A lower-priced platform scale for everyday packages.
Typical price
$20 to $35
Why we pick it
- Typical price
- $20 to $35
- Works with
Covers the packages most home sellers ship, up to 66 lb. Choose it when the 110 lb scale is out of stock.
Good for
- A cheaper platform scale
- Lighter packages
Not for
- Heavy boxed items near its limit
Our approved alternative for the same job: 110 lb shipping scale with fold-up display
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
A 66 lb platform for clothes, books and toys
You ship clothes, books, toys and the occasional boxed pair of sneakers, and nothing you send comes near 66 lb. A flat platform scale with that capacity covers your packages, at $20 to $35.
It is our pick when the 110 lb scale is out of stock, and a sound choice in its own right if your heaviest package is a box of books.
Platform, display and ounce steps
Choose a stainless steel platform wide enough for a shoebox, a display you can read when the box hangs over the edge, and fine steps of a tenth of an ounce at low weights. Some models switch to coarser steps near their top weight. Check the listing for the exact figures.
Tare, a hold function and a choice of lb, oz or kg on screen all help. A battery model with a USB or wall power option keeps you weighing when the batteries die halfway through a batch.
Weighing sealed packages beside the printer
Put the scale on a firm, level surface next to your label printer. Weigh each package fully packed and sealed, label included: the box and tape add weight that can change the price.
Use tare to weigh contents in a bowl or tray before you choose the box. USPS and UPS price by weight breaks, so compare the reading with the rate in Pirate Ship or your platform and round up if it sits on the line.
Kit for this step
The 110 lb scale or a pocket scale instead
The 110 lb digital shipping scale has a display that folds up 90 degrees, which you can read when a big box covers the platform. Pick it for bulky packages.
The pocket scale weighs to 0.01 oz. If you sell cards and ship near the 1 oz letter limit, or the 4 oz and 8 oz steps of retail Ground Advantage (commercial rates have one price under 1 lb), add it alongside a platform scale.
Testing it against a bag of sugar
Weigh a sealed 4 lb 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 fraction of an ounce, enough to push a package into the next price.
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 label you buy comes in light. Weigh it sealed.
- Keep the package 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
Straight answers to what sellers ask about this.
Is 66 lb enough for a home seller?
Yes. Clothing, books, toys and home goods rarely come close. Your carrier's own limits may sit lower than the scale's, so check those.
How accurate is a 66 lb shipping scale?
Most read in tenths of an ounce at low weights and coarser steps near the top. The listing gives the exact steps.
Can I weigh a letter on it?
You can, though a pocket scale gives a closer reading for small mailers near a weight limit.
Do I need a fold-up display?
Only if your boxes hide the screen. The 110 lb model has a display that folds up for that reason.
Alternatives
Other picks for the same job, cheaper and pricier.
500 g precision pocket scale
Card orders often sit a fraction of an ounce from a postage price break. A precise small scale tells you whether a mailer stays in the cheaper weight step.
Typical price$8 to $15
See on Amazon110 lb shipping scale with fold-up display
A wrong weight gets you an adjustment charge from the carrier or postage you overpaid. This platform scale takes up to 110 lb, and its backlit display folds up 90 degrees, so you can still read it when a box hangs over the top.
Typical price$18 to $30
See on Amazon