Whether you’re starting a new fitness plan, resolving to get healthy this year, or just trying to watch your weight, it’s time to ditch your old analog scale and upgrade to a smart scale.
What makes a smart scale different from a regular scale?
Standard bathroom scales only tell you your weight, while smart scales give you a more comprehensive view of your body composition that can help you tailor your weight-loss (or muscle-building) plan. They use Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) technology, which sends small currents through your body to capture body composition measurements.
Not all smart scales track the same measurements, but you can expect to find ones that show you body mass index (BMI), body water percentage, body fat percentage, muscle mass, bone density, fat-free body weight, metabolic age, and more. Of course, smart scales will also tell you your weight.
The number of measurements tracked varies from scale to scale. Some, keep it simple with just a handful of measurements like BMI and body fat, while others track up to 14 different metrics.
Smart scales not only give you all of this information, but they give you the ability to track your body composition data by connecting to your phone via Bluetooth or WiFi. (Bluetooth scales are often easier to set up.) Most smart scales will only show you your weight on the scale’s actual screen or panel. You’ll have to open the mobile app to see the rest of the measurements. Some scales require you to have your phone open to the app nearby in order to pull the data, while others work in the background and will sync with your phone the next time you open the app even if you didn’t have it near you when you stepped on the scale.
Some smart scales do have limits to the number of people who can use them, so if you have a large household you’ll likely want one that can accommodate everyone who lives with you. Each person who uses the scale will have their own user profile and the scale automatically knows who’s on the scale based on their body composition. (Though, users with similar body types and weights might get mistaken for each other.) If the scale pulls up the wrong profile in the app, you can easily correct it by manually selecting your profile.
Do smart scales really work?
At-home smart scales aren’t going to give you as accurate readings as you could get from a medical professional, but can definitely give you more data than a traditional scale. Your readings might fluctuate more with a home smart scale.
Smart scales are accurate enough for everyday use and can help you track your physical health and fitness goals.
Can everyone use a smart scale?
Because smart scales use BIA technology, not all of them are recommended for everyone to use. BIA is pretty noninvasive, but some smart scales have warnings for children, pregnant people, and anyone with a pacemaker or similar medical device. If you have any concerns, check with your doctor before using a smart scale.
That said, there are some smart scale models that are designed for tracking pregnancies and child growth if you’re interested in tracking measurements for the whole family. We’ll indicate which ones are OK below.
Easy setup • Good quality for price • Unlimited users
Small • Body fat calculations might be off
Get a comprehensive look at your body composition at an affordable price.
FITINDEX smart wireless digital scale
This scale provides 13 body measurements at an affordable price.-
What it measures:
Body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, water percentage, skeletal muscle, fat-free body weight, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, muscle mass, bone mass, protein, basal metabolism, and body age -
Number of users:
Unlimited -
Size:
10.2 x 10.2 x 0.96 inches
Fairly accurate • Unlimited users • User-friendly app
Some reviewers had difficulty pairing to phone • App has to be open nearby every time you weigh in
This is an impressively accurate device for a relatively low price.
Arboleaf smart scale
For a low price, Arboleaf provides impressive accuracy.-
What it measures:
Weight, body fat percentage, body type, visceral fat, body water percentage, muscle mass, bone mass, BMR, BMI, and metabolic age -
Number of users:
Unlimited -
Size:
11.8 x 11.8 x 1 inches
OK for pregnant people and children to use • Automatically recognizes different users • Highly compatible with other fitness apps • All measurements are visible on the actual scale
Expensive • Some reviewers have issues connecting to WiFi
The Withings Body+ is a good option if you want to splurge a little for a brand you know you can trust.
Withings Body+
Pregnancy and baby modes make Withings stand out.-
What it measures:
Weight, body fat, water percentage, muscle mass, and bone mass -
Number of users:
Up to 8 -
Size:
12.8 x 12.8 x 0.9 inches
Good price • Unlimited users • 13 type of metrics • Great customer service
Some reviewers reported different readings in back-to-back weigh-ins
This is a good scale if you’re unsure about committing to the smart scale lifestyle.
Renpho Bluetooth body fat scale
The Renpho scale has a good number of features for its low price.-
What it measures:
Body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, water percentage, skeletal muscle, fat-free body weight, muscle mass, bone mass, protein, basal metabolism, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, and body age -
Number of users:
Unlimited -
Size:
11 x 11 x 1 inches
Full results displayed on scale • Part of purchase goes toward charity
Some reviewers had difficulty connecting Bluetooth • Larger than most scales
This scale is a great choice if you don’t want to have your phone nearby when weighing in.
Greater Goods Bluetooth smart scale
A portion of proceeds from the Greater Goods smart scale goes toward charity.-
What it measures:
Weight, BMI, body fat, lean mass, water weight, and bone mass -
Number of users:
Up to 8 -
Size:
15 x 15 x 4 inches
Fitbit app has advanced fitness tracking and planning
Only tracks weight and BMI • Pricey for what it does
The Aria Air is the way to go if you don’t need full body composition readings but like Fitbit products.
Fitbit Aria Air Bluetooth smart scale
Fitbit users will find this to be an easy addition to their fitness arsenal, though it doesn’t track as much as the competition.-
What it measures:
Weight and BMI -
Number of users:
Up to 8 -
Size:
11.81 x 11.81 x 1.06 inches
Accurate weight readings • Easy setup • OK for ages 13 and up
App must be open to use • Not meant for muscular/athletic builds
This is a good scale for casual, everyday users.
Eufy C1 smart scale
Eufy provides a straightforward scale with few extra features.-
What it measures:
Weight, body fat percentage, BMI, body fat mass, lean body mass, BMR, visceral fat, muscle mass, bone mass, water -
Number of users:
Up to 16 -
Size:
11.02 x 11.02 x 0.91 inches
Displays all measurements on screen • Long battery life • Shows weather on scale display • App provides comprehensive look at overall body health for Garmin users
Expensive • Might experience WiFi connectivity issues
The Index S2 was made for Garmin users to enhance their fitness tracking.
Garmin Index S2 smart scale
Garmin users can get a comprehensive view of their health.-
What it measures:
Weight, weight trend, BMI, body fat percentage, skeletal muscle mass, bone mass, body water percentage -
Number of users:
Up to 16 -
Size:
18 x 16 x 3 inches
See weight and body fat on scale’s display • Set fitness goals in the app • Syncs well with other fitness apps
Pricey
Yunmai made a reliable smart scale, but it is significantly more expensive than comparable models from other brands.
Yunmai Premium smart scale
Create fitness goals within the Yunmai scale’s app.-
What it measures:
Weight, body fat, BMI, muscle, water percentage, protein, visceral fat, bone mass, BMR, fitness age -
Number of users:
16 -
Size:
12.9 x 12.9 x 1.2 inches
Unlimited users • 13 metrics • Easy to set up
Some reviewers reported inaccuracy in body fat measurements
For a decent price, this scale provides a comprehensive health assessment.
Redover smart scale
The whole family can track 13 health measurements with this smart scale.-
What it measures:
Weight, BMI, body fat, body water, skeletal muscle, BMR, fat-free body weight, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, muscle mass, bone mass, protein, and metabolic age -
Number of users:
Unlimited -
Size:
11.8 x 11.8 x 1 inches
Fast app syncing • Easy setup • Unlimited users • 14 metrics
Take the body fat measurements with a grain of salt
While body fat measurement won’t be as accurate as a professional reading, this scale gives you a comprehensive look at your body composition.
1byone smart scale
Store your fitness data in the cloud, export it as a PDF, or even enter it manually.-
What it measures:
Weight, BMI, body fat, body water, bone mass, visceral fat, BMR, muscle mass, protein, skeletal muscle rate, fat-free body weight, lean body mass, body type and body score -
Number of users:
Unlimited -
Size:
11 x 11 x 0.9 inches
How a smart scale can help you lose weight
It’s easy to see how smart scales could promote motivation to stick to losing or maintaining weight. After you step on the scale, your information is recorded and sent to the accompanying app. Most of these apps track your progress in charts and allow you to set goals. Being able to see your goals and see where you are in terms of meeting them can motivate you in ways that simply writing down your weight can’t.
This means you can track things like body fat and muscle mass over time, and most scales and their apps are compatible with other fitness apps like Fitbit, Apple Health, and Google Fit, so you can sync your data where you’re already tracking other fitness goals.
Some of these measurements might not be necessary for you to track. If you are just casually trying to watch your weight, you probably don’t need a scale that tracks your bone mass and muscle. But, getting a holistic view of your body composition can promote more mindfulness of your physical health overall.
