The Best Precision Kitchen Scales

Precision scales, often referred to as gram scales, provide measurements to a fraction of a gram. When used to measure small amounts of ingredients while cooking or baking, they ensure accuracy and consistency. Our favorite is the American Weigh Scale Digital Pocket Scale. It's easy to use and was able to measure accurately to within 0.02 grams. 

What You Need to Know 

Using a digital kitchen scale while cooking or baking is more precise than measuring solid ingredients by volume. Our longtime favorite scales give readings to a single gram and are capable of weighing items up to about 5 kilograms (or 11 pounds). However, there are times when greater precision is necessary. When weighing small amounts of ingredients such as yeast, salt, or xanthan gum, you need a precision scale that goes to a fraction of a gram, as a deviation of a few tenths of a gram can yield a difference in the finished product. 

Enter: precision kitchen scales, which are more precise and sensitive than your standard kitchen scales. They can generally measure in both metric or imperial and report increments as small as 0.01 gram. The tradeoff for that precision is a smaller maximum capacity, generally between just 100 grams (3.5 ounces) and 1,000 grams (2.2 pounds). Accordingly, the weighing platform is typically just 2 to 4 inches in each direction, too small for a large weighing bowl. For those reasons, a precision scale cannot replace your regular kitchen scale; it should be used in conjunction with it.

What to Look For

• High Precision: The main feature of these scales is precision, so a model that only read in increments of 0.5 gram wasn’t a significant improvement over our regular kitchen scale. We preferred models that reported weights in increments of 0.01 gram. (Note that the smallest weight the most sensitive scale could register was 0.03 gram.)
• Accuracy: The scales in our lineup showed varying degrees of accuracy when weighing lab-certified weights. We liked ones that measured closest to their maximum possible accuracy.  
• User-Friendly Interface: We preferred easy-to-navigate, clearly labeled interfaces. We preferred larger buttons, as they were easy to read and use when weighing and taring ingredients on the scale. One had tiny buttons that were too stiff to press.  

Nice to Have 

• Plastic Storage Case: Some scales included a plastic storage case or a plastic cover. We liked both approaches. They helped keep the scales clean in busy kitchens and protected the scale from mishaps while they were stored in a drawer or cabinet. 

What to Avoid

• Long Lag Times and Fluttering Numbers: We disliked scales that took to...
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