Weighing up whether to invest in a shiny new set of bathroom scales? It's not always simple as it seems, even if you're only looking to buy a simple manual design for occasional home use. On the other end of the spectrum, if you're into bodybuilding or competitive sports, you have health issues to keep an eye on or you plan to truly conquer your weight loss goals this year, you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to the latest smart functions.
But which is the best for your specific needs? We'll guide you through the draws of both electronic digital and traditional mechanical scales and whether or not it's worth your while to include features like BMI and body fat monitors, Bluetooth and internal memory. We'll reveal the highest reviewed and most accurate bathroom scales on John Lewis, Amazon and eBay, from cheap picks to high-end brands including Salter, Tanita and Active Era.
Quick List - Top Bathroom Scales
Salter
An Affordable, User-Friendly Way to Try Out Smart Scales
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Table of Contents
On the whole, digital scales are more accurate and have the ability to yield lower weight increments, which makes them a better option for those beginning a weight loss (or gain) plan or those tracking a pregnancy or post-illness weight.
Sleeker and chicer for modern bathrooms, they're often light and easy to store whilst also being made from sturdy materials such as toughened glass. Look for carpeted or non-slip pads if a wonky or slippery floor has affected your readings in the past as this can add or take away a precious pound or two.
Some smart scales can connect via Bluetooth to apps such as Apple Health, Google Fit and Fitbit to monitor your stats and chart your progress, and have memory storage for more than one family member too. As you can imagine, all this tech will cost you, so work out if you really need these features before you invest.
You know the kind we mean: mechanical scales that display your weight via a swinging needle. Perhaps not the most precise option, these are best suited to those who want something simple and fuss-free that doesn't risk running out of batteries or simply giving up the ghost-like some digital scales have been known to.
Whilst they can track your weight fairly accurately, they will have to be manually calibrated and rely on your eye to make a reading, both of which could prove inconsistent and don't really sit well with uneven floors. Also, many sets don't display very low weight increments, so if you must know to a tee how much you weigh, they may not be for you.
Find mechanical and digital scales for your kitchen here.
Imperial, metric, stones, pounds or kilos, whichever unit or units of weight you're most familiar with, you'll want your scales to be on the same wavelength.
There's little more frustrating than having to convert your stats every time you hop on the platform – which also leaves more room for error – so use the product description or our comparison tables to check which units your desired set of scales can offer.
Most scales, regardless of modernity, will have a maximum weight capacity of around 28 stone (about 180 kilograms, or 400 lbs), with some more compact options offering a little less. If you require a greater limit than this, you'll have to pay close attention to the specs to find a pair that provides this.
Similarly, if you have longer or larger feet or you prioritise a bigger platform over compact storage, then you may want to also note the dimensions of the scales themselves.
Spruce up your bathroom with a new mirror and towel rail.
For the best performance, look out for features such as precision sensors, smart step-on technology and carpet feet. Precision sensors guarantee that the readings are as accurate as possible. This means you can more closely monitor minor changes in your weight and you can trust the readings to be reliable and consistent.
While some scales need to be tapped to come on, a scale with smart step-on technology provides instant measurements when you simply step on the scale, without the need to wait for it to calibrate.
Also, if you're going to be using the scale on a carpeted floor, make sure it includes carpet feet which improves the accuracy of bathroom scales on uneven surfaces, in addition to ensuring maximum comfort.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Salter Ghost LED Bathroom Scale| 9204 WH3R | ![]() | A Sturdy, Reliable and Stylish Addition to Any Bathroom | |
2 | Salter Ultra Slim Glass Analyser Bathroom Scale|9141 WH3R | ![]() | An Affordable, User-Friendly Way to Try Out Smart Scales | |
3 | Active Era Smart Body Fat Scales | ![]() | All the Latest Tech for a Tiny Price | |
4 | Active Era Ultra Slim Digital Bathroom Scale | ![]() | Slim, Simple and Easy-to-Store Digital Scales | |
5 | Salter Max Digital Bathroom Scales | ![]() | Suitable for Everyone With a 40-Stone Capacity and a Large, Clear Screen | |
6 | FitBit Aria Air Smart Scale | ![]() | Sync to Devices and Track Your Goals With Fitbit | |
7 | John Lewis & Partners Coastal Bathroom Scales | ![]() | For Those Looking to Add a Bit of Colour to the Bathroom | |
8 | Salter Doctor Style Mechanical Bathroom Scales | ![]() | Hassle-Free, Battery-Free Scales With a Nice Large Platform | |
9 | Ozeri Digital Bathroom Scale with Electro-Mechanical Weight Dial | ![]() | A Manual and Digital Hybrid Designed to Improve Accuracy | |
10 | Tanita Connect Body Composition Monitor Scale|RD-953S | ![]() | Hi-Tech Scales for Serious Fitness Fiends |
We didn't think a set of bathroom scales could be so discerning, but we were wrong! Take your pick from a silver or black design – both of which only display when turned on – and once initialised, provide ultra-fast weight readings in either stones, pounds or kilos.
A classy and hard-wearing addition to any bathroom, they're affordable, effortlessly practical and a breeze to operate, clean and store. This set easily tops our recommendations!
A step up from Salter's digital 'ultra slim' model, this is our top pick for a set of smart scales. It's not so intimidating that you feel you'd need a degree to operate it, as it will gauge your stats (such as your weight, body fat, body water and BMI) via BIA technology after simply stepping on the steel pads.
It's also capable of recognising four users via the memory system, so you can get the whole house on board with your wellness journey. To top it off, it provides both metric and imperial measurements and a generous maximum capacity.
Brought to you by the same affordable brand as our number 4 below, this smart scale is incredible value for money considering it offers just as much, if not more, of the latest tech than some of its pricier competitors.
Analyse 11 body measurements, connect and sync via Bluetooth to your fitness apps and the Active Era app, and no matter how steamy the bathroom gets, the anti-slip safety pads will protect you. There's even a baby mode to track the weight of your growing newborn, which also means the weight increments go as low as 0.1 lb or 100 g.
This is a great first foray into digital scales if you're wanting to try them out as it's packed with useful features and isn't too garish-looking. To name a few, there's a high visibility display with a blue backlight for both day and night time use, a 100 g accuracy and a low power indicator.
It's also ultra-slim (as the name implies), easy to clean and made of strong tempered glass. Plus, it only takes 2 AAA batteries (which are included), so even when they run out, you won't have to comb the web to locate a variety you've never heard of.
You'll see many Salter products on our list but out of them all, this attractive digital set offers the highest weight capacity at up to nearly 40 stone. It also has the largest display, so if you often finding yourself squinting from great heights to read your stats, it's worth a look.
There's also a weight toggle to effortlessly switch between stones, pounds and kilos, alongside some nifty 'Step On' technology that instantly takes a reading without you having to wait around for re-calibration. Separate, optional carpet feet are included in the pack, too.
Are you a Fitbit fan? The Aria Air smart scale is a surefire way to keep on top of your health and fitness goals and your family's too – it can store the data of up to 8 people, even if they don't have a Fitbit device.
For your own Fitbit, this scale will automatically sync stats via Wi-Fi to your dashboard, including weight in increments of 1/4 lb, body fat, lean mass and BMI. Choose from black or white, get moving, and smugly watch the user-friendly graphs display exactly what you need them to.
This cute coastal-themed set of digital scales hits all the homeware targets you'd expect from John Lewis & Partners: style, quality and functionality. Many reviewers rave about its accuracy too, thanks to the carpet feet that ensure precise readings on piled or uneven floors.
The scales can be changed from stones and pounds to kilograms as you prefer and feature a large LCD display and a super-slim 1.5 cm height for easy storage. There are no bells and whistles, but it's a reliable, good-quality choice if simplicity is all you're after.
Another one for fans of the vintage look, this set of mechanical scales is as reliable as it looks and has Salter's 15-year guarantee for peace of mind. With the largest platform on our list that's covered in a non-slip mat, it's a good pick for less mobile users.
While it does give measurement units of kilograms, stones and pounds, be aware that it has a lower weight limit of 23 stone (150 kg). It's also not recommended for use on deep-pile bathroom carpet or uneven surfaces, and may not be as precise as some automatically calibrated or digital devices.
These black scales might appear to be a simple choice, but their interesting weight dial gives them a more retro look. The black colour also means that this product will slide into most modern bathrooms and look right at home.
Aside from its looks, the main draw of this product is the fact it is both mechanical and digital, which may lead to better accuracy. With an oversized platform and an easy-to-read display, it's fairly sizeable, but it's not a set that's designed to be hidden away.
Featuring a BMI indicator alongside 10 other body composition readings, Bluetooth connectivity and syncing to Apple Health and Google Health via the My Tanita App, this really is one of the most comprehensive sets of smart scales out there.
Weight increments as low as 50 g are provided too, as well as a fairly high weight capacity of 200 kg. The downsides? Such amazing tech is going to cost you, and if you're unfamiliar with kilograms, you'll have to do some converting.
Written and researched by Natasha Dziubajlo
No. 1: Salter |Ghost LED Bathroom Scale| 9204 WH3R
No. 2: Salter |Ultra Slim Glass Analyser Bathroom Scale|9141 WH3R
No. 3: Active Era|Smart Body Fat Scales
No. 4: Active Era|Ultra Slim Digital Bathroom Scale
No. 5: Salter |Max Digital Bathroom Scales
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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