An image reading device configured to perform photoelectric conversion on reflected light from a document to read the document, the image reading device comprising: a moving body configured to move to convey at least any of a light source that irradiates the document, a reflecting member that reflects the reflected light, and a photoelectric conversion element that performs photoelectric conversion on the reflected light; a detecting unit configured to detect the arrival of the moving body (640, 204) at a fixed sensor position displaced from a home position in the sub-scanning direction; characterised by a driving unit (62, 230) configured to drive the moving body selectively in synchronizing operation or in self-starting operation, the self-starting operation being at slower speed but with greater precision than the synchronizing operation, such that start-up, stop, rotation and reverse rotation are instantly possible in synchronization with an input pulse signal in the self-starting operation, the region over which it is driven in the synchronizing operation being the region outside the region over which it is driven in the self-starting operation, such that the moving body moves in a sub-scanning direction from an initial stationary position to the home position in a sub-scanning direction; and a control unit configured to control the driving unit such that the driving unit is in synchronizing operation to move the moving body from its initial stationary position and is then switched from the synchronizing operation to the self-starting operation, once the moving body has moved a set distance from its initial stationary position, and before the detecting unit has detected the arrival of the moving body, thereafter to move the moving body in self-starting operation to the home position. a moving body configured to move to convey at least any of a light source that irradiates the document, a reflecting member that reflects the reflected light, and a photoelectric conversion element that performs photoelectric conversion on the reflected light; a detecting unit configured to detect the arrival of the moving body (640, 204) at a fixed sensor position displaced from a home position in the sub-scanning direction; characterised by a driving unit (62, 230) configured to drive the moving body selectively in synchronizing operation or in self-starting operation, the self-starting operation being at slower speed but with greater precision than the synchronizing operation, such that start-up, stop, rotation and reverse rotation are instantly possible in synchronization with an input pulse signal in the self-starting operation, the region over which it is driven in the synchronizing operation being the region outside the region over which it is driven in the self-starting operation, such that the moving body moves in a sub-scanning direction from an initial stationary position to the home position in a sub-scanning direction; and a control unit configured to control the driving unit such that the driving unit is in synchronizing operation to move the moving body from its initial stationary position and is then switched from the synchronizing operation to the self-starting operation, once the moving body has moved a set distance from its initial stationary position, and before the detecting unit has detected the arrival of the moving body, thereafter to move the moving body in self-starting operation to the home position.