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15 best bathroom scales for health and fitness tracking in 2023
The WH Lab weighed up (see what we did there?) the best body analyser scales to check their accuracy
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Keen to know if your training is on track? You need a set of our best bathroom scales – and no, they're not those old school ones you grew up with that only measure bodyweight. These uber-smart modern scales can measure everything from muscle mass to water percentage to your metabolic rate.
Focusing solely on your weight is not the best way to track your progress — it's normal to gain weight as you start to build muscle, as the latter is denser than fat — but having access to a combination of metrics can be game-changing.
Used alongside fitness trackers, the best bathroom scales can help you gauge the success of your regime by allowing you to take stock of other key changes such as body fat percentage. This makes it much easier to figure out what’s working and what’s not, and make any necessary tweaks.
The best bathroom scales – at a glance
Before telling you more, let us make something clear – if the thought of stepping onto scales and weighing yourself fills you with dread, with or without the metrics mentioned above, remember this is not the only way to measure progress. From increasing strength and smashing PBs to upping your cardio endurance, there are multiple ways to monitor how your fitness journey is going.
However, if you’re keen on the data, it’s important to choose bathroom scales that give a reliable reading and fit in with your lifestyle. Weigh yourself barefoot, and don't use smart scales if you’re pregnant or have a pacemaker.
Which types of bathroom scales are most accurate?
Mechanical bathroom 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 bathroom scales, which measure electronically and display weight by up to two decimal places. Smart scales are the most comprehensive of all, tracking everything from body fat to bone density.
How do smart scales work?
Like other smart home devices, smart bathroom scales sync to your smartphone via Bluetooth and store your readings on an app.
They operate using bioelectrical impedance analysis technology and are designed to give you a more detailed picture of your body composition by passing a small electric current through your body. Don’t worry, it’s safe and painless!
Different tissue (bone, muscle, fat) will impede the current at different rates, so this information is used to calculate a variety of measurements, including your body fat, muscle mass, BMI, water percentage, bone density and metabolism. Some convert it all into handy charts and graphs via the app.
How we test bathroom scales
Our Women's Health Lab testers judged a range of 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 13 products stamped with the Women's Health Lab Approved logo that earned our tester’s approval. Our WH editors have also shared a couple of their top picks.
It’s important to remember that these measurements are only an estimate. You should consult a professional for the most accurate readings.
The best bathroom scales 2023
Priyankaa is our senior health and wellness writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. From walking boots to running machines, Priyankaa has written about hundreds of products and is passionate about providing in-depth, unbiased reviews. Plus, as an avid runner and gymgoer, she knows exactly what to look for when finding the right gymwear, fitness tracker or earphones.
Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges.
She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more.
Outside of work, Priyankaa can usually be found trying out a new gym class, seeking out London's best eats or watching a Spanish TV show in a bid to keep up her language skills.
Jodie is our Health and Fitness product tester. She runs tests on a wide variety of products, including gym leggings, walking boots, fitness trackers and more. Jodie has managed the testing for 577 products to date, including working with over 600 panellists.
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Yanar has spent 15 years as a health and wellness editor and writer for national titles such as Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Runner’s World. Yanar is a 580-hour yoga therapist, 200-hour yoga teacher and level 3 personal trainer at Yanar Mind & Movement. After years of running races and marathons, she discovered CrossFit and Olympic lifting in her mid-30s and fell in love with training and competing. She now advocates strength training for women to build a stronger body for life and the benefits of nervous system regulation for better physical and mental health. When not training, teaching or writing, she can be found experimenting in the kitchen.
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