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Best Mechanical Beam Scales

Updated November 2021
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
HealthOMeter 500KL Eye Level Digital Medical Scale
HealthOMeter
500KL Eye Level Digital Medical Scale
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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

This high-quality scale is portable, easy-to-read and capable of holding an extensive range of body sizes.

Pros

Scale can measure from 30- 84.25 inches. Designed with 14-inch-wide, low-profile non-skid platform. Includes easy-to-read LED display that calculates weight and BMI. Provides you with weight in 2 seconds. Strong aluminum column requires little assembly. Wheels are built in. Holds up to 500 pounds.

Cons

This model is pricey.

Best Bang for the Buck
HealthOMeter 402LB Mechanical Beam Scale
HealthOMeter
402LB Mechanical Beam Scale
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

This scale is affordable and can fit in tight spaces at home or in an office.

Pros

Designed with heavy-gauge steel base and 10.5-inch-wide nonslip platform. Height rod measures between 23 ⅝ and 84 inches. Inside and outside of scale are powder-coated. Holds up to 390 pounds. Comes with counterweights that, when applied, can increase capacity to 490 pounds. Wheels included.

Cons

A couple of customers noted confusing instructions.

Seca Physician Scale With Wheel
Seca
Physician Scale With Wheel
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Trusted Brand
Bottom Line

This accurate scale can measure even the tallest customers and hold a wide range of body sizes.

Pros

Designed with rod that measures between 24 and 98 inches and platform that is 10.75 inches wide. Can hold up to 500 pounds. Graduation of ⅛ pound ensures precision. Easy to use and easy to read. Can hold up to 500 pounds.

Cons

One customer noted scale is highly sensitive and requires absolute stillness.

Seca Mechanical Column Scale with Eye-Level Beam
Seca
Mechanical Column Scale with Eye-Level Beam
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Portable Convenience
Bottom Line

This scale is strong, accurate, convenient, and easy to transport.

Pros

Designed with a large platform and eye-level beam. Includes a height rod that can measure between 23.62 and 78.73 inches. Can hold up to 500 pounds. Comes with transport castors for easy portability.

Cons

A few customers noted instructions were unclear.

HealthOMeter Balance Beam Scale
HealthOMeter
Balance Beam Scale
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Best for Small Spaces
Bottom Line

This product is a great choice for a physician-quality scale that is perfect for home-use.

Pros

Designed with a 10.5-inch platform and a strong, durable lever system. Scale can hold up to 390 pounds. This model is easy to assemble. Scale markings are easy to read.

Cons

Height rod and wheels sold separately.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Buying guide for best mechanical beam scales

Mechanical beam scales have been around for at least 4,000 years, and while digital scales are now more common, the simplicity and accuracy of beam scales means they still have an important role in science labs, medical practices, food production, jewelry making, and a whole host of other businesses. They’re even used by some people to weigh shot for loading their own ammunition!

While the basic principle is straightforward enough, there are hundreds of variations, as you’ll soon find out if you want to buy a mechanical beam scale, and those differences can make choosing the right model difficult.

BestReviews has been evaluating a wide range of models so we can help you pick the right one for your needs. Our recommendations cover a selection of great value medical versions, probably the area in which they’re most often used. For those who have other requirements or would like more detail about specific features, we’ve compiled the following buying guide.

mechanical beam scale1
The earliest beam scales were used for judging relative weight — one item compared to another — rather than mass. Examples have been found dating back to 2,000 BC, though they’ve probably been around longer.

Key considerations

How a mechanical beam scale works

Although the physical configuration of levers and sliding weights gives a visual difference between one type of mechanical beam scale and another, they all use the same basic principle: a combination of a beam and a fulcrum (balance point).

Put two different weights on either end of a beam, and you can make both ends balance by adjusting the position of the fulcrum along that beam. By using a number of known weights, you can mark divisions along the beam (in other words, calibrate it). Once the beam is calibrated, you only need to keep one known weight. Sliding the fulcrum to the balance point will then give you the unknown weight of whatever is on the other end.

Some models (generally those used for scientific use or weighing small amounts) still look much like this. Medical and industrial models are upright, with a plate at the bottom and a visual indicator at about chest height. Not only does this make it easier to accommodate people and large objects, it also means the operator doesn’t have to keep peering at the floor or bending over to take readings, as is often the case with digital scales.

Types

While there are variations, the three common forms of mechanical beam scale are triple beam balances, medical (or physician) scales, and platform scales.

Triple beam balances: These have three scales (horizontal beams), each with an increasing amount of precision. For example, the first beam weighs in ounces, the second in tenths of an ounce, and the third in hundredths of an ounce. As a result, these scales are capable of weighing very small amounts. They are usually used in laboratory environments or by jewelers and assayers.

Medical scales: These are the scales most people recognize. Indeed, many of us have been on them. They provide a convenient place to stand and are easy for the medical practitioner to work with. These scales generally have an upper limit of between 350 and 500 pounds.

Platform scales: These are the industrial version. They have a large platform for products, hence the name. They’re usually constructed of welded steel and are capable of handling as much as 1,000 pounds.

A mechanical beam scale doesn’t need a power source or batteries, so you can use one anywhere! However, if you’re using a sensitive model outdoors, you might need to shield it from the wind.

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Features

You probably have a good idea of the type of mechanical beam scale you want, but there are a few important details to think about.

Increments

We’ve already mentioned weight capacity, but you also want to know the increments — the smallest individual units — and thus the scale’s sensitivity. Sometimes a maximum is given, for example from 0 to 350 pounds, then there’s a counterweight that moves the maximum up, for example to 500 pounds. However, it moves the whole scale up, too, so it will no longer read to 0. Switching the counterweight in and out is relatively quick and easy, but it’s important to understand that this type is not the same as a scale that reads 0 to 500 pounds.

Platform

Scientific scales usually have a flat plate to hold whatever you’re weighing, but if you need to weigh powders or liquids, you need a tray or bowl. That either means choosing a different model or buying the required container. However, if the container isn’t part of the scale, the weight of the container must be subtracted each time, which you might find inconvenient. 

Positioning

Some triple beam balances come with clamps, so you can fix them securely to the bench so they can’t slide around.

Some means of leveling is useful, too, particularly for benchtop models where small variations are critical. If a mechanical beam scale is not absolutely level, there can be errors in the results.

Finish

Whichever type you choose, you want to check the finish. Chrome is great for resisting corrosion, while some parts may be painted. On high-quality medical models, the finish is often enamel, which is more durable and easier to wipe clean. Heavy-duty platform scales sometimes have an electrostatic paint coating designed to survive the kind of bumps and knocks you might expect in busy industrial environments.

Maintenance

Maintenance is usually just a question of keeping your beam scales clean. A wipe with a damp cloth plus occasional light lubrication may be all that’s required. Nevertheless, you should check the owner’s manual carefully. Any advice it provides is designed to extend the life of your equipment and maintain its accuracy.

mechanical beam scale2
DID YOU KNOW?
The earth’s gravity is not constant. It can vary by up to 5% between different locations. If you weigh 250 pounds, that’s a difference of up to 12.5 pounds. If you move your scale, you should always recalibrate it.
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Other considerations

Rod

A number of medical models include an upright measuring rod so you can check the height of a patient at the same time as their weight. These are usually easy to detach when not required. Rod specifications are worth checking. They don’t usually start from 0 (30 inches is common), and they have a maximum of perhaps 78 inches. That’s sufficient for measuring the height of most people, but it probably won’t be enough if you’re measuring a basketball team!

Legibility

You also want the measurements to be easy to read. Some beams have painted numbers or a glued-on printed plastic strip. Other scales have numbers cast into the beam itself, so even if the beam experiences a lot of wear, the markings are still visible.

Casters

If you need to move the scale around frequently, weight is a consideration. Some scales have casters, which help. You also need some way of locking or removing the casters. The last thing you want is for your scale to move around when you’re using it.

Certification

If you’re selling something by weight, your mechanical beam scale must be certified as either “legal for trade” or “trade approved,” which guarantees it has been tested to a defined level of accuracy. The manufacturer should state this.

Warranty

The standard warranty is 12 months, but some are longer. We’ve seen up to 5 years, which gives you additional confidence in the build quality.

If you’re concerned about the accuracy of your mechanical beam scale, you can buy a set of calibration weights. These sets come in various ranges so you can choose the most appropriate one.

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Mechanical beam scale prices

Inexpensive: Given the range of potential uses and big differences in physical size, it’s not easy to give an all-encompassing guide to prices. The cheapest mechanical beam scales we’ve seen are those used for reloading ammunition or general laboratory use. These start at around $60. Medical models start at around $150.

Mid-range: The greatest choice in most types of mechanical beam scales is between $200 and $400. This covers the majority of high-quality scientific and medical devices.

Expensive: The most expensive are the platform scales used for industrial purposes. Heavy-duty models can run from $600 to well over $1,000.

mechanical beam scale3
Industrial mechanical beam scales have been used for generations to weigh things like multiple sacks of grain. Having a visual indicator gives you an almost instant comparison from one to the next without needing to read the actual weight.

FAQ

Q. Are mechanical beam scales accurate?

A. Yes, as long as they’re calibrated regularly. Those used for scientific purposes can measure thousandths of an ounce, and those for loading ammunition are also very precise. The medical type can register with great accuracy, though most don’t show very small increments on the measuring beam itself. Two ounces is frequently the minimum, so being any more precise than that is always an estimation on the part of the user.

Q. Is a mechanical beam scale difficult to calibrate?

A. No. Most are very straightforward. There’s a calibration screw that needs to be turned to position the balance indicator (pointer or arrow) in the center of what’s called the “trig loop” (basically the 0 point). It’s important that the scale has no weight on it and is level. Even a small slope can upset the reading.

Q. Is there any difference between a mechanical beam scale and a balance beam scale?

A. Not really. While there is some variety when it comes to mechanisms, they both use the same basic principle. You’ll also see them called balance scales and weight balances. All are different names for the same device.