We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The Good Housekeeping Institute compared 18 models to find the best digital and body analyser scales Planetary Ball Mill
These days, the best bathroom scales can help you track much more than just your weight. Many smart models also measure health stats including body fat, bone density, muscle mass and water percentage.
But whether you want an all-singing, all-dancing set of scales, or you’re in the market for a more budget-friendly model to help you lose, maintain or gain weight, accuracy is key.
So our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute put a variety of digital and smart analyser scales from leading brands to the test to find the best bathroom scales to buy right now.
There are three main types of scales: mechanical (or analogue) scales that use springs to measure and display weight on a dial; digital scales that measure electronically and display weight digitally; and smart scales (or analyser scales) that measure by sending a safe electrical wave through the body, connecting to smartphones over Bluetooth.
Analyser scales tend to be the most accurate, offering a comprehensive breakdown of your body’s composition – some on our list can track up to 17 different metrics.
When it comes to size, a 30 x 30 cm scale should be large enough for most feet without taking up too much space in your bathroom or cupboard.
Smart scales use a process called bioelectrical impedance analysis to gather as much information about your body as possible. By passing a painless electrical current through your body, analyser scales measure the resistance – also known as impedance – your body gives against the current.
Different tissues such as bone, fat and muscle impede the current at different rates, which is how the scales can provide such an array of measurements, including weight, BMI, body fat, muscle mass, water percentage, bone density, resting metabolism and more.
But, it's important to remember that these values are estimates. For the most accurate measurements, you should consult a doctor, and if you’re pregnant or you have a pacemaker, you shouldn't use these features.
Smart scales can usually calculate BMI, or Body Mass Index. This value is your weight divided by your height in metres squared. A BMI score is designed to help you work out roughly if you’re in a healthy weight range or not. But this is an approximation, and it's important to note that a BMI score doesn’t distinguish between muscle, fat and bone.
Make sure your scales use the unit of measurement you’re most comfortable with. It’s always best to check the specs before you buy, but most on our list will give you the choice between kilograms, pounds and stone.
We tested over 20 pairs of scales at the Good Housekeeping Institute to find the most accurate on the market. To measure their reliability when measuring weight, we placed two calibrated kettlebells, weighing 7.64kg and 12.25kg, on each scale three times and assessed the results given. We also timed how quickly it took for the scales to respond to the added weight.
For smart scales, we used a bioimpedance machine to get an initial body fat percentage measurement, then took three readings from every set of scales within a 30-minute window to compare results.
We also tested any associated apps, looking at what the user experience was like, before finally scoring each set of scales for ease of use, design and product information.
Our winning scale doesn’t come cheap, but it’s brimming with high-tech features, scored top marks for weight accuracy in our tests and is a cinch to set up and use. It doesn’t just measure your weight, body fat and BMI either – it also monitors your visceral fat, water percentage, fat and bone mass, and heart rate, plus it gives you a vascular age and more. Whew!
The bright screen displays a graph with your previous eight measurements so you can track your progress and meet your goals, and if all that wasn’t enough, the user-friendly Health Mate app provides yet more in-depth feedback. On the app, there’s also a useful start-up guide, plus detailed information on how to get the most out of the device.
It can keep track of eight users and the scale itself is sturdy, with a generous amount of foot room so it should be suitable for the whole family. There are even specially designed ‘athlete’ and ‘pregnancy’ modes to meet individual needs.
Sure, it’s an investment but if you want to understand your health and body better, and you’ve got the means, this a game-changing bit of kit.
This sleek scale may be simple but it does its job accurately and quickly – on average, we waited just 1.43 seconds for weight readings.
The well-lit display was easy to read, while the large platform proved stable and can accommodate feet up to a size 12 and a weight of up to 200kg.
Note, nearby movement can power it on, so store away to preserve battery life.
Cutting back on waste by forgoing batteries, these digital scales are powered by a button you push with your feet. They gave us an accurate weight reading and the large platform should comfortably accommodate feet up to a size 12.
They had strong non-slip feet, but felt a bit unstable when mounting and dismounting. The display window was also rather small and the surface marked fairly easily. On balance though, this simple set of scales is a greener buy that doesn’t compromise on reliability.
If you want comprehensive data, this body analyser scale is for you; it covers off an impressive 17 different metrics, including BMI and bone mass.
Readings were accurate but only weight appears on the display screen. This was clear to read, but the platform came up smaller than advertised, only fitting feet up to a size 7 without any protrusion. It was also unstable when weight was placed near the edges.
The accompanying app features detailed information on each metric and data appeared for us after only nine seconds. It was intuitive to set up an account too, but the quantity of information made it feel cluttered. You can set up up to eight people on the scales, though. Overall, an impressive bit of tech.
Brimming with features usually seen on pricier models, this shiny Renpho smart scale seriously impressed our experts. The large, easy-to-read screen shows your key stats including weight, body fat percentage and BMI, while the app – which scored top marks for functionality – measures everything from visceral fat and water percentage to muscle and bone mass to metabolic age, for an overall picture of your health. There’s even an ‘athlete mode’ that considers physiological variations including higher bone density, muscle mass and hydration levels.
It can track up to eight users, sync with Apple Health, Google Fit and FitBit, and the app has a community section for you to connect with friends, share advice and ask questions. Best of all, the stylish, compact design means the scales will look unobtrusive in the corner of your bathroom. Due to its petite size, however, hopping on requires some balance, and the scale wouldn’t be suitable for anyone with size 11 feet or above.
Data transfers from this scale to its app in the blink of an eye, or five seconds to be precise. We were also impressed with the app’s intuitive design, depth of information provided, and the option to subtract the weight of your phone and clothes from your measurements for increased accuracy. Both weight and body fat readings were precise, with the latter out by a mere 4.5%.
The scale proved stable and can accommodate feet up to a size 10, but it relies heavily on the app. Only weight is recorded without it and you have to use the app if you want to know any of the 11 other body composition stats offered, including visceral fat and metabolic age.
Another offering from Withings’ smart scale line-up, the Body Smart is half the price of the Body Comp, but it’s still packed with an impressive range of features. The set-up process took a matter of minutes and getting to grips with the device was a breeze thanks to the handy in-app prompts and tips.
In terms of insights, you can track body composition, muscle mass, bone mass, visceral fat, metabolic age and standing heart rate, with key data visible on the scale itself and detailed graphs within the app to help you keep on top of your progress over time.
There are a range of modes to choose from, including ‘weight’, ‘athlete’ and ‘pregnancy’, but the one that stood out for our experts was ‘eyes closed’. When using this setting, you won’t see any numbers when you step on the scale; instead, a range of motivational graphics will pop up on the screen. This is ideal for days when you want to focus on overall health outcomes rather than numerical changes. if you do want to review your measurements at a later stage, you can check them on the app.
Overall, an impressive piece of kit, particularly for those at the beginning of their fitness or weight loss journey who don’t want to be bombarded with numbers on a daily basis. We’d recommend using it on the same floor for consistency, and if you have carpet, make sure to use the feet provided.
This talking digital scale is designed for those who are blind or partially sighted. Announcing our weight clearly and accurately, it activated quickly too, but we found it to be a tad unstable towards the edges.
There’s room on the platform for size 10 feet but the display screen could be clearer and it would be nice if batteries were included. Those are minor niggles though for an otherwise straightforward, reliable and accessible set of scales.
With this smart scale, you can access 12 different body composition measurements. It displays weight readings clearly, responds quickly when you step onto them, and the app automatically records additional data even if you don’t have it open.
The scale stayed put when we placed our weight over the edge of the platform, but there’s only enough space for feet up to a size 10. Disappointingly, our body fat readings were significantly out, but our weight readings were consistently accurate.
The app was easy to set up and navigate too, with detailed information on all the metrics.
Another set of battery-free digital scales – simply stepping on the button in the centre of the scales generates enough power for one reading, and while it’s not the quickest of processes if you want to take multiple readings in one go, they were reliably accurate.
The platform was a little unstable when we distributed weight unevenly and marked fairly easily, while the display window could be bigger too. A basic but innovative bathroom addition.
Designed for expectant and new mothers, this scale takes readings for 17 different body metrics including muscle mass and hydration. Plus, our body fat and weight readings were impressively accurate. Using the same app as the Fit Track Dara (above), data appeared quickly and the app and scale connected easily.
At 26cm wide, the platform is notably small and would struggle to fit feet bigger than a size 7. They also tipped slightly when stepping towards one edge. On the scale itself, you can only see your weight reading, but it shows up brightly and the app breaks down the other stats informatively.
Priyankaa is our senior health and wellness writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. From walking boots to running machines, Priyankaa has written about hundreds of products and is passionate about providing in-depth, unbiased reviews. Plus, as an avid runner and gymgoer, she knows exactly what to look for when finding the right gymwear, fitness tracker or earphones. Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges. She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more. Outside of work, Priyankaa can usually be found trying out a new gym class, seeking out London's best eats or watching a Spanish TV show in a bid to keep up her language skills. You can follow Priyankaa on Twitter @_priyankaajoshi and on Instagram @priyankaajoshi
Yanar was our former Fitness Group Testing Manager. She managed health and fitness product testing across all the magazines, overseeing all testing processes and ensuring our lab and panel tests are conducted to the highest standards. Yanar spent 15 years as a health and wellness content editor and writer for national titles such as Runner’s World, Men’s Health and Women’s Health. Yanar is a Level 3 qualified PT, trained yoga teacher and a registered yoga therapist. She has been into fitness and wellness her whole life. After many years running races and marathons, she now trains and competes in CrossFit and Olympic lifting. She passionately advocates strength training for women to build a stronger mind and body for life.
The best SAD lamps to banish the winter blues
The best massage guns to shop in 2023
12 best protein powders to try
The best vibrators to buy in 2023
The best home gym equipment to buy now
The GHI put an under-desk treadmill to the test
The GHI’s best Christmas gifts for gym-lovers
The GHI put Davina's new protein range to the test
The best food processors for 2023
The best cabin bags to buy for 2023
Good Housekeeping, Part of the Hearst UK Fashion & Beauty Network
Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
Pipette ©2023 Hearst UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 30 Panton Street, Leicester Square, London, SW1Y 4AJ. Registered in England. All Rights Reserved.