What is the most accurate scale

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It’s not your grandma’s manual bathroom scale anymore. In the past decade, weight scales have evolved. The new generation of bathroom scales can measure everything from body fat and bone density to muscle composition and much, much more. They can also sync with your smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to make sure that you have the most updated information possible at all times. With all these advanced measurement options, there are scales to suit elite athletes, people who are tracking their weight for health reasons, and pregnant and postpartum women. The only problem may be that they have so many features that it can be overwhelming.

These bathroom scales can shift your whole approach to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and accessing personalized health information in your home. Read on for the best of the best in every category and weigh in on your own health.

Our Picks for the Best Bathroom Scale

Best Overall: Eufy P1

Amazon

PROS

  • Bluetooth comes standard which makes it easier to sync information from apps and store past data to track progress
  • Comes with non-slip padding and rounded corners

CONS

  • The first round of batteries are included but last for as few as four months according to the Eufy website; many other scales’ batteries last twice as long
  • Not safe for those with pacemakers or other internal medical devices

There are ordinary scales, and then there are body analyzing systems like the Eufy P1. The smartest of smart scales uses integrated G-shaped sensors to gather the most accurate data. With fourteen measurement settings including body fat, BMI, bone mass and more, the ability to track and monitor changes in body composition has never been more streamlined. The best part? All data is recorded on the app with personalized graphs and spreadsheets available at the touch of a button. It can also keep track of up to sixteen users, more than enough for one household. The tempered glass scale has an extra large LED display for easy reading and a sleek and slim design, which tucks easily into any corner or drawer for storage. It’s also Bluetooth enabled and connects to Google Fit, Apple Health or Fitbit to count steps, heart rate and more through the Eufy app.

SPECS

  • Maximum Weight: 396 pounds/ 180 kilograms
  • Display: LED
  • Battery: Three AAA/USB charging
  • Measurements taken: Body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, body water percentage, skeletal muscle, fat-free body weight, muscle mass, bone mass, protein, BMR, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, metabolic age
  • Product dimensions: 11 inches x 11 inches x 0.9 inches
  • Product weight: 3.31 pounds

Purchase Eufy P1

Best Budget Weight Scale: Etekcity EB 9380H

Amazon

PROS

  • Simple operation—no need to download an app to use it
  • Sturdy construction
  • Safe for those with pacemakers or other internal medical devices

CONS

For those on a budget, the Etekcity 9380H is a great choice. Its simple interface only measures one metric—weight. This is one of the sturdier of the bunch despite the tempered glass surface, with anti-skid padding and a weight limit of up to 400 pounds. Features include an extra large backlit LCD display, motion activated turn-on function and automatic turn off. The four sensors are calibrated for accuracy within 0.1 pounds, and the scale lets you know if calibration is necessary.

SPECS

  • Maximum Weight: 400 pounds /180 kilograms
  • Display: LCD
  • Battery: 2 AAA
  • Measurements taken: Weight
  • Product dimensions: 11.8 inches x 11.8 inches x 0.8 inches
  • Product weight: 2.7 pounds

Purchase Etekcity Digital Body Weight Bathroom Scale 

Best Smart Scale with App: Garmin Index

PROS

  • Has both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
  • 16 user profiles
  • A durable and sturdy design in a sleek package
  • Bright, extra large numbers against a black background, allowing easy visibility

CONS

  • More expensive than other similar scales
  • Only works with Garmin’s app, limiting options for fitness tracking
  • Not safe for those with pacemakers or other internal medical devices

Garmin is known for a vast array of high-tech gear. The Wi-Fi enabled Garmin Index smart scale and the proprietary Garmin Connect app can help you keep track of even the smallest changes in body composition. It tracks and updates a data index of measurements and metrics including weight, body fat, water percentage, BMI and even skeletal bone mass and muscle mass. The Garmin Connect is a larger wellness tool that can track sleep, calories burned and more, and help you understand how they’re impacting your ultimate fitness goals. Up to 16 people can have their body composition metrics automatically uploaded via Wi-Fi directly to their own Garmin Connect accounts—the Index recognizes when you step on the scale and brings up your personal profile.

SPECS

  • Maximum Weight: 400 pounds/181.4 kilograms
  • Display: LED
  • Battery: 4 AA
  • Measurements taken: Weight, BMI, body fat, water percentage, bone mass, skeletal muscle mass
  • Product dimensions: 13.8 inches x 12.2 inches x 1.2 inches
  • Product weight: 6.2 pounds

Purchase Garmin Index 

Best Scale for Body Composition: Greater Goods Premium Bluetooth Smart Scale

Amazon

PROS

  • Very user-friendly with improved Bluetooth connectivity for easy syncing
  • Capacity for 16 user profiles.
  • Extra secure data collection included with the connected application for one-to-one pairing

CONS

  • Not advised for those who have pacemakers or other internal medical devices or are pregnant

Greater Goods has a reputation for making quality products and this smart scale is no exception. Its proprietary Weight Gurus app is designed to be easy to use, and syncs regularly with app data; each user has a separate and secured account only available to them. The easy-to-read backlit screen shows six metrics from weight to bone mass and hydration levels. And just in case there’s an issue, a very helpful customer service team is based in St. Louis, Missouri. Don’t have your device handy? Don’t worry. The scale stores your results and will automatically sync them later if no device is detected.

Its ethos for serving the community is also impressive: Greater Goods is committed to partnering with factories that operate ethically, and even donates a portion of its profits to various charities depending on which item you purchase.

SPECS

  • Maximum Weight: 396 pounds / 180 kilograms
  • Display: LED
  • Battery: 3 AAA
  • Measurements taken: Body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, body water percentage, muscle mass, bone mass
  • Product dimensions: 11 inches x 11 inches x 0.9 inches
  • Product weight: 3.31 lbs

Purchase Greater Goods Digital Scale

Best Scale for Heart Health: Withings Body Cardio

Amazon

PROS

  • Unique measurements to gauge heart health
  • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, and can be accessed using Alexa
  • Up to eight user profiles
  • Especially good for pregnancy tracking

CONS

  • Can be a little complicated for the average user
  • Not safe for those with pacemakers or other internal medical devices

The Withings Body Cardio takes biological measurements a step further by offering Vascular Age, a metric that uses Pulse Wave Velocity to assess the stiffness of your arteries and extrapolate your potential for cardiac issues. This technology is used in some hospitals, clinical tests and research labs, and has been shown to be a reliable indicator of your heart’s health. The scale measures the time it takes for blood that’s pushed out of your heart to make it to your feet. This information is then used in an algorithm which compares you to other Body Cardio users to determine your Vascular Age—i.e., whether or not your body’s health lines up with your actual chronological age. The scale will rank your results as optimal, normal or not optimal, depending on how you compare with other scale users. It also tracks your heart rate every time you step on.

The Body Cardio is fully compatible with Bluetooth connectivity and Wi-Fi to keep info, including heart rate, constantly updated. On the more expensive end of the scale spectrum, this scale is an investment for those who rely on data on a regular basis.

SPECS

  • Maximum weight: 396.8 pounds
  • Display: LED
  • Battery: 1 Lithium Ion battery required (included)
  • Measurements taken: Weight, fat mass, BMI, heart rate, total water, muscle mass, bone mass, vascular age
  • Product dimensions: 12.8 inches x 12.8 inches x 0.7 inches
  • Product weight: 5.7 pounds

Purchase Withings Body Cardio

Best Analog Scale: Ozeri Rev

Amazon

PROS

  • A simple and straightforward scale that measures body weight
  • An LED light up screen displays weight in pounds or kilograms
  • Affordable, durable and simple to use
  • Safe for those with pacemakers or other internal medical devices

CONS

  • No extra features or smart app compatibility

If a classic and accurate analog weight management system is what you need, then look no further. Ozeri Rev is an affordable and stylish option with surprising attention to details. This model utilizes sensor technology with four high precision GX sensors which measures pressure. This model measures in 0.1 pound increments up to 400 pounds (180 kilograms). The large weight dial has a back-lit LCD screen and can display weight almost instantly, compared to some digital scales which can take a few seconds. The chrome and black model measures at just one inch thick, making it easy to store. A built-in alarm function reminds users that consistency is key and weighing yourself at the same time each day is the best way to accrue the most accurate data. (It can also be turned off by hitting a button underneath the scale.)

SPECS

  • Maximum Weight: 400 pounds / 180 kilograms
  • Display: LCD
  • Battery: 3 AAA
  • Measurements taken: Body weight
  • Product dimensions: 16 inches x 15.25 inches x 1 inches
  • Product weight: 3.31 pounds
  • Key features: Easy to read LED display

Purchase Ozeri Rev

Best Scale with Extended Weight Capacity: Eatsmart Precision Plus

Amazon

PROS

  • Four precision sensors built into the unit
  • Very user-friendly with easy set up and calibration
  • An affordable option for smart scale users
  • Can register higher weights than many other scales

CONS

  • Only provides body weight
  • Needs to be calibrated if it’s been moved

The EatSmart Precision Plus scale provides users with bigger bodies the ability to accurately measure their weight. With an 8 millimeter tempered glass extra-large platform and an oversized display screen that offers more stability in a sleek package, this scale measures up to 440 pounds (200 kilograms) in 0.2 pound increments. Four precision sensors are designed to increase consistency. It does come with adjustable legs for balance, but be forewarned that some reviewers say that these legs cause the device to feel like it’s sinking slightly when you step on top.

SPECS

  • Maximum Weight: 440 pounds / 200 kilograms
  • Display: LED
  • Battery: 2 AAA
  • Measurements taken: Body weight
  • Product dimensions: 15.375 inches x 11.75 inches x 0.75 inches
  • Product weight: 6.4 pounds

Purchase Eatsmart Precision Plus 

Best Plastic Scale: Tanita HD-351

Tanita

PROS

  • Shows current and previous weight simultaneously for easy comparisons
  • A very user-friendly and intuitive scale
  • Safe for those with pacemakers or other internal medical devices

CONS

  • Can be heavy and bulky to use and store
  • Beeps loudly when weighing is complete
  • The display is not backlit
  • Only measures weight

Japanese company Tanita is one of the largest producers of medical grade scales, with a reputation for seamless and consistent products. This heavy duty scale is a powerhouse with a large, ultra-thin platform. The most popular feature is the two-line display that simultaneously shows current and past five weights measured, making it easy to see any changes. The scale is constructed of heavy steel with great durability but covered in a layer of easy-to-clean plastic. This model is slower than others (it takes five to 10 seconds to display a reading) but is incredibly consistent compared to other scales.

SPECS

  • Weight: 440 pounds / 200 kilograms
  • Display: LED
  • Battery: 4 AA
  • Measurements taken: Body weight
  • Product dimensions: 19 inches x 15 inches x 4 inches
  • Product weight: 5.5 pounds

Purchase Tanita HD-351

Best Portable Bathroom Scale: NewlineNY Super Mini Bathroom Scale

Amazon

PROS

  • Super compact
  • Very user-friendly with easy set up and Bluetooth connectivity
  • Turns on when stepped on; automatic shut-off
  • Battery lasts for over a year
  • Safe for those with pacemakers or other internal medical devices

CONS

  • So small that it may be difficult for some users to stand on with both feet

This ultra-compact scale is super easy to pack in a suitcase: At just 5.5 inches by 8.5 inches, it’s far smaller than most other scales. With an auto on feature and ten second display designed to save power, the travel scale will stay juiced up and ready to go whenever you are, with battery life lasting for at least a year.

SPECS

  • Maximum Weight: 396 pounds / 180 kilograms
  • Display: LED
  • Battery: One CR 2032
  • Measurements taken: Body weight
  • Product dimensions: 5.5 inches x 8.5 inches x 0.5 inches
  • Product weight: 1.25 pounds

Purchase Newline NY Super Mini Travel Scale

Best Scale for Pregnant People: QardioBase2

Amazon

PROS

  • The scale has Wi-FI and Bluetooth connectivity for easy syncing with apps.
  • Safe for implanted medical devices and pregnant women.
  • Rechargeable, long lasting battery life up to a year.
  • Affordable and durable
  • Can be used on carpets
  • Has a weight-only mode for those with pacemakers or other internal medical devices

CONS

  • Separate user data isn’t private between household members

The striking circular design isn’t the only thing special about the QardioBase2—it has a pregnancy mode, which enables you to track your baby’s growth, upload progress photos, and view helpful charts of averages and percentiles for each trimester.

The scale also syncs with apps like Apple Health, Google Fit and My Fitness Pal for instant data at your fingertips. If you find yourself stressing over the numbers on the scale, you can use the scale in “Smart Feedback” mode, which uses emojis instead of numbers. The base vibrates, called haptic feedback, to alert you that your weight has been recorded. There’s also a pre-programmed “weight only” mode to use the scale safely with implanted medical devices. And reviewers spoke positively about the scale’s battery longevity—just charge up with the included USB cable and forget about it for the next twelve months.

SPECS

  • Maximum Weight: 396 pounds / 180 kilograms
  • Display: LED
  • Battery: 1 Lithium battery/USB & micro USB charging
  • Measurements taken: Weight, BMI, body fat, lean mass, water weight, bone mass
  • Product dimensions: 13.4 inches x 0.9 inches
  • Product weight: 6.7 pounds

Purchase Qardio Base 2

Best Scale for Multiple Users: Renpho Body Fat Scale

Amazon

PROS

  • Very user-friendly with easy set up and Bluetooth connectivity
  • Unlimited user profiles are accessible through an app

CONS

  • Rounds weight to the nearest even tenth of a pound
  • No Wi-Fi capability is included
  • Not safe for those with pacemakers or other internal medical devices

If you’re on a budget and have several people in your household that are interested in using one scale, the Renpho Body Fat scale is an excellent option. It’s able to store unlimited user profiles through its app, enabling everyone to access their own information easily. The Renpho app syncs with most fitness apps including Apple Watch, Fitbit and Google Fit to seamlessly track data and chart your daily, weekly, and monthly progress. Plus, it’s incredibly well-rated on Amazon– it has 4.7 out of 5 stars with 255,000+ reviews. Users raved about its value. “I still can’t believe this scale was only $30!” wrote one user.

SPECS

  • Weight: 396 pounds / 180 kilograms
  • Display: LED
  • Battery: 3 AAA
  • Measurements taken: Body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, body water percentage, skeletal muscle, fat-free body weight, muscle mass, bone mass, protein, BMR, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, metabolic age
  • Product dimensions: 11 inches x 11 inches x 1 inches
  • Product weight: 2.86 pounds

Purchase Renpho Body Fat Scale

How to Choose the Best Bathroom Scale for You

First off, assess your needs. Some people value portability over extended weight capacity. Others are more concerned with all the bells and whistles that an app can provide. Are you simply looking to track your weight? A classic analog scale can do plenty all on its own and can be less expensive and simpler to use. Or are you looking to track a pregnancy or weigh a newborn in between doctor’s visits? Investing in one of the newer smart scales can be a fun way to explore these additional data points.

Safety

Scales that measure body fat use a small electric current, which can negatively interact with pacemakers and other internal implanted devices. They also have a small chance of affecting pregnant women. If you have a pacemaker or other internal implanted device or are pregnant, consult with your doctor before using a smart home scale.

Metrics

All scales are designed to tell you how much you weigh. Most are able to toggle between pounds and kilograms, and some can also measure in stone. Scales also generally have different degrees of precision—while many measure to the nearest 0.1 pound, others round to the nearest 0.2 pound. Some others even round to the nearest whole number. If you’re looking to track small changes in your body size, especially if you are a small person, you’re better off to choose the most precise scale possible.

Smart scales generally offer lots of data on various metrics, including body fat, muscle percentage, bone density and more. This information can be presented in various forms—everything from graphs to pie charts to the occasional raw data points. The best smart scales have integrated with popular apps to provide up-to-date, regular information. Look out for scales that offer pregnancy features, such as the ability to track week by week development.

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