# 500 g precision pocket scale > Weighs letters and card mailers to a tenth of a gram. - Scales, Starter pick - Typical UK price: £8 to £14 (a typical band, not a live price) - Platforms: Whatnot, eBay, Vinted, TikTok Shop, Depop, Etsy - Orders a week: 0–2000 - Not yet checked by a person 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. ## Kit rankings - #2 in [Best parcel scales for posting from home](https://sellersetups.com/kit/scales) ## Setups - [Coin and jewellery selling desk](https://sellersetups.com/setups/coins-jewellery-desk): A precision scale, capsules, a light box for close-ups and a careful posting routine, for selling coins and small jewellery from one desk. - [Crystal live-show garage for Whatnot and TikTok Shop](https://sellersetups.com/setups/crystal-live-shows-garage): Bulk tumbled stones in tubs, an overhead phone, LED panels and small boxes for running crystal live sales several nights a week at volume. - [eBay books, games and vinyl setup](https://sellersetups.com/setups/ebay-books-media): Two scales, rigid mailers and shelves sorted by code, so 20 to 80 books, games and records a week go out in the cheapest postage band that fits. - [Handmade silver jewellery studio for Etsy and Depop](https://sellersetups.com/setups/etsy-silver-jewellery-maker): A gram scale, a light box, gift boxes and Large Letter postage for makers selling their own rings, studs and pendants from a bench in the corner. - [Pro Whatnot streaming setup for card breaks](https://sellersetups.com/setups/pro-whatnot-streaming): A two-camera studio with app-controlled lights, a button pad for angles and a packing line, for card breakers posting 80 to 300 orders a week. - [Whatnot card break setup for sports and football cards](https://sellersetups.com/setups/sports-card-breaks): An overhead rip camera, a sorting system for hits per buyer and Large Letter packing, for running football and sports card breaks on Whatnot and eBay. - [TikTok Shop live setup for beauty sellers](https://sellersetups.com/setups/tiktok-shop-beauty-starter): A ring light, a mic, a plain backdrop and protective packing for filming TikTok videos from one corner of your room. - [Whatnot card setup: £300 starter kit](https://sellersetups.com/setups/whatnot-card-starter): Camera, lights and packing kit for running your first Whatnot card shows from a desk and shipping the orders next morning, for about £300. ## 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. ## 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. ## 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 - 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. ## Guides - [How to post Pokémon cards in the UK](https://sellersetups.com/guides/how-to-post-pokemon-cards): Sleeve, toploader, team bag and a board-backed mailer: the layers that get a Pokémon single to a UK buyer flat, plus when a Large Letter stops being enough. - [How to post jewellery safely in the UK](https://sellersetups.com/guides/post-jewellery-safely): Pick the Royal Mail service that covers a ring or a gold coin, pack it so nothing rattles, and keep the proof you need if a claim comes. - [Royal Mail sizes and prices explained](https://sellersetups.com/guides/royal-mail-sizes-and-prices): Large Letter, Small Parcel and Medium Parcel limits, our checked online prices, how to measure, and the band mistakes that cost you money. - [Trend reselling and spotting fakes](https://sellersetups.com/guides/trend-reselling-fakes): Labubu, Sonny Angels, Pokémon cards and trainers: read demand from live viewer counts, check stock before you buy, and stay on the right side of UK law. ## 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.