Choosing a lab balance means weighing capacity, readability, and condition against your budget. The four units here range in listed price from $51.99 to $206.15, so the right choice depends on what you will weigh and how precise the measurement needs to be.
Quick take
Four lab balances are competing for the same bench space, and the listed prices range from $51.99 to $206.15. If you need a new, inexpensive scale for lighter samples, the SASVY is the most direct starting point. If you need a higher capacity and can supply the missing pan, the open-box Ohaus Scout SPX8200 is the lower-priced route. For fine readability with more headroom, the used Mettler Toledo PM4600 and the tested-working Ohaus SPX2202 are the pair to compare.
Listed price comparison
| Product | Listed price | Price bar |
|---|---|---|
| Ohaus SPX2202 Precision Balance 2200g x 0.01g | USD 206.15 | |
| Mettler Toledo PM4600 DeltaRange Lab Precision Balance Scale 4100g 0.01g | USD 185.00 | |
| Ohaus Scout SPX8200 Portable Precision Balance 8200g x 1g No Pan | USD 68.40 | |
| SASVY Digital Lab Scale 1000g x 0.01g Precision Balance | USD 51.99 |
Decision matrix
- Capacity leader: Ohaus Scout SPX8200 Portable Precision Balance.
- Fine-readability leader: Mettler Toledo PM4600 DeltaRange.
- Only new unit: SASVY Digital Lab Scale.
- Highest listed price: Ohaus SPX2202 Precision Balance.
Ohaus SPX2202 Precision Balance 2200g x 0.01g (USD 206.15)
Choose this when 0.01g readability and a 2200g capacity need to come from a listed working unit with a known lab history. The listing describes it as tested working, previously used in a research laboratory, and kept on an annual calibration schedule while in service; the calibration certificate is no longer current because the balance was removed from service during the final calibration cycle. The trade-off is condition: it is a used unit, and it carries the highest listed price in this group, so you are paying for a higher-spec balance with a documented service background rather than a new instrument. If you can accept the used state, the capacity-to-readability ratio is strong.
SASVY Digital Lab Scale 1000g x 0.01g (USD 51.99)
This is the only new balance in the group, and at $51.99 it is the lowest listed price here. The listing targets medical laboratory, jewellery, and food use, and mentions a readable LCD with backlight, tare, unit conversion, and piece counting. It runs on 2 AAA batteries, which makes it easy to move between benches. The limitation is capacity: 1000g is the lowest maximum weight in this lineup, so it will not handle bulk samples or larger lab containers. It is best treated as a portable, general-purpose precision scale rather than a high-throughput lab balance. For someone weighing small quantities in grams with occasional use, it is the most straightforward option.
Mettler Toledo PM4600 DeltaRange Lab Precision Balance Scale 4100g 0.01g (USD 185.00)
For a used balance with a large capacity and fine readability, this PM4600 stands out. It is described as Swiss-made with a stainless steel weighing pan and capacity up to 4100g at 0.01g readability, and it was removed from a university lab, carrying U.C. Berkeley asset markings on the housing. The listing includes an AC power cord. The limitation is that it is a pre-owned instrument with visible lab markings, so the condition is not pristine. If the markings do not bother you, the 4100g capacity with 0.01g readability gives you the most headroom among the fine-readability choices here.
Ohaus Scout SPX8200 Portable Precision Balance 8200g x 1g No Pan (USD 68.40)
The lower-priced route to a high capacity is this Scout SPX8200 at $68.40. It is new open box, powers on, and offers 8200g readability of 1g, making it suitable for bigger samples where 0.01g precision is not required. The limitation is explicit: it is missing the removable stainless steel weighing platform (weigh pan) and top pan support, so it cannot be used as-is unless you already have those parts or can source them. The listing describes it as an excellent replacement unit for an existing SPX8200. For someone who owns an SPX8200 that needs a new base, or who can source the pan separately, this is the lower-priced way into a high-capacity balance.
Which should you choose?
- For a new, all-in-one scale for small samples, the SASVY is the straightforward pick.
- For a high-capacity balance when you already have the Scout pan parts, the open-box Ohaus SPX8200 is the practical route.
- For fine readability at higher capacity on a used lab instrument, the Mettler Toledo PM4600 is the strongest match.
- For a tested working Ohaus with a calibration history, the Ohaus SPX2202 is the option at the top of the price range.
