The 7 Best Luggage Scales in 2023 | Our Top Picks

As the cost of checking your bags in at the airport continues to trend upward, travelers are increasingly concerned about keeping the weight of their luggage as low as possible.

Enter the luggage scale. These devices can also help you save some weight when traveling by car, which could make toting your bags a bit easier when you arrive at your destination. If you’re in the market for such a product, we’ve collected a list of 7 top picks.

What Are the Best Luggage Scales?

When buying a product such as this, accuracy is the key. Even the most convenient luggage scales are practically useless unless they can provide a reliable reading to reflect the weight of your suitcases.

Of course, there are other factors to consider, such as value and high-quality construction.

Individual travelers might have different priorities, however, so it’s important to determine what’s most important to you before deciding on a product that provides exactly what you’re looking for.

Our Top 7 Picks for the Best Luggage Scales:

1. Best Overall: Glorsign Precision Luggage Scale
2. Best Construction: Luxebell Digital Luggage Scale
3. Best Design: Etekcity Luggage Scale
4. Best Manual Scale: Samsonite Manual Luggage Scale
5. Best Versatility: Surmountway Heavy Duty Scale
6. Best Value: Freetoo Portable Luggage Scale
7. Best Portability: Fosman Digital Luggage Scale

Obtaining a quick and accurate reading is of paramount importance for travelers of all types who need to know how much their luggage weighs. Although many manufacturers claim that their respective designs are the best, a few products clearly rise to the top of the pack.

Whether it’s accuracy, convenience, or design, each of the options on our list offers a little something extra when compared to many of its rivals.

We’ll break down the pros and cons of each product below. First, we’ll try to identify why finding the best luggage scales can be a major benefit for just about any vacation.

Why You Need a Luggage Scale

When you think of this specialized product, it’s likely in the context of weighing bags before arriving at the airport. Saving a few bucks on luggage fees can be a great feeling.

On the other hand, packing too much and being hit with an additional charge can start your trip off on the wrong foot.

In addition to helping you abide by an airline’s weight limit, owning a great luggage scale can have a few other benefits. If you’re traveling with individuals who aren’t able to carry heavy items for long distances, it’s possible to pack a few suitcases much lighter than the rest.

Hanging or placing those bags on a luggage scale will ensure that none of the suitcases weigh too much so they can remain easily portable. 

Best Luggage Scales: Our Top 7 Picks

Some of the items below are basic tools used to perform a specific job, while others offer some innovative features and functions. Choosing the right one for your situation will require some thought and careful planning. 

1. Glorsign Precision Luggage Scale – Best Overall

This product is a no-frills option that makes it simple to accurately weigh your luggage. The ergonomic design is comfortable to hold in one or both hands and can provide a reading up to 110 pounds.

The LED display is easy to read, and it can show measurements in grams, pounds, kilograms, and ounces. Of course, it does take a few taps to find the right unit, but from there, this item is a breeze to use.

It comes with a strong battery included, though some users find it difficult to remove the cover. No product is designed perfectly, but this one checks off most of the features that a typical traveler would want to find in a high-quality handheld luggage scale.

2. Luxebell Digital Luggage Scale – Best Construction

Although most handheld luggage scales look fairly similar, this one shows that the little details make a big difference. For starters, it has features including an automatic shutoff function as well as a display that locks in at the determined weight.

It also feels sturdy in your hand, and the included lithium battery is easy to install or remove. The heavy-duty construction should provide years of worry-free use.

But a few reviews indicated that the display screen can become cracked if exposed to extensive wear and tear. Some owners did notice discrepancies between the weight registered on the scale and the total calculated at the airport.

While some fluctuation is to be expected, it’s important to take multiple readings in order to find the most accurate result. In the end, this is a reliable product that many travelers have used to help avoid airline fees and strained muscles when planning trips.

3. Etekcity Luggage Scale – Best Design

This one packs a ton of features into a small and easily portable device. It’s also available for a low price, which really cements the value proposition for this scale. The rubber handle feels nice and is built to last.

Among the most notable features that it provides, in addition to a typical scale, is a thermometer that can help when packing items that must be kept in a specific temperature range.

While the device has a great feel in your hand, some reviewers indicated that it can take a few seconds for the scale to register a reading.

This might cause some discomfort in the long run, but otherwise, it’s a user-friendly and well-made product that can be used to estimate the weight of a range of travel bags and luggage.

4. Samsonite Manual Luggage Scale – Best Manual Scale

When it comes to luggage, few names are as trusted and beloved as Samsonite. It stands to reason, therefore, that the same company produces a high-quality manual luggage scale.

Most other options rely on batteries and a digital reading, but this spring tension device won’t run out of power and is a consistent way to determine how heavy your bags are.

Of course, since it relies on a dial for its display, there’s a chance that minor fluctuations can occur.

For that reason, it’s best to use this type of scale for approximations rather than precision. One downside is that its maximum capacity is somewhat lower than many rivals.

If you don’t plan to pack any bags heavier than roughly 80 pounds, this is a great product to help keep the weight of your luggage at a manageable level. It’s small enough to be easily portable and the handle is easy to grip when lifting up whatever you’re measuring. 

5. Surmountway Heavy Duty Scale – Best Versatility

Many handheld luggage scales max out at 110 pounds; however, this heavy-duty product offers four times that capacity. This makes it a versatile way to measure various items in addition to your suitcases. 

If you’re planning to weigh your stuff before you leave the house, this is a great way to go. Of course, its size makes it a bit more difficult to transport from place to place. There’s no doubt about the results, which are displayed on a large digital screen in bright numbers.

Because of its sturdier and more robust design, the reading on this scale is sure to be more accurate than many of its flimsier rivals. All of this functionality does mean that this scale is substantially more expensive than other options on our list.

Nevertheless, the results speak for themselves and many travelers prefer to keep this product on hand for an easy and trustworthy reading every time. 

6. Freetoo Portable Luggage Scale – Best Value

There’s no need to spend a lot of money for a device that you might only need on rare occasions. If you won’t be subjecting your luggage scale to frequent use, a simple device such as this one is likely sufficient.

It’s easy to hook the scale to any bag and obtain an easy-to-read display in just a few seconds. Nevertheless, some users have indicated that the handle is smaller than some other models, which can make it uncomfortable.

Since it can take some time to register an accurate reading, be sure to grab it in the easiest manner possible.

If you’d like to take your scale with you to obtain a luggage weight before returning home, this is a compact and lightweight option. Although it might not have all the bells and whistles, this scale performs well and can be bought for a reasonable price.

7. Fosman Digital Luggage Scale – Best Portability

Although this entry in the list is constructed out of durable stainless steel, it comes in a pack of two just in case something happens to one of them. Each one is lightweight and easy to carry along with you wherever you travel.

It’s available for a great price, but there are a few potential shortcomings. Some reviewers have lamented that it takes a while for the scale to deliver a reading on the LED display.

Once you get the total, however, it’s easy to see the appeal of this design. The tare feature takes all the guesswork out of determining the actual weight of a bag and its contents.

If anything goes wrong while using it, plenty of users have noted that customer service representatives are eager to help. There’s also a comprehensive warranty that will give buyers some additional confidence in choosing this brand.

Finding the Best Luggage Scale for You

Unlike the highly accurate scales used to weigh people, postage, and other items, a luggage scale is primarily meant to provide a general approximation regarding how heavy a particular bag is.

This can provide some peace of mind before heading to the airport and help you avoid additional costs that can creep in if a suitcase weighs too much.

Although all scales are designed to perform similar functions, they can get the job done in a variety of ways. When choosing the best product for your needs, consider the following attributes and features.

Design

If a handheld device is uncomfortable or difficult to grasp, it can result in inaccurate measurements. Find an ergonomic design and easy-to-grip materials in order to increase the likelihood of receiving a trustworthy result.

Furthermore, any scale that is lightweight and compact will be easy to pack into a suitcase for use when the trip is over.

Value 

The real value of luggage scales isn’t always measured by how inexpensive a product is. In fact, most of the items on our list are available for very competitive prices.

Instead of focusing solely on the cost, consider how reliable, durable, and convenient each product will be. If you don’t enjoy using it or you can’t trust its readings, it really doesn’t matter how inexpensive it was to begin with.

Accuracy

As with any scales, certain models are more likely to provide an accurate measurement. While it might not be vital to measure your bags down to the ounce, it’s important to have a general idea of how much your luggage weighs.

Settling for a product that provides too many fluctuations could result in airline fees or force you to decide what you want to take out of your suitcase before boarding a plane.

Versatility

You might think that the only purpose a luggage scale can serve is to weigh your suitcase. In reality, though, some products can do much more.

If you think that you’ll need to determine an accurate reading for other items, it might be worth looking for a device that can handle any such task.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do handheld luggage scales work?

Unlike traditional scales that require you to place an object on a platform, handheld scales allow you to use a hook to grab a handle on your bag.

As you pick the luggage up off of the floor, the device measures its weight and provides a reading. Many are digital, although several options provide a manual display.

What units of measurement can you use?

Since luggage scales are used in nations around the world, it’s important for them to be as versatile as possible.

Fortunately, most of the latest models provide various settings to adapt to different international standards. Among the common units available in these products are ounces, pounds, grams, and kilograms.

What else can you weigh with a luggage scale?

Although many luggage scales don’t provide an extremely accurate reading, certain models are capable of registering an appropriate measurement for postage, food, and other commonly weighed items.

Of course, it’s important to determine how accurate your particular choice is before relying on them for such purposes.

If you’re going to settle for a product with a low price and minimal features, it’s likely wise to limit its use to gauging how heavy your luggage and other travel accessories are.

How much should you pay for high-quality luggage scales?

While it’s true that you generally get what you pay for, this doesn’t mean that it’s necessary to spend a large sum of money on luggage scales.

In fact, many of these items are available for less than $20, which means the added cost of checking in an overweight bag could easily be much higher than the price of an item that could’ve prevented such fees.

You might decide that a more complex and accurate product best suits your needs, but even great versions of those products are typically available for less than $100.

What are some other factors to consider?

Aside from the obvious function of weighing your luggage, choosing the best product available also means considering a few other factors. For starters, you’ll want something that is sturdy enough for your heaviest bags.

Since most of these scales rely on suspending a bag in the air to gain a reading, you should be sure that it’s built to last.

You’ll be able to determine what each scale’s maximum weight capacity is before purchasing, so pick something robust and durable that can support whatever suitcases you attempt to weigh.

So, What’s the Best Luggage Scale?

In the end, you’ll need to determine exactly what you hope to accomplish with your purchase. If you’ll be traveling extensively by air and want to ensure that you won’t be hit with any unexpected fees, be sure to pick a product that has a strong track record for providing accurate readings.

Other travelers might have more casual needs, however, and could be content with a less expensive model that delivers reliable estimations and approximations.