When boarding a plane, one of the most important things every traveler should do is make sure their luggage is within the weight limitations specified by their airline of choice. When your baggage exceeds the allowable limit, you can expect to pay a hefty storage fee, which can sometimes be more expensive than the flight itself.
If you’re a frequent traveler, accurate luggage scales make a good investment. These portable scales make it convenient to weigh your carry-on suitcases wherever you may be.
The Best Way To Weigh Luggage
Weighing luggage before leaving or returning home will save you the stress of wondering whether your bags are too heavy. Of course, you don’t want to wait to have your luggage weighed at the baggage counter in the airport, where you can’t do anything but pay the price if you exceed the weight limit.
The best way to weigh your luggage is to purchase a handheld luggage scale. While you can technically use a bathroom scale, it won’t give you an accurate reading as a luggage scale would do.
Also, even if you weigh your bags using the bathroom scale at your hotel room when you buy some souvenirs or gifts to take home, you still might worry about going overboard on your baggage limit.
Advantages of a Luggage Scale
A luggage scale can be your best buddy if you often travel, especially if you tend to overpack. Luggage scales are highly affordable, so there’s no reason not to get one for yourself. These scales have a usual limit of 50 kilograms, with precision accuracy of 100 grams.
The best thing about luggage scales is that they are extremely portable. Unlike typical scales that have a platform where you place your baggage, it typically comes with a strap and a hook so you can hang your luggage by the handle.
Digital luggage scales will show you the weight in pounds on the LCD, while analog luggage scales will point to how much it weighs. Luggage scales perform fairly well in terms of accuracy, especially if you get a decent digital model.
How To Use a Luggage Scale
Using a luggage scale is pretty simple; just follow these steps:
- Attach the hook to the handle of your luggage. Pull it around until the luggage is securely attached to the strap of your weighing device.
- Turn on the luggage scale. Make sure the LCD shows zero. If your scale isn’t digital, make sure the arrow is pointing to zero.
- Grab the scale handle and lift it with two hands.
- Lift the luggage slowly, around five to ten seconds. If you pull the scale too quickly, you could end up getting inaccurate reading because it’s going to register more weight than necessary. Using both hands helps with even weight distribution.
- Check the screen for the reading and note it down. You may need to wait for several seconds for the scale to record an accurate weight. It’s best to try weighing your luggage a few times to ensure measurement precision.
Some luggage scales feature unit conversions, allowing you to weigh your bags in kilograms or pounds. Some models have a “tare” and “memory” function for tracking the weight of empty luggage, along with temperature checks to ensure your bags aren’t extremely hot or cold.
You will also find scales that can weigh more than just luggage, and others make use of high-precision sensors, so no batteries are required.
Other Ways To Weigh Your Luggage
There are some other alternatives to using a luggage scale, including:
A Suitcase With a Built-in Scale
Some suitcases already have built-in scales for convenience. The display is typically placed on top of the case so you can easily see if you’re overpacking or not.
A Regular Home Scale
This device isn’t the most reliable option, but it still works, especially if you’re in a pinch for time. If weighing items such as travel backpacks by Tortuga using a bathroom scale, give some allowance to avoid exceeding limits due to scale inaccuracy.
Step on the Scale
Take note of the reading. Next, step back on the scale while carrying your luggage. The difference between the two readings will be your luggage weight.
Airport Scale
Many airports have scales that passengers can use before they check in. If you go to the airport early enough, you can weigh your bags and remove items if necessary.
Weighing Your Luggage With the Right Scale
The best way to weigh luggage is to use a luggage scale. It’s an extremely inexpensive device that can be very useful for frequent travelers. By tracking your luggage weight, you won’t have to deal with costly fees at the airport.
If you don’t have a luggage scale, there are other ways to weigh your luggage, although they aren’t as reliable. They include a suitcase with a built-in scale, a regular home scale, or the airport scale.
