A kitchen scale seems like such a simple proposition – put thing on platform, receive number – until you actually try to buy one and discover a marketplace overflowing with promises of precision, sleek designs that would look at home in a laboratory, and price points ranging from pocket change to genuinely alarming. We have weighed a concerning quantity of flour, coffee beans, and random household objects in pursuit of the truth about which scales deserve space on your countertop.
The models below represent our picks for accuracy, durability, and the sort of build quality that suggests a scale will still be functioning when your children leave home. Whether you need something affordable for weekend baking experiments or a precision instrument for your pour-over coffee ritual, we will help you find the right scale for your particular kitchen obsessions.
Three Key Things When Shopping for a Kitchen Scale
Consider how much capacity you actually need. Most home cooks manage perfectly well with an 11-pound maximum, but if you find yourself regularly portioning bulk ingredients or weighing large roasts, look for scales offering 15 pounds or more without sacrificing precision at lower weights.
Think about display visibility. Nothing tests patience quite like squinting at numbers obscured by your mixing bowl, so pull-out displays and backlit screens earn their keep during actual cooking – a feature worth prioritizing over fancier but less practical alternatives.
Check the precision increments. Bakers and coffee enthusiasts need scales measuring in single grams or better, while everyday cooking tolerates coarser readings. Match the precision to your actual requirements rather than paying for accuracy you will never use.
Best Kitchen Scales for 2026: Tested and Reviewed
OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Scale - Our Top Pick
Our Top Pick is the OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Stainless Steel Kitchen Scale. There is something deeply reassuring about OXO products – they arrive with the quiet confidence of equipment designed by people who actually use kitchens. The pull-out display is the standout feature here, solving the universal frustration of numbers disappearing beneath mixing bowls with elegant simplicity. The stainless steel platform resists fingerprints and wipes clean with the sort of effortless swipe that makes you feel competent.
The zero function for taring works precisely as advertised – add ingredients, tap the button, add more ingredients, and never reach for a separate bowl. Unit conversion between ounces, pounds, grams, and kilograms happens with a single press, which sounds trivial until you are mid-recipe with floury hands attempting to do mental arithmetic. The removable platform makes cleaning genuinely painless, a detail that separates thoughtful design from mere adequate design.
OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Stainless Steel Kitchen Scale with Pull-Out Display - Black
- Pull-Out display prevents shadowing from large plates or bowls
- Zero function for taring the scale before weighing additional ingredients
- Stainless Steel is smudge and fingerprint-resistant
This scale suits home cooks who value reliability over flashiness. The OXO Better Guarantee means any issues get sorted with minimal fuss, and the construction quality suggests you will not need to test that promise. A solid, dependable choice.
Escali Primo Digital Scale - Best Budget Pick
Our Best Budget Pick is the Escali Primo Digital Food Scale. Sometimes the best kitchen equipment is the stuff that simply works without demanding attention or requiring a second mortgage. The Escali Primo has been quietly dominating the affordable scale market for years, and a few hours of testing reveal why – it does exactly what scales should do, accurately and without drama. The two-button operation eliminates confusion for anyone intimidated by technology more complex than a toaster.
The sealed control panel shrugs off accidental spills – a genuine consideration given how chaotic baking sessions can become. Capacity reaches 11 pounds with 1-gram increments, which covers everything from delicate spice measuring to weighing bread dough. The automatic shut-off preserves battery life when you inevitably forget to turn it off. At this price point, the lifetime warranty feels almost absurdly generous.
Escali Primo Digital Food Scale Multi-Functional Kitchen Scale and Baking Scale for Precise Weight Measuring and Portion Control, 8.5 x 6 x 1.5 inches, Chrome
- Simple two-button operation with sealed control panel
- 11 lb capacity with 0.05 oz (1 g) increments
- Lifetime warranty included
Perfect for cooks who want capable equipment without fuss or significant expense. This is the scale to buy when you need something that works, full stop, and want to spend your money on actual ingredients instead.
KitchenAid Dual Platform Scale - Best for Versatility
Best for Versatility is the KitchenAid Dual Platform Digital Kitchen Scale. Here is a genuinely clever piece of engineering – two weighing platforms in one unit, each with its own precision and purpose. The main platform handles bulk ingredients up to 11 pounds, while a secondary precision platform measures small quantities down to 0.001 ounces. For anyone who both bakes bread and weighs coffee (or spices, or sourdough starter), this eliminates the need for separate scales cluttering your drawers.
The two-line backlit LCD displays weights from both platforms simultaneously – genuinely useful when comparing ratios or building recipes methodically. The stainless steel surfaces wipe clean without staining or absorbing odors, surviving everything from raw garlic to sticky honey. The tare function works across both platforms, making sequential ingredient additions straightforward.
KitchenAid KQ909 Dual Platform Digital Kitchen and Food Scale, 11 pound capacity and Precision 16oz capacity, Black with Stainless Steel
- Dual platforms: 11lb main platform and precision 16oz secondary platform
- Two-line backlit LCD displays both weights simultaneously
- Tare feature works across both platforms
The ideal choice for cooks whose needs span the full spectrum from bulk portioning to precision dosing. If you find yourself currently using two different scales, this elegant solution deserves consideration.
Escali Arti Glass Scale - Best Looking
Best Looking is the Escali Arti Classic Digital Scale. Kitchen equipment need not be purely utilitarian, and the Arti proves that a scale can look genuinely attractive sitting on your countertop. The tempered glass platform catches light pleasantly, while the touch-sensitive screen offers a modern, clean aesthetic. Available in an array of colors – this particular model in a cheerful green – it coordinates with kitchen decor rather than clashing against it.
Beyond aesthetics, the Arti performs capably with 15-pound capacity and measurements in grams, ounces, pounds, fluid ounces, and milliliters. The display hold feature shows measurements even after removing items – convenient when you are juggling multiple tasks. The smooth glass surface cleans effortlessly, which matters when your scale sees daily use. At under three-quarters of an inch thick, it stores flat without consuming drawer space.
Escali Arti Classic Digital Coffee Scale Espresso Scale and Countertop Food Scale, 15-Pound Capacity, Green
- 15-pound capacity with display hold feature
- Tempered glass platform with touch-sensitive controls
- Measures in grams, ounces, pounds, fluid ounces, and milliliters
Suits cooks who appreciate equipment that looks as good as it performs. A thoughtful gift choice for anyone setting up a new kitchen, combining genuine utility with visual appeal.
Fellow Tally Pro - Best for Coffee Enthusiasts
Best for Coffee Enthusiasts is the Fellow Tally Pro Studio Digital Scale. If you have ever found yourself explaining pour-over ratios to politely confused dinner guests, this scale understands your particular affliction. Fellow built their reputation on equipment for coffee obsessives, and the Tally Pro delivers precision to the tenth of a gram with response times fast enough to capture every drop of your slow pour. The luminous OLED screen would not look out of place in a specialty coffee shop.
The Brew Assist Mode is the standout feature – select your preferred coffee-to-water ratio, and the scale guides you through the pour with real-time feedback. Premium materials throughout, from the elegant glass base to the satisfying metal touchpoints. The removable weigh pan simplifies cleaning, because nobody wants yesterday’s coffee oils affecting this morning’s extraction. Yes, it costs properly premium money, but coffee obsessives spend more than this on beans in a few months.
Fellow Tally Pro Studio Digital Coffee Scale - Precision Scale with Glass Top - Digital Kitchen Scale for Coffee & Small Goods up to 5 lbs - Measures in g, oz, lbs, & mm - Matte Black
- Ultra responsive and precise to the tenth of a gram
- Unique Brew Assist Mode guides coffee-to-water ratio
- Premium materials with elegant glass base and OLED screen
The scale for serious coffee enthusiasts who consider brewing a craft worth investing in properly. Also excellent for anyone weighing small quantities where precision genuinely matters.
Taylor Mechanical Scale - Best Traditional Option
Best Traditional Option is the Taylor Mechanical Kitchen Food Scale. Sometimes the old ways persist because they work, and there is genuine charm in a scale requiring no batteries, no charging, and no firmware updates. Taylor has manufactured precision instruments for over 150 years, which ought to reassure anyone suspicious of planned obsolescence. The polished stainless steel finish looks sophisticated without trying too hard, blending into kitchens from farmhouse rustic to sleek contemporary.
The five-inch dial displays clear red and black graphics readable at a glance. Capacity reaches 11 pounds with measurements in ounces, grams, and kilograms. The adjustment knob at the base allows recalibration – genuinely useful as mechanical scales can drift over time. The removable stainless steel bowl cleans easily and doubles as a serving vessel in a pinch. No batteries means no hunting for batteries at inconvenient moments.
Taylor Mechanical Kitchen Food Scale with Bowl, Weighs Up to 11lbs, Measures in Grams and Ounces, Analog Cooking Scale for Baking, Black and Silver
- Classic mechanical design with no batteries required
- Easy to read 5-inch dial with red and black graphics
- Recalibratable using adjustment knob at base
Perfect for cooks who appreciate analog simplicity or anyone tired of digital devices. The classic design makes a statement about kitchen priorities, and the Taylor reputation for quality suggests decades of reliable service.
Salter Heston Blumenthal Precision Scale - Best for Precision Bakers
Best for Precision Bakers is the Salter Heston Blumenthal Precision Digital Scale. When a three-Michelin-star chef puts his name on kitchen equipment, expectations run appropriately high, and Heston Blumenthal’s collaboration with Salter delivers genuine precision. The 0.5-gram increments matter when you are weighing yeast for pizza dough or measuring exactly ten grams of instant coffee. The large backlit display remains visible even when substantial mixing bowls occupy the platform.
The add-and-weigh function lets you pile multiple ingredients into the same bowl without washing up between additions – the sort of practical detail that speeds actual cooking. The stainless steel platform maintains hygiene standards and wipes clean instantly. Metric and imperial measurements switch easily, accommodating recipes from any source. The slim profile stores flat in drawers when not earning its keep on the counter.
Salter Heston Blumenthal Precision 1140A HBBKDR Digital Kitchen Scales - Premium Compact Baking/Cooking Scale, for Weighing Food/Coffee and Liquid, 0.5 g Increments, Slim, Stainless Steel/Black
- 0.5 g increments for precise measurements
- Large backlit display visible under bowls
- Add and weigh multiple ingredients into one bowl
The choice for serious bakers who understand that precision matters in pastry. The Heston Blumenthal association signals ambition, and the performance justifies that premium positioning.
Best Kitchen Scales for 2026 Buyer’s Guide
Display Visibility
The most accurate scale becomes frustrating if you cannot read the display when actually using it. Pull-out displays solve the bowl-shadow problem elegantly, letting you see numbers clearly regardless of what occupies the platform. The OXO Good Grips exemplifies this approach with a display that extends beyond the weighing surface.
OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Stainless Steel Kitchen Scale with Pull-Out Display - Black
- Pull-out display prevents shadowing from bowls and plates
- Large, easy-to-read digital numbers
- Visible from various angles during cooking
Precision Requirements
Different cooking tasks demand different levels of accuracy. General cooking tolerates broad measurements, baking benefits from single-gram precision, and coffee brewing often requires tenths of grams. The Fellow Tally Pro delivers the extreme precision coffee enthusiasts need without compromise.
Fellow Tally Pro Studio Digital Coffee Scale
- Accurate to the tenth of a gram
- Ultra responsive for pour-over coffee brewing
- Brew Assist Mode guides precise ratios
Value and Reliability
Exceptional kitchen scales need not cost extraordinary sums. The Escali Primo proves that budget-friendly equipment can deliver reliable accuracy and durable construction, backed by warranty coverage that suggests manufacturer confidence.
Escali Primo Digital Food Scale
- Lifetime warranty demonstrates manufacturer confidence
- Simple two-button operation eliminates complexity
- Sealed controls withstand kitchen spills
Versatile Functionality
Some cooking situations demand both bulk capacity and fine precision – weighing flour by the pound and yeast by the gram, for instance. The KitchenAid Dual Platform addresses this with two separate weighing surfaces optimized for different tasks.
KitchenAid KQ909 Dual Platform Digital Kitchen and Food Scale
- Main platform handles up to 11 pounds
- Precision platform measures to 0.001 ounces
- Both weights display simultaneously
In Conclusion
Kitchen scales in 2026 range from charmingly analog to obsessively digital, from bargain-priced workhorses to precision instruments that would satisfy laboratory standards. The market offers genuine quality at every price point, whether you need a basic scale for weekend baking, a specialized tool for coffee brewing, or versatile equipment that handles everything your kitchen demands. Each model above serves a clear purpose, making selection less about finding a single best option and more about matching features to your actual cooking habits.
Our top recommendation remains the OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Stainless Steel Kitchen Scale. The pull-out display solves a real problem elegantly, the build quality suggests years of reliable service, and the price sits comfortably in the mid-range where value and features meet sensibly. OXO’s reputation for thoughtful design shows in every detail, from the fingerprint-resistant surface to the removable cleaning platform. If you want one scale that handles everyday cooking demands without fuss, this is the one.
OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Stainless Steel Kitchen Scale with Pull-Out Display - Black
- Pull-Out display prevents shadowing from large plates or bowls
- Zero function for taring the scale before weighing additional ingredients
- Stainless Steel is smudge and fingerprint-resistant