Baking is a form of magic.
It can be miraculous and life-giving. It can be an expression of love or sorrow. It can be fulfilling for baker and devourer alike. A great cake or bread can lift spirits and calm the stomach and the mind. There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that ‘recipe’ is just another word for a spell.
But you’ve all seen the movies where the magic goes awry, much to the chagrin of the witch or wizard, who forgot an ingredient or magic word or inadvertently ignored some of the ancient guidelines for casting the spell. Well, baking is the same.
It’s all about precision, as even the slightest discrepancy pouring the flour in your cauldron...I mean scales… can have catastrophic consequences in the oven.
That’s why I’ve reviewed the five best digital scales with accuracy to the nearest .01 grams for you in this list, and I’ve even included an in-depth buyer’s guide and brief FAQ section so you can bring some good magic into the world.
Top 5 Best Digital Scale 0.1 Gram Accuracy
OUR TOP PICK
Sensitivity - This super-accurate digital scale can measure in 0.01 gram increments from around 0.02 grams, giving you the utmost precision in your culinary exploits, and can measure up to 500 grams of ingredients, meaning you have the measuring capacity to make some crazy big cakes here.
Materials - Made up of just two main components, these scales are strong and easy to clean. The platform is stainless steel for maximum strength and hygiene, while the base is made from ABS plastic which is a tough material that will deal with knicks and dings well, but has a quite a low melting point, so, as with any plastics, try not to rest a hot tray against it.
Display - This thing has a really stylish blue back-lit LCD display. It’s small but exceedingly clear, so as long as you’ve got your glasses on, you’ll never have to deal with the horror of misread measurements.
Functions - You get four impressive smart buttons on this design. The PCS function enables pieces counting - more helpful with jewelry really, but still cool -, the ‘T’ button gives you net weights, the ‘M’ button allows you to navigate between g, tl, oz, ct, and gn.
My favorite thing about this digital scale is that it has onboard uneven placement, low battery, and overload warnings, and has a triple auto-shutdown function.
Size and Weight - This scale measures in at 6.3” x 5.12” x 1.38” and weighs in at 4.4 ounces
Power - 2 AAA batteries that are included with purchase.
- Small and easy to store. Great if you have minimal counter space
- Smart blue LCD display
- Built-in warnings
- Comes with two trays that double as platform covers
- Wide measuring range
- Easy to clean
- Affordable
Cons:
- Buttons directly in front of platform may get debris caught in edges. This is standard for a small scale though.
- Labels are on the buttons and may rub away over long periods of time
EDITORS CHOICE
Sensitivity - This super portable scale has a precision sensor that will measure up to 300 grams in gradients of 0.01 grams with a minimum weight response of 0.05 grams.
Materials - The platform is stainless steel for maximum durability and the scale is made from a standard plastic.
Display - Here is another scale with a super stylish blue LCD display, but this one is slightly bigger than our top pick, which may appeal to you.
Functions - This scale has an auto-shutdown after 1 minute and has four smart buttons: a tare for measuring net weights, a pieces counter, a power button, and a unit selector that can choose between g, oz, ct, dwt, ozt, and gn.
This scale can also be recalibrated, so if you find after a while and a great many bakes, it’s lost a little bit of accuracy, you should be able to sort that out in no time and save money on replacements.
Size and Weight - This thing is marketed as a true pocket-size scale measuring in at 3.74” x 2.44” x 0.83” and weighing 5.6 ounces.
Power - Powered by two AAA batteries that are included with purchase.
Pros:
- Very portable
- Very accurate
- Affordable
- Blue LCD display
- Comes with a tray that doubles as a platform cover
- Buttons are as out the way as possible for a small scale
Cons:
- Only measures up 300 grams
- May be too small for big bakes
BEST VALUE
Sensitivity - SImilarly to our second pick, this fantastic digital scale has a 0.05 grams minimum sensitivity, but like our top pick, has a maximum load of 500 grams, and of course it’s capable of measuring in increments of 0.01 grams.
Materials - The platform is made from high-quality stainless steel and the body is the same ABS plastic as our top pick.
Display - Another continuation from our earlier picks, this scale has the attractive blue back-lit LCD display ensuring clarity and visibility in any light.
Functions - This design has a pieces counter, and ‘T’ tare button for net weights and 0 setting, an ‘M’ button to instantly change to and convert weights between 6 units, and a power button.
This scale also has an auto-off function and the same extra smart-functions as our top pick, alerting you if there’s an uneven surface placement, an overload, or if batteries are low, so you never have to make that last-minute trip to the store when you’re already not sure if you’re going to get the cake done in time for the party.
Size and Weight - At a very space-sensitive 3.94” x 4.96” x 0.71”, this digital scale won’t impose, and with a weight of 7.1 ounces, won’t weigh you down if you want to walk to your friend’s house to do some team baking.
Power - This scale is powered by 2 AAA batteries that are included with purchase
Pros:
- Very portable
- Very small for easy storage
- Easily cleaned
- Under-surface buttons won’t accrue build-ups of debris
- Affordable
- 500 grams maximum weight
- Communicative smart functions are a nice touch
- Stylish LCD display enhances clarity
Cons:
- Some customers said that the lowest weight registered was significantly more than 0.05 grams
RUNNER UP
Sensitivity - The first larger platform on our fourth pick will measure in increments of 1 gram from 1 to 5000 grams. The second smaller platform is what we’re interested in here as it measures in increments of 0.01 grams from 0.01 to 500 grams.
Materials - Both platforms are made from high-quality stainless steel and the base is made from a standard hard-wearing plastic. The thin-line, yet sturdy design really feels durable.
Functions - Despite being the largest pick on my list, the functions are relatively limited, or should I say, stripped to essentials.
First of all the auto-shutdown function kicks into gear after 3 whole minutes, which is either a good or bad thing depending on your preferences. It does mean if you forget to turn it off manually a lot, you’re going to run through more batteries; however, if you own a battery charger, this won’t be a problem.
Moving on to the buttons. You get two tare buttons. One for each of the platforms, which is great for weighing multiple things and baking to a deadline. Then you have the dedicated power button and the unit button; however, as far as I can tell, it seems as though you can only choose between grams and ounces, which is basically all you’re going to need, but still feels a little underwhelming.
It’s also worth noting that it seems like you can only use one unit of measurement at a time for both platforms. I think that being able to weigh different units at the same time would really be making the most of the expansive two-in-one display, but again, it’s unlikely you’d need a function like that.
Display - This is where this scale really stands out. It boasts a massive double line backlit LCD display for clear readings of measurements from both scales simultaneously, which I think is an awesome feature.
Size and Weight - I know not all of you would be looking exclusively for miniature scales, so I chose this larger yet still highly storable thin-line design measuring in at 1.25” x 8.4” x 11.9” and weighing 1.62 pounds.
Power - This daring digital double is powered by 3 AAA batteries that are included with the purchase.
Pros:
- Double platform means you won’t need to buy a macro and micro scale separately
- Large LCD screen allows you to read both platforms simultaneously
- Thin-line design makes this scale very storage-friendly despite larger size
- Good build quality
- Industry-leading brand
- Independent tare functions for both platforms
- Buttons are located further away from the platforms to avoid debris
- 0.01 minimum weight
Cons:
- Pricey compared to smaller scales on the list
- You can only use one unit of measurement at a time
- Requires more batteries
RUNNER UP
Sensitivity - Coming in at number five, we have this very smart design with a minimum weight reception of 0.03 grams, a maximum capacity of 500 grams, and that most sought after 0.01 gram incrementation.
Materials - This is another scale with a durable stainless steel platform and an ABS plastic base, exactly the same as my top pick.
Functions - This scale has the standard tare function so you can measure each addition to a single container accurately. It also has the ‘M’ button for choosing between the six standard measurements. Then we have a pieces counter and an off switch.
This design also comes with the same smart functions as some of my other picks that warn you about low battery and over or uneven loads.
The auto-shutdown on this model triggers after three minutes of inactivity.
Display - Here we have another blue back-lit LCD display.
Size and Weight - This dinky digital measures 6.22” x 5.04” x 1.18” and weighs 9.1 ounces.
Power - 2 AAA batteries included with purchase.
Pros:
- 0.03 gram minimum weight
- Smart functions help smooth out possible hiccups
- LCD display makes reading weights easy
- Small storage-friendly design
- Lightweight and portable
- Auto-shutdown
- Affordable
Cons:
- Chrome-look plastic is a little tacky
Best Digital Scale .01 Gram Accuracy Buying Guide
Being that you’re looking for a very particular kind of scale, you’ve saved yourself a lot of leg work already, but it can still be hard to know exactly what to settle on. Numerous scales will have the hyper-sensitivity that you’re looking for, but what makes them good besides that?
Here’s a helpful little buyer’s guide to ensure you get free of all your baking guesswork for good and find the perfect digital scale for you and your kitchen.
Budget
Digital scales can be both incredibly affordable and inexplicably expensive, so it’s good to set yourself a spending limit.
A rough budget will save you a lot of research time.
Sensitivity and Capacities
So, you’re looking for a digital scale that measures up in 0.01 gram increments, but what you’ll also have to decide on is capacities. Capacities are the minimum measurable load and the maximum load the scale can handle.
I recommend you look for a scale with a minimum load below 1 gram. This will mean it’s capable of the micro measurements that some recipes call for. I’d also recommend not splurging on any scale with a maximum load below 300 grams, especially if you’re not going to pair them with a larger scale in your kitchen.
Size and Weight
Scales come in a wide array of sizes and weights, so you’ll need to have a think about where you're going to store it and if it will fit on your countertops when they’re already clogged with mixing bowls and cake tins. Do you like to take your scale on the road to family and friend’s houses? Then you’ll want a scale that is nice and light.
The good news is that most precision digital scales are designed to be portable and take up as little space as possible.
Functions
Here’s a small list of functions you should look for in a precise digital scale:
Units
A digital scale will normally have 6 units of measurement to choose from: grams, ounces, carats, pennyweight, troy ounces, and grains. You’re probably never going to use a couple of them, but it’s nice to know you’ve got the tech if you need it.
You also want the unit shifting function to automatically convert the weight of what’s already on the scales to the new unit, so you don’t have to measure from zero all over again.
Tare
Tare is the most helpful function on modern scales.
Tare zeros you weight so you can measure in a new ingredient to a bowl with already measured content.
Charge
Not all scales are battery powered, but if the ones you’ve got your heart set on are, check if they have any on-screen representation of remaining charge.
Off-Balance
Some scales will have an on-screen warning that items aren’t being weighed accurately due to an uneven surface.
Auto-shutdown
This is a great feature that’s going to save you lots of power.
Look for a scale that has either a single inactivity shutdown time that suits your workflow or one that has different time settings you can choose from.
Pieces Counter
A pieces counter is exactly what it sounds like. It will tell you how many individual items are on the scale.
This is normally used for jewelry and crafting but could be used to weigh and count out things like fruit pieces for a cake or bread.
Display
All digital scales will have a screen display. You have to decide what appeals to you in this department.
Would you like a tinted display?
Blue LCD screens are quite common as you’ve seen from my list. How big do you want the display to be?
Build Quality and Materials
Build Quality can be hard to assess, especially if you’re buying online. What you can do is find out what materials are the industry standard by checking what a range of different scales are made of, then researching the properties of those materials.
The best way to get a feel for build-quality is to read up on customer reviews. See how the product held up over time.
The one thing that all viable digital scales will have in common is a stainless steel platform.
Battery, Plug, or Both
How do you plan on powering your new scales? A lot of precise digital scales will be battery-powered, but the larger you go and the more you’re willing to spend, you’re likely to come across mains powered scales, or scales that can be powered by both.
If you do settle on a battery-powered, it’s best to pair the purchase with a battery charger and some rechargeable batteries to save yourself some money and effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cheap digital scales accurate?
Yes, they can be. There will be varying degrees of quality at every price point, but if you do a little research you should be able to identify the good scales.
4 out of my 5 reviewed scales I would consider to be very affordable.
Is it bad to store a digital scale on its side?
No, it should be fine as long as there isn’t any significant pressure on one point of the platform.
More importantly for a digital scale than being flat is being stored somewhere dry with low humidity.
Final Words
A quality precision weighing scale is a must-have for any detail-oriented baker with a passion for the art and a desire to keep improving and letting their creativity run free.
I hope this has helped tip the scales on a hard decision you were trying to make or given you a bit of confidence to go out and start having a proper look around with a strong idea of what’s right for you.