Best bathroom scales: 7 sensational scales to make this year your best one yet

Are you looking for the best bathroom scales? 

There are hundreds of options available in various shapes, sizes, and prices, however in general, they split into three distinct groups: mechanical bathroom scales that feature a traditional dial, simple digital bathroom scales that display your weight on an LCD screen, and more advanced bathroom scales that measure your body’s composition including body fat, BMI, even bone mass and upload the data to an app allowing you to track changes remotely on your smartphone.

Whichever you choose depends on how much information you want to know about yourself. However, over recent years the cost of smart-body fat monitoring scales has fallen almost in line with traditional models. 

We’ve found the best in each style of scale and are confident there’s a design perfect for you and your family. 

• See: Best dumbbells – perfect picks to turn your home into a gym
  

 7 best bathroom scales for your home

Fitbit has now sold more than 100 million devices, and if you’re the owner of one of their step counters or smartwatches, this is the ideal set of bathroom scales.

Unlike the more fitness-orientated Fitbit Aria 2: the Aria Air only tracks weight and BMI — but since it also has a  Bluetooth capability: your weight data is uploaded instantly to the Fitbit app.

Over time – and assuming you jump on the scales every day – you’ll get a detailed picture of your health, with hopefully, the graphs and charts doing in the direction you want them to. 

This weight data, combined with your step and exercise activity and sleep – also tracked by the Fitbit App – will help you see where you can improve, all in a user-friendly, easily accessible way. 

And if someone in the family doesn’t care about the app, they can use it just like a standard set of bathroom scales, and don’t worry: it can recognize different people, so your statistics won’t be affected.  

Like the Aria Air, the Withings Body is a stripped-back set of smart scales that help you build a picture of your health without bombarding you with any confusing statistics: such as bone mass and fat percentages.

Instead: users will stand on the scale and watch as the scale shows their weight. Additonally, it will also indicate your last eight weigh-ins (!), as well as calculate your most current BMI. This feature is fantastic for those who want to chart their progress without requiring a smartphone or device. 

That said: this scale also sends your weight data to the required: Health Mate app, and together, with any other on-file health information — such as steps or diet diaries — this scale provides the necessary information needed to make a worthwhile lifestyle change. 

Need more convincing? 

The Health Mate apps not only syncs with over 100+ health and fitness apps but will sync with up to eight users recognized! That means your entire family can keep track of their goals or any future expectant mothers! The pregnancy weight tracker will monitor you and your baby's weight by stepping onto the scale. 

Superbly innovative for the well-known brand Salter — and one we hope to see on more products soon — instead of using replaceable or rechargeable batteries. Instead, this digital scale is powered solely by the person standing on it. To get started, press the button in the center of the device and watch as the ingenious mechanism generates enough power for the scale to work.

It’s a fantastic idea and gives you the longevity of a pair of mechanical scales, but with the same style and pinpoint accuracy as a digital design. As well as the innovative power generation, the digital scale remains good-looking in dark glass and can display your choice of kilograms, stone, or pounds. 

And Salter must be very confident the technology is durable as the Eco Power Digital Bathroom Scales come with a 15-year guarantee.

We love the retro look of these mechanical scales from Salter, which have a larger non-slip footbed suitable for people with up to size 12 shoes, and the 7.5” long needle and large glass display make them easy to read. 

Mechanical scales require no battery and minimal upkeep – you will need to center the needle every once in a while to ensure they’re accurate – but if you look after this scale, then it should give you service for decades. Salter offers a 15-year guarantee too.

This scale comes equipped with both pound and kilo measurements, and while they can’t handle more than 150kg/330lbs (most manage 180kg/400lbs) they’re ideal for the vast majority of people.

Admittedly, mechanical scales like this don’t offer the same pinpoint accuracy as a digital scale, so if you’re a fitness nut who cares about every ounce, they may not be for you, but if all you want is a quick guide every morning, they’re ideal. 

Despite costing only slightly more than a basic set of digital scales: the Eufy C1 packs in the features, and if you’re into fitness or want to learn more about your health, then it is considered a bargain.

Here, this Bluetooth-connect smart scale does it all. It will measure your weight, body fat, BMI, water, muscle, bone, and basal metabolic rate (BMR) - the amount of energy your body uses to perform its core functions day today - as well as visceral fat.

Just stepping on them once generates a large amount of data, but don’t worry, the bright LCD keeps things simple, so you can choose to ignore all the technical jargon. However, when you are ready to engage: upload your health information using the EUFYLIFE App, or you can use Apple Health, Google Fit, and Fitbit, making this a great all-around option.

The Sense 300 is a stellar selection for those who struggle with finding their glasses first thing in the morning. Designed with a larger display — measuring in at 4.5cm/1.7-inch — the bright, easy-to-read lettering is perfect for everyone. 

Plus, the stainless steel design is so sleek and sophisticated that it will look positively amazing in any modern bathroom. 

What’s more, the stainless steel is non-slip and fingerprint-proof, so it needs very little maintenance and won’t have you siding around dangerously if you’ve just stepped out of the shower. 

Finally, a set of bathroom scales with a personality! The Quardiobase 2, as well as being one of the more stylish designs we’ve seen, uses your choice of either the standard LCD display or you can keep it friendly and opt for emoticons with smiling, frowning, or passive faces depending on your progress. 

It’s a Bluetooth-connected set of smart scales that monitors your weight, BMI, Body fat percentage, muscle, bone, and water composition data and it synchs with Apple Home Kit, Map My Fitness, and other leading apps. The more you use this type of scale, the more you’ll learn about your overall health, but you will need a smartphone to make the most of it all. 

We also love the pregnancy mode that always shows a happy face to mums-to-be.

It’s also good to see a set of scales that is rechargeable – and lasts an impressive 12 months – instead of having to throw away any more batteries.

How do I choose bathroom scales?

There has been plenty of innovation in bathroom scales in recent years, but if all you want to do is see how much you weigh in kg/lbs when you step on, a pair of simple mechanical scales will treat you well and never run out of battery. 

If you demand precision and accuracy: a set of digital scales will be better, and they come with backlit displays you can see in the dark.

But if you’re buying a set of scales to help you lose weight and get in shape, we would strongly recommend you choose a more precise selection — that can also record BMI and body fat percentage, as well weight. These clever scales upload data to your smartphone and let you track your diet and fitness journey, even add in information from fitness trackers.

How much should I spend on bathroom scales?

A simple set of mechanical scales can cost as little as $17, and you can also find perfectly acceptable digital designs for not much more. 

Though we think it is worth budgeting a little more for designs with extended guarantees, which should offer peace of mind. Those designs that don’t need batteries are also sensible as there’s no additional cost after purchase. 

Do bathroom scales lose their accuracy?

If used properly, on an even, hard surface, most scales will remain accurate for years, but if you choose a set of mechanical scales: you will have to adjust them occasionally. Though, this only means turning a dial to bring the needle back to 0.

Which bathroom scales are most accurate?

Unless you’re a boxer or jockey who needs to hit a specific weight before an event, it doesn’t matter how accurate your weighing scales are, as long as you use the same set every time, and preferably at the same time of day. That way, readings are relative, and you can accurately monitor the difference in your weight, even though your actual weight might differ.