Traveling can be stressful, especially when you are flying—there are so many things to consider—what you can carry on, the size of the bags you can bring, not to mention everything you have to pack. Most airlines have weight restrictions when it comes to baggage – we all know to well having to hoist our suitcase onto the scale at check-in. I have a personal experience, and I will tell you, it isn’t fun. When I was coming home after studying abroad for grad school, my checked bag was too heavy, I was short on cash (I was a student!) So, instead of paying a fee, I had to strategically move things from my checked suitcase into my carry-on bag. Several minutes of tears and jostling later, I had to sacrifice a pair of shoes. To avoid a nightmare like this at the airport, arm yourself with one of these luggage scales before your next trip.
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Best Overall Luggage Scale – Etekcity Luggage Scale
This simple, easy to read luggage scale from Etekcity is precisely what you need for a reliable, accurate luggage scale. Battery operated, it has an auto-off function to help preserve the battery life. If your luggage is over 110 lbs (50kg), you will get an error message, so you easily know you have exceeded the limit. It also has a thermometer sensor so you can check the temperature of your luggage.
Best Luggage Scale with LCD Backlight – Air Scale Luggage Scale
The backlit screen of this luggage scale will make weighing your suitcase a breeze. It’s lightweight, easy to read, and has a silicone grip for easy handling. Easily toggle between pounds and kilograms, and rest assured you won’t be exceeding the limit before getting to the airport. Perfect size to keep with you while you travel.
Best Ergonomic Grip Luggage Scale – FREETOO Portable Luggage Scale
This luggage scale will easily fit onto the curve of your fingers, making weighing your heavy suitcase easy and comfortable. Besides the curved style, it has a LED backlight for clear readings, is super lightweight, auto turn off to preserve battery life, and has a uperior piano lacquer handle surface for added durability.
Easiest Luggage Scale to Use – EatSmart SmartGrip Luggage Scale
The oversized handle of this luggage scale allows you to weigh your luggage with ease. Despite its size, it only weighs 5.5 ounces, so throwing it into your carry-on won’t add much weight! The nylon strap is sturdy for even the heaviest of bags. Includes a lithium battery.
Best Manual Luggage Scale – Samsonite Manual Luggage Scale
For those who prefer a more “old school” approach to weighing, the Samsonite Manual Luggage Scale is the one for you. Simply hook the scale onto your luggage to lift it to get your reading. It comes with a built-in tape measure so you can quickly measure your bags to ensure they meet the baggage requirements of the airline you are flying.
Best Basic Digital Luggage Scale – Samsonite Electronic Scale
Sometimes simple is best, and you’ll find with the Samsonite Electronic Scale, you get what you need without the fuss. It weighs up to 80 pounds, has a comfortable grip, and you can easily toggle between pounds and kilograms.
Best Luggage Scale for Frequent Flyers – Fosmon Digital Luggage Scale, 2-Pack
If you travel often, it helps to not have to think about what to pack- with the Fosmon Digital Luggage Scale, you get two scales, one to keep in your carry-on luggage at all times, and the other you can keep at home for when you are packing before a trip. You can easily switch between four units: grams, kilograms, ounces, and pounds, it has a backlight for easy reading and beeps when you have gone over 110 lbs, so there will be no doubt when you have overpacked. An added bonus is that it has a lifetime warranty.
Best Battery-Free Luggage Scale – American Green Battery-Free Portable Luggage Scale
This ultra-portable, battery-free scale from American Green will take the stress away, as you won’t have to worry about batteries or charging. Powered by kinetic energy, when you twist the scale, it turns on, and all you have to do is attach it to your luggage to weigh it. Small and lightweight, it’s perfect for a trip off the beaten path.
Best Traditional, Heavy Duty Luggage Scale – Smart Weigh Heavy-Duty Luggage Scale
For bulkier items, this Smart Weigh Heavy-Duty Luggage Scale will do the trick. While probably too large to fit in your luggage to take with you, it will work well if you are worried about lugging heavier items to your destination, or if you don’t trust the smaller luggage scales. Made with stainless steel, it’s durable, and it has a manual on and off, to help with battery life.
Best Compact Luggage Scale – Travel Inspira Luggage Scale
This compact, easy-to-use luggage scale has a rubber handle for easy use, a black light for painless readings no matter how light your room is, and a low battery and heavy load warning. Simple and user-friendly, this is the perfect scale to have on hand when you are worried about your luggage size.
Luggage Scale that is Easiest to Read – Travel Smart by Conair Digital Luggage Scale
This Conair Digital Luggage Scale has a super bright LCD backlight, making reading the measurement effortless. The scale beeps if you go over the weight limit, and you can choose to view the weight in pounds or kilograms.
Best Luggage Scale for Business Travel – Victorinox Battery Free Digital Luggage Scale
This sleek battery-free digital scale gets the job done without a battery. It’s great for business travelers as it fits easily into your carry-on luggage, and you don’t have to think about making sure you have a battery for it, as it has an auto-generation power system. Travel without worry with this scale.
Best Luggage Scale with Built-in Tape Measure – Travelon Stop & Lock Luggage Scale
Ease your mind with this luggage scale from Travelon. Not only will you be sure that your luggage meets the weight requirements, but also the size requirements. With a built-in tape measure, you can easily measure your luggage, as well as weigh it. To reset the scale, you simply twist the hand back to zero, and you are good to weigh your next bag.
Best Budget Luggage Weight Scale – AmazonBasics Luggage Weight Scale
Weigh your suitcase without breaking the bank with this weight scale from AmazonBasics. It has an easy-to-read display, allows readings in pounds and kilograms, and has a flexible strap for simplified weighing.
Luggage Scale FAQ
Which is the best luggage weighing scale?
While there are many accurate luggage scales out there, we think the Etekcity Luggage Scale is the best. It’s easy to read, shows pounds or kilos, is compact, and has a built-in thermometer. It is everything you need in a luggage scale without the bulk. We also love the Samsonite manual scale for a manual option, and the Fosmon Digital Luggage Scale gives you two fantastic scales for the price of one!
Do luggage scales work?
Like everything, there may be times when the scale- for whatever reason- is faulty. However, the majority of the time, they work, and will save you a lot of time, hassle, and money at the airport. If you can weigh your bag before you get there, and be assured your bag doesn’t go over the weight limit, you’ve won!
What is the best way to weigh your luggage?
We recommend using one of these luggage scales to weigh your luggage before you get to the airport. The way each scale works is dependent on what scale you get- but, for the most part, most attach to the handle of your suitcase, backpack, laptop bag or duffle, and you lift the bag up by the scale to get your reading.
Can you take a digital scale in checked luggage?
Yes, most digital scales are lightweight and compact enough that you can fit them in your checked luggage without adding bulk.
Do I need a luggage scale?
If you are going on a long trip, or plan on purchasing a lot while you are away, a luggage scale is a good investment. They are cheap, and can help avoid any headaches at the airport.
How do I know if my luggage is too heavy?
Check your airlines policy on weight limits, and use your luggage scale to ensure you are within the limit. Most domestic airlines have a checked allowance of 50 lbs. Carry-on bags and personal items typically have around a 11-22 pound limit.
Can I use a bathroom scale to weigh my luggage?
Can you? Sure. Should you? Probably not. The size of a suitcase or bag is likely going to be too bulky for a regular bathroom scale, so the measurement might not be accurate. Your best bet is to get a luggage scale for a more accurate weight.
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We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
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