The Study

Best Practices: Scale Calibration

Use a set of gram weights to see how accurate your electronic scale is. Recognize that most commonly available sets of gram weights will vary in their own accuracy.

However, a kitchen setting does not require ultra-precise measurements. This method eliminates wide discrepencies.


This ad-free article is made possible by the financial support of the
Center for Research on Environmental Chemicals in Humans: a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation for continued biomedical research.


After using a wide variety of solid weights and combinations of them, it seems the accuracy of the measurements for small quantities such as salt and spices, is roughly +/- 0.02 to +/- 0.03. That is well within the tolerance of error in a working kitchen.

The same calibration method should be used — with heavier weights — for non-spice foods.

Right-click any image, below,  to view a larger version.