The 10 Best Pet Scales
Updated by · How we research
Tray scales for cats and puppies, gram scales for newborn litters and floor platforms for big dogs, compared. The Beurer BY80 leads for most homes. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Many pet scales are baby scales sold under a second name, and that's fine: a curved tray with a hold button suits cats, puppies and small dogs. The feature that matters most is a reading that sticks after the animal moves. Bigger dogs need a flat floor platform instead. Check any new scale against a bag of flour first.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
A baby scale earns first place here: Beurer sells the Beurer BY80 openly for pets as well, its hold button keeps a reading after a cat bolts, and it comes with a five-year warranty. Six earlier picks can no longer be bought: the HomeImage EB522, Prime Scales PS-AS700, Kazetec Multi-Function, Zieis BigTop, small W.C Redmon Precision Digital and Pets Island scale. We also dropped the Beurer BY90, which adds a baby-tracking app to the same tray, and the Salter 914WHLKR, which costs more without fitting bigger pets.
The IBE Supply Heavy Duty and the large Redmon 7475 stay. W.C. Redmon has shut down, though its scales are still sold, so we flag that in the write-up. New picks cover newborn litters, wiggly cats, family two-in-one use and giant breeds.
No lab or magazine has put pet scales side by side, so this ranking rests on maker pages, one cat owner's four-scale comparison, shelter and cat-forum threads about which scales stay accurate and which last, and a federal recall search that found nothing on any of these models.
December 15, 2020:
When selecting our pet scales, we considered the frustrations animal owners can face when trying to weigh finicky fur babies that won't stay still, and looked for features that would alleviate those. We also sought out models that offer variety in their readings, providing results in ounces, pounds, and kilograms. Robust materials were additionally important, as was the overall user-friendliness of a product's design.
Offering models that can weigh both the smallest of pets to some of the largest domestic animals was one of our goals. On that note, we have the compact Pets Island Digital Puppy Kitty for the literal fur babies in your life, as well as the Prime Scales PS-AS700 for livestock owners.
Since pets don't always stay still for their weigh-ins, we appreciated the high walls of the Zieis BigTop to contain squirmy animals, as well as the hold function of the Salter 914WHLKR. The W.C. Redmon ZT7400 18 also stood out because its low-profile design is easy for senior animals to step onto, and its texturized surface keeps them from slipping. We decided to remove the TeaTime TT-DB01 because it tips over too easily.
A couple of other features stood out to us for their overall convenience, like the measuring tape of the Beurer BY90 and the wall-mountable display of the IBE Supply Veterinarian Digital.
October 09, 2019:
Since most pets aren't known for their ability to sit still for long periods of time when you want them to, we made sure to find scales that returned results quickly and which had smart features to help keep animals contained. For example, the Zieis BigTop, Kazetec Multi-Function, TeaTime TT-DB01, and Taylor Salter 914-WHLKR all feature platforms with raised sides that may deter an animal from trying to escape. Unlike the aforementioned models, the W.C Redmon ZT7400 14 took the opposite approach and has a platform with ends that slope downwards to make it more comfortable for your pet, going with the theory that the more comfortable a pet is, the more likely it is to sit still.
We also realize that many people may not want dedicated scales for the animals and people in their homes, so we included models like the OneTwoThree LCD, Kazetec Multi-Function, and TeaTime TT-DB01, which do triple duty as baby and standard bathroom scales, too.
For those whose profession requires they regularly weigh large breeds, like vets and perhaps some groomers, we included the W.C. Redmon ZT7400 18, IBE Supply Veterinarian, and Prime Scales PS-AS700, which have a 220-, 660-, and 700-pound maximum capacity, respectively. However, if even these models are too small for your needs, then we recommend you check out our list of the best livestock scales.
Special Honors
Detecto Veterinary Scales Detecto, a long-established American scale maker, builds veterinary floor and table scales of the kind many clinics use. They cost more than home scales and sell through scale dealers rather than pet stores, but they're made for all-day clinic work, and it's a sensible place to look if you run a kennel, grooming shop or rescue. detecto.com
Tray, Newborn Tray Or Floor Platform
A curved tray, the kind sold as a baby scale, suits cats, rabbits, puppies and small dogs, and most of them stop at 44 pounds.
Match the scale to the animal's length first, then its weight. A curved tray, the kind sold as a baby scale, suits cats, rabbits, puppies and small dogs, and most of them stop at 44 pounds. Greater Goods, for example, rates its pet scale from a tiny kitten up to a medium dog, with readings in 5-gram steps.
Newborn trays are smaller and finer. They usually stop near 33 pounds but read to a single gram, which is what breeders and foster homes need to spot a pup or kitten that isn't gaining. They're too small for an adult cat: an animal that can't settle on the tray simply steps off.
Dogs too long for a tray need a flat floor platform. These run from about 220 pounds for home models to 660 pounds for clinic-style steel platforms, and they read in coarser steps, from 2 ounces to 0.2 pound. That's fine for a Labrador's diet and too coarse for a litter. One caution on brands: the W.C. Redmon Company has ceased operations after 142 years, and its remaining designs are sold through VMI Innovations.
Hold, Tare And A Pet That Won't Sit Still
Extra capacity matters less than a scale that copes with movement. Hold locks the number on screen once the reading settles, so you can read it after the pet jumps off. Some scales go further and average the reading while the animal moves. Tare zeroes out a towel, bowl or treat, which helps coax a nervous animal on.
In a cat owner's comparison of four scales, a tray scale with hold and tare came out ahead of a large-capacity baby scale and a gram scale. On a cats.com community thread, one owner described a baby and pet scale that read far too low and drifted, which is why a quick home check is worth doing.
To check, put the scale on a hard, flat floor, never carpet or a bed, and set something of known weight on it: a sealed bag of flour or a small gym plate. Forum members on TheCatSite recommend doing this before trusting any new scale. If you don't own a pet scale, step on a bathroom scale holding the pet, then subtract your own weight. It's rough, but it works for a big change.
Batteries, Cleaning And Shelter Use
Most of these scales run on AAA batteries; a few rechargeable models charge by cable, and the clinic platform also plugs into the wall. If a scale uses a coin cell, keep spares away from children and pets. Swallowed coin cells can cause serious internal burns, and Reese's Law now requires secure battery doors and child-resistant packaging. Greater Goods recalled some digital kitchen scales in 2025 over that rule; its pet scale was not part of the recall.
Wipe trays with a damp cloth and a pet-safe disinfectant, and clean between animals if you foster or volunteer. In a Maddie's Fund forum discussion, staff at a Denver animal welfare agency said their Smart Weigh scales have lasted a long time, while a foster coordinator elsewhere called cheaper models flimsy and inaccurate.
A home scale is for tracking trends, not for diagnosis. If a pet loses or gains weight without a clear reason, or a newborn stops gaining, call your veterinarian.
How we researched this
We compared 22 pet, baby and platform scales, including every item from the old list, read the makers' pages and published specs for the 10 picks, studied one cat owner's four-scale comparison and shelter and cat-forum discussions about accuracy and durability, and checked every brand against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall records. We found no independent lab tests of pet scales.
Sources (8)
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a baby scale for my pet?
Yes. Several makers, including Beurer and Smart Weigh, sell the same scale for babies and pets. A curved tray with hold works well for cats, puppies and small dogs.
How do I weigh a big dog at home without a pet scale?
Step on a bathroom scale holding the dog, note the number, then subtract your own weight. It's rough, so for a dog that's too big to lift, a floor platform scale is the better choice.
How can I tell if a pet scale is accurate?
Put it on a hard, flat floor and set something of known weight on it, such as a sealed bag of flour or a gym plate. If the reading is off, replace the batteries and try again.
What scale do I need for newborn puppies or kittens?
A small tray that reads to one gram. Newborns gain in small amounts, and coarser scales can hide a pup or kitten that isn't gaining. Ask your vet how often to check.
What scales do vets use?
Clinics usually use floor and table scales from veterinary scale makers such as Detecto or Brecknell. A steel platform with a wall-mounted readout is the closest home equivalent.
