What are the best scales for soap making? Soap makers have told us what they think is the best digital kitchen scale on the market. If your making your own soap for the first time, you'll need a good scale. Find out what the best scale is for your needs and personal preference.
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Why do you need a scale for soap making?
In order to make soap from scratch a lye solution (sodium hydroxide and water) needs to be mixed with liquid oils or animal fats in order to kick of a chemical reaction that will result in soap.
Precise measurements are needed for this since oils have different fatty acid profiles and require a different amount of lye to be turned into soap. A basic soap recipe, for instance might look like this:
- Water: 4.7 oz
- NaOH: 2.3 oz
- Coconut Oil: 4.8 oz
- Tallow: 4.8 oz
- Olive oil: 4.8 oz
- Cocoa Butter: 1.6 oz
- Essential oils: 0.5 oz
As you can see soap ingredients require accurate measurements by weight and not by volume.
The biggest danger, however, when not using an accurate soap scale is that too much lye might be added. Surplus lye doesn't react with fat molecules and remains in the final product. Such soap when used will create skin irritation and can be dangerous when it gets in contact with eyes. That's why measuring all of the soap-making ingredients with a good scale is very important and necessary in order to successfully make soap.
What type of soap making requires a scale?
All types of homemade soap making that require the use of lye, those include cold process soap, hot process soap and liquid soap making.
If you're using melt and pour soap bases, you can get away without a scale. Most melt and pour products come in 2 lbs packages, where it's easy to estimate how much your using. With melt and pour soap there's no weighing of lye required since the soap is already made.
Interested in learning how to make handmade soap? Check out my Beginner Soap Making Tutorial with step-by-step instructions.
Things to keep in mind when buying a scale
Every soap maker has different needs, here a some questions to consider when looking at scales:
- Price
- Batch size of your soap
- Storage room
- Ease of cleaning
- Accuracy
- Hold button (this will prevent the scale from turning off)
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you will I earn a commission, if you decide to click through and make a purchase.
Now, let's take a look at the most recommended and best kitchen scales for soap making voted by soap makers.
1. Best Budget
This scale is perfect for beginners soap maker that don't plan on making huge batches right away.
Features:
- backlit LCD screen
- compact size
- stainless steal platform
- AAA batteries included
- tare function
- auto off function
Pros:
- inexpensive
- easy to clean
- weighing range up to 3000 g /~ 6 lbs 10 oz
- accuracy to 0.01 oz / 0.1 g
- won't take up much space
Cons:
- not ideal for bigger batches
- pretty small, not made for bigger pots
- has no "hold" function
2. Best Overall
This is by far the most popular scale among soap makers. It comes with all the bells and whistles, is sturdy and reliable and perfect for veteran soap makers that make bigger batches.
Features:
- bright backlit LCD display
- removable stainless steel platform
- removable hinged protective LCD display cover
- AA batteries included
- tare feature
- percentage weighing function
- mode options g, lbs, lbs/oz and kg
Pros:
- perfect for big batches (up to 8000g /17lbs10oz weighing range)
- big platform fits big pots while screen stays legible
- very easy to clean
- sturdy and reliable scale
- option to purchase AC adapter to operate without batteries
- hold button
Cons:
- pricey
- accuracy only to 1g / 0.05 oz
- takes up storage space
3. Best budget with hold feature
This is a great inexpensive scale for beginners and veteran soap makers that value the "hold" function. Personally, I won't buy another scale that doesn't have that functionality. It has happened to me too often, that my scale turned off on me in the middle of measuring essential oils for instance.
Features:
- backlit LCD screen
- compact size
- stainless steal platform with plastic cover
- AAA batteries included
- tare button
- auto off function
- data-hold function
Pros:
- inexpensive
- easy to clean
- weighing range up to 3000 g /~ 6 lbs 10 oz
- accuracy to 0.01 oz / 0.1 g
- won't take up much space
Cons:
- not ideal for bigger batches
- pretty small, not made for bigger pots
- LCD screen might be small for some to read
Conclusion
If you're starting out with soap making a basic weighing scale might be a good choice for you. If you're a serious soap maker and are looking for a robust scale for measuring bigger amounts, I would go for the KD 8000 - it's a great scale that I've used for many years. It isn't, however, as precise at weighing small amounts.
That's why I find that investing in a food scale with hold function and accuracy to 0.1g/0.01oz is one of the best ways to bridge that gap. To me it's important that it has a hold button since I tend to measure essential oil blends in very small quantities and I don't want the scale to turn off when I'm in the middle of it.
FAQs
Do I need trade approved scales for soap making?
For hobby soap makers a digital kitchen scale that can be used for baking, soap making and candle making is sufficient. If you plan on selling your soaps you might have to have a trade approved scale. Please check the rules and regulations of your state or country.
How much should a bar of homemade soap weigh?
Standard sized bar soaps weigh between 3.5 - 4.5 oz. Due to the nature of homemade soaps there are always slight weight variations from bar to bar.
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