The best kitchen scales

The Etekcity Digital Kitchen Scale combines reliability and precision with a neat design and an easy-to-clean bowl.

Weighing ingredients up to 11 pounds (5 kilograms) within a tenth of an ounce (or one gram), the Etekcity Digital Kitchen Scale also earns the "multifunction" part of its title from its alarm timer and temperature sensor.

One of the best features of this scale is the 2.1-liter dishwasher-safe bowl. It's detachable so you can choose to use the Etekcity as a traditional flat scale, too. To store the scale, just flip over the bowl and place it on top of the base.

The scale uses two AAA batteries, which come with the unit. The Etekcity scale is backed by a one-year warranty as well as lifetime support from the manufacturer. Another great feature with this scale is that it has actual buttons, as opposed to the flat "membrane" buttons commonly found on other models.

Another bonus: When you're baking, you can add ingredients to the bowl, zero-out the weight, and add more ingredients. It's a lot faster than measuring each item individually. We did come across a few customer reviews complaining that the on-off button is a bit sensitive, though.

Pros: Stainless steel, dishwasher-safe bowl, built-in timer, surrounding temperature sensor

Cons: Sensitive buttons, loud beeping

The Ozeri Pronto Digital Kitchen Scale comes in a variety of colors and provides a great balance of accurate measurement and sleek design.

The Ozeri Pronto scale measures up to 11.24 pounds (5.1 kilograms) within .05 ounces (or 1 gram) of accuracy. It runs on two AAA batteries that come with the unit, and the scale saves on battery life by shutting down after two minutes of inactivity.

None of the scale's elements are dishwasher safe, but the chrome finish for the weight platform is easy to wipe down. The scale only weighs twelve ounces and is relatively small at 8.2 by 1.8 by 6 inches.

Of all the scales on our list, the Ozeri Pronto comes in the most colors, including black, blue, silver, red, and lime green.

Like our top pick, you can put bowls or small plates on the scale and zero out the weight before you measure out portions.

Pros: Accurate, small, consistent, comes in seven colors

Cons: Slow measurement, fast auto-off, and not dishwasher safe

Whether you are a hobby baker or on a diet, you will be hard-pressed to find a scale as accurate as the AmazonBasics Digital Kitchen Scale at this price point.

The AmazonBasics Stainless Steel Digital Kitchen Scale has a 7-inch diameter weighing platform that can measure items up to 11 pounds (5 kilograms) in weight.

Like the other units on this list, this scale measures ounces, pounds, grams, and kilograms. However, it also can measure liquid volume. The device runs on two AAA batteries, which are included.

The main benefits of the AmazonBasics kitchen scale are that it seamlessly switches between units of measurement, has a large weighing platform, and features a wide LCD screen.

Pros: Large weighing platform, wide screen, fast display, can also measure liquid

Cons: Inaccurate at extremely low weights, fast auto shut-off

If making dinner is more like cooking for an army in your home, the OXO Good Grips Food Scale will make it easier to measure out lots of ingredients.

The standard OXO Good Grips scale has the usual 11 pounds (5 kilograms) capacity, which it measures with precision to the nearest gram or 1/8 of an ounce.

However, you may consider spending the extra $8 or so for the 22-pound capacity version if you do a lot of heavier measuring. This model is also ideal for bigger tasks because of the pull-out display.

Another benefit of the OXO scale is the large removable stainless steel platform that you can wash by hand. The Good Grips scale does require four AAA batteries, which is twice what all of the other models on this list need.

The scale may have trouble registering small loads. Also, since there is a bit of a delay in getting the reading, this scale is not the best for pouring ingredients until you get to the weight you want.

Pros: One of a kind pull-out display, large sturdy design

Cons: Delayed measurement readings, weights are presented as fractions

The MyWeigh KD8000 Kitchen Scale is the best for serious bakers who work with grams and percentages.

If you like to bake bread at home, you can't do better than the MyWeigh KD8000 Bakers Math Kitchen Scale. It has a high weighing capacity of 17 pounds and 6 ounces, a big easy-to-read screen, and the ability to work with baker's percentages when you need to adjust your recipe. You can also make measurements in grams, which is what many recipes call for.

The scale is sturdy and versatile enough to handle all the ingredients you need for large batches of dough. You can disable the automatic-off setting for the scale too, so you may always see the measurement without worrying that it's going to flick off too fast.

The large, backlit screen is easy to read, and the controls are simple. You can also turn off the backlight if it is too bright for you.

The scale runs on three AA batteries, but you can also get an AC adapter to plug it into the wall. It's very easy to clean this scale, and there's a removable plastic cover that protects the screen from dripping ingredients or globs of dough. The scale comes with a 30-year warranty, so if something goes wrong, you will be able to receive a replacement.

Insider Reviews deputy editor Malarie Gokey has had this scale for more than a year and can confirm that it's an excellent scale for baking. Once you've graduated to grams and percentages in bread recipes, this is the scale you need.

Pros: Great for bakers, easy to clean, baker's percentages, readable display, long warranty

Cons: Larger and pricier than others