What's better for body fat measurement: digital caliper or scale? (2025)

What should I buy,

this Digital Caliper

or this Scale

I have it and it works quite well but if you use it make sure you are well hydrated. If you have varying levels of hydration you will get different results.

Cheers,
Aquaman

No, the digital scales aren't as accurate... measure yourself before a workout, and after a workout, and you'll see a difference. I think different levels of water in your body affects it's accuracy. It was always off as much as 3% when i used them.

I would get the calipers and learn how to use them.

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Scale. It sends an electric shock/pulse through your foot and gauges the time it takes to return iirc. The best way is by measuring it in water at a health club (I don't know exactly how it works but that's the absolute best way) Scale is next, with calipers a distant 3rd

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Scale is less accurate than someone with calipers who knows what they're doing. It's sensitive to hydration, dry feet (impedes impulse), and the contents of your stomach/intestines. The upshot is that the scale is a hell of a lot easier to jump on every few days than trying to do the caliper thing.

I have the scale from Sharperimage and it seems to be pretty accurate..

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Scale. It sends an electric shock/pulse through your foot and gauges the time it takes to return iirc. The best way is by measuring it in water at a health club (I don't know exactly how it works but that's the absolute best way) Scale is next, with calipers a distant 3rd

Click to expand...

Scale is less accurate than someone with calipers who knows what they're doing. It's sensitive to hydration, dry feet (impedes impulse), and the contents of your stomach/intestines. The upshot is that the scale is a hell of a lot easier to jump on every few days than trying to do the caliper thing.

Click to expand...

Also muscle density too. I work out, and it's always saying i'm 18% or so... when for a fact i know i'm not that high.

Originally posted by: Sephy
Get a regular caliper. More accurate. Not a digital kind.

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No, digital calipers are just fine. Infact they're easier than the nondigital ones.

Originally posted by: Moralpanic

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: Angrymarshmello
Scale. It sends an electric shock/pulse through your foot and gauges the time it takes to return iirc. The best way is by measuring it in water at a health club (I don't know exactly how it works but that's the absolute best way) Scale is next, with calipers a distant 3rd

Click to expand...

Scale is less accurate than someone with calipers who knows what they're doing. It's sensitive to hydration, dry feet (impedes impulse), and the contents of your stomach/intestines. The upshot is that the scale is a hell of a lot easier to jump on every few days than trying to do the caliper thing.

Click to expand...

Also muscle density too. I work out, and it's always saying i'm 18% or so... when for a fact i know i'm not that high.

Click to expand...

Yup. The real advantage of the scale is that it allows you to easily track change in body fat over time (assuming you weigh/meaure yourself at the same time each day). If you go get a professional measurement at the outset to "zero" the readings obtained by the scale, you can extrapolate your actual body fat from there as it changes.

I own a Tanita scale and while the body fat % can fluxuate, I've found that it's most accurate when done at the same time everyday -- minimizing the variables that might affect its reading.

-geoff

Originally posted by: aphex
Anyone know where i can get a relatively cheap scale that still works well?

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Don't get the scales, they're crap.... you can probably get a more accurate measurement by just doing weight, heigh, waist size, etc.

Get calipers... you can get analog ones for as cheap as $10

why spend money for that? i'd just ask your friend, or girls. Pretty sure if you're fat they will say fat. Oh, you can buy a mirror and it'll tell you the right answer.

Trust me, if your not looking as good as one of the model in Men's Health magazine then your carrying excess fat.

I know i'm fat.