5 Best Body Fat Scale Based on Accuracy on Amazon

A body fat scale is a piece of equipment that any fitness enthusiast should have in their home. Not only can it help you monitor your weight and fat loss goals but it can help you keep track of other vital health statistics. But not all body fat scales are created equal.

Far from it. In this article we will discuss how body fat scales work, factors that impact accuracy, and review some of the best and most accurate models on the market today.

The Best Body Fat Scales Of 2020

 While none of the devices were 100% accurate there were certainly big differences in accuracy in the initial measurements and also fluctuations over the course of the week.

The Winner: Tanita FitScan BC-601FS

Key Features

19 Unique Body Composition Readings: This monitor is extremely thorough, offering 9 whole body readings, including metabolic age, visceral fat rating, body fat percentage, and body water percentage, along with 10 segmental measurements for specific body parts, like your legs or arms. This helps you get a comprehensive look at your body composition and monitor specific areas, so if you’re aiming to build muscle mass on your legs, you can see exactly what percent of muscle you are gaining in your legs and weight the effectiveness of different routines.

Guest mode: Once you have this body monitor, you’ll be wanting to show it off to all your friends, who will, of course, want to try it. Since this monitor has a Guest mode feature, you can let as many friends as you want try it out without worrying about it messing about your personal stats. This monitor also has enough memory for up to four people, so if anyone else in your household wants to monitor their progress they don’t have to get an entirely separate one.

SD Card Compatible: This monitor’s SD compatibility is what makes it such a useful tool for tracking progress. Sure, you need the measurements and everything, but without the SD card you’d be left to remember all your measurements yourself or write them down and create a log manually. The SD card stores all of your data, so you can easily recall it and see your progress over long periods of time. The SD card also makes it easy to export your data to your computer for easy viewing.

First Impressions

Setting up the monitor was pretty easy and using it was even easier, especially considering how many readings it takes. The first time I used it I thought it would be a nightmare, but it’s actually very intuitive and easy to use. After receiving my first set of readings I was immediately pleased, but also a little bit overwhelmed because there are just so many data points to look at. I appreciate that this monitor takes segmental readings so that I can know exact readings for specific body parts, but it can be a lot to take in at once. That’s why I immediately loved the SD card function which saves and stores data so you can go back and look at, so I didn’t have to memorize everything right away. 

After about a week on a targeted fat burning workout regime, I decided to take my body composition measurements again. When I looked in the mirror I couldn’t physically see any results yet, but when I took my measurements it was revealed that I had dropped a small amount of fat, more in my lower body than upper. This can be great motivator if you’re having trouble sticking to your workout or nutrion plan since it shows you, without question, that what you’re doing is working, even over a relatively short time period.

The Good

• Four person memory
• Easy to store and use
• SD card compatible
• Helps maximize workout regimes
• Guest and Athlete modes
• 90 Day Warranty
• Extra large LCD color display

The Bad

• Requires batteries (initial batteries are included)

Final Verdict

The Tanita FitScan Segmental Body Composition Monitor is definitely worth the money if you’re serious about your fitness. It may be out of the price range of some, but the accuracy and ease of use make this worth saving for. Not only does accurately track body fat for both the upper and lower body, but it tracks over a dozen other critical metrics. 

Omron Body Composition Monitor With Scale

• Measures 7 different fitness indicators: body fat percentage, BMI, skeletal muscle, resting metabolism, visceral fat, body age, and weight
• Accurately measures body fat percentage using proven bioelectrical impedance method
• Easy to read digital screen displays body weight up to 330 pounds in seconds. Recommended to take the measurement in the morning before exercise, eat, drink or take a shower

The Omron Body Composition Monitor with 7 Fitness Indicators utilizes the bioelectrical impedance analysis method to evaluate body fat. In other words a small electrical current is transferred through the body and since fat, compared to muscle, is a poor conductor of electricity, the higher the resistance the electrical current experiences, the greater the amount of fat in the body. 

The fact that this scale takes readings from both the hands and the feet eliminates some of the inaccuracies that occur with feet only measurements, since some people carry more fat in different parts of the body.This scale is very directionally accurate (it can track small changes in body fat up or down), but there are no options for configuring your specific body type, and it uses assumptions based on your age and gender to do the calculations. This means some users, particularly those with less common body types, may see inaccurate results depending on a number of factors. Unfortunately, you cannot change the settings to accommodate for this. This body composition monitor is really meant for fitness athletes who need a high degree of accuracy when tracking body fat changes. 

In our testing, after the initial setup is complete this scale provides very consistent results over time. There are some limitations as always, but it is one of the more accurate body fat scales on the market today. That said, the price is also quite a bit higher than many other scales, especially considering it does not have bluetooth connectivity or a mobile app to help track progress. This makes it a good fit for athletes or fitness competitors, but possibly not for more casual users. 

Tanita BC558 Ironman Segmental Body Composition Monitor

• Full Body Composition (weight, body fat%, body water%, muscle mass, physique rating, and more...)
• Segmental Body Composition (Right Arm, Left Arm, Right Leg, Left Leg, and trunk)
• Automatic scrolling of results: weight, body fat%, and segmental body fat%

The Tanita BC-558 Ironman Segmental Body Composition Monitor is a professional grade body composition scale that may overwhelm some people on first use. While it is one of the most accurate body composition monitors on the market, it does take some time to calibrate. 

The readings are at the same accuracy level you’d get at a professional fitness center, making it a good scale for professional fitness athletes. Nonetheless, amateurs might not value this level of accuracy considering the high price tag. 

Like other Tanita body composition monitors, it uses Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), which is acknowledged as one of the most accessible and reliable methods of screening body fat. The difference between this device and some of the lower cost scales on the market is the ability to measure different segments of the body independently. Typically body fat scales only take readings from the feet, which can lead to inaccurate results depending on a number of factors. That is not the case with the Tanita BC-558. 

Overall, this is one of the most accurate body composition monitors you can buy and is best suited for professionals or those who are willing to spend 10x for that accuracy. For recreational users your money may be better spent on a lower cost scale that offers features like bluetooth connectivity and fitness tracking. 

Weight Gurus Bluetooth Smart Connected Body Fat Scale

Weight Gurus Bluetooth Smart Connected Body Fat Scale with Large Backlit LCD presents an excellent price/quality ratio. The scale is easy to use, feature rich, and has a timeless, elegant design. 

Pairing the machine with the companion app is fairly effortless. iOS users should have no trouble, but for Android 6.0 users make sure your location is turned on in order to link the scale to the app. This is not mentioned in the instructions. 

After the scale is connected to the app, you setup your profile, and transferring data is simple from there. All you have to do is turn on Bluetooth, pair, and step on the scale. The scale will automatically transfer your information to the app privately. 

Our measurements were consistent for weight and body fat, although some other customers have stated that the scale doesn’t zero out properly unless you first put some weight on it, step off, and then step back on for a second reading. This appears to be isolated to a small number of users though. 

The app, which can be downloaded from both iTunes and Google Play, is easy to use. Entries in the Weight Gurus app can be saved, deleted or transferred to other services like Fitbit or Google Fit. Attractive graphs are available within the app to help track progress over time, in addition to the many fitness tracking features available in the other compatible services. Some users report issues with Fitbit compatibility, but it seems this has been resolved by an update to the app. 

Overall, this is a very attractive and accurate scale with a feature set that dwarfs most others in this price range. Our testing showed consistent results, and the multiple different fitness tracking apps make it extremely easy to monitor progress and spot potential outliers or bad readings and remove them from the data set. Combine that with excellent customer service, and you have yourself a winner. 

Fitbit Aria WiFi Smart Scale

• Aria syncs automatically and wirelessly through your home Wi-Fi network. Network requirements: Wireless 802.11b, WEP/WPA/WPA2 personal security, Automatic (DHCP) IP setup (static IP configuration not...
• Aria automatically recognizes up to eight different people. Your weight data syncs to your private Fitbit dashboard, so you can control what data you share. Measurement range: 20-350 lbs
• To set up for the first time, you’ll need one of the following: Windows XP and later, Mac OS X 10.5 and up, iPhone 4S and later, iPad 3 gen. and later, and leading Android and Windows devices

The Fitbit Aria WiFi Smart Scale is a visually appealing scale with sleek, low profile design. It comes in both black and white so it will look great in any bathroom. From an aesthetic viewpoint, we’re looking at a 5-star product. 

The weighing process takes no more than five seconds which is better than most, but it can be finicky. In our testing the results are consistent over time, but there are a number of things that can throw it off. A couple of things to keep an eye on: 1) the surface its on; 2) your distribution of weight (must be perfectly centered); 3) how much water you’ve consumed that day and when; 4) if you are wearing any metallic jewelry. 

To get the most accurate readings be sure the scale is on a hard flat surface, your weight is perfectly centered with your feet lined up on the sensors, and any metal jewelry is removed. As with all BIA scales, you should weight yourself at the same time of day every day, preferably on an empty stomach. If you drink a lot of water before weighing, this can throw off the reading. All these variables remaining constant, we received mostly accurate readings over time with this scale. 

The best part about Fitbit tracking is that even if you get an inaccurate reading from time to time, the data is all stored online and outliers can be removed to maintain a consistent trend. At the end of the day, it’s the long term trend that matters the most and not day to day fluctuations. Aria automatically syncs to your Fitbit dashboard at each weigh-in making it very easy to stay on track and keep yourself motivated. 

On a whole, this is a very well designed scale with a nice feature set, but ease of use and the Fitbit fitness tracking apps are where it excels. While it is relatively expensive compared to competing scales, this is still a good value for those who value simplicity. 

What To Look For In A Body Fat Scale

There is an army of body fat scales on the market today, with each one claiming to be the best. In order to help you make the correct choice, consider the following:

Display: this should be clear and big enough to read when standing on the scale. Look for a scale with an accompanying mobile app for more convenient viewing. The displayed data should be easy to understand and should remain on the screen long enough for you to read. Look for a scale that allows you to redisplay the data without having to weigh yourself again.

Additional Readings:  many models display other relevant details like body mass index (BMI) as well as body composition information (i.e. bone mass, muscle mass and water content). Some scales also display goals based on personal information (age, sex, height). Examples of such goals are ideal weight and daily calorie intake.

Easy Control + Instructions: these must be clearly labeled and easy to use. The instructions in programming the scale should be straightforward. Ideally, there should be useful diagrams and advice on how to interpret the results.

User profiles: this refers to saved sets of individual information. If multiple people are going to be using the scale this will come in handy, since different body types often need special configurations. Choose the scale with the right profile for you. If your kids are going to use it, make sure it can be calibrated for children. The same thing applies if you are an athlete with over ten hours of strenuous exercise a week.

Value: you don’t need to break the bank, but don’t cheap out either because results show that accuracy is often correlated with the price of the body fat analyzer.

How A Traditional Scale Can Mislead You

Clothes, photos, and mirrors don’t lie, but neither do fat calipers. The weighing scale can turn out as your worst enemy because it can mislead you and kill your motivation. Let’s look at the following examples:

Carbohydrates and water: carbohydrates bind to water, so eating fewer carbs will help you lose weight through water loss. This is the reason why you lose a lot of weight on a diet such as Atkins during the first two weeks. You are losing mostly water. Increasing your carbohydrate intake will help you gain weight again through water retention.

Muscle gain and fat loss: you will gain muscle mass while losing unwanted fat when you do strength training. But on the weighing scale, it will appear like you are not making any progress because your body-weight remains the same. Monitor your body fat percentage using a caliper and you will notice that your body fat is gradually going down.