Traveling should be an exciting experience, but the stress of baggage fees and the dreaded luggage counter re-packing drill can quickly dampen your vacation spirit. Imagine the frustration of unexpectedly having to pay extra for overweight luggage, or worse, scrambling to redistribute items at check-in. Fortunately, there’s a simple and cost-effective travel hack to eliminate this airport anxiety: investing in a Travel Bag Weight Scale. These portable, accurate, and often multi-functional devices are your best defense against surprise fees, saving you both time and money before you even reach your destination.
With a wide array of travel bag weight scales available in various sizes, prices, and designs, choosing the right one can seem overwhelming. To simplify your decision, we rigorously tested 15 different luggage scales. Our tests involved weighing 10-pound and 25-pound kettlebells to assess accuracy. The results were eye-opening: some scales were perfectly precise, while others missed the mark entirely. A few even broke during transit to our testing lab, proving that not all luggage scales are created equal. To help you travel smarter and lighter, we’ve identified the top six travel bag weight scales that stood out in our evaluations, offering travelers peace of mind and precision packing.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Travel Inspira Digital Luggage Scale at Amazon $10
Jump to Review - Most Durable: Etekcity Digital Luggage Scale at Amazon $12
Jump to Review - Best Budget: Dr. Meter 110 lb Luggage Scale at Amazon $9
Jump to Review - Best Built-in Measuring Tape: Kingon Digital Hanging Luggage Scale at Amazon $26
Jump to Review - Best Battery-free: Ozeri Twist-and-Go Kinetic Kitchen and Luggage Scale at Amazon $21
Jump to Review - Best Manual: Samsonite Manual Scale at Amazon $12
Jump to Review
Best Overall
Travel Inspira Digital Luggage Scale
PHOTO: Amazon
$10 at Amazon View on Travelinspira.com
Why We Love It: The handle features a non-slip grip, making lifting heavy luggage easier and more secure.
What to Consider: The backlight on the screen could be brighter for optimal visibility in all lighting conditions.
Lifting heavy luggage to weigh it can be cumbersome, which is why we appreciate the thoughtful design of the Travel Inspira Digital Luggage Scale. It incorporates a non-slip grip material on the inside of the handle, providing enhanced control and reducing strain while measuring your bag’s weight. With a simple press of a button, the scale powers on and allows you to toggle between pounds and kilograms. It also conveniently includes a temperature gauge, displaying readings in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. Attaching the scale to luggage handles was effortless; the loop easily secured with the clip. We were impressed by its accuracy, noting only minor variations of a few ounces when compared to our calibrated kettlebells. The screen’s weight-hold feature is another user-friendly aspect, giving you ample time to read the displayed measurement even after setting down the bag. Its compact size is a significant advantage, easily fitting into your travel bag for weighing luggage on your return journey.
The Details: Digital | 110-pound capacity | Pounds, kilograms, Fahrenheit, Celsius | Backlit
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Alexander Huang
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Alexander Huang
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
Most Durable
Etekcity Digital Luggage Scale
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PHOTO: Amazon
Why We Love It: Our team uses this scale in our testing lab for hundreds of luggage pieces, and it remains in excellent working condition, highlighting its robust build.
What to Consider: While compact, its smaller size means it lacks an enhanced grip.
The Travel + Leisure team puts hundreds of suitcases through rigorous testing in our lab, and the Etekcity Digital Luggage Scale is our trusted tool for weighing them all. Its consistent use in our demanding environment is a testament to its exceptional durability. This scale is built to last, withstanding frequent use and the inevitable bumps and jostles of travel, especially if you decide to pack it in your checked luggage after verifying your bag’s weight. Operation is straightforward with just two buttons: one to power the device on/off and another to switch between measurement units. The sturdy fabric loop with a metal clip makes attaching it to luggage handles quick and secure. In terms of accuracy, it showed only minor discrepancies of a few ounces compared to our kettlebells, which we consider highly reliable. It’s always wise to allow a bit of buffer room regarding luggage weight limits, just to be safe, and this scale helps you do just that. Designed to be pocket-sized, its compact form is ideal for portability, though the small size means the grip isn’t as substantial as larger models when lifting heavier bags.
The Details: Digital | 110-pound capacity | Pounds, kilograms, Fahrenheit, Celcius
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
Best Budget
Dr. Meter 110 lb Luggage Scale
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PHOTO: Amazon
Why We Love It: It emerged as the most accurate scale we tested in the under $10 price range, offering exceptional value.
What to Consider: Unlike some other models tested, it does not feature a non-slip grip for enhanced handling.
For travelers needing a last-minute essential before their trip, especially a reliable travel bag weight scale, the Dr. Meter 110 lb Luggage Scale is an excellent, budget-friendly choice, often available with Amazon Prime’s fast two-day shipping. Our senior editor, Jasmine Grant, found its user interface incredibly intuitive, appreciating its straightforward, no-frills design. It features just two buttons: one for power and another for toggling between pounds and kilograms, or accessing the temperature gauge. Similar to our top overall pick, this scale demonstrated remarkable accuracy in our tests using 10-pound and 25-pound kettlebells, showing only a marginal difference of a few ounces. It is incredibly lightweight and compact, making it ideal for both home storage and packing inside your suitcase. While its smaller size means it’s slightly less comfortable to grip when weighing heavier bags, this is a minor trade-off given its performance and price. After six months of use, including a recent two-week trip across Croatia and Copenhagen, Grant reports that the original battery is still going strong and the scale shows no signs of wear, demonstrating its lasting quality.
The Details: Digital | 110-pound capacity | Pounds, kilograms, Fahrenheit, Celsius | Backlit
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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Best Built-in Measuring Tape
Kingon Digital Hanging Luggage Scale
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PHOTO: Amazon
Why We Love It: This scale uniquely integrates a built-in measuring tape, adding extra utility for travelers needing to check luggage dimensions.
What to Consider: The metal hook might be slightly small for accommodating very thick luggage handles.
With airlines increasingly stringent about luggage restrictions and baggage fees, the Kingon Digital Hanging Luggage Scale offers a valuable advantage with its integrated tape measure. This feature is particularly beneficial for those using expandable luggage, allowing you to quickly verify if your carry-on meets airline size limits for overhead compartments. Beyond the convenient measuring tape, this scale impressed us with its robust design, feeling capable of withstanding the often-rough handling at airports. The handle is crafted from steel metal with a rubber coating, providing a superior grip, and the display screen is notably larger than other scales we tested, ensuring easy readability of weights in kilograms or pounds. Accuracy was commendable, with measurements deviating by no more than five ounces from our kettlebell standards. The hook design facilitates easy lifting of luggage by the handle, though it might be a tighter fit for exceptionally thick handles. T+L testing editor Jackie Cucco also appreciated the friendly “hi” and “bye” greetings displayed on the screen upon powering the device on and off, adding a touch of personality. While its added features and durability have proven useful over six months of testing, Cucco points out that it’s somewhat heavy and bulky, making it less ideal for packing during travel. She recommends using it primarily at home before traveling and packing a smaller, more compact scale for on-the-go use.
The Details: Digital | 110-pound capacity | Pounds, kilograms | Backlit | Built-in tape measure
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Alexander Huang
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Alexander Huang
Best Battery-free
Ozeri Twist-and-Go Kinetic Kitchen and Luggage Scale
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PHOTO: Amazon
Why We Love It: Simply twisting the device activates the screen, eliminating the need for batteries and ensuring it’s always ready to use.
What to Consider: The loop lacks a clip, which can make it slightly less convenient to attach to luggage handles compared to clip-equipped models.
The standout feature of the Ozeri Twist-and-Go Kinetic Kitchen and Luggage Scale is its innovative motion-powered design. You’ll never have to worry about dead batteries disrupting your packing process. A few twists of the device are all it takes to power up the digital screen. The screen also includes a helpful battery icon that indicates when the power is low and more kinetic energy is needed. In terms of accuracy, this scale performed on par with other top contenders, registering only minor ounce differences when weighing our kettlebells. Its small, circular form factor makes it exceptionally easy to store – whether tucked away in a kitchen drawer or slipped into a pocket of your carry-on backpack, its compact size is a definite advantage. Because it doesn’t have a traditional ergonomic handle, the grip isn’t as comfortable as T-shaped luggage scales, but its smaller footprint is a worthwhile trade-off for travelers prioritizing space. One design detail to note is that the loop is continuous and lacks a detachable clip. This means you’ll need to thread the entire loop through your luggage handle for attachment, which is slightly less convenient than clip-style closures.
The Details: Kinetically charged | 77-pound capacity | Pounds, kilograms
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Alexander Huang
Best Manual
Samsonite Manual Scale
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PHOTO: Amazon
Why We Love It: During our testing, this manual scale was the only device to achieve perfect weight accuracy, providing precise readings.
What to Consider: It is slightly larger and heavier compared to digital scales, which may be a factor for travelers focused on minimizing packing bulk.
The Samsonite Manual Scale distinguished itself as the most accurate travel bag weight scale in our tests, delivering perfect readings for both 10-pound and 25-pound weights. While all the digital scales we evaluated showed minor variations of a few ounces – a common and generally acceptable level of discrepancy – we were particularly impressed by the Samsonite’s exact measurements. The scale’s display is large enough to read at a glance. However, when lifting heavier items like a 50-pound suitcase, the reading can become a little more challenging due to hand tremors. The handle is comfortably shaped for a secure grip, and attaching the hook to a suitcase handle is straightforward, requiring just a slight adjustment to fit it securely. While it is a bit bulkier than digital scales, we believe the trade-off is worthwhile for travelers who prioritize unwavering accuracy and the reliability of a battery-free device. After six months of testing, we observed that the Samsonite Manual Scale doesn’t feel quite as robust as some other models, particularly when handling heavier 50-pound suitcases, although it has remained functional without any breakages. One potential drawback, especially for solo travelers, is that the scale’s face points away from you as you weigh your luggage, which can make reading the measurement a bit awkward.
The Details: Manual | 80-pound capacity | Pounds, kilograms | Built-in tape measure
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Alexander Huang
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PHOTO: Travel + Leisure / Joy Kim
Other Luggage Scales We Liked
From the 15 travel bag weight scales we tested, several others performed well but didn’t quite make our top recommendations list due to minor drawbacks, as detailed below.
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Travelon Stop & Lock Luggage Scale: This scale offered accuracy comparable to our best manual pick, but it fell short in handle comfort and overall material quality, which felt less durable.
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Tumi Electronic Luggage Scale: With its sleek and compact design, the Tumi scale is visually appealing and portable. However, it lacked the pinpoint accuracy of some competitors and carries a premium price tag of $75, making it a less compelling value proposition.
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Our Testing Process
Purchasing a travel bag weight scale might seem straightforward, but our experience revealed significant variations in quality and performance across available options. After extensive research and procurement, we shipped a range of luggage scales to our New York City testing lab. Alarmingly, some arrived damaged – broken, cracked, or even leaking oil. However, from the 15 scales that were functional, we identified six that clearly outperformed the rest across several critical metrics. While precise numerical accuracy was paramount, we allowed for minor deviations of a few ounces from the calibrated 10-pound and 25-pound kettlebells and a 50-pound suitcase we used as benchmarks.
Our evaluation also encompassed ease of use and overall user experience. We assessed the intuitiveness of operation and carefully examined the durability and functionality of each scale’s components, including buttons, loops, hooks, screens, and handles. Given the diverse sizes, materials, and shapes of the scales, we paid close attention to handle comfort when lifting heavy loads and the perceived longevity of the materials used in construction.
Tips for Buying Luggage Scales
Choosing the best travel bag weight scale involves considering several factors to match your specific travel needs. Here are key tips to guide your purchase:
Decide if you want something digital or manual
Our testing highlighted distinct advantages and disadvantages for both manual and digital scales. Digital scales generally offer lighter weight and easier readability thanks to backlit LCD screens, making them convenient for travel. Manual scales, however, excel in accuracy and eliminate battery dependence, ensuring they’re always ready without the need for charging or battery replacements.
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Look for preferred units of measurement
While the United States primarily uses the imperial system (pounds), the metric system (kilograms) is standard across most of the world. Ensure your travel bag weight scale supports your preferred unit of measurement. Given that many international airlines specify weight limits in kilograms, a scale offering both pounds and kilograms can be exceptionally useful, eliminating the need for on-the-spot conversions when you’re trying to quickly weigh your bag at check-in. Additionally, some digital scales include temperature gauges displaying readings in Fahrenheit or Celsius, which can be a handy bonus feature for travelers.
Pay attention to additional features
While the primary function of a travel bag weight scale is weight measurement, some models offer extra functionalities that can be beneficial. Features like built-in tape measures and temperature gauges add versatility. Motion-powered scales that use kinetic energy to charge their digital screens remove the worry of battery life. Always verify the maximum weight capacity of a luggage scale to ensure it meets your needs and avoid potential damage from overloading.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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How do you use a luggage scale?
While specific instructions may vary by model, using a travel bag weight scale generally involves attaching the scale to your suitcase using its hook or loop, powering on the device (if digital), and lifting the luggage by the scale’s handle. Wait for the weight reading to stabilize on the scale or screen. Most digital scales offer a tare function for zeroing out the weight of containers or bags for more precise measurements.
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Are bathroom scales accurate for weighing luggage?
Bathroom scales can provide a general indication of luggage weight at home. However, relying on finding a scale at your hotel for your return journey is risky. The key advantage of a dedicated travel bag weight scale is its portability. Designed specifically for travel, it eliminates guesswork and the risk of overweight baggage fees, offering peace of mind throughout your trip.
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Are luggage scales accurate?
Reputable travel bag weight scales are generally accurate. To verify accuracy, you can test your scale against another known scale if available. Regardless of accuracy, it’s always prudent to pack slightly under the maximum weight limit, allowing a pound or two of buffer. This precaution helps avoid any issues at the airport due to minor scale inaccuracies or airline scale variations.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
Anna Popp is an associate editor at Travel + Leisure, specializing in writing about and reviewing travel products. Having experienced the sting of over $500 in overweight luggage fees on a single flight, Anna learned a valuable lesson and now considers her travel bag weight scale an indispensable travel companion. She contributed to the testing for this guide, drawing from her personal experiences with luggage restrictions to inform our recommendations of the best scales we evaluated.
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Edited by Jackie Cucco
Jackie Cucco
Jackie Cucco is a testing editor at Travel + Leisure, responsible for planning product tests and writing/editing travel product reviews based on rigorous, in-depth testing. Her background includes experience as a travel agent, a journalism degree, and over eight years of experience covering consumer products and creating gift guides. She has made over 100 television appearances discussing consumer products and shopping trends.
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Anne Taylor
Anne Taylor is an updates writer at Travel + Leisure, where she ensures articles are current and accurate. As a passionate traveler who has visited 23 countries, she is constantly evaluating new products to enhance her travel experiences. She holds a bachelor’s degree in news media and has worked as a writer and editor for over seven years.
and Asia London Palomba
Asia London Palomba
Asia London Palomba is a trilingual Italian writer from Rome, currently based in Boston. Her writing focuses on food, travel, and history, covering topics ranging from essential travel products for India trips to medieval judicial duels.
