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Body fat scales measure a person’s body weight, fat, and lean body mass. We picked the best seven options for ease of use, price, and the number of metrics they measure.
Body composition refers to the percentage of muscle, fat, and bone in a person’s body. It will vary from person to person according to their age, sex, overall health, and lifestyle.
Body composition is not the same as a person’s BMI. This is the ratio between a person’s weight and height, and doctors use it to estimate whether someone is at an optimal weight. However, it does not consider a person’s body composition — people with different body compositions can have the same BMI.
Medical News Today chose body fat scales that meet the following criteria:
Price:MNT chose scales available for a wide range of budgets.
Size and capacity:MNT selected scales suitable for various body weights.
Connectivity:MNT chose scales that offer connectivity with smart devices and health and fitness apps to help people track their health metrics and progress toward goals.
Materials:MNT chooses products with safe and durable materials that are easy to clean and maintain.
Ease of use:MNT selects simple-to-use body fat scales that have clear instructions.
Quality:MNT chooses companies that adhere to high quality manufacturing processes that ensure its products are safe for personal use.
Reputable:MNT chooses products from businesses that adhere to industry best practices and that offer reliable customer service and support.
All of the body fat scales in this article have passed Medical News Today’s strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Many commercially available body fat scales use bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to estimate a person’s total body water and fat-free mass (FFM). Research states that doctors often use BIA to measure body composition, which is the ratio of fat mass to FFM.
Impedance analysis measures how various tissues in the body, including fat, lean muscle mass, and water, slow down or stop an electrical current flowing through the body. This electrical current, which usually passes through the feet on body fat scales, is weak and painless.
Body components high in water content, such as muscle, will cause less resistance, while fat will cause more resistance.
People must often input their height, weight, age, and sex to inform their reading.
Body fat scales typically take readings from the lower body, with the electrical current going through the feet. They will then extrapolate the reading to the rest of a person’s body and provide a body composition estimate.
Research from 2019 states that BIA scales have limitations. The composition of FFM, which can include water, proteins, glycogen, and minerals, will vary greatly during a person’s life. This is because the chemical makeup of FFM can change during growth, aging, and illness. As such, a person’s readings may vary greatly.
Additionally, the frequency of the current can affect the readings a person gets. Older 2015 research states that readings can vary due to a person’s foot size, width, and sweat, in addition to their position on the scale.
A 2021 study that compared BIA scales with the gold standard dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) measurement method states that smart body scales can accurately measure a person’s total body weight. However, it advises against using them to monitor body composition, especially if a person has severe obesity.
Additionally, recommendations state not to replace regular DEXA scans with at-home body fat scales. DEXA scans use low energy X-ray beams that provide images of soft tissue and bone to monitor bone density.
Body fat scales are typically easy to use. People step onto the scale and wait for it to make a weight and body fat reading, which can take as little as 10 seconds. They can then sync this data to a health app if the scale supports Bluetooth.
People may wish to use their body fat scales at the same time each week or month for the best chance of getting accurate readings.
People with pacemakers need to avoid using body fat scales. If they want to try one, they need to speak with a doctor first.
A person can also speak with a doctor if they find themselves checking their body weight or composition very regularly or worrying about their weight or body image. Evidence suggests a strong link between body checking, which involves someone repeatedly checking their body shape and size with scales or mirrors, and eating disorders.
Help is available
Eating disorders can severely affect the quality of life of people living with these conditions and those close to them. Early intervention and treatment greatly improve the likelihood of recovery.
Anyone who suspects they or a loved one may have an eating disorder can contact the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, which offers a daytime helpline staffed by licensed therapists and an online search tool for treatment options.
For general mental health support at any time, people can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24 hours a day at 1-800-662-4357 (or 1-800-487-4889 for TTY).
Many other resources are also available, including:
There are different factors that a person can consider before buying a body fat scale. These include:
Measurement range: Most body scales measure the individual’s weight and monitor lean body mass and hydration. Some also come with heart rate trackers. People can consider which metrics they want to track before buying a scale.
Connectivity: Many body scales come with Bluetooth connectivity. This can be helpful for those who want to track their progress on their smart devices.
Weight limit: People may consider checking if the body scale supports their weight. Most products have a weight limit of 400 lb.
Design: While most body scales are useable on the floor, some are handheld. Additionally, people can consider how easy the readings are to see on the scale or app.
Some research has concluded that body fat scales are not accurate enough to provide reliable body fat readings or replace DEXA scans.
However, body fat scales may be a useful addition to a person’s health and fitness journey as a way of tracking metrics at home, especially if they also have professional scans.
There is no one perfect body fat scale. In fact, some research concludes that at-home body fat scales are not accurate enough.
When buying a body fat scale, people can carefully read reviews, consider the metrics they would like to measure, and look for any clinical trials that show it is an effective scale.
Good body fat percentages will change depending on a person’s gender, age, and whether they are an athlete.
Body fat scales are popular among those wanting to track their body composition. These smart scales aim to estimate a person’s body fat, muscle, and water percentage and often connect with health and fitness apps. However, research is critical of their accuracy.
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Bousbiat S, et al. (2015). Factors influencing accuracy and reproducibility of body resistance measurements by foot-to-foot impedancemeters. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25365933/
Marra M, et al. (2019). Assessment of body composition in health and disease using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA): A critical overview. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6560329/
Walker CD, et al. (2018). A meta-analysis of the relationships between body checking, body image avoidance, body image dissatisfaction, mood, and disordered eating. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29659039/