14 Best Bathroom Scales to Shop Now from £9.99 - Including 10 Tried And Tested
Bathroom scales that also measure muscle mass, water percentage and your metabolism? Yep, they're a thing, and they could be game-changing.
You likely know that focussing solely on your weight is not the best way to track your progress - it's normal to gain weight as you start to build up muscle, as the latter is more dense than fat. (This is unless you have been diagnosed with a specific condition by your GP and your weight is a useful indicator of your current health.)
However, taking stock of other key metrics such as body fat percentage could help you achieve your goals since they'll help give you a firmer idea of what's working and what's not.
We do have to caveat one thing though – weighing yourself using bathroom scales or electronic scales, whether with or without the metrics mentioned above, is not the only way to measure progress.
From beating your PBs to increasing strength and stamina, there are multiple ways to gauge how your fitness journey is going, so if the finite numbers are only going to stress you out, rest assured there are other routes to go down.
If you're keen on data, though, here's everything you need to know about bathroom scales:
Which bathroom scales are the most accurate?
Mechanical scales are the traditional option and measure weight via a dial. They do that job well but for a more accurate reading, you may want to invest in digital scales, which measure electronically and display weight by up to two decimal places. Smart scales are the most comprehensive of all though, and we explain why below.
Should I buy smart scales?
Like other smart home devices, these scales sync to your smartphone via Bluetooth and store your readings on an app. They’re designed to give you a more detailed picture of your body composition by passing a small, painless electric current through your body.
Different tissue (bone, muscle, fat) will impede the current at different rates, so this information is used to calculate a variety of measurements, including body fat, muscle mass, BMI, water percentage, bone density and metabolism. Some convert it all into handy charts and graphs via the app. Below, we’ve found the best mechanical, digital and smart scales, whatever your goals.
How we test bathroom scales
The Women's Health Lab judged 15 bathroom scales on their accuracy, speed, design and ease of use.
To test their reliability, our expert placed two calibrated kettlebells weighing 12.25kg and 7.64kg on each scale three times and noted down the readings. For smart scales, they used a bioimpedance machine to record a body fat percentage, before taking three body fat readings from each scale within a 30-minute window.
They timed how long each scale took to respond to added weight and display a reading, and tried out any accompanying apps to see how user-friendly they were.
Below, you'll find 10 products stamped with the Women's Health Approved logo that earned our lab tester's approval. To give you even more choice, we've also included four of our own Editors' Picks.
14 best bathroom scales
It’s important to remember that these measurements are only an estimate. You should consult a professional for the most accurate readings. Anyone who is pregnant or has a pacemaker should avoid using smart scales.
