A sheet transport device includes a device body that transports a sheet; a pair of transport rollers that come into contact with each other and transport the sheet toward a downstream side in a transport direction of the sheet; a transport member that guides and transports the sheet toward the transport rollers; and an open and close member that opens and closes a side surface of the device body. One of the transport rollers is provided at the device body and the other transport roller is provided at the transport member, and the transport member is rotatable around an axis parallel to the transport rollers. When the open and close member moves to an open position at which the side surface is open, the open and close member rotates around the axis and the contact between the transport rollers is allowed to be released.