Hand-held scanner is the simplest and least expensive barcode scanner available. It can be CCD or laser. CCD scanner is "human powered," which means that it must be held at the proper angle.

CCD barcode scanners use an array of tiny light sensors lined up in a row in the head of the barcode reader. But most CCD scanners have two primary limitations. First, it has a short "read" range, and a limited width. Laser hand-held scanner is the most popular bar code scanner. A laser bar code scanner need not be close to or touch the bar code to do its job. A standard range laser bar code scanner can read a bar code from about 6 to 24 inches away, and a long range scanner can read bar code from about 2 to 8 feet away. An extra long-range scanner can read a bar code 30 feet away. Laser barcode scanners vary in price from $200 to $2,000 and come in a variety of models. They can use single-line scan pattern or multiple line scan pattern.