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It’s not your grandma’s manual bathroom scale anymore. In the past decade, weight scales have evolved. The new generation of bathroom scales can measure everything from body fat and bone density to muscle composition and much, much more. They can also sync with your smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to make sure that you have the most updated information possible at all times. With all these advanced measurement options, there are scales to suit elite athletes, people who are tracking their weight for health reasons, and pregnant and postpartum women. The only problem may be that they have so many features that it can be overwhelming.

These bathroom scales can shift your whole approach to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and accessing personalized health information in your home. Read on for the best of the best in every category and weigh in on your own health.

There are ordinary scales, and then there are body analyzing systems like the Eufy P1. The smartest of smart scales uses integrated G-shaped sensors to gather the most accurate data. With fourteen measurement settings including body fat, BMI, bone mass and more, the ability to track and monitor changes in body composition has never been more streamlined. The best part? All data is recorded on the app with personalized graphs and spreadsheets available at the touch of a button. It can also keep track of up to sixteen users, more than enough for one household. The tempered glass scale has an extra large LED display for easy reading and a sleek and slim design, which tucks easily into any corner or drawer for storage. It’s also Bluetooth enabled and connects to Google Fit, Apple Health or Fitbit to count steps, heart rate and more through the Eufy app.

For those on a budget, the Etekcity 9380H is a great choice. Its simple interface only measures one metric—weight. This is one of the sturdier of the bunch despite the tempered glass surface, with anti-skid padding and a weight limit of up to 400 pounds. Features include an extra large backlit LCD display, motion activated turn-on function and automatic turn off. The four sensors are calibrated for accuracy within 0.1 pounds, and the scale lets you know if calibration is necessary.

Purchase Etekcity Digital Body Weight Bathroom Scale 

Garmin is known for a vast array of high-tech gear. The Wi-Fi enabled Garmin Index smart scale and the proprietary Garmin Connect app can help you keep track of even the smallest changes in body composition. It tracks and updates a data index of measurements and metrics including weight, body fat, water percentage, BMI and even skeletal bone mass and muscle mass. The Garmin Connect is a larger wellness tool that can track sleep, calories burned and more, and help you understand how they’re impacting your ultimate fitness goals. Up to 16 people can have their body composition metrics automatically uploaded via Wi-Fi directly to their own Garmin Connect accounts—the Index recognizes when you step on the scale and brings up your personal profile.

Greater Goods has a reputation for making quality products and this smart scale is no exception. Its proprietary Weight Gurus app is designed to be easy to use, and syncs regularly with app data; each user has a separate and secured account only available to them. The easy-to-read backlit screen shows six metrics from weight to bone mass and hydration levels. And just in case there’s an issue, a very helpful customer service team is based in St. Louis, Missouri. Don’t have your device handy? Don’t worry. The scale stores your results and will automatically sync them later if no device is detected.

Its ethos for serving the community is also impressive: Greater Goods is committed to partnering with factories that operate ethically, and even donates a portion of its profits to various charities depending on which item you purchase.

Purchase Greater Goods Digital Scale

The Withings Body Cardio takes biological measurements a step further by offering Vascular Age, a metric that uses Pulse Wave Velocity to assess the stiffness of your arteries and extrapolate your potential for cardiac issues. This technology is used in some hospitals, clinical tests and research labs, and has been shown to be a reliable indicator of your heart’s health. The scale measures the time it takes for blood that’s pushed out of your heart to make it to your feet. This information is then used in an algorithm which compares you to other Body Cardio users to determine your Vascular Age—i.e., whether or not your body’s health lines up with your actual chronological age. The scale will rank your results as optimal, normal or not optimal, depending on how you compare with other scale users. It also tracks your heart rate every time you step on.

The Body Cardio is fully compatible with Bluetooth connectivity and Wi-Fi to keep info, including heart rate, constantly updated. On the more expensive end of the scale spectrum, this scale is an investment for those who rely on data on a regular basis.

If a classic and accurate analog weight management system is what you need, then look no further. Ozeri Rev is an affordable and stylish option with surprising attention to details. This model utilizes sensor technology with four high precision GX sensors which measures pressure. This model measures in 0.1 pound increments up to 400 pounds (180 kilograms). The large weight dial has a back-lit LCD screen and can display weight almost instantly, compared to some digital scales which can take a few seconds. The chrome and black model measures at just one inch thick, making it easy to store. A built-in alarm function reminds users that consistency is key and weighing yourself at the same time each day is the best way to accrue the most accurate data. (It can also be turned off by hitting a button underneath the scale.)

The EatSmart Precision Plus scale provides users with bigger bodies the ability to accurately measure their weight. With an 8 millimeter tempered glass extra-large platform and an oversized display screen that offers more stability in a sleek package, this scale measures up to 440 pounds (200 kilograms) in 0.2 pound increments. Four precision sensors are designed to increase consistency. It does come with adjustable legs for balance, but be forewarned that some reviewers say that these legs cause the device to feel like it’s sinking slightly when you step on top.

Purchase Eatsmart Precision Plus 

Japanese company Tanita is one of the largest producers of medical grade scales, with a reputation for seamless and consistent products. This heavy duty scale is a powerhouse with a large, ultra-thin platform. The most popular feature is the two-line display that simultaneously shows current and past five weights measured, making it easy to see any changes. The scale is constructed of heavy steel with great durability but covered in a layer of easy-to-clean plastic. This model is slower than others (it takes five to 10 seconds to display a reading) but is incredibly consistent compared to other scales.

This ultra-compact scale is super easy to pack in a suitcase: At just 5.5 inches by 8.5 inches, it’s far smaller than most other scales. With an auto on feature and ten second display designed to save power, the travel scale will stay juiced up and ready to go whenever you are, with battery life lasting for at least a year.

Purchase Newline NY Super Mini Travel Scale

The striking circular design isn’t the only thing special about the QardioBase2—it has a pregnancy mode, which enables you to track your baby’s growth, upload progress photos, and view helpful charts of averages and percentiles for each trimester.

The scale also syncs with apps like Apple Health, Google Fit and My Fitness Pal for instant data at your fingertips. If you find yourself stressing over the numbers on the scale, you can use the scale in “Smart Feedback” mode, which uses emojis instead of numbers. The base vibrates, called haptic feedback, to alert you that your weight has been recorded. There’s also a pre-programmed “weight only” mode to use the scale safely with implanted medical devices. And reviewers spoke positively about the scale’s battery longevity—just charge up with the included USB cable and forget about it for the next twelve months.

If you’re on a budget and have several people in your household that are interested in using one scale, the Renpho Body Fat scale is an excellent option. It’s able to store unlimited user profiles through its app, enabling everyone to access their own information easily. The Renpho app syncs with most fitness apps including Apple Watch, Fitbit and Google Fit to seamlessly track data and chart your daily, weekly, and monthly progress. Plus, it’s incredibly well-rated on Amazon– it has 4.7 out of 5 stars with 255,000+ reviews. Users raved about its value. “I still can’t believe this scale was only $30!” wrote one user.

Purchase Renpho Body Fat Scale

First off, assess your needs. Some people value portability over extended weight capacity. Others are more concerned with all the bells and whistles that an app can provide. Are you simply looking to track your weight? A classic analog scale can do plenty all on its own and can be less expensive and simpler to use. Or are you looking to track a pregnancy or weigh a newborn in between doctor’s visits? Investing in one of the newer smart scales can be a fun way to explore these additional data points.

Scales that measure body fat use a small electric current, which can negatively interact with pacemakers and other internal implanted devices. They also have a small chance of affecting pregnant women. If you have a pacemaker or other internal implanted device or are pregnant, consult with your doctor before using a smart home scale.

All scales are designed to tell you how much you weigh. Most are able to toggle between pounds and kilograms, and some can also measure in stone. Scales also generally have different degrees of precision—while many measure to the nearest 0.1 pound, others round to the nearest 0.2 pound. Some others even round to the nearest whole number. If you’re looking to track small changes in your body size, especially if you are a small person, you’re better off to choose the most precise scale possible. Smart scales generally offer lots of data on various metrics, including body fat, muscle percentage, bone density and more. This information can be presented in various forms—everything from graphs to pie charts to the occasional raw data points. The best smart scales have integrated with popular apps to provide up-to-date, regular information. Look out for scales that offer pregnancy features, such as the ability to track week by week development.

Some scale metrics may be unfamiliar to you. See below for an index of some of the most popular terms:

Most scales have maximum and minimum weight restrictions but what those are varies. The standard maximum is around 396-400 pounds, but some can be closer to 300 pounds. Pick a range that makes sense for your needs.

Prefer Samsung to Apple? Fitbit to Garmin? Pick the scale that works in tandem. Also be aware that most smart scales come with Bluetooth but not all have Wi-Fi capabilities. Wi-Fi can make the scale’s job faster and easier to work with by automatically syncing data when connected. Bluetooth connections can be spotty at times.

“A home bathroom scale can help track your weight whether you are looking to gain, lose or track for a medical condition,” says Molly Kenward, BSN, FNP-BC, Family Nurse Practitioner at the University of California San Francisco in the Department of Internal Medicine.

“Nothing is ever 100% accurate but they can get close,” Kenward says. “For the most accurate reading, any bathroom scale must be set up correctly and used consistently.” Electronic scales with circuits have been consistently more accurate according to an article in Lifehacker.

“Most bathroom digital scales are accurate to 5% error,” says Dean Goodman, Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine at Broadway Chiropractic Group of Santa Monica, CA. “This is pretty significant but remember that the main reason for collecting the data is to track changes in weight. Even the 5% error potential is not that important as long as the pattern of weight change or maintenance is monitored.” However, most inconsistencies in weights from day to day can be attributed to inconsistencies in how and where we weigh ourselves, Goodman says. “The most common reasons are improper calibration, the scale is on an uneven surface, you are shifting your weight ( you need to be very still for at least three seconds), and low battery.”

To minimize user error, make sure to read the manual, plug in the USB or insert the batteries and calibrate any new scale before stepping on. Unless specified otherwise, most scales don’t operate optimally on carpet or uneven surfaces. The most important thing is to be consistent. Even a scale that reads a few pounds heavier will consistently read that way as long as all other factors stay the same.

The best way is to test it with an object of known weight, like a 15 pound bag of rice, Goodman says.

Weigh yourself at the same time of day whenever you take your weight reading, Goodman says. Wear the same clothing (or no clothing). Make sure the scale is on a flat hard surface.

Many doctors have abandoned the old style scale in favor of digital scales very similar to home scales, Goodman says. The difference in accuracy is negligible.

“All good home scales have a self-calibration mode. Place the scale on a firm even surface, read the guide and follow the instructions,” Goodman says.

Weigh yourself with shoes off for best results. 

Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.

Alissa Fitzgerald is a writer, yoga instructor, chef and half marathon runner. She’s worked on yachts in Croatia, startups in SF and yoga studios all over the country. You can often find her spending her time at a track, on a yoga mat or behind a computer. This author is writing sponsored content paid for by Pillar4 and not affiliated with Sports Illustrated.