Unlike analogue scales that simply tell you how much you weigh in kilograms, stones, or pounds, the best smart scales can offer so much more than this. They go a step further and can tell you about key body metrics, such as your fat percentage, bone density, how much muscle mass you have, as well as your heart rate. They can even connect to your phone so that you can easily keep a record of your body’s progress.
But how do these scales actually work? Well, it’s all to do with biometric impending analysis (BIA). When you stand on the scales a current of electricity is sent through your feet and then through your body. The electrical current will travel through your body’s fat, bone density and muscle mass at different speeds, depending on the tissue density, and the scales record how quickly it does this, giving you your results.
Best smart scales at a glance:
• Best overall: Withings Body+ Smart Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Bathroom Scale - view on Amazon UK
• Popular choice: RENPHO Scales for Body Weight - view on Amazon UK
• Great for app features: Xiaomi Mi Body Composition Scale - view on Amazon UK
• Best for simplicity: Salter 9173 WH3R Digital Analyser Scale - view on Amazon UK
They're super easy to use too. If you’re someone who is looking to set some goals, whether that be losing weight in a calorie deficit, trying to grow more muscle, or simply keeping a closer track of your health, then a pair of smart scales can be very useful. Using it alongside your fitness tracker or smart watch too is a great way to get a good picture of your overall health.
So, whether you’re looking to splash the cash or have a set budget, we’ve found the best smart scales to buy now and help you on your health journey.
The best smart scales
Best overall smart scale
We know what you're thinking - that's a lot of money for a smart scale! And you're right, but Withings are one of the best smart scale manufacturers in the world right now. Their scales are full of monitoring tools that'll leave you amazed.
From pregnancy tracking to body composition monitoring (that's bones, muscle water, and fat), your data is automatically added to your phone's app, so no more faffing with inputting your weight every week! And with Withings' position tracking, which informs you on positioning your body while weighing yourself, results are precise every time.
One customer review: "I wanted both a BP monitor and a set of scales that would upload readings to a phone App. My choice was largely based on the quality of the App compared to others. Then the scales arrived I was immediately impressed both by the quality of the packaging (Apple standards) and the look, feel and quality of the scales. In my view this purchase is an excellent example of 'you get what you pay for' and I continue to be impressed and do not regret parting with the money to purchase them."
Pros
- Compatible with a huge range of smart devices
- Easy to use
- Ultra-precise
- Fantastic tracking for fitness journey
Cons
- Some found the set-up a bit painful
Body measurements | Body fat, water percentage, muscle mass, bone mass |
Max weight | 180kg (396lb) |
Name of app | Health Mate |
Compatible with | Apple, Android, Fitbit, Apple Health, Apple Watch |
Top pick
One of the best-reviewed products on Amazon - period, the RENPHO body fat scale is a fantastic way to monitor your BMI, body composition, muscle mass, and fat percentage. Best of all, RENPHO's app will store your data, so you and your family can keep track and progress towards your ideal body type. RENPHO comes with a terrific smartphone app that is super easy to use and is brilliant for recording your progress throughout your exercise journey. We cannot recommend it enough.
One customer review said: "This scale is very easy to use and the fact that you can connect it to your phone is pretty awesome! The value is also great, I can only recommend!"
Pros
- Fantastic range of measurements
- Great compatibility with a range of smart devices
- Can store data for the whole family
Cons
- Doesn't include stone measurements, only KG/lbs
Body measurements | Weight, BMI, body fat, BMR, muscle mass, bone mass, body water, skeletal muscle, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat |
Max weight | 180kg (396lb) |
Name of app | Renpho / Renpho Health |
Compatible with | Android / Apple / Fitbit |
Great for app features
Xiaomi's Mi Body smart scale is a great way to keep track of your body composition, BMI and other measurements, all with one device. To use and record your own data, simply install the Mi Body phone app and you're all set! The general build quality feels fantastic: with an anti-slip finish and tempered glass, it'll look the part in the bathroom. Also included with the app is a personal planner for targeting certain areas of the body, helping you plan your next workout with ease.
One customer review said: "Love this scale, it tells you about your body condition, you can see graphs and evolution of your weight and body composition. Also the app helps to improve your body condition with some advice. Perfect item if you are losing weight or training, to see your evolution."
Pros
- Great Mi Body app for weight loss tracking
- Records data for multiple users
- Easy and intuitive to use
Cons
- No Fitbit compatibility
Body measurements | Weight, BMI, body fat, muscle mass, moisture rate, protein rate, visceral fat rating, basal metabolism, bone mass, physical age, ideal weight, body type, health score |
Max weight | 150kg (330lb) |
Name of app | Mi Body |
Compatible with | Android / Apple |
Best for simplicity
Despite being a little more basic, Salter's smart bathroom scales are brilliantly accurate, quick, and above all, easy to use - no app required. Salter has always been an incredibly reliable bathroom scale manufacturer: you can monitor even more than your weight with data collected on bone mass, muscle mass, body water, metabolic rate, body fat, and more.
One customer review said: "Nice product and a nice price. Does all I need it to do and like 4 other extra things that I don't care about. The battery will last over half a year with daily use. Great how you can enter your information and it will save info for multiple users. Good buy"
Pros
- Simple and easy to use
- Very accurate and reliable brand
Cons
- Fairly basic compared to competitors
Body measurements | Body fat, muscle, body water percentage, metabolic age |
Max weight | 180kg (396lb) |
Name of app | N/A |
Compatible with | N/A |
Best for accuracy
Accuracy is what we desire when it comes to scales, but even more so with smart scales and these ones from FitTrack deliver that. With 17 different metrics including body fat, BMI, muscle mass, hydration and more, you'll be able to get a clear indication of your body's overall health. The app is clear and simple to use and you can sync it with your Apple or Android phone or your Fitbit device. But as well as providing you with a detailed analysis of your body, this smart scale's app takes it a step further, as it provides you with science-backed workouts, to help you further towards your goals. You can even track your food too. These scales really do take good care of you.
One customer review said: "Such a fantastic little gadget! My first purchase was so successful I bought two more for my friends! You can track everything via an app, which connects to Apple Health. So between your Apple watch and this scale you get tons of information on your overall health. I lost over a stone by tracking my health via this scale, most importantly, it allows me to focus on my fat percentage."
Pros
- Comes with 17 different metrics
- Sleek, compact design
Cons
- Scales only display weight, need to go into the app to view other metrics
Body measurements | Weight, body fat, muscle weight, hydration, bone mass, muscle mass, visceral fat, BMR, BMI, protein rate, metabolic age and obesity level |
Max weight | 181kg (400lb) |
Name of app | FitTrack |
Compatible with | Apple, Android, Fitbit, Apple Health and Google Fit app |
Best for Fitbit compatibility
Although your Fitbit may not be able to measure your weight, the Fitbit Aria Air can. Once you step on the scales, it sends your results to your Fitbit app, where you can view your progress in easy-to-read charts and it'll tell you your BMI too. As well as weight, you can also track your food, sleep, exercise, steps and more, making it a really comprehensive option for Fitbit users or those thinking of getting a Fitbit.
One customer review said: "I've had this scale for almost a month now — It's really useful to know your body weight/progress and being able to see all the trends in the app is very motivating for my fitness journey.
I started hard weight training about one month ago and use this scale as a way to track my progress. I have to say that I am quite pleased with how well it records results and communicates with the app – I haven't ever had a single issue with the accuracy, app sync or Bluetooth function."
Pros
- Easy setup
- Available in black and white
- Detailed and easy-to-use app for measuring more than just weight
- Ideal for those on a fitness journey
Cons
- Have to sign up for Fitbit premium
Body measurements | Weight and BMI |
Max weight | 180kg (396lb) |
Name of app | Fitbit |
Compatible with | Fitbit devices |
Best for detailed measurements
Last, but certainly not least, it's the Eufy smart scale P2. Eufy has made a fantastic ultra-sensitive scale capable of giving 15 detailed readings of your body. There are loads of little features and add-ons with the Eufy P2, such as Baby mode and even Pet mode to keep track of your bundles of joy, furry or not. Our favourite feature has to be Eufy's incredible 3D virtual modelling, where an app creates an exact proportional avatar of yourself that progresses with you through your fitness journey, showing how your own body has changed — how brilliant is that?
One customer review said: "Nice scale, I love it to track my body measurements. I really like this scale. It is easy to set up and connect to Wi-Fi, it will track your weight as well as body fat, muscle mass, water weight, etc. There are also tips given for you to build the body which is nice. And you can track the readings at the time you want just simply open the app. There is also a function to reallocate the unmatched measurements that helps a lot. You can also set your weight and body fat goal and you will see how much is left to reach the goal."
Pros
- Affordable
- 3D virtual model can help you track your body's physical progress
- Compatible with a range of devices
Cons
- Reading aren't as accurate as competitors
Body measurements | Weight, body fat, BMI, muscle mass, bone mass, water, protein, BMR, visceral fat, body fat mass, lean body mass, body age, body type, skeletal muscle mass, subcutaneous fat |
Max weight | 180kg (396lb) |
Name of app | U-Body |
Compatible with | Apple, Android, Fitbit, Apple Health, Apple Watch |
FAQs
How accurate are smart scales?
Smart scales have come a long way over the past few years, and now they're more accurate than ever. We've picked only the most accurate scales for this list, so rest assured they will be precise.
How do I download the fitness app?
A lot of the smart scales require syncing with an app to record your progress, but where do you find the app? Our selections are compatible with both Apple and Android phones, so you should have little trouble finding the apps. Simply go to your app store (whether that's Google Play or the Appstore) and type in the name of the fitness app - for Xiaomi, it's called Mi Body, for Eufy it's called EufyLife. It's that easy!
Are smart scales safe to use with a pacemaker?
They are not, unfortunately. A lot of smart scales use a small current of electricity, which passes through your body to measure your weight accurately. It could potentially cause damage to the device. You may be better off with a traditional scale.
What smart scales work with Fitbit or Apple watches?
Both Withings and Eufy are compatible with Fitbit trackers and Apple watches: this is perfect for tracking your fitness accurately every day.
Ryan Houghton is a commercial content writer, specialising in technology. When Ryan isn’t engrossed in writing about an enthralling new technological marvel, he’s probably PC gaming, bingeing entire shows on Netflix in a single sitting, or enjoying drinks with friends.