We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The 9 Best Food Scales to Help You Keep Tabs on Your Nutrition, Reviewed by Experts
Every kitchen needs one

A good food scale is one kitchen gadget you might not own yet, but almost definitely should. It provides far more accurate measurements than traditional cups and spoons, which is especially helpful when tracking macros during a bulk or cut phase, or even when whipping up a batch of protein pancakes. And if you’ve ever weighed peanut butter, you’ve probably learned the hard truth: one tablespoon serving isn’t a heaping spoonful.
There’s a big difference between a true tablespoon and an eyeballed 300-calorie scoop—and those small differences add up fast. That’s where a quality food scale comes in, helping you know exactly what you are putting into your food blender, shaker bottle, or frying pan. The best options provide accuracy not only for macro tracking, but also for everyday kitchen precision — whether you’re pulling the perfect shot of espresso or mixing up your protein pancakes.
Best Food Scales
- Best Overall: Nicewell Food Scale
- Best Budget: Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale
- Best Durable: Etekcity Food Scale
- Best Travel: Brynnl Compact Folding Digital Kitchen Scale
- Best for Large Batches: OXO Good Grips 5KG Stainless Steel Scale
As a dietitian, and with help from the Men’s Health team, I spent hours reviewing, testing, and comparing models to find the best food scales worth adding to your kitchen. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or beginning to pay closer attention to portions, our top picks can make cooking, baking, and nutrition tracking far more precise—and a whole lot easier. Before choosing the best food scale for you, here are a few key factors to consider.
What to Consider
Precision & Accuracy
Whether you’re measuring spices or larger ingredients, a precise and accurate scale is essential. As a general guideline, most high-quality scales weigh up to 11 pounds in 1-gram increments, which is sufficient for most cooking, baking, and nutrition tracking endeavours. Many scales also allow you to toggle between grams, kilograms, pounds/ounces, fluid ounces, and millilitres, but not all models include every unit, so check the options you’ll actually use.
Display
Consider the type of display on your scale to ensure it’s easy to read and use. Most modern scales feature backlit LCDs, so values are visible in low light. Some include lit touchscreen controls, while pull-out displays extend for easier viewing when weighing larger batches. Less common are analog displays, which may appeal to those who enjoy a vintage aesthetic, though they can precise measurements more challenging.
Material
Look for a scale made from durable materials that can handle daily use without excessive dings, scratches, or breakage. Stainless steel is strong, scratch-resistant, and easy to clean; plastic is typically lightweight and durable; and tempered glass offers a sleek look but may easily crack. A stable base with non-slip footing is also important to prevent wobbling and ensure accurate measurements.
Size
Consider the size of the scale itself, and whether it fits comfortably on your kitchen counter, stores easily when not in use, or is portable enough to travel with. Also think about the containers you typically use, such as bowls or plates, and choose a platform large enough to accommodate them. If you often weigh large batches or heavy containers, opt for a model with a higher maximum capacity.
Additional Features
An auto-off function to preserve battery life, built-in timers, and nutritional analyses are just a few of the extras that several great food scales offer. These features can enhance the versatility and functionality of your scale, allowing you to tackle a wider range of tasks with the most ease.
How We Selected
I'm a registered dietitian with nearly a decade of experience in nutrition writing and reporting. For this story, I collaborated with the Men's Health crew, including US Food and Nutrition Editor Paul Kita and US Fitness and Reviews Editor Charles Thorp, NASM. Our team started with products that they were already familiar with and impressed by, then embarked on a comprehensive evaluation of available food scales from leading brands such as OXO, Etekcity, and GreaterGoods.
We didn't just rely on specs and manufacturer claims; instead, we put these scales through hands-on testing in our own home kitchen scenarios. We understand the importance of precision and reliability in your nutrition and meal preparation, so we searched high and low for the most accurate and user-friendly options. During our testing process, we paid close attention to factors such as accuracy, precision, ease of use, durability, and versatility.
We assessed each scale's performance in measuring various ingredients, from tiny pinches of spices and dry tea bags to larger quantities of grains and proteins, ensuring that they delivered consistent and reliable results every time. We also considered features like tare function, unit conversion, and display readability to provide you with a comprehensive overview of each product's highlights and drawbacks. Here are our top picks following our investigation.
Sydney Lappe, RDN, is a St. Louis-based dietitian with nearly a decade of experience in nutrition writing and editing. With a background in psychology, she writes about the connections between diet, fitness, and mental health.
Charles Thorp is the Fitness and Reviews Editor at Men’s Health, where he shares the best product recommendations in gym equipment, recovery tools, supplements, and more. Following an early life in athletics, Charles became a NASM-certified trainer and began writing programs alongside the most respected coaches in the world. Since entering the world of fitness content, Charles has had the opportunity to learn from and train alongside high performance individuals from the NFL, UFC, NBA, Formula 1, CrossFit, US Olympics, and Navy SEALs. When he’s not writing about training programs or gear, he can be seen at the gym or in the wild, putting them to the test.

Pre-Workout Supplements to Enhance Your Routine

We Tested Puma's Latest Hyrox Shoe

The Best 2026 Blenders for Protein Shakes and More

6 Editor-Approved Padel Rackets to Try Out in 2026
















