Guide To Buying A Weighing Scale

A modern weighing scale can serve a lot of different purposes and is a generally useful item to have around the house. With the overwhelming variety of weighing scales out there, it takes some knowledge and a few considerations to narrow down to the right one.

Product Comparison Table

Name
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Price
Store
Chili Score
Bottomline
Nokia Body+

price-tag
Best Smart Weighing Scale
Taylor Precision 7506

price-tag
Best Digital Weighing Scale
Thinner Extra-Large Dial Analog Precision

price-tag
Best Analog Weighing Scale

What To Look for

02/04/2020

1

Analog vs. Digital

Analog vs. Digital
  1. An Analog weighing scale is the conventional weighing scale where the dial moves around numbers measuring weights up to 225 lbs, 265 lbs, or 330 lbs. It is an economical choice but can be inaccurate by about 2 pounds.
  2. Digital weighing scales display your weight digitally and are typically more expensive than analog scales due to a higher weighing capacity. Digital weighing scales include smart weighing scales, which offer more features in addition to measuring your weight.
2

A smart weighing scale measures important metrics. 

A smart weighing scale measures important metrics. 
  • If you’re a fitness enthusiast or want a more detailed analysis of your body composition, get a smart weighing scale as it includes features that measure helpful metrics like muscle composition, water weight, fat content, etc. 
  • Some Bluetooth or WiFi-enabled weighing scales will send these metrics in a report directly to your smartphone or health care provider.
3

Find a design that suits your tastes.

Find a design that suits your tastes.
  • Weighing scales are available in several different styles and colors. Scales with glass platforms are exceedingly popular since they match bathroom aesthetics. 
  • However, there are many other scales with a lot of options such as matte finishes or chrome lining, which gives you plenty of choices to find one you like.

Top Picks

Best Smart Weighing Scale

Best Smart Weighing Scale

Nokia Body+

For purchase

  • Analyses a wide range of metrics
  • Automatically sends data to your phone
  • Can track data for up to 8 users
  • Expensive
Best Digital Weighing Scale

Best Digital Weighing Scale

Taylor Precision 7506

For purchase

  • 400 lbs weight capacity
  • Aesthetic design
  • Great Price
Best Analog Weighing Scale

Best Analog Weighing Scale

Thinner Extra-Large Dial Analog Precision

For purchase

  • Easy to read dial
  • Uncomplicated calibration
  • Non-skid platform

Common Questions

Q:How do I calibrate an analog weighing scale?

A:

Press down on the scale with your hand and then lift your hand up. The needle should return to zero. If it does, the weight doesn’t need calibration.

If there is a discrepancy, look for the calibration dial on the back and rotate it until the needle points to zero. You can also test the scale by putting a dumbbell or plate on it. If the needle points to the exact weight, the scale doesn’t need calibration.

Q:How do I calibrate a digital weighing scale?

A:

Most digital weighing scales have auto-calibration and don’t require any manual calibration. For those that don’t have this feature, here’s how you calibrate them:

  1. Place the scale on a steady surface, clean it properly, and make sure the surface is level.
  2. Turn the scale on and let it warm up.
  3. Turn on the Calibration mode by pressing the dedicated calibration mode button. The screen should turn to 0.
  4. Place a dumbbell/plate on the machine and record the measurement. If the weight is off, pressing the calibration button will recalibrate the scale.

Q:My weight fluctuates 1-5 Lbs in a day. Is the machine broken?

A:

It most likely isn’t. Fluctuations of that magnitude are common and are because of the changing water levels in your body. One way to minimize the fluctuations is to keep the scale on a flat surface. Also, make sure the machine is calibrated. If you still encounter huge gaps that you cannot explain, the scale might be faulty.

Q:What is a smart weighing scale and how does it work?

A:

A smart weighing scale, apart from measuring your weight, also measures metrics like body fat, BMI, bone mass, muscle mass, metabolic age, etc. It can pair with your smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Most smart weighing scales pair up with fitness apps to record your stats automatically. By keeping a record of your metrics, smart weighing scales help you track your progress in real-time.

Q:Can a weighing scale measure my BMI?

A:

A standard analog or digital scale cannot, but a smart weighing scale can measure your BMI and other parameters. The smart weighing scale uses Bio Impedance Analysis. Various sensors in the scale send signals through your body and the speed of these signals and the resistance they encounter sends data to the scale. By using algorithms fed into its system, the smart scale measures the metrics.

Q:What are some of the smart weighing scales?

A:

With weighing scales shifting from a simple analog function to leveraging technology to measure several parameters of the body, various companies have launched these products in the market. The audience is spoilt for choice, but they need to choose a brand that delivers accurate results. Some bestselling, accurate, and durable smart weighing scales are- Renpho Smart body fat scale, Garmin Index smart scale, Fitbit Aria, and Tanita Smart scale.

Q:Why does the box say 400 lbs?

A:

The 400 lbs or 440 lbs on the box denote the capacity or the limit of the scale. This means the weighing scale can measure objects as heavy as 400 lbs. The scale itself can weigh anywhere between 5 to 10 lbs, or thereabouts.

Q:What fitness apps does the weighing scale pair with?

A:

You can pair your smart scale with both Android and Apple ecosystems. The apps store your data and generate insights. The most popular apps that you can use to track your metrics are Fitbit, Garmin Connect, Under Armour Record, Google Fit, MyFitnessPal, Apple Health, and Nokia Health Mate.

Q:Which weighing machine should I buy for a bathroom?

A:

It depends on your taste and utility. If you are looking for a cheap, no-frills functional scale that just tells you the weight, go for a simple analog one. If you are looking to buy a more accurate and modern scale, you can purchase a digital scale. If you plan to measure and track your body metrics like BMI, bone mass, body fat, etc., get a smart scale.

Weighing scales come in different shapes, sizes, and designs. Choose a design that is aesthetically pleasing to you and complements the design of your bathroom.

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