Best Bathroom Scales

Top-rated digital scales

Overall, experts prefer digital scales for home use because repeated comparison testing has shown they are more accurate and easier to read than more traditional analog (mechanical) scales. Today's digital scales come with a wide variety of features, including weight tracking and multi-user memories, but we found the best reviews for basic scales that display weight and little else. One standout, the Tanita Solar Digital Scale HS-302 (*Est. $60) receives excellent ratings for both accuracy and consistency from a major consumer testing organization. This product also earns positive ratings in a test at South Africa's FairLady magazine and among several environmental blogs. Not only is this scale solar-powered (so it doesn't require batteries), but it's also made from plastic constructed with biodegradable resins that will break down in a landfill. The Tanita Solar Digital Scale HS-302 accommodates users up to 330 pounds, calculated in 0.2-pound increments up to 200 pounds and 0.5-pound increments from 200 to 330 pounds. Other features include a 1.2-inch LCD display and a 13-inch-wide base. This scale, like all Tanita scales, comes with a three-year warranty.

Testers at FairLady magazine say this scale is highly accurate and they praise its unique solar design. It's powered by the sun or interior lighting. However, their testers note a little inconsistency, with readouts varying slightly when the same weight was weighed repeatedly. The Tanita Solar Digital Scale HS-302 is also chosen by The Independent (U.K.) and The Huntsville (Ala.) Times newspapers as one of the best bathroom scales. According to editors of The Independent, the Tanita scale gives "accurate readings." Unfortunately, this scale, which was released in 2009, has yet to attract any user reviews. However, reviews at Amazon.com for its predecessor, the Tanita Solar Digital Scale HS-301 (*Est. $55) are highly positive.

The Tanita Solar Digital Scale HS-301, an older product, is very similar, except for the fact that it isn't made with biodegradable plastic. This scale earns a 4.5-star rating in more than two dozen reviews at Amazon.com. Reviewers say the scale is very accurate -- matching weight readings they get from a medical scale at a doctor's office or fitness center -- and its solar cell also works well. Most users say the scale only needs a few seconds of exposure to light in order to work properly. "Because my bathroom has no windows, I thought that I'd have to use this scale in one of my other rooms, but just the light over my sink powers it up in about 10 seconds," writes one user at Amazon.com. The Tanita Solar Digital Scale HS-301 also earns the highest ratings for ease of use in Good Housekeeping's test of 20 bathroom scales, where testers say it's easy to turn on and off. The Tanita Solar Digital Scale HS-301 comes with a three-year warranty.

Another Tanita scale, the Tanita Digital Weight Scale HD-357 (*Est. $65), also performs well in tests at Good Housekeeping and at a respected consumer testing organization. This thin and stylish digital scale is available in colors (instead of standard white or black) and has a built-in handle for easy portability. The scale displays weight only, and it can accommodate up to 330 pounds, calculated in 0.2-pound increments. It has a three-year warranty. Unlike the Tanita scales discussed above, this scale runs on two included lithium batteries. Experts are impressed with the scale's accuracy, and it earns an excellent rating for both consistency and accuracy in one test. "Testers thought the display was the easiest to read of the 20 we tested, and the size and shape of the platform was rated most ideal," write the editors at Good Housekeeping. Like the Tanita Solar Digital Scale HS-302, the Tanita Digital Weight Scale HD-357 is a new scale (released in 2009) and has yet to attract user reviews.

While Tanita bathroom scales get good reviews, these products are on the pricey side. If you want a digital scale under $50, reviews point to the Weight Watchers Glass Memory Precision Scale WW43D (*Est. $40), which is manufactured by Conair. This scale has a weight capacity of 380 pounds measured in 0.1-pound increments, and it also tracks current and goal weights for four separate users. The Weight Watchers Glass Memory Precision Scale WW43D is recommended by Good Housekeeping, but testers note that the scale takes awhile to display a reading and becomes less accurate when it nears its 380-pound weight capacity. Even so, the magazine says the scale is "great for a family on a diet." Women's Health magazine also picks the Weight Watchers scale as one of the "best for weight loss" because it tracks your goal weight and won't take a weight reading until you are stable on the scale.

Users are also impressed with the Weight Watchers Glass Memory Precision Scale WW43D, giving it a 4-star rating in over 70 reviews at Amazon.com. Reviewers like the look of the scale and say it's easy to read. It also gives accurate readings that correspond to the weights they get at a doctor's office. The weight-tracking feature is motivating to many reviewers, as it helps them see at a glance how much weight they've lost and how far they have to go to reach their goal weight. However, a number of users report that they never get the same reading twice, even if they weigh themselves again just seconds later. The scale is highly rated at Buzzillions.com and Walmart.com, although users here have the same complaints about occasionally inconsistent weight readings.

Another Weight Watchers scale, the Weight Watchers Portable Precision Electronic Scale WW11D (*Est. $30), is recommended by a major testing organization, but it gets mixed user reviews. This Weight Watchers scale, which has an integrated handle, can record up to five weights for one user. It has a 330-pound weight capacity measured in half-pound increments and a 1.3-inch digital display. This model receives a high rating for accuracy in one major test, but it lags behind other digital scales in consistency. In addition, the Weight Watchers Portable Precision Electronic Scale WW11D only averages a 3-star rating in over 30 reviews at Amazon.com. Approximately a dozen users report inconsistent ratings if the floor is not exactly level or if you stand in a different spot on the scale, but others have no problem achieving an accurate reading. A few other reviewers note that the scale is not very durable, saying that the display stopped working after several months. All Weight Watchers scales by Conair are backed by a limited 10-year warranty.

The Taylor Precision Tech Electronic Glass/Chrome Scale 7506 (*Est. $35) is the top scorer in one independent test, but it earns mixed ratings from users at Amazon.com. It has a weight capacity of 400 pounds in 0.2-pound increments, and it features a 1.5-inch LCD display and a stylish glass platform. This scale is backed by a five-year warranty. While one organization finds the scale very accurate, the Taylor Precision Tech Electronic Glass/Chrome Scale 7506 receives only 3 stars in roughly two dozen reviews at Amazon.com. A number of users comment on its attractive design and say they appreciate its affordable price. However, some reviewers report that their weight readings on the scale are off by as much as 3 pounds, while a few others complain that their scales stopped working after a few months.

The less expensive Health o meter Digital Scale HDL820-18 (*Est. $30) is generally praised at Amazon.com. This product earns a 4-star rating in over 120 reviews. Its 1.3-inch LCD screen is easy to read, and the scale offers results up to 330 pounds or 150 kilograms in increments of 0.2 pounds. A replaceable lithium battery is included, and the scale comes with a five-year warranty. The overwhelming majority of owners say that this scale is accurate, but as with many digital bathroom scales, some owners complain that weight readings are inconsistent. One owner also says that its base is too small for large feet.

Individuals with poor vision may appreciate the convenience of digital talking scales, which announce your weight in addition to flashing it on a display. My Weigh is one manufacturer that specializes in talking scales, and the My Weigh Phoenix Talking Scale (*Est. $45) receives high marks from The Independent (U.K.), which names it one of the top 10 bathroom scales. It also performs well in a test at Prevention magazine, where testers praise the talking feature and say accuracy is "good." It has a weight capacity of 330 pounds measured in 0.2-pound increments, and its talking feature can be turned off .

Another talking scale, the My Weigh Precision High Capacity Talking Scale XL-550 (*Est. $60) has an unusually high weight capacity of 550 pounds measured in 0.2-pound increments. It has a large LCD screen, and it announces weight in pounds or kilograms. Editors at Women's Health magazine also recommend the My Weigh Precision High Capacity Talking Scale XL-550. Their testers say its out-loud feature increases weight loss motivation. The few reviews this model gets at Amazon.com are mixed, and the scale earns an overall rating of 3.5 stars in approximately one-dozen reviews. Some reviewers say the scale gives inconsistent readings and appears cheaply made with plastic pieces that can break off easily. However, other users like its high weight capacity, and one reviewer says its weight announcements are loud and clear. Both My Weigh scales come with a 30-year warranty.

One of the latest trends in bathroom scales is Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows scales to wirelessly transmit your weight information to a computer or mobile phone. One scale that is receiving a lot of buzz lately is the Withings WiFi Scale (*Est. $160). This slim scale transmits weight and body-mass index (BMI) for up to eight users to a free web-based software program, which is available online or as an application for the iPhone. Data is presented in graph form, and the software is integrated with Twitter so you can automatically tweet your weight (if you choose). The Withings WiFi Scale has a maximum weight capacity of 380 pounds, measured in 0.2-pound increments. The scale runs on four AAA batteries and has a one-year warranty.

Users at Amazon.com are impressed so far, giving the Withings WiFi Scale an overall rating of 4.5 stars in about two dozen individual reviews. Users say the Wi-Fi connectivity works well and provides extra motivation for their weight-loss efforts. "My experience using the scale so far has been a great one," writes one reviewer. "You simply step on the scale every morning for a few seconds, and it logs your weight on the website instantly."

Mechanical scales

Comparison testing suggests analog scales (designed for home use) are not as accurate as digital scales. While reviewers don't specify why these scales are less accurate in their tests, experts note that analog scales contain more intricate internal pieces like springs and levers that can break and wear quicker with time. In addition, analog scales typically evaluate weight in larger increments (between 1 and 2 pounds) than digital scales, which usually measure weight in increments of 0.2 or 0.25 pounds. Analog scales are also harder to read than digital scales, which often have oversized displays. Good Housekeeping tests 20 bathroom scales, including four analog versions. While nearly all of the digital scales posted good marks for accuracy, all four of the analog scales were labeled as "ones to skip," since their accuracy was off by as much as 4 pounds.

Among analog scales that do get good reviews, the Seca Colorata 760 (*Est. $160) is recommended by editors at Real Simple magazine, even though it only gets a "good" rating for accuracy in a test at Prevention magazine; several digital scales tested earn "perfect" scores in this area. This scale includes a more-readable oversized dial, a grippy rubber surface and it comes in several colors including red, yellow, white or blue. Reviewers appreciate its stylish design, but say it's very expensive for an analog scale. The Seca Colorata 760 has a 330-pound capacity in 2.2-pound increments. Unfortunately, there are no user reviews available. The Seca Colorata 760 comes with a three-year warranty.

If you want the most accurate scale available, experts suggest a professional mechanical scale. These scales are tops for accuracy because they use a heavy-duty balance beam rather than the more fragile springs and levers used in smaller mechanical analog scales designed for home use. However, while professional scales also have higher weight capacities, they can cost several hundred dollars. These larger products also take up more space than regular analog bathroom scales.

Because these scales are typically marketed for professional use -- like doctors' offices and fitness centers -- few attract many individual user reviews. However, the Health o meter Professional Upright Scale 402KL (*Est. $200) earns excellent, 4.5-star ratings in over 120 reviews at Amazon.com. The scale has a heavy steel base and uses a balance beam to display weight readings. It has a maximum weight capacity of 450 pounds, which is measured in 0.25-pound increments. The Health o meter Professional Upright Scale 402KL weighs 43 pounds and has a base that is 10.5 inches wide and 14 inches deep.

Reviewers at Amazon.com praise the scale for accurately displaying their weight in a consistent manner. The Health o meter Professional Upright Scale 402KL requires some assembly, but most users say it's easy to put together. "This is simply a great buy," writes one reviewer. "As everyone else here says, it is easy to assemble, sturdily built and very accurate." Even though most find the scale highly accurate, a few reviewers report inconsistent weight readings. Others say the scale was damaged during shipping or small pieces were loose in the box, which makes assembly more of a challenge. We also saw a few complaints about unresponsive customer service.