This $12 Tool Has Saved Me So Much Embarrassment at the Airport
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Here’s a nightmare situation most of us have experienced at least once: You rush to the airport and wait in line at check-in only to find out your bag is a couple of pounds overweight. Then, with the whole line as your audience, you’re forced to re-distribute your belongings between bags, re-weighing and re-packing multiple times over.
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At a Glance: The Best Luggage Scales
Best Overall: Etekcity Luggage Scale
Runner-Up: Freetoo Luggage Scale
Sleek Design: Fosmon Digital Luggage Scale 2-Pack
Most Versatile: Etekcity Multi-Use Digital Scale
Comfortable Handle: EatSmart SmartGrip Digital Luggage Scale
Luckily, there’s an easy fix: luggage scales. These cheap, portable devices let you accurately weigh bags at home (and again before the return flight) so you can avoid any embarrassment at check-in. I’ve had this $12 scale from Etekcity in my bag for years — both for checked luggage and carry-on bags taken on strict European airlines — and now I can’t imagine packing without it.
If you’re looking to avoid the above nightmare on your next trip, we highly recommend getting a luggage scale. Below are some of the best luggage scales to buy on Amazon right now.
In This Article
The Best Luggage Scales to Buy Right Now
Luggage Scale Buying Guide
How We Chose the Best Luggage Scales
The Best Luggage Scales to Buy Right Now
Below is our roundup of the best luggage scales you can find online right now, starting at just $10. After getting so much use out of my Etekcity scale, I tested other best-selling luggage scales to see if I wasn’t missing out on better options. Below are all the ones I liked that are also well-reviewed by Amazon customers with an average rating of at least 3.7/5 stars.
1. Etekcity Luggage Scale
$11.98
With more than 53,000+ reviews and a 4.7/5-star rating on Amazon, it’s easy to see why many people have chosen this luggage scale from Etekcity as their designated packing companion. It’s got everything you’d want in your perfect luggage scale (accurate weighings, digital display, weight lock) as well as a thermometer sensor, energy conservation mode, and an overload sensor just in case you’ve truly packed too much. Best of all, it’s incredibly affordable at $12 (and might save you an overweight bag fee). I’ve kept one in my bag for the last few years and have never had an issue.
2. Freetoo Luggage Scale
$9.87 $15.99 38% off
We love this Freetoo luggage scale‘s LCD display that demands your attention, allowing you to read the screen clearly no matter how light or dark the room you’re in is. It also automatically locks the weight of your bag(s), resets the scale to zero and turns off after 60 seconds of inactivity; all you actually have to do is attach the scale to your bag via the durable handle.
3. Fosmon Digital Luggage Scale 2-Pack
$10.98 $16.99 35% off
They say two is better than one, and with this two-pack luggage scale set from Fosmon that couldn’t be truer. Whether you’re a particularly forgetful person or you’d just feel more comfortable knowing you have an extra on hand, these scales will prevent any bag weight-related packing woes. The ergonomic design makes them easy to use and the LCD screen makes it easy to read, whether you need to weigh in pounds, kilograms, or even ounces and grams. You’ll be the envy of the check-in line at the airport.
4. Etekcity Multi-Use Digital Scale
$12.99
If you’re looking for a little more bang for your buck, this digital Etekcity scale is a multi-hyphenate; not only can it weigh your luggage, but packages, camping gear, and fish too. No matter what it is you’re trying to measure, you’ll be able to do so clearly, accurately, and easily thanks to the LCD display and non-slip handle. It can measure up to 110 pounds in four different units: grams, ounces, pounds, and kilograms.
5. EatSmart SmartGrip Digital Luggage Scale
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$20.99
This EatSmart scale‘s nylon strap and heavy-duty buckle make it extremely durable and ready to weigh your suitcases, backpacks, and bags of all sizes with ease and accuracy. Simply loop the strap on the handle of your bag and lift it using the handle. This scale actually beeps when it’s ready for you to release the bag and locks the weight so you have a chance to make note of it and know you’re getting the most precise weight.
Luggage Scale Buying Guide
Though they’re pretty simple devices, here are some things to look for when shopping for the best luggage scales online.
Weight Capacity: Bags that are 50 pounds or less are typically fine for most airlines, but things get tricky the closer you get to 100 pounds; some airlines will actually refuse bags that are too heavy. It’s best to have a scale with a higher weight capacity of at least 100 pounds so that you can be sure you’re in the clear.
Display: It’s one thing to weigh your luggage, but can you actually read your scale? Look for a digital scale so that you can read the weight clearly — even better if it has a light-up screen. And if you’re an international traveler, make sure it can weigh your bags in both pounds and kilograms.
Weight Lock: This is a nifty little feature that can save you a headache; the weight of the scale is locked so that you have more time to see how much your bag weighs.
Durability: I like to keep my luggage scale in the outside pocket of my check bag, which means it’s subjected to plenty of hard hits in transit. If you plan to do the same, you’ll want a durable luggage scale that can keep working properly for at least several trips.
How We Chose the Best Luggage Scales
While testing luggage scales, I considered ease of use first — turning it on, clipping to bags, etc. — and durability second. To test durability, I took different scales in the outer pocket of checked luggage, and I dropped them myself from chest high a few times. After testing a few, I researched other customers’ experiences via Amazon reviews and other expert reviews in other publications to land on the five options above.
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