Best scale for your health
Your weight is the number to trust. A smart scale adds trends, and one adds an FDA cleared ECG. Most of the other numbers are estimates.
From Dr. Kenny Civello, cardiologist and electrophysiologist
Reviewed October 2026. Prices as of that date.
Home scales weigh you accurately. Body fat, muscle, and “vascular age” are estimates. Only one feature on these scales, the ECG on the Withings Body Scan, has been cleared by the FDA.
My picks
FDA cleared means the FDA reviewed that feature for that use. Wellness means it was not reviewed. How I choose
Withings Body Scan
The only scale I know of with an FDA cleared ECG. Hold the handle while you weigh in, and it records a 6 lead ECG and checks for AFib.
- FDA cleared 6 lead ECG with AFib detection
- Weight, body fat, muscle, and standing heart rate
- Wellness Vascular Age and nerve activity score
- WiFi and Bluetooth, holds up to 440 lb
Skip it if you have a pacemaker or ICD. You would need weight only mode, which turns off the ECG and most of what you pay for.
withings.comWithings Body Smart
A smart scale that sends your weight to your phone on its own, so trends build without extra steps.
- Weight, body fat, muscle, and standing heart rate
- WiFi and Bluetooth, holds up to 440 lb
- Up to 8 people in one home
Skip it if you want an ECG. This one has none.
withings.comWhat about BodyScan 2? The newest Withings scale costs about $600 and adds more readings. Its US page cites only European certification for the AFib check, so I am waiting for an FDA record before I recommend it.
Compare
| Feature | What it is | FDA status | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | A measurement | Standard scale | Daily weights and trends |
| 6 lead ECG with AFib check (Body Scan) | A recording of your rhythm | Cleared | Checking your rhythm when you weigh in. Send it to us |
| Body fat, muscle, visceral fat | Estimate from a small current | Not reviewed | Slow trends over months, not single readings |
| Vascular Age, standing heart rate | Estimates | Not cleared. Wellness only | Interest only, not decisions |
| Nerve or skin activity score | Estimate from sweat glands | Not cleared. Wellness only | Not a test for nerve damage |
| Blood pressure “insights” (BodyScan 2) | A signal, never a reading | Not cleared. Wellness only | Check with a validated cuff |
Know before you buy
Trust the weight
Smart scales weigh you within a fraction of a pound. In one study, body fat from a Withings scale was off by about 8 pounds for a typical person compared with a DEXA scan.
Pacemaker or ICD
Body fat scales send a small current through your body, and a 2025 study found they may interfere with some devices. Turn on weight only mode. Withings tells device patients to do this.
Heart failure
Weigh yourself every morning after you use the bathroom and before you eat, in the same clothes. Call us if your weight climbs fast or your swelling or breathing gets worse.
Weigh the same way
Same time, same spot, on a hard floor. A change of a pound or two from day to day is often water.
Look at the trend
One reading tells you little. The line over weeks shows whether your plan is working.
Common questions
Can the scale ECG replace my watch or Kardia?
No. The scale records your rhythm only while you stand on it. A watch or pocket ECG lets you record when you feel symptoms. See the best personal ECG.
Do I need the Withings+ subscription?
No. Your weight, ECG, and trends are free. Withings+ costs about $100 a year and adds coaching and a review of your ECGs by a cardiologist. If you are my patient, send your ECG to us instead.
The scale says AFib. What now?
Follow the steps in my watch says I have AFib. They apply to a scale ECG too.
Why does my body fat number jump around?
The estimate changes with how much water you carry, what you ate, and whether your feet are dry. Look at the trend over months.
More on wearables
Set up your Apple Watch to check for AFibSet up your Fitbit or Pixel Watch to check for AFibSend your Kardia EKG to your doctorMy watch says I have AFibMy watch ECG says inconclusiveIrregular rhythm notifications, explainedMy watch says my heart rate is high or lowMy watch says I may have sleep apneaMy watch says I may have high blood pressureFDA cleared or wellness: what the label meansWhich wearable features are FDA clearedHow I choose the wearables I recommendFind the right wearableBest smartwatch for catching AFibBest smart ring for sleep trackingBest home blood pressure monitorBest personal ECG without a smartwatchBest wearable for an older parentWhat wearable to get your parent for the holidaysBest wearable for athletesBest wearable without a screenMore on blood pressure
Lowering your blood pressureThis guide is general education for my patients. A scale is not a diagnosis. Talk with your doctor about what your data means for you.
No affiliate links. I have not received payment from any company for these recommendations. See how I choose.
Sources: Heidenreich PA, et al. 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure. Circulation 2022. FDA 510(k) K230812 (Withings Scan Monitor 2.0). Frija‑Masson J, et al. Accuracy of smart scales on weight and body composition. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2021. Hansen et al. Smart scales and cardiac implantable electronic devices. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2025. FDA General Wellness guidance, January 2026. Maker specifications as of October 2026.