The short version
- Our pick: Escali Primo (P115). 11 lb / 5,000 g capacity, 1 g increments, a sealed two-button panel and a stated 4-minute auto-off.
- Budget pick: Etekcity EK6015. The same 11 lb / 1 g basics on a stainless platform, with millilitre modes, for less.
- Upgrade pick: OXO Good Grips 11 lb with pull-out display. Its display slides out so a wide bowl can’t hide the reading.
Who this is for
Anyone who bakes from recipes that list grams — or who wants their cup-based recipes to come out the same every time. If you are new to weighing, our explainer why bakers weigh ingredients shows why a cup of flour and a cup of sugar differ by nearly 80 g.
This guide covers general-purpose scales with about 5 kg (11 lb) capacity and 1 g resolution. If you need to weigh small amounts of yeast or salt precisely, a separate pocket scale with 0.1 g resolution is a different tool, which we will cover in its own guide.
Why you should trust us
This is a researched guide: we have not yet tested these scales in our own kitchen, and we say so. Our picks are based on manufacturers’ and retailers’ published specifications, each linked to a dated record in our evidence ledger, and on what matters for baking. When we complete hands-on testing, this guide will be relabelled “Tested by Erisha” and updated with our measurements. Read how we test and our editorial independence policy.
We chose these picks before checking whether any retailer pays a commission. We do not use retailer star ratings or sales ranks as a reason to recommend a product.
How we picked
We started from the scales most widely sold at major US retailers in October 2026 and kept those that met all of these criteria on paper:
- Capacity of about 5 kg (11 lb) — enough for a mixing bowl and a full batch of bread dough.
- 1 g resolution in metric mode.
- A tare (zero) function, so you can weigh ingredients one after another in one bowl.
- Grams plus US units, so it works with any recipe.
- A published model number and verifiable specifications. We excluded listings where we could not confirm which model was being sold.
Then we weighed what separates good baking scales: a display you can read with a bowl on top, an auto-off delay long enough not to lose your total mid-recipe, a platform that is easy to wipe clean, and a fair price.
Our pick: Escali Primo
Escali Primo Digital Food Scale (P115)
Escali · Model P115
- Capacity: 11 lb / 5,000 g
- Increments: 0.05 oz / 1 g
- Units: oz, lb:oz, g
- Auto-off: after 4 minutes of inactivity
- Size: 8.5 × 6 × 1.5 in
The Primo does the essentials well and keeps things simple. Escali lists 11 lb (5,000 g) capacity and 1 g / 0.05 oz increments, and the control panel is sealed with just two buttons, which makes it easy to wipe clean when flour flies. The stated 4-minute auto-off gives you time to measure several ingredients without the scale shutting down.
Flaws but not dealbreakers. The Primo offers grams, ounces and pounds-and-ounces, but no millilitre mode, so if you like measuring water by volume on the scale, the Etekcity is a better fit. Its display is fixed, so very wide bowls may overhang it. We have also not confirmed its warranty: the retailer listing we checked mentions two different warranty terms, so we are leaving it out until the manufacturer confirms it.
Budget pick: Etekcity EK6015
Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale (EK6015)
Etekcity · Model EK6015
- Capacity: 11 lb / 5 kg
- Increments: 1 g
- Units: oz, lb:oz, fl oz, g, mL
- Platform: 304 stainless steel
- Power: 2 × AAA (included)
If you mainly want grams and a reliable tare at the lowest price, the EK6015 covers the same 11 lb / 1 g basics. Its 304 stainless-steel platform is easy to clean, and it adds fluid-ounce and millilitre modes for water-like liquids. The listing states a two-year warranty.
Flaws but not dealbreakers. The listing we checked does not state an auto-off time, so we cannot yet tell you how long it stays on. Like the Primo, its display is fixed under the platform’s edge.
Upgrade pick: OXO Good Grips 11 lb with pull-out display
OXO Good Grips 11 lb Stainless Steel Food Scale with Pull-Out Display
OXO · Model 11214800
- Capacity: 11 lb
- Increments: 1 g (ounce step not stated: OXO's page gives two different figures)
- Display: Pull-out display to avoid shadowing from bowls
- Functions: Zero (tare) and unit conversion
The OXO’s defining feature solves a real annoyance: its display pulls out from the base, so a large bowl or sheet pan won’t shadow the numbers. It weighs in 1 g steps with 11 lb capacity and has zero and unit-conversion buttons. If you bake big batches in wide bowls, this is the one that removes the guesswork.
Flaws but not dealbreakers. It costs several times as much as our other picks. OXO’s documents for related models give differing auto-off details, so we have not stated one here.
Also worth considering
Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale (EK3211)
Amazon Basics · Model EK3211
- Capacity: 11 lb (about 5,000 g)
- Increments: 1 g
- Minimum load: 2 g
- Units: lb, oz, g, fl oz, mL
- Size: 8.3 × 7 × 1.3 in
The Amazon Basics EK3211 matches the budget pick on the basics — 11 lb capacity, 1 g increments, and grams, ounces and millilitres — at a similar price. We placed the Etekcity ahead because its listing states a warranty and a stainless platform, while the EK3211 listing we checked states neither a warranty nor an auto-off time.
Specifications compared
| Spec | Escali Primo Digital Food Scale (P115) | Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale (EK6015) | OXO Good Grips 11 lb Stainless Steel Food Scale with Pull-Out Display | Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale (EK3211) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 11 lb / 5,000 g | 11 lb / 5 kg | 11 lb | 11 lb (about 5,000 g) |
| Increments | 0.05 oz / 1 g | 1 g | 1 g (ounce step not stated: OXO's page gives two different figures) | 1 g |
| Units | oz, lb:oz, g | oz, lb:oz, fl oz, g, mL | — | lb, oz, g, fl oz, mL |
| Auto-off | after 4 minutes of inactivity | — | — | — |
| Warranty | — | 2 years (per listing) | — | — |
How to get accurate readings
- Use a flat, hard surface. Soft or uneven surfaces can affect readings.
- Turn it on empty, then tare. Place the bowl, press zero, and add each ingredient, pressing zero between them if you like.
- Check it occasionally. Replace the batteries when the display dims or readings drift.
- Keep it dry. Wipe the platform with a damp cloth; don’t immerse an electronic scale in water unless the manufacturer says it is waterproof.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a scale with 0.1 g resolution for baking?
Not for most baking. 1 g resolution is fine for flour, sugar, butter and liquids. A 0.1 g pocket scale helps only when you weigh very small amounts, such as yeast or salt in a small batch.
Why don’t you show star ratings?
We base our picks on verified specifications and, once we test, on our own measurements. Customer star ratings can’t tell you how a scale performs for baking, and some retailers don’t permit them to be republished.
Are these available in Canada?
We have not yet verified Canadian retailers and prices for these scales. When we do, Canadian readers will see them automatically.
Sources
- Escali Primo P115, Amazon.com product listing (EV-0005), accessed October 28, 2026.
- Etekcity EK6015, Amazon.com product listing (EV-0003), accessed October 28, 2026.
- OXO Good Grips 11 lb Stainless Steel Food Scale with Pull-Out Display, oxo.com product page (EV-0006), accessed October 28, 2026.
- Amazon Basics EK3211, Amazon.com product listing (EV-0004), accessed October 28, 2026.
- Amazon.com Best Sellers, Kitchen Scales, snapshot (EV-0001), October 28, 2026 — used to identify widely sold models, not as a quality signal.
- King Arthur Baking. Ingredient Weight Chart. kingarthurbaking.com.
Last updated October 28, 2026. Spotted an error or an outdated price? See our corrections policy.