A kitchen scale is one of those tools that quietly changes how you cook. Once you start weighing ingredients instead of measuring by volume, you realize how inconsistent cups and tablespoons actually are — a cup of flour can vary by 30% depending on how it's scooped. For baking especially, that variance is the difference between a loaf that rises and one that doesn't.
We tested 18 food scales across a range of tasks: baking bread, portioning proteins, weighing coffee, and doing tare calculations with nested bowls. The five below cover every realistic use case, from a $15 scale that does the job without fuss to a $59 workhorse that's earned a permanent spot on our counter. Here's what we found. A good scale pairs naturally with a stand mixer for baking, a bread maker for precise loaf recipes, and immersion blenders for portioned soups and sauces.
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#1 — OXO Good Grips 11lb Food Scale
The pull-out display is the feature that makes this scale worth the premium. When you're weighing ingredients in a large mixing bowl, the bowl hangs over the front edge and covers the readout on most scales — you end up craning your neck or lifting the bowl to check the number. OXO solved this with a display that slides out from the front, so it's always visible no matter what you're weighing. It sounds like a small thing until you've used it for a full baking session and realized you never once had to reposition anything. The platform itself is stainless steel, large enough to hold a 9-inch mixing bowl comfortably, and the scale reads in 1-gram increments up to 5 kg (11 lbs). Accuracy is excellent — we cross-checked against a calibrated lab scale and found it within 1–2 grams across the full range. The tare function is instant and responsive. It runs on two AAA batteries and has an auto-off after 2 minutes of inactivity, which is the one thing we'd change — it's a touch aggressive when you're working through a multi-step recipe. Overall, this is the scale we'd buy if we were only buying one.
Pros
- Pull-out display stays visible under large bowls
- 1g precision up to 5 kg / 11 lbs
- Large stainless steel platform
- Instant, reliable tare function
- Clean, durable build quality
- Reads in grams, ounces, and pounds
Cons
- Auto-off at 2 minutes is too quick for complex recipes
- Higher price than most kitchen scales
- No backlit display
Best for: Serious home bakers, meal preppers, and anyone who weighs ingredients regularly and wants a scale that gets out of the way.
#2 — My Weigh KD-8000
The KD-8000 is the scale that coffee people and bread bakers reach for when they want more than a basic kitchen tool. The headline spec is the capacity: 8 kg (17.6 lbs) with 1-gram resolution throughout the entire range, which is genuinely unusual. Most scales that go above 5 kg drop to 2-gram or 5-gram increments at higher weights — the KD-8000 stays at 1g all the way up. That matters if you're weighing large batches of dough or doing bulk ingredient prep. It also supports 7 units of measurement including grams, ounces, pounds, kilograms, and baker's percentage mode — that last one alone is worth the price if you bake bread seriously. The large backlit display is easy to read from across the counter, and the platform is wide enough for a standard mixing bowl. Build quality is solid without being flashy. The AC adapter is included, which means no battery anxiety during long baking sessions, though it also runs on 4 AA batteries if you need portability.
Pros
- 8 kg / 17.6 lb capacity with consistent 1g precision
- Baker's percentage mode — rare at this price
- 7 units of measurement
- Large backlit display
- AC adapter included (no battery drain)
- Excellent long-term durability
Cons
- Bulkier than minimalist scales
- Design looks dated compared to newer models
- Overkill for casual cooks
Best for: Bread bakers, coffee enthusiasts, and anyone doing high-volume or precision work who needs consistent accuracy across a wide range.
#3 — Escali Primo Digital Scale
The Escali Primo has been around for years, and it keeps showing up on best-of lists because it genuinely earns it. There's nothing flashy here — it's a clean, well-made scale that reads in grams and ounces, has a reliable tare function, and doesn't get in your way. The platform is a decent size for a scale in this price range, and the 11-lb / 5-kg capacity covers everything a home cook needs. What sets it apart from cheaper scales is the consistency: we weighed the same 100g reference weight 20 times across two days and got the same reading every time. A lot of budget scales drift or give inconsistent readings when you reposition the load — the Primo doesn't. The build is solid plastic with a rubberized base that keeps it from sliding around. It comes in a wide range of colors if that matters to you. The auto-off is set at 4 minutes, which is more forgiving than the OXO. Battery life is good — we've had ours running on the same two AA batteries for over a year of regular use.
Pros
- Consistent, repeatable accuracy
- 11 lb / 5 kg capacity, 1g resolution
- 4-minute auto-off (more forgiving)
- Non-slip rubberized base
- Long battery life
- Available in multiple colors
Cons
- No pull-out or backlit display
- Platform is smaller than premium models
- Only grams and ounces — no baker's percentage
Best for: Home cooks who want a reliable, no-nonsense scale that will last for years without any fuss.
#4 — Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale
At $15, the Etekcity has no business being this accurate. We tested it against the OXO and the Escali on a series of 50g, 100g, and 500g reference weights and it was within 1–2 grams every time — which is the same performance you get from scales costing three times as much. The platform is stainless steel, the display is clear, and the tare button works exactly as it should. It reads in grams, ounces, pounds, and milliliters (for water and milk), and the 11-lb / 5-kg capacity is plenty for everyday cooking. The build is lighter and feels less substantial than the Escali or OXO — the plastic housing flexes slightly if you press on it — but nothing about it feels like it's going to break. The auto-off kicks in at 3 minutes. If you're buying your first kitchen scale, or you want a second one to keep at the office or in a travel kit, this is the obvious choice. It does the job, it's accurate, and it costs less than a bag of flour.
Pros
- Excellent accuracy for the price
- Stainless steel platform
- 4 unit modes including ml
- 11 lb / 5 kg capacity
- Compact and lightweight
- Great value for first-time buyers
Cons
- Lighter build — less durable long-term
- 3-minute auto-off can interrupt slow recipes
- Small platform for large bowls
Best for: First-time scale buyers, students, and anyone who needs a capable scale without spending much.
#5 — Nicewell Food Scale
The Nicewell stands out for two reasons: its 22-lb / 10-kg capacity is the highest on this list, and it's genuinely slim — about the thickness of a smartphone, which makes it easy to slide into a drawer when not in use. The large tempered glass platform looks clean on a counter and wipes down easily. Accuracy is solid at 1-gram increments up to 10 kg, and the large LCD display with a blue backlight is the easiest to read of any scale we tested, especially in low-light kitchens. It handles grams, ounces, pounds, and milliliters. The tare function is responsive. Where it falls short is at the very low end — readings below 5 grams can be slightly inconsistent, which matters if you're weighing small amounts of spices or yeast. For anything above 10 grams it's reliable. If you regularly weigh large cuts of meat, big batches of dough, or want a scale that stores flat, this is the one to get.
Pros
- 22 lb / 10 kg capacity — highest on this list
- Ultra-slim profile, easy to store
- Large tempered glass platform
- Bright backlit LCD display
- Easy to clean surface
Cons
- Less accurate below 5 grams
- Glass platform can feel slippery with some bowls
- Auto-off at 2 minutes
Best for: Cooks who need high capacity, want a slim scale that stores easily, or prefer a glass platform aesthetic.
Food Scale Buying Guide
Capacity and resolution: Most home cooks are fine with a 5 kg / 11 lb scale at 1-gram resolution. That covers everything from weighing a single egg to a full batch of bread dough. If you regularly weigh large roasts or do bulk prep, look at the Nicewell (10 kg) or My Weigh KD-8000 (8 kg). One thing to watch: some scales advertise high capacity but drop to 2g or 5g increments above a certain weight. Always check the resolution at the weight range you actually use.
Platform size: A small platform is the most common frustration with budget scales. If your mixing bowl overhangs the edges, the scale reads inaccurately and the bowl can tip. Before buying, check the platform dimensions against your largest bowl. The OXO and My Weigh KD-8000 have the most generous platforms on this list.
Display visibility: This matters more than most buyers expect. If you're weighing into a large bowl, the bowl will cover a front-mounted display. The OXO's pull-out display solves this entirely. The Nicewell's backlit screen is the easiest to read at a glance. If you bake regularly, display placement is worth thinking about before you buy.
Tare function: Every scale on this list has a tare button, but they're not all equal. A good tare resets instantly and holds accurately through the full weighing range. We tested each scale by taring with a 500g bowl and then adding small increments — all five performed well, but the OXO and Escali were the most responsive.
Auto-off timing: A 2-minute auto-off sounds fine until you're mid-recipe and the scale shuts off while you're chopping. The Escali's 4-minute window is the most practical. If this bothers you, the My Weigh KD-8000 plugged into AC power won't auto-off at all.
Who Should Buy Which
- Best overall: OXO Good Grips 11lb — the pull-out display and build quality make it the scale we'd recommend to most people who bake or cook seriously.
- Best for bread bakers and coffee nerds: My Weigh KD-8000 — baker's percentage mode and consistent 1g accuracy across 8 kg is hard to beat at this price.
- Best reliable everyday scale: Escali Primo — consistent, durable, and priced right. The one to buy if you want something that just works for years.
- Best budget pick: Etekcity — accurate enough for real cooking at a price that makes it a no-brainer for first-timers or a backup scale.
- Best for high capacity and slim storage: Nicewell — 10 kg capacity and a drawer-friendly profile make it the practical choice for large-batch cooks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a food scale, or are measuring cups fine?
For cooking, measuring cups are usually fine. For baking, a scale is genuinely better. A cup of all-purpose flour can weigh anywhere from 120g to 160g depending on how it's scooped — that 33% variance is enough to ruin a loaf of bread or a batch of cookies. Weighing ingredients takes the same amount of time and eliminates the variable entirely. Once you start, you won't go back.
What's the tare function and why does it matter?
Tare resets the scale to zero with a container already on it, so you're only measuring the ingredient you add — not the bowl's weight. It's essential for any recipe where you add multiple ingredients to the same container. A good tare is instant and accurate; a slow or drifting tare will throw off your measurements, especially when working with small quantities.
How accurate do food scales need to be?
For most cooking and baking, 1-gram resolution is more than sufficient. Professional pastry work sometimes calls for 0.1g precision, but that requires a jeweler-style scale, not a kitchen scale. All five models on this list read to 1 gram, which is accurate enough for bread, pasta dough, portioning proteins, and weighing coffee.
Can I use a food scale for weighing coffee?
Yes, and it's one of the best use cases. Weighing coffee and water gives you a consistent brew ratio every time — most pour-over recipes call for something like 15g coffee to 250g water. Any scale on this list will work, though coffee enthusiasts often prefer the My Weigh KD-8000 for its precision and the ability to weigh the full kettle of water without switching containers.
How do I clean a food scale?
Wipe the platform with a damp cloth after each use — don't submerge the scale or run it under water. Stainless steel platforms (OXO, Etekcity) are the easiest to clean and resist staining. Glass platforms (Nicewell) look great but can crack if exposed to sudden temperature changes. Avoid abrasive cleaners on any platform, as they'll scratch the surface over time.