Scales for the home and for more demanding weighing jobs: bathroom scales, kitchen scales, body analysis scales and precision balances from Salter, Jata, Adler and Esperanza, among others. With over 250 models, the range suits households tracking body weight or portions, as well as buyers who need accurate readings for small items.
How to choose scales
Type of scale. Decide first what you will weigh. Bathroom scales handle people, kitchen scales handle ingredients and parcels, and precision balances are meant for small quantities such as lab samples, jewellery or reloading components. A scale built for one job is rarely satisfactory at another.
Capacity and graduation. Capacity is the heaviest load the scale accepts, while graduation is the smallest step it displays. Most bathroom scales take around 150 to 180 kg and show 100 g steps. Kitchen scales usually stop at 5 kg with 1 g steps, and precision balances display far finer steps with a much lower maximum load. Choose a capacity comfortably above your heaviest item, but not so high that small weights lose resolution.
Body analysis features. Some bathroom scales estimate body fat, water and muscle mass using bioelectrical impedance, and many connect to a phone app to track trends. These readings are best treated as a guide to change over weeks, not as a medical measurement. If you only want your weight, a simple digital model is easier to use and cheaper to run.
Platform, display and power. A glass or steel platform is easy to wipe clean, and a large backlit display helps in dim bathrooms. Check whether the scale runs on replaceable batteries, a coin cell or a rechargeable cell, and whether it has a tare function, which is essential in the kitchen for weighing ingredients in a bowl.
Scale brands we carry
- Salter: a British company with a long history in weighing, known for kitchen and bathroom scales and for spring balances.
- Jata: a Spanish small appliance maker whose scales cover everyday household use.
- Medisana: a German health brand known for body analysis scales alongside other personal health devices.
- Ohaus: an American manufacturer of laboratory and industrial balances, chosen when readability and repeatable results matter more than design.
- Caso: a German brand focused on design-led kitchen appliances, including kitchen scales.
Also in our range: Adler, Esperanza, Beper, Blaupunkt, ETA, Brock and Eldom.
Frequently asked questions about scales
What is the difference between bathroom and kitchen scales?
Bathroom scales are built to carry a person and typically show weight in steps of 100 g. Kitchen scales have a much lower capacity but show steps of about 1 g, which is what recipes require. Using a bathroom scale for food gives readings that are too coarse to be useful.
How accurate are digital scales?
Digital scales are accurate to within their stated graduation, provided they sit on a hard, level surface. Kitchen and bathroom models are suitable for daily use, while precision balances offer finer resolution for small samples. Weighing at the same time of day on the same spot gives the most consistent results.
Are body fat scales reliable?
Body fat scales give an estimate, not a clinical result. They send a weak electrical current through the body and calculate fat and water from the resistance, which varies with hydration, food and time of day. They are useful for watching a trend when you weigh under the same conditions each time.
What capacity should I look for in a kitchen scale?
A capacity of 5 kg suits most home cooking and baking. Choose a higher limit if you weigh large batches or heavy mixing bowls, since the bowl counts towards the maximum load. Look for a tare button so you can reset the display to zero after placing a container.
