A bathroom scale’s main function is to provide consistent, trustworthy weight measurements. After testing 36 digital scales since 2015, with nearly 900 weigh-ins, the Wyze Scale X stands out for its accuracy, reliability, and ease of use. It’s also our top pick for smart scales, though we tested it without using its wireless features or app.
Everything we recommend
Wyze Scale X
The best bathroom scale
This scale delivers consistent accuracy, precision, and speed with an easy-to-read backlit display and a 400-pound weight capacity.
We’ve long recommended the Wyze Scale X as our top smart scale for its precision, accuracy, and seamless wireless connectivity for automatic weight tracking via an app. It works with or without syncing, and in our tests, it outperformed other non-connected scales. It detects weight changes within half a pound, has long battery life, a backlit display, and operates silently. The scale measures in pounds or kilograms (app required for switching), and it comes with a one-year warranty.
Tanita HD-662 Digital Weight Scale
A non-smart bathroom scale
If you prefer a scale without wireless connectivity, this model is as accurate and precise as our top pick, though it may feel slippery underfoot.
The Tanita HD-662 matches our top pick in precision and accuracy, detecting weight changes within half a pound. However, it has a lower weight capacity (330 pounds) and a compact, lightweight platform that may slide on the floor. Its larger, brighter backlit display shows weight for 10 seconds, twice as long as our top pick. The scale is silent and measures in pounds, kilograms, or stones, with a three-year warranty.
How we picked and tested
The two key factors for a scale to provide a useful measurement are accuracy (how close it is to your true weight) and precision (consistent readings with repeated measurements).
A survey of over 600 Wirecutter readers highlighted the most desired features, including digital readouts, which led us to exclude analog scales. Beyond reliable measurements, we also considered:
- Weight limit: We favored scales with a minimum 400-pound capacity, typical for home digital scales.
- Platform size: Larger platforms are generally more comfortable to stand on.
- Display: Backlit displays and readout times of at least 5 seconds for easy reading before the display goes blank.
During testing, we followed setup instructions and calibrated each scale. We weighed ourselves repeatedly over a few weeks, adding and subtracting items like dumbbells and water bottles to test accuracy. We discovered some scales rely on memory from previous weigh-ins, giving the illusion of precision without detecting small weight changes. For example, one scale recorded a 10-pound increase correctly but failed to detect subtle changes like a 0.4-pound sandal difference, reverting to the previous weight reading.
We allowed each scale a 0.2-pound margin of error. For instance, if a tester weighed 120.0 pounds, adding a 0.4-pound book should result in a weight between 120.2 and 120.6 pounds for accuracy.
While perfect precision isn’t feasible with household scales due to factors like floor evenness and balance, placing the scale on a hard, flat surface and calibrating after moving it ensures more accurate readings. No scale could provide accurate results on uneven or carpeted floors during our tests.
Our pick: Wyze Scale X
Wyze Scale X
The best bathroom scale
This scale delivers consistent accuracy, precision, and speed with an easy-to-read backlit display and a 400-pound weight capacity.
The Wyze Scale X excelled in our two-year testing, consistently providing accurate and precise readings. Unlike many budget scales that struggle with small weight changes or rely on memory, the Scale X stayed within a 0.2-pound margin of error and accurately detected incremental weight changes. It has a 400-pound capacity and, when paired with its app, offers additional modes for weighing babies, pets, and luggage.
The backlit display is clear and easy to read, staying visible for 5 seconds after showing your weight.
It’s versatile and quiet, measuring in kilograms or pounds without any beeping. However, since it operates silently, you’ll need to watch the display for a double flash to know your weight has been measured.
The scale comes with a one-year warranty.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The white version’s backlit display is harder to read compared to the higher-contrast black version. The platform is made of tempered glass, which can become slippery when wet and may shatter, as noted in some customer reviews.
Runner-up: Tanita HD-662
Tanita HD-662 Digital Weight Scale
A non-smart bathroom scale
If you prefer a scale without wireless connectivity, this model is as accurate and precise as our top pick, though it may feel slippery underfoot.
Our second-favorite bathroom scale, the Tanita HD-662, matches our top pick in accuracy and precision across all tests. It’s an excellent choice for those who don’t need automated weight tracking, prefer a plastic platform over glass, and can accept a lower weight capacity.
Like our top pick, the HD-662 is consistently reliable, with all measurements within a 0.2-pound margin of error and no reliance on memory from previous weigh-ins.
The Tanita HD-662 is easy to read and operates quietly. Although it’s lighter and smaller than our top pick, which can make it feel slippery, its backlit display is larger and brighter, showing weights for 10 seconds—double the duration of the Wyze Scale X. It measures in kilograms, pounds, or stones, and like the Scale X, it has no beeping sounds.
The platform is made of plastic, which feels less slippery and is less likely to shatter compared to glass-topped scales. The HD-662 is available in black or white, both featuring an ultra-bright backlit blue display. Additionally, it comes with a generous three-year warranty, three times longer than our top pick’s typical warranty period.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
It has a lower weight capacity than our top pick, with a maximum measurement of 330 pounds—70 pounds less than the Wyze Scale X.
Another bathroom scale worth considering
For a non-connected scale to share with others, we recommend the Tanita HD-351. This plastic-topped scale can store last-weight data for up to five users and matches the performance of our top picks. It has a larger footprint and a 440-pound capacity, surpassing most scales that max out at 400 pounds. However, its display is not backlit, it emits non-disableable beeps, and readings take longer to appear. Users wanting to weigh themselves consecutively may find it frustrating, as the last weight remains on display for 30 seconds, preventing reweighing. The HD-351 measures in stones, kilograms, or pounds and comes with a three-year warranty.
