ScanSheet
Use your phone as a barcode scanner for Excel
ScanSheet pairs your phone camera with a desktop browser, lets you edit quantities and notes as you go, and exports a clean XLSX file that opens in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and Apple Numbers without reformatting.
Open ScanSheet FreeProduct walkthrough
60-second walkthrough — recording this week.
A short demo of the steps described in this article.
On this page (4 sections)
Why an XLSX export matters
CSV is universal but it does not preserve formatting and Excel sometimes guesses column types wrong. XLSX keeps numbers as numbers, dates as dates, and opens with the same column widths in every Excel version. ScanSheet writes XLSX with a UTF-8 BOM for the CSV and a real .xlsx file you can open directly.
What you need
- A desktop or laptop browser
- A phone with a camera (iPhone 7+ or Android 8+)
- Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or Apple Numbers to open the file
Step-by-step: scan to Excel in 5 minutes
- Open ScanSheet on your desktop and click Create session.
- Scan the QR code with your phone camera.
- Scan barcodes one by one. Edit any row by double-clicking the quantity or note cell.
- Click XLSX in the top toolbar. A .xlsx file downloads.
- Open the file in Excel or Google Sheets. All columns are ready for pivot tables, VLOOKUP, or further editing.
How ScanSheet compares to a dedicated scanner
| Feature | ScanSheet (phone) | Dedicated scanner |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware cost | $0 (uses your phone) | $50 – $300 per unit |
| Software cost | Free / Pro | Often $200+ one-time |
| Setup time | 10 seconds | 10 minutes |
| Quantity on re-scan | Auto-incremented | Usually no |
| Editable before export | Yes (browser) | No (exported only) |
| Multi-user | One phone per session | Requires hub device |
Common use cases
- Book and ISBN lists for home or classroom libraries
- Equipment and asset tag capture
- Event badge scanning and lead capture
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to what teams ask before they switch to ScanSheet.
Will the XLSX open correctly in older Excel versions?
Yes. The file is written using the standard XLSX (Office Open XML) format, which works in Excel 2007 and newer. Numbers and Google Sheets open it directly.
Can I keep editing after the scan session ends?
Yes. Scan rows stay in your browser. Close the tab and come back tomorrow — your data is still there as long as you do not clear browser storage.
Is there a row limit?
Free plan supports up to 1,000 unique barcode rows. Pro plan supports up to 10,000. The row counter in the top bar shows how close you are to the limit.
Ready to scan your first barcode?
No app to install, no credit card to start. Pair your phone with ScanSheet in 60 seconds.
Open ScanSheet Free