These Bathroom Scales Help You Monitor So Much More Than Weight
By Summer Cartwright,
5 days ago
Use more than just a number to analyze your health.
Shape
Gone are the days when healthcare professionals rely solely on weight when analyzing a patient's health. (Thank goodness.) If tracking weight and related metrics at home is part of your health journey, we have recs for you. The best bathroom scales out there, often dubbed "smart scales," can be used as tools when working to build muscle and can record so many crucial bits of health info. "A traditional scale only tells you your weight in pounds or kilograms but can't tell you how much of that weight is fat, muscle, tissues, or fluid," explains Lainey Younkin, M.S., R.D., a weight loss dietitian who founded Lainey Younkin Nutrition . "Smart scales can tell you how much fat versus muscle you have in your body, which gives us a better picture of overall health compared to weight and height alone."
All of us have different wellness goals, and investing in a quality scale can help us better understand health overall rather than just relying on weight as an indicator. To find the best bathroom scales, the Shape team tested different models for 96 hours. We considered everything from ease of setup and use to special features to precision and durability to find the very best models.
We also talked with dietitians for their expert opinions on these models and how to use scales smartly . Below are the best bathroom scales from our editor testing.
Best Bathroom Scale Overall: RENPHO Elis 2X Smart Body Scale
If you are pregnant or have metal in your body, like a pacemaker, you're advised against using this
Weight capacity: 400 lbs. | Special features: App connectivity | Metrics displayed: Body weight, water percentage, muscle mass, BMI, BMR, bone mass, body fat, metabolic age, skeletal muscle, fat-free body weight, visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, protein | Power source: Batteries
If you're on the hunt for a bathroom scale that can record so much more than just weight, this Renpho device is perfect for you. It displays seven different metrics on the scale itself and, when connected to the Renpho Health App, records a whopping 13 metrics, such as water percentage, muscle mass, and metabolic age, while also analyzing long-term health trends. This is why it's a favorite among nutritionists, including Linda Nikolakopoulos , M.S., R.D., L.D.N., C.D.C.E.S.
"The information it provides is comparable to professional-grade body composition scales," she says. "Also, it is very user-friendly, connects easily to the app, and provides informative descriptions of each category."
Our testers agree, noting that the setup is seamless. "I didn't have to fiddle with anything. It comes with an app that works via Bluetooth and is very easy to set up," they noted. "Everything around this scale was easy to use. The buttons and controls were easy. I definitely could understand the data and how to apply it to my own life."
One feature that specifically stands out to us, Shape editors, is the bathroom scale's ability to measure and record skeletal muscle. This specific muscle type contributes to metabolism , joint movement, posture, and nutrient storage, per the NIH. When users have these measurements on hand, they can better understand if the exercises they're doing are contributing to growth or leading to a plateau. Then they can format an exercise plan with a professional to better build this group of muscles.
Weight capacity: 400 lbs. | Special features: LED display, rounded corners | Metrics displayed: Body weight | Power source: Batteries
For under $20, this bathroom scale displays weight with precision and impressive accuracy. Per the brand, its readings are always within 0.2 lbs of actual weight. The sleek and slim scale uses four high-precision sensors to ensure each reading is as close to actuality as possible — something our testers say is evident.
"This scale seemed precise and lined up with the weights I was seeing on the much more expensive Withings scale," says one tester. "The numbers are accurate, and I can rely on them — I don't worry about getting something erroneous." And while the brand recommends keeping the scale far away from water to avoid any moisture-induced malfunctions, our tester found that it could survive a few drops here and there.
If you don't need any fancy settings and want just to record your weight here and there, this is an affordable option that our editors stand behind.
Best Bathroom Scale with Extra Features: eufy Smart Scale P3
Can use while pregnant or with metal in body thanks to 'simple' feature option
Weight capacity: 440 lbs. | Special features: 3d virtual body display, app analysis | Metrics displayed: Weight, BMI, body fat, muscle mass, heart rate, water percentage, BMR, visceral fat, lean body mass, body fat, bone mass, body age, protein, subcutaneous fat percentage, body type, skeletal muscle mass | Power source: Batteries
For those shopping for a bathroom scale equipped with pretty much every feature under the sun, this eufy model is for you. It measures and records a whopping 16 different metrics, including heart rate, protein , bone mass, and muscle mass. Additionally, when you connect it to the eufy Life app, you can opt-in to receive custom fitness plans to go along with your health and fitness tracking . You can even choose to view a digital avatar of yourself for visual learning.
Our testers say it takes some time to learn the app and all of its features, but once you do, navigating everything is pretty easy. "I especially liked the customized fitness plans and the avatar that showed progress," says one tester. "I also think the app provides a lot of motivation and takes a health-first approach vs. just losing weight. It looks nice and sleek, so if you care a lot about the design and aesthetic of your bathroom, this would be a great option for you."
A stand-out feature to our editors is the "simple" mode, which allows pregnant people or people with pacemakers or metal in their bodies to safely use the scale.
Best Bathroom Scale with Body Scan: Withings Body Scan Revolution
'Eyes Closed' setting takes your metrics without displaying the stats
Accuracy is within 0.1 lb.
Evaluates arteries and heart rate to determine heart health
Multi-user
It's Worth Noting
Pregnancy, baby, athlete settings available
Weight capacity: 400 lbs. | Special features: Sweat gland analysis | Metrics displayed: Body weight, BMI, metabolism, visceral fat, muscle mass, fat mass, water mass, bone mass, body composition, vascular age, BMR | Power source: Batteries
This smart scale measures your body so precisely, that it can tell you exactly where any muscle imbalances are so that you can focus on those areas at the gym with your weight training .
"Improving muscle mass has numerous health benefits, from improving heart health and bone health to better blood sugar management," explains Nikolakopoulos. "Unfortunately, as we age, we lose some lean muscle. It’s important to include strength and resistance training in order to recoup that muscle. Smart scales can play a pivotal role in letting us know if our efforts are getting the job done or if we need to change up our physical activity routines."
Our testers say the scale remained precise throughout their time using it and specifically noted how beneficial the app is when trying to achieve wellness goals such as building muscle. One tester said it's "essentially a personal trainer in a scale."
It is also important to note the "Eyes Closed" setting. This feature allows different metrics to be recorded without being displayed for the user to see. This can help people avoid obsessing over numbers while ensuring that data is recorded and stored to display long-term progress.
What to Know About the Best Bathroom Scales
Features: When you're looking for the best bathroom scale for your home, first consider whether you want something that simply displays your weight, or if you want a model with additional features that can measure muscle mass , body fat, and even heart rate. If you are a fan of those extra options, chances are, you'll benefit from a smart scale. "In many cases, people get discouraged if they don’t see their weight dropping as rapidly as they would like," explains Nikolakopoulos. "By utilizing the information provided by the smart scale, we can see changes being made in muscle mass or body fat. This is encouraging and lets them see that improvements and progress are being made beyond just the weight.
Smart scales: Smart scales are essentially normal bathroom scales with added fixings like advanced metric measurements and app connectivity. Some more advanced options can even double as body scanners and develop personalized fitness plans to help you reach your wellness goals. "Being armed with this additional information can help improve health status in many ways. For example, improving muscle mass is often a sought-after goal. For some, gaining muscle mass is key to improving fitness levels," explains Nikolakopoulos. "From a health standpoint, improving muscle mass has numerous benefits, from improving heart health and bone health to better blood sugar management. Unfortunately, as we age, we lose some lean muscle. It’s important to include strength and resistance training in order to recoup that muscle. Smart scales can play a pivotal role in letting us know if our efforts are getting the job done or if we need to change up our physical activity routines."
Connectivity: The best bathroom scales often connect to apps and fitness trackers like smartwatches so that readings can be recorded as data for long-term analysis. This type of connectivity can be easier for users to digest and can also be used by healthcare professionals such as dietitians to view progress throughout treatment and during check-ins.
Users: How many people will be using the bathroom scale? Are any of these users pregnant? Do any users have metal in their body from a previous procedure? Are you interested in weighing your baby or dog (seriously)? These are all questions you should ask yourself prior to buying the best bathroom scale for your home. Different options are available for every requirement listed above. And, yes, some bathroom scales even come with modes to weigh in and track baby or pet weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a bathroom scale be used for analytics other than weight?
Many bathroom scales out there are considered to be "smart scales," which means they record data far beyond weight. "Smart scales can tell you how much fat versus muscle you have in your body, which gives us a better picture of overall health compared to weight and height alone," says Younkin. "A smart scale can tell you your body fat percentage, which is more useful than BMI alone. Some smart scales can also estimate total muscle mass, skeletal muscle mass, visceral fat (the unhealthy abdominal fat that wraps around organs), subcutaneous fat, and bone mass."
Who can benefit from a bathroom scale?
If you're looking to achieve a new wellness goal, such as increased muscle mass or bone mass, a bathroom scale can help you record your progress and cater workouts to your objective. "We recommend smart scales to our clients because often they get caught up in the number on the scale, but when they use a smart scale, they can learn more about their body composition," says Younkin. "For example, their weight may stay the same for months but their fat goes down and their muscle goes up. A traditional scale wouldn't be able to show this.
Who should avoid using a bathroom scale?
Those with a history of an eating disorder or those who tend to become anxious over numbers should avoid using scales, says Younkin. If someone has a history of an eating disorder or becoming obsessed with the number on the scale, they should avoid using scales and smart scales and work
What can smart scales show?
Smart scales can show everything from bone mass to water percentage to protein to heart rate. "These scales also let us know how much visceral fat we have," says Nikolakopoulos. "Visceral fat is a type of body fat within the abdomen that surrounds our organs. While some level of visceral fat is healthy, having too much can be dangerous to our health. Becoming aware of how much visceral fat we have can help us work towards improving our health."
Why Trust Shape
Summer Cartwright is Shape's senior commerce editor. She is a marathon runner, certified cycling instructor, and the senior commerce editor at Shape. She has raced in the Houston Half Marathon, Brooklyn Half Marathon, Columbus Marathon, New York Mini 10k, and dozens of other events. She has expertise in running shoes, performance gear, and recovery equipment. Previously, she's worked with brands including Cosmopolitan, InStyle, Real Simple, Well + Good, and Best Products.
Lainey Younkin is the CEO and founder of Lainey Younkin Nutrition, LLC. She’s a Registered Dietitian, Nutrition Communication Specialist, and mom of 4 boys based in Boston, MA. Lainey’s nutrition communication experience includes working at the European Food Information Council (EUFIC) in Brussels, Belgium and developing content for Joy Bauer, dietitian for NBC’s The TODAY Show.
Linda Nikolakopoulos is a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialist with more than 20 years experience in the field of nutrition. During her years of practice, she has provided Medical Nutrition Therapy counseling to people in varying settings, using nutrition education to help them improve their health. Linda specializes in healthy weight loss and Diabetes. Through her ongoing work at Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s Center for Weight Loss Surgery, she has developed an expertise in nutrition counseling for the overweight, obese and morbidly obese populations which includes advanced experience in nutrition for Bariatric Surgery. She is skilled in effectively communicating nutrition information to clients in a way that is easy for them to understand and apply to their daily lives.
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