Weighs letters and card mailers to a tenth of a gram.
Typical price
£8 to £14
Why we pick it
- Typical price
- £8 to £14
- Works with
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.
Good for
- Card mailers and letters
- Items near a weight band
Not for
- Anything over 500 g
Our approved alternative for the same job: 30 kg digital postal scale
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Cards, coins and jewellery near a weight limit
You send trading cards, coins, jewellery or stickers in Large Letters and small mailers, where the weight sits within a few grams of a limit. A 500 g scale reading to 0.1 g tells you which side of the line you are on.
Keep it beside a parcel scale as a second scale for small items. At £8 to £14, it costs less than one surcharged parcel.
Kit for this step
0.1 g steps, tare and a tray lid
Buy one with a 500 g maximum, 0.1 g steps, a tare button and a lid that doubles as a weighing tray. A backlit screen helps under a desk lamp.
Most models include a calibration weight or ask for one; the listing says which. Calibration keeps the 0.1 g reading honest.
Weighing mailers at the desk
Keep it on the desk beside your card mailers. Weigh a finished mailer with the label on; if it sits close to a limit, swap a toploader for a thinner sleeve or a lighter mailer.
Calibrate it with the supplied weight when you move it or change the batteries. Keep it away from fans and draughts, which can shift a light reading.
Kit for this step
Pairing it with a platform scale
The 30 kg digital postal scale weighs boxes and larger parcels. Make it your main scale and add this one for small mailers.
The 40 kg digital parcel scale suits heavier or bulkier boxes. Neither platform scale reads small mailers as finely as this one.
Royal Mail limits and small mailers
Royal Mail sets weight and thickness limits for Letters and Large Letters, and the limits and prices change; look them up in Royal Mail's size guide before you set your mailers.
Weigh a full sample of each mailer setup once and note the weight. From then on you know at a glance which service each order needs.
Common mistakes
Each one costs you money or reviews, and each has a fix.
- An item weighed without its mailer, label and card protection reads light. Weigh the sealed letter.
- Anything over 500 g belongs on a parcel scale; overloading this one can damage the sensor.
- Recalibrate with the supplied weight after you move the scale, or readings drift.
- A fan or an open window makes readings jump, so weigh in still air.
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
Why do I need 0.1 g accuracy?
Card mailers often sit a gram or two from a Royal Mail weight limit. A 1 g scale can round a 100.4 g letter down to 100 g.
Can it replace my parcel scale?
No. It stops at 500 g, so keep a platform scale for boxes and parcels.
How do I calibrate it?
Most models have a calibration mode and come with a weight. Follow the instructions in the box after changing batteries or moving it.
Will a mailer fit on the platform?
Small mailers and envelopes usually fit on the tray or lid. A larger envelope can overhang if it stays clear of the desk.
Alternatives
Other picks for the same job, cheaper and pricier.
30 kg digital postal scale
Covers the parcels most home sellers ship, up to 30 kg. Choose it when the 40 kg scale is out of stock.
Typical price£12 to £20
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