The best kitchen scales for 2026, tested and reviewed

When it comes to cooking and baking, a little improvisation is welcome now and then. But most of the time, having the correct amount of each ingredient helps a dish turn out exactly as intended, either by you or whoever wrote the recipe. And while measuring cups and spoons are handy tools, sometimes you need something more precise — that's where the best kitchen scales come in. I sifted through hundreds of highly rated options to narrow my testing pool to 16 popular food scales, with prices starting at just $13. I evaluated the scales for accuracy, precision, ease of use and durability.

When I attended the French Culinary Institute, we were taught to weigh everything, rather than rely on potentially incorrect volumetric measurements. Once you get used to using a food scale, you'll want it on hand daily. It makes measuring foolproof and cuts down on the need for other utensils, thanks to the tare function, which lets you weigh ingredients in any container. I use my kitchen scale to portion out pasta, measure all baking ingredients and ensure accuracy when I'm prepping recipes built on ratios, such as vinaigrette.

Best kitchen scales of 2026

Factors to consider when choosing a kitchen scale

My time spent testing food scales yielded these considerations to keep in mind when you're shopping.

• Accuracy/precision:When it comes to kitchen scales, accuracyand precisionaren’t the same thing — and both matter in different ways:

✔️ Accuracyis about whether the scale gives you the correct weight. For example, one cup of granulated sugar weighs about 200 grams. If your scale consistently reads closer to 205 grams, it may be time to replace the batteries, since low power can cause unreliable readings.

✔️ Precision, on the other hand, refers to how finely a scale can measure. Some models register weight down to a fraction of a gram (like 0.1 grams). That level of detail isn’t essential for everyday baking with flour or sugar, but it’s a big deal if you’re dialing in a pour-over or espresso — where even tiny differences can affect the final cup.

• Ease of cleaning:Smooth surfaces and minimal grooves prevent food from getting trapped.

• Ease of use:We're talking about the display here. Is it easy to read? Is it backlit? And what about the buttons? Are they easy to press and read? Is there a tare button? Can you seamlessly switch between imperial (ounces and pounds) and metric measurements (grams)? Can you see the display when a mixing bowl is resting on the weighing platform? The answer to most of these questions should be "yes" with a quality scale.

• Durability:A stainless steel or high-quality plastic build ensures longevity.

• Portability:Compact models are ideal for smaller kitchens and those with limited storage space or who plan to move the scale around their kitchen. Our top-tested model from Greater Goods measures just half an inch thick.

How we tested kitchen scales

After opening each box, I noted if any setup or batteries were required. I gave each scale's components and accessories a quick wipe with a damp dishtowel. If there was a bowl included, I handwashed and dried it.

To rank on our list, the scales had to excel in the following tests:

• "Weighty topics" test:We tested each scale using a set of calibration weights in the following increments: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 grams. We noted if the readings were accurate when each weight was placed in various spots on the weighing platform. If a scale didn't register a 1-gram weight, it isn't suitable for precision tasks like weighing coffee.

• "Oops, I spilled" test:We dumped flour all over the scale and cleaned it as directed by the brand. If you spill — it happens to the best of us! — it's imperative that you can clean around a scale's buttons and crevices without breaking anything or, frankly, giving up.

Other k itchen scales we tested

Etekcity Digital Kitchen Scale : Slim and sleek and easy to store, this is a runner-up to our best budget scale. It gives accurate readings for everything above 1 gram, like many of the scales we tested. I didn't love the messy fingerprints left on the stainless steel.

Amazon Basics Scale : Another low-profile option that sells for just $10, this scale was unfortunately 1 gram off on several weight tests and also collected lots of fingerprints on its stainless steel weighing platform.

Zwilling Enfinigy Digital Food Scale : If appearance was the top qualification for a scale, this chic white scale that looks straight out of an Apple store would be my pick. Alas, the only way to change the unit of measure is to turn the scale over and use the buttons underneath. This was a dealbreaker.

Escali Arti Digital Food Scale : Another sleek option, the Escali Arti has a higher weight capacity than most at 15 pounds and a "hold" button for when you want to disable the auto-off feature while you tend to other tasks. This model is easy to wipe clean and change units of measure. It was accurate at higher weights, but didn't register anything during the 2 gram and 1 gram weight tests.

KitchenAid Dual Platform Food Scale KQ909 : This dual platform scale has lots of pros and cons. The pros are that you can use both platforms simultaneously, the backlit display shows both weights with large, bright numbers, the auto-off feature stays on for three minutes and the readings were all accurate aside from a stubborn reading of 99 grams each time I performed the 100 gram weight test. The cons? There are lots of crevices for food to get stuck in, and this scale is pricey at $57.

Etekcity Smart Nutrition Food Scale : This scale is sleek, but also complex in its possible readings. It lets you track nutrients and create nutrition reports via an app. This seems a bit too specialized and not necessary for general users, but if you have specific nutrition goals, it may help you achieve them. It was accurate within a gram most of the time and did not register weights 2 grams and below.

American Weigh Scales Precision Kitchen Scale LB-3000 : Though this scale folds out and comes with a plastic bowl, it's also somewhat compact. It was perfectly accurate in all of our weight tests, and its precision performs readings down to 0.1 gram, so if you're a coffee enthusiast, you may prefer this scale to others, though it's not cheap at $45. Like the MyWeigh scale, it runs on batteries or via an included A/C adapter.

Nicewell Digital Kitchen Scale : This scale's modern design and slim profile were very appealing. It has an auto-off feature, or you can push the off button. With a max capacity of 22 pounds, it's a great option for anyone who makes large batches of bread dough. The touchscreen buttons were easy to hit by accident, though, which irritated me. I also found that the readings often waffled by a gram.

Etekcity Kitchen Scale with Bowl : If you prefer a scale with its own bowl, this one from Etekcity is an excellent choice. The clear plastic bowl flips over to nest snugly on top of the weighing platform for slightly less awkward storage than other bowl-included models. It has an auto-off feature, or you can push the off button. The readings were 100% accurate in our tests.

Greater Goods High-Capacity Scale : True to its name, this scale tied for the highest capacity of any we tested at 22 pounds and yet was quite compact. The offset display is sleek with only a touchscreen and clear readings ... unfortunately, the readings were consistently 1 gram off.

Ozeri Pro Digital Scale : The first thing I noticed about this scale is its neon green color — you won't lose it in a drawer or a cabinet! It's also fairly compact and generally accurate, only presenting readings that were off by a gram twice in my weighted testing. The two buttons are simple and easy to use, but they do have crevices in which flour and other ingredients will easily fall.

We were hoping to test the budget-priced Ozeri Pronto Digital Multifunction Food Scale , but it was out of stock at the time of testing.

Kitchen scale FAQs

What is a kitchen scale?

A kitchen scale is exactly what it sounds like — it's a countertop weighing machine that can precisely measure your ingredients so you get the exact amounts needed. These pint-sized models are ideal for those looking to make both sweet and savory dishes more accurate and consistent . An added benefit? A scale can make clean-up easier because you can measure each ingredient directly into a mixing bowl instead of having to dirty multiple measuring cups and spoons.

What is a tare button?

When you press the tare button, it resets the scale back to zero when there is a container on the weighing platform. For example, if you place a mixing bowl on the scale and then press the tare button, the scale zeroes out and you can measure ingredients directly into the bowl.

What do you use a kitchen scale for?

Kitchen scales can help you ensure accuracy in measuring ingredients as well as portion sizes, whether it's pasta, dough balls or meatballs. Weight measurements for ingredients are more accurate than volume measurements you get when using measuring cups or spoons.

Meet our experts

• Adriana Urbina , chef and Food Network Chopped winner

• Zac Young , Food Network personality and Sprinkle Master, PieCaken Bakeshop

We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.