A lower-priced platform scale for everyday parcels.
Typical price
£12 to £20
Why we pick it
- Typical price
- £12 to £20
- Works with
Covers the parcels most home sellers ship, up to 30 kg. Choose it when the 40 kg scale is out of stock.
Good for
- A cheaper platform scale
- Lighter parcels
Not for
- Heavy boxed items near its limit
Our approved alternative for the same job: 40 kg digital parcel scale
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
A 30 kg platform for clothes, books and toys
You post clothes, books, toys and the occasional boxed pair of trainers, and nothing you send comes near 30 kg. A flat platform scale with that capacity covers the parcels you send, at £12 to £20.
It is our pick when the 40 kg scale is out of stock, and a sound choice in its own right if your heaviest parcel is a box of books.
Platform, display and gram steps
Choose a stainless steel platform wide enough for a shoebox, a display you can read when the box hangs over the edge, and steps of 1 g up to a few kilograms. Some models switch to coarser steps such as 5 or 10 g near their top weight. Check the listing for the exact figures.
Tare, a hold function and a choice of kg or lb on screen all help. A battery model with a mains adapter option keeps you weighing when the batteries die halfway through a batch.
Weighing sealed parcels beside the printer
Put the scale on a firm, level surface next to your label printer. Weigh each parcel fully packed and sealed, label included: packaging and tape add weight that can change the price band.
Use tare to weigh contents in a bowl or tray before you choose the box. Courier weight bands are strict, so compare the reading with your carrier's current price guide and round up if it sits on the line.
Kit for this step
The 40 kg scale or a pocket scale instead
The 40 kg digital parcel scale has a separate display on a cable, which you can read when a big box covers the platform. Pick it for bulky parcels.
The 500 g precision pocket scale weighs to 0.1 g. If you sell cards and check Large Letter weights, add it alongside a platform scale.
Testing it against a bag of sugar
Weigh a sealed 1 kg bag of sugar when you first set the scale up and every few months after.
Replace weak batteries. Low power can drift readings by a few grams, enough to push a parcel into the next price band.
Common mistakes
Each one costs you money or reviews, and each has a fix.
- Set the scale on a hard, level surface: a carpet or a wobbly table gives a low reading.
- An item weighed before packing leaves out the box and tape, so the parcel you declare comes in light. Weigh it sealed.
- Keep the parcel clear of the wall and anything else. A box resting against something takes weight off the platform.
- Keep spare batteries in the drawer, because readings drift once the low battery warning shows.
Ranked in
Where it places in our rankings, and the reason.
Setups that use it
Complete kits this product is part of.
Guides that use it
Step-by-step help where this product does a job.
Questions
Is 30 kg enough for a home seller?
Yes. Clothing, books, toys and homeware rarely go anywhere near it. Your courier's own weight limits may sit lower than the scale's, so check those.
How accurate is a 30 kg postal scale?
Most read in steps of 1 g at low weights and coarser steps near the top. The listing gives the exact steps.
Can I weigh a Large Letter on it?
You can, though a 0.1 g pocket scale gives a closer reading for small mailers near a weight limit.
Do I need a separate display?
You need one only if your boxes hide the screen. The 40 kg model has a display on a cable for that reason.
Alternatives
Other picks for the same job, cheaper and pricier.
500 g precision pocket scale
Card orders often sit within a few grams of a Royal Mail weight limit. A precise small scale tells you whether a mailer goes as a Large Letter or a parcel.
Typical price£8 to £14
See on Amazon40 kg digital parcel scale
A wrong weight costs you surcharges or overpaid postage. A flat platform scale with a separate display stays readable when a box covers the top.
Typical price£15 to £25
See on Amazon