The experience of using the basic Etekcity Digital Body Weight Bathroom Scale is as meh as its appearance, with a small-yet-brightly-lit display and a flimsier-than-you’d-expect feel. Of course, accuracy is one of the most important features, as it ensures you get precise measurements. To determine which bathroom scales were worth the buy, we tested 23 bathroom scales in The Verywell Testing Lab and evaluated them based on seven key attributes, including reading consistency, setup, data storage, display and readability, ease of use, durability, and overall value. We also consulted with Kim Mahony, RD, LDN, Corporate Manager at Lutheran Home Communities, and registered dietician Allison Knott. If you're a Garmin running watch user, we can see the allure of buying Garmin's Index S2 Smart Scale, which sends weight and body composition data to the same Connect fitness app. The scale works statistically fine, in terms of recording readings that varied by no more than 1%. Depending on the type of body fat scale you have, the information can link up to your smartphone or smartwatch, as well as any fitness apps you might have.

Manage your home with confidence when you connect your Etekcity, Levoit, and Cosori smart products to the free VeSync app. With smart products such as air purifiers, air fryers, fitness scales, and more, you can control every room with a tap in your smartphone. Whether you’re looking to lose, maintain, or gain weight, investing in a high quality bathroom scale can be helpful.

Analysis and Test Results

When first unboxing this bathroom scale, we did have to calibrate it using a dial turner at the bottom of the bathroom scale. When you step on the scale, the measurements stay on as long as you are standing on the scale, but the moment you’re off of the bathroom scale it disappears. Since the display doesn’t light up, we recommend using this bathroom scale with the lights on. Also, the display was a little hard to read due to the measurement lines being small. The best part of the striking basic-model Escali Glass Platform Bathroom Scale is its easy -to-read display. The worst part: the two too-high weights it recorded during our testing. (Despite instructions to the contrary, we recommend tapping to calibrate it to zero before you step on the scale, which may rectify the situation.) The moment you open the app, the Renpho connects via Bluetooth to upload its stored data (at least a few days’ worth are saved in scale’s memory), even “knowing” enough to differentiate users in the app based on the readings it collects—the app will ask which user you are if there are large weight differences, which is helpful if you are sharing the scale with someone else. To get one of these scans, you’ll need to find a center that has the equipment. The scans can be pricey depending on your location and may not be covered by insurance. Handheld fat measurement devices If you’re hoping to capture more data than just your weight, the Renpho smart scale calculates 13 different body composition metrics, including body weight, BMI, body-fat percentage, water percentage, muscle mass, and more. All this information is then transferred to your smartphone via Bluetooth and stored in the Renpho app.

It displays your weight clearly on an LCD screen in pounds or kilograms and can be programmed to announce it aloud in English, Spanish, Greek, German, or Croatian. Body fat scales can be helpful when you’re trying to measure your body fat, but they don’t tell the whole story about your fat-to-muscle ratio. Instead, you can use these scales as complements to other tools. Throughout these tests, we also paid attention to other key attributes—like data storage, display and readability, and ease of use. And we assigned each bathroom scale a score (out of five) on each of those attributes. For data storage, we considered how many measurements the bathroom scale could record and how many users could log into the bathroom scale. (A high score in this category indicates a bathroom scale that can provide lots of measurements and handle many users.)In general, body fat scales can provide rough estimates only. While safe to use, there are many variables that can affect your results. These include: After testing Weight Watcher’s Scales by Conair Digital Glass Bathroom Scale, we feel confident in choosing this for the most discreet bathroom scale. The scale is made primarily of glass and has a silver display, which means that it easily blends in with the surrounding environments and won’t clash with your bathroom decor.

to 4.7 stars: These bathroom scales are excellent—they might have minor flaws, but we still recommend them. As a rule of thumb, greater body resistance means a higher fat percentage. This is due to the fact that fat contains less water than muscle, so it’s more difficult for a current to travel through it.

Weight limit: We preferred scales with weight limits of at least 400 pounds, which is typical for digital scales meant for home use. I definitely recommend getting a scale that takes into consideration your body composition measurements if you’re trying to lose weight and manage your fitness,” says Lauren Hubert, MS, RD. Lauren says that while at-home scales aren’t as accurate as those you’ll find at a doctor’s office, they still give you the information you need to understand what’s going on inside your body. Dori Steinberg, PhD, MS, RD, director at Duke Global Digital Health Science Center, associate professor at Duke School of Nursing, phone interview, April 2, 2019 The durable 3.2" x 1.5" LCD display uses a bold font which makes reading your measurements easy. The scale doesn’t use LEDs, so the readability isn’t great in low lighting, but during the day or in brighter lighting you should have no problems seeing. Your measurements stay up for around 15 seconds even after you get off the scale, so you have time to take in what you see. You can change the measurement units by using a small button on the underside of the bathroom scale. Multiple users can use the scale, however, you can’t make individual profiles as there’s no app.

Those body composition numbers may be especially useful when gauging the efficacy of a strength-training or muscle-building plan. They may also help account for a plateau in weight, particularly if clothing fits more loosely or chest/waist/hip circumference measurements are decreasing yet the scale’s weight measurement remains the same. Contrary to popular belief, muscle doesn’t weigh more than fat—it’s just more dense, so those who are exercising while they aim to lose weight could see the weight number remain static while overall body size diminishes. More Articles You Might Enjoy Kathryn Ross, PhD, MPH, associate professor, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida, phone interview, March 27, 2019 When you’re trying to lose weight, measuring body fat is equally as important as measuring your overall weight. The best bathroom scales always provide a fresh weight each time you weigh yourself (some pull from past measurements).

Conclusion

Price. We included scales at a range of prices to suit different budgets. Most of the basic scales are relatively inexpensive and the high-priced models offer smart features. The Greater Goods Digital Food and Kitchen is small and sleek. The diminutive construction and grey color scheme virtually disappear in any kitchen, which we appreciate very much. In our accuracy test, it was an average performer. However, average accuracy, in this case, is pretty darn good. A one-gram error here and there is hardly noticeable in typical kitchen or home use.