory capacity.

But read on to learn more about that, along with the other 4 top picks that might be even better for your specific needs.

A quick note on how we test

We assess each barcode scanner on these 7 parameters to ensure you get a well-rounded analysis of each.

Scanning speed/precision, durability, service life, battery life, memory capacity, ease of use, and features.

Based on these parameters, you can the barcode scanner that’s just right for you.

Let’s dive in🤿

This list was last updated on January 4th, 2024.

1. Tera Pro Wireless Barcode Scanner (best overall scanner)

The Tera Handheld Barcode Scanner is simply the best overall barcode scanner.

Aside from its easy installation, it has one of the fastest scanning speeds and one of the largest memory capacities on the market.

Tera Pro 2D wireless barcode scanner to excel spreadsheets

Score on review parameters

  • Scanning speed and precision: Through the roof. One of the fastest units on the market. Can scan up to 330ft/100m barrier-free and 115ft/35m in an obstacle-filled environment.
  • Durability: Heavy duty, IP66, can withstand a 10ft drop on concrete.
  • Service life: Great build quality and reported long service life – although some complaints of a flimsy trigger after long-term use.
  • Battery life: 2200mAh gives ~30 hours of continuous scanning, 150 days of standby time.
  • Memory capacity: Stores up to 50,000 barcodes.
  • Ease of use: Easy to use.
  • Features: Silent mode with vibration, QR code support, underwater scanning, auto-scan, instant upload.

Overall Spreadsheeto rating: 💚💚💚💚💚💚 (6/6)

This scanner is compatible with the three major operating systems — Windows, Mac, and Linux. So it doesn’t matter which system your running Excel on, this will work nonetheless.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto

2. NAMADOO Wireless Barcode Scanner (most user-friendly)

Generally considered the easiest professional barcode scanner to use, the NAMADOO Wireless Barcode Scanner is a great pick for businesses with basic barcode scanning needs.

Just plug it into a computer and it works instantly. No installation is needed, it’s 100% plug-and-play.

NAMADOO Barcode Scanner - read barcodes and put into an excel spreadsheet

Score on review parameters

  • Scanning speed and precision: Quite precise and quick. Extreme range. Can scan up to 1300ft/400m barrier-free and 330ft/100m in an obstacle-filled environment.
  • Durability: Quite sturdy although nothing out of the ordinary.
  • Service life: Nothing special.
  • Battery life: 1200mAh gives ~20 hours of continuous scanning.
  • Memory capacity: Great! Stores up to 100,000 barcodes.
  • Ease of use: Insanely easy to use. 100% plug-and-play, no installation needed.
  • Features: Silent mode with vibration, no QR code support, auto-scan.

Overall Spreadsheeto rating: 💚💚💚💚🤍🤍 (4/6)

If you’re not great with IT, this is the barcode scanner for you.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto

3. NETUM Wireless Barcode Scanner (best for speed)

If you’re looking for pure performance, this NETUM Barcode Scanner is the pick for you.

This is one of the fastest barcode scanners out there, and it can scan barcodes 260 times per second.

NETUM Barcode scanner - great for performance - usb cable included

Score on review parameters

  • Scanning speed and precision: Extremely precise and very fast! Pretty standard range up to 330ft/100m barrier-free but only 33ft/10m in an obstacle-filled environment.
  • Durability: Nothing special.
  • Service life: Nothing special.
  • Battery life: 2000mAh gives ~30 hours of continuous scanning. Charges in just 2 hours which is very fast compared to the rest of the list.
  • Memory capacity: Unknown. We don’t know – but we’re assuming +10,000 scans.
  • Ease of use: Very easy. 1-step installation process.
  • Features: No QR support, auto-scan. Not many unique features.

Overall Spreadsheeto rating: 💚💚💚🤍🤍🤍 (3/6)

This barcode reader has an ergonomic design which is great for long-term use.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto

4. WoneNice USB Laser Barcode Scanner (best wired)

If you want a scanner that’s around the $20 mark, check out this WoneNice USB Laser Barcode Scanner that’s ideal for shops and warehouse operations.

This is a wired barcode laser scanner with a simple installation using any USB port.

It’s compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems and will work with Excel, Word, and other common software.

WoneNice wired barcode reader - efficiently scans if you don't need long wireless distance scanning

Score on review parameters

  • Scanning speed and precision: Quite fast. Range not applicable since it’s wired.
  • Durability: Very good.
  • Service life: Very good.
  • Battery life: Not applicable.
  • Memory capacity: None. Uses memory of whatever it’s plugged into.
  • Ease of use: Extremely easy. No installation is needed, just plug in the USB cable.
  • Features: No QR support, not many unique features.

Overall Spreadsheeto rating: 💚💚💚💚🤍🤍 (4/6)

This barcode scanner has an anti-shock design that makes it durable enough to withstand a 7 feet concrete drop.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto

5. Eyoyo Barcode Scanner (most portable)

Now, here’s something a bit different!

For some, portability is more important than speed, precision, memory, and range.

If that’s you – this Eyoyo barcode scanner is for you.

It weighs just 35g and is very small with dimensions of ~0.5 x 3 x 1.5 inches.

It does come with some serious disadvantages regarding battery life and range, though.

Eyoyo barcode reader - great for scanning codes to export to excel spreadsheet

Score on review parameters

  • Scanning speed and precision: Fast and precise enough for most tasks. Short range though, only up to 100ft/30m barrier-free but only 49ft/15m in an obstacle-filled environment.
  • Durability: Not good – but it’s a small device. No one expects it to be heavy-duty.
  • Service life: Nothing special.
  • Battery life: 650mAh gives ~5 hours of continuous scanning. It’s not much
  • Memory capacity: Great! Up to 100,000 scans.
  • Ease of use: Quite easy.
  • Features: Not much except portability and continuous scans.

Overall Spreadsheeto rating: 💚💚💚💚💚🤍 (5/6)

This barcode scanner is very niche – but if you really need a small barcode scanner, this is the one for you.

Kasper Langmann, Co-founder of Spreadsheeto

Final thoughts

Currently, there are hundreds of different scanners on the market.

The 5 scanners reviewed in this article are the best ones for different purposes.

If you want the overall best scanner, go for the Tera Pro 2D Wireless Barcode Scanner.

What is a barcode scanner?

A barcode scanner is a portable (wireless or wired) device that can scan barcodes, or other codes (like QR codes and others)💡

When you scan it, the little number/ID associated with the barcode is put into the barcode scanner. Either it’s stored in the memory within the scanner itself, or it’s instantly uploaded to some database or spreadsheet.

If it’s stored in the scanner itself, you can then upload/export the scanned barcodes at a later time. E.g. into a CSV file or Excel spreadsheet.

Then you can import the list into Excel and use it for data analysis or counting inventory, or other things.

How to generate barcodes in Excel

The actual barcodes, you will need to generate from somewhere. It can be a piece of software, an online barcode generator, or an Excel spreadsheet.

If you want to generate barcodes in Excel, learn how in my video-guide below.