The 10 Best Body Fat Monitors of 2023

Despite being a flawed measure , BMI is widely used today in the medical community because it is an inexpensive and quick method for analyzing potential health status and outcomes.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a dated, biased measure that doesn’t account for several factors, such as body composition, ethnicity, race, gender, and age.

When shopping for a body fat monitor, consider if you need to be able to toss it in your gym bag or if it can sit in your bathroom at home. If multiple people will be using it, you may need a style that stores multiple profiles or links to an app. We evaluated our picks based on what style they are, the types of measurements they take, and data memory and other smart features.

“When choosing a body fat monitor, it’s important that you choose one that fits your lifestyle,” says Kim Mahony, RD, LDN , corporate manager of nutritional services at Lutheran Life Communities. Scales are good for home and don’t require any training to use while calipers are portable but may require assistance from a friend or trainer to use properly. Mahony notes that while all body fat monitors have some accuracy limitations, measuring using the same method every time gives you helpful info.

Body fat monitors are tools that can provide data to support a healthy lifestyle. Monitors can be scales, handheld devices, or calipers that calculate your percentage of body fat versus lean body mass and can help track change or progression over time. Most body fat monitors measure body composition through bioelectrical impedance or skinfold measurements.

Withings Body + Body Composition Wi-Fi Scale

4.6

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5

Pros

• Accurate readings

• Auto user recognition

• User-friendly

Cons

• Expensive

• App needs improvement

Withings Body+ Body Composition Wi-Fi Scale—Track Your Progress With Ease

This body fat monitoring scale is our top overall choice and an excellent option for the tech-savvy user who is looking for both goal-setting assistance and a sense of accountability. It uses bioelectric impedance to analyze your full body composition, stores data for up to eight people, and automatically recognizes those people when they step on the scale. It syncs with the Health Mate app, which tracks all wellness data points over time so you don’t have to record anything manually.

Testing Notes: “The scale’s ability to connect to your phone takes it a step above the scales of yesteryear. After the initial setup, the scale automatically sends all measurements to your phone within a few minutes of weigh-in. The ability to track your fitness progress without any manual charts or extra work allows you to focus completely on getting the results you’re after.”

Connecting to the app and setting up the scale is simple and easy, and the app hosts a slew of special features for anyone interested in really digging into the many aspects of their health.

Price at time of publication: $100

Key Specs:
Style: Scale | Data Memory: Up to eight users—data points stored in app | Smart Features: Syncs with health apps via WiFi

Verywell Fit / Joline Buscemi 

EatSmart Digital Body Fat Scale with Auto Recognition Technology

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Pros

• Precise measurements

• Displays English and metric units

• 400-pound weight capacity

Cons

• Doesn’t store data points

• Doesn’t measure BMI

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This scale uses bioelectric impedance to estimate your body fat percentage, muscle mass, bone mass, and total body water, in addition to measuring body weight in 0.2-pound and 0.1-kilogram increments. It can support up to eight user profiles, but it does not store any scale data for those users.

After you set up your profile with the scale—providing your height, age, gender, activity level, and an initial weigh-in—it automatically recognizes you when you step on in the future.

Testing Notes: “Besides telling you your weight in units of 0.2 pounds or 0.1 kilograms, this scale also uses a small electric current to measure body fat, water, muscle, and bone mass.  Up to eight users can store their profiles on the scale and the scale will automatically recognize which person is using it. The scale performed well, but I found myself missing having it display a body mass index.”

For ideal results, stand on the scale in bare, dry feet whenever you want a new reading. And remember that people with pacemakers should not use bioelectrical impedance body fat monitors due to the (otherwise harmless) electric current they require to take a measurement.

Price at time of publication: $30

Key Specs:
Style: Scale | Data Memory: Up to eight users, but no data points | Smart Features: User autorecognition

Accu-Measure Body Fat Caliper

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Pros

• Affordable

• Lightweight

• Easy to use

Cons

• Requires a second person for proper use

• Slightly uncomfortable

If you have a friend, family member, or trainer who can help you measure your body fat percentage with skinfold calipers, go ahead and snag this very affordable wellness tool. Used by fitness professionals across the globe, skin calipers offer a simple way to measure subcutaneous fat.

Think of this tool as a fat-specific measuring tape. These calipers are lightweight, easily portable, and very simple to use. They are also endorsed by the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation as the premiere fat caliper measuring tool on the market. What’s more, folks who are less than tech-savvy tend to prefer manual options such as this one. 

Price at time of publication: $15

Key Specs:
Style: Calipers | Data Memory: None | Smart Features: None

Yunmai Premium Smart Scale

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Pros

• 10 health measurements

• Maps data in a graph format

• Easy to use

Cons

• Sync trouble between app and scale

• Can only measure weight without app

Just because you’re curious about your body fat percentage doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to this single wellness metric. The YUNMAI Premium Smart Scale provides 10 essential health measurements to help you keep close tabs on your physical fitness: weight, body fat percentage, muscle mass, water percentage, bone mass, visceral fat, body mass index, basal metabolic rate, protein, and body age.

The scale syncs with a proprietary app (which also syncs with Apple Health, Fitbit, and Google Fit) to provide all of these metrics along with indications of where you fall in low, normal, and high ranges. Without the app, the scale will still tell you how much you weigh.

The app can store the data of up to 16 users of a single scale, and it holds endless data points, tracking them in graph and list format for you over time.

Price at time of publication: $70

Key Specs:
Style: Scale | Data Memory: Up to 16 users—unlimited data points in app | Smart Features: Syncs with a proprietary app, which syncs with Apple Health, Fitbit, and Google Fit, via Bluetooth

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FITINDEX Bluetooth Body Fat Scale

4.2

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Pros

• 13 body measurements

• Compares to health benchmarks

• Data export available

Cons

• Can only measure weight without the app

• Lacks durability

Unlimited users and unlimited data points can be stored in the app for any given scale, and it even lets you select data from specified periods for comparison and export it in a CSV file for long-term storage. Without your phone, you can still see how much you weigh. 

It syncs with a proprietary app (which also syncs with Apple Health, Google Fit, and Samsung Health) to provide all of these metrics, along with indications of how your information compares to the average benchmarks of health.

Take your fitness data to the next level with the FITINDEX Bluetooth Body Fat Scale. It offers 13 body composition measurements: weight, body mass index, body fat percentage, water percentage, skeletal muscle mass, fat-free body weight, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, total muscle mass, bone mass, protein, basal metabolic rate, and body age.

Price at time of publication: $21

Key Specs:
Style: Scale | Data Memory: Unlimited users; unlimited data points in app | Smart Features: Syncs with a proprietary app, which syncs with Apple Health, Google Fit, and Samsung Health, via Bluetooth

Tanita BF-679 Body Fat/Body Water Scale

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Pros

• Simplistic design

• Accurate measurements

• Compares to health benchmarks

Cons

• Bulky design

• Temperamental with foot position

Getting back to basics, the Tanita scale shows you the primary readings you need directly on the scale’s display, so you can quickly check in on your fitness progress and then get on with the rest of your day. Using bioelectric impedance, the scale accurately calculates your body fat percentage and body water levels, in addition to your total body weight. It also includes a weight-only feature for those who prefer it.

The scale can remember data from two users, which load with the press of either of the two buttons on the side panel, instantly comparing their readings to healthy ranges based on user-reported age and gender. It also features a guest mode, which allows anyone to use the scale without impacting the information already assigned to the personal keys.

Price at time of publication: $70

Key Specs:
Style: Scale | Data Memory: Up to two users—unlimited data points | Smart Features: None

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Zinnor Digital Body Fat Analyzer

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Pros

• Simple design

• Easy to control

• Budget-friendly

Cons

• Not as accurate as some other handheld devices

Looking for a budget-friendly handheld body fat monitor? Try this pick from Zinnor. At a value price, it still does a solid job of reporting your body mass index, body fat percentage, and basal metabolic rate. Similar to the Omron device, it uses bioelectric impedance in the handgrips to analyze these health factors after accounting for your height, age, weight, and gender.

With only five buttons, it’s simple in design and easy to control. It can also store up to nine user profiles and displays new readings in a matter of seconds. It’s a relatively new product with few reviews, but for the price, it’s worth a try.

Price at time of publication: $35

Key Specs:
Style: Handheld device | Data Memory: Up to nine users—unlimited data points | Smart Features: None

Lightstuff Precision Skinfold Caliper

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Pros

• Includes quick-start guide

• Properly calibrated

• 100% money-back guarantee

Cons

• Requires a second person for proper use

• Slightly uncomfortable

Similar to the calipers from Accu-Measure, this manual tool helps you gain a clear picture of your body fat levels so you can create and tackle appropriate health and wellness goals. But since many people are not familiar or comfortable with the skinfold assessment method, this particular tool comes with a quick-start guide to help set up even the most novice of beginners for success.

You can also trust that the spring-loaded mechanism is properly calibrated to apply consistent pressure measurement after measurement, giving you accurate readings every time you use it. This caliper tool comes with a 100% money-back guarantee, so there is very little risk in giving it a try.

Price at time of publication: $22

Key Specs:
Style: Calipers | Data Memory: None | Smart Features: None

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Qiorange Digital Display LCD Body Fat Caliper Skin Fold Analyzer

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Pros

• Best for measuring body fat around the stomach

• Easy to read and understand

Cons

• Slightly uncomfortable

Want to combine the skinfold assessment method with an easy-to-read digital display? Check out these Qiorange calipers. They are primarily designed to provide a body fat percentage reading by measuring subcutaneous fat specifically around the stomach, but you can still physically measure the other areas of your body typically included in comprehensive skinfold assessments.

For ultimate accuracy, some users recommend measuring the same area with the same technique three times and taking an average of the reported results. These make skinfold assessments more accessible to folks who don’t have a person available to help them use traditional calipers. In addition, the LED display is large enough for easy reading.

Price at time of publication: $14

Key Specs:
Style: Calipers | Data Memory: None | Smart Features: None

Qardio Base2 WiFi Smart Scale and Body Analyzer

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Pros

• Sleek, modern design

• Accurate measurements

• Rechargeable via USB

Cons

• Expensive

• Buggy internal software

The super-sleek Qardio Base2 WiFi Smart Scale provides all the details you need all while looking elegant on your bathroom floor. It accurately calculates weight, BMI, and full body composition, including body fat percentage, muscle mass, water, and bone mass, alerting you with gentle vibrations when your measurements are complete.

The disk-shaped scale is rechargeable with the help of a USB cable, so you never have to worry about replacing batteries. Meanwhile, it syncs all data with the Qardio app via Bluetooth or WiFi, and that app easily syncs with Apple Health, Samsung Health, My Fitness Pal, and Google Fit. It automatically recognizes up to eight users, and it features four specialty modes—normal, weight only for individuals with pacemakers, smart feedback, and pregnancy mode.

Price at time of publication: $149

Key Specs:
Style: Scale | Data Memory: Up to eight users—unlimited data points in app | Smart Features: Syncs with a proprietary app, which syncs with Apple Health, Samsung Health, My Fitness Pal, and Google Fit, via Bluetooth or WiFi; user autorecognition; four specialty use modes