The 9 Best Kitchen Scales for Home Cooks

Best Overall Kitchen Scale

If you want to know what the pros use, look no further than this humble kitchen scale, which you’ll find in restaurant kitchens and chef recommendations alike. It’s more expensive than some budget options but just as accurate and effective as high-end models. (Plus, it comes in fun colors.)

Pros:

• Weighs amounts up to 11 pounds
• Display is fully sealed to protect against spills
• Durable

Cons:

• Platform is on the small side

Best for Precision Weighing

When you’re only measuring a small amount of an ingredient but still want precision, this baking scale is your BFF—it’s meant for measurements up to 6.61 pounds. The tempered glass construction and sleek stainless-steel surface make it easy to use and clean, and it has an easy tare function that easily subtracts the weight of the container from the readings.

Pros:

• Has a clear and bright LED display
• Tempered glass is easy to clean
• Good for measuring small amounts

Cons:

• Can only be used for weight up to 6.61 lbs

$9 at Amazon

Best USB-Rechargeable Kitchen Scale

Most digital kitchen scales run on some form of battery, but this option can also be recharged via USB. (Let’s face it: We don’t always have batteries on hand.) The stainless-steel platform is easily wipeable, and the small, lightweight design makes transporting it a breeze. The one drawback? It can be finicky, sometimes showing varied readings for the same ingredient on second measure.

Pros:

• Small and lightweight design makes it easy to place anywhere
• Stainless steel surface can be wiped clean
• Can be recharged using the USB cable

Cons:

• It shows varied readings for the same ingredient

Best Smart Kitchen Scale

Weighing out chocolate chip cookie ingredients? There’s an app for that. This kitchen scale is digital and smart—you can hook it up to your phone with an app that records measurements like calories and nutrition. The stylish glass surface also means you don’t have to stow it in a cabinet if you don’t want.

Pros:

• Has a stylish and durable glass platform
• Waterproof surface is easy to clean
• Connects to your phone via app

Cons:

• Reviewers complain that the app isn’t intuitive

Best for Small Kitchens

If storage space in your kitchen is minimal, this slim baking scale has your name on it. It takes up minimal space and is easy to tuck into a drawer or cabinet. The LED display is visible from all angles and the buttons are easy to navigate. It also measures up to 11 pounds of weight but isn’t super sensitive to lower weights.

Pros:

• Has simple and easy to navigate buttons
• Ultra-clear LED display is visible from all angles
• Ultra-slim design is easy to store anywhere

Cons:

• Not sensitive to lower weights

Best Kitchen Scale for Baking

Serious home bakers, this scale is for you. While on the expensive end, it’s packed with features that smaller, cheaper scales just don’t have. Think baker’s math and percentage measurements (in baker’s percentage, ingredients are written as a percentage of the flour weight, which makes it easy to scale recipes up or down), and a 17.6 pounds capacity.

Pros:

• Can measure in baker’s percentages
• Holds up to 17.6 pounds
• Stainless-steel platform is removeable

Cons:

• Large and hard to store

Best Cheap Kitchen Scale

This streamlined workhorse scale is ideal for beginners and those looking to save. It has two buttons for ease of use and the large display is easy to read. The base feels sturdy and the whole thing weighs less than a pound but can measure up to 11.24 pounds.

Pros:

• Features a large weighing platform and two easy-to-use buttons
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Not as many features as other models

Best Splurge-worthy Kitchen Scale

If you’re willing to spend a little more, OXO’s kitchen scale is worth the money. (It’s also our food editor’s favorite pick.) It has an ample base for even the largest mixing bowls and an easy-to-read backlit display that detaches from the base, so there’s no awkward maneuvering to read the measurements. It also runs on a long-lasting lithium battery that’s replaceable.

Pros:

• 11-pound capacity
• Meter shows how much of the scale’s capacity remains
• Display pulls away from base to prevent shadowing from large plates or bowls

Cons:

• Expensive

Best Analog Kitchen Scale

If your goal is to shed some pounds or get your portions under control, this analog scale has your name on it. While it only measures up to one pound, it has a tare function and both gram and ounce markings for easy measuring, and the platform is bowl-shaped for holding ingredients and foods. The scale is designed to be portable, too.

Pros:

• No need for batteries or charging
• Bowl-shaped platform holds ingredients
• Easy to transport
• Small capacity is great for portion control

Cons:

• Some reviewers complain the display “sticks” when measuring small amounts