How to Read a Standing Weight Scale

Standing weight scales are seen in doctors' offices. Sometimes they are very hard to read, but with a little knowledge of all three bars and what they measure, reading this type of scale is a cinch. Standing weight scales measure your weight just like any household bathroom scale, only it's more accurate. People use weight scales for a variety of reasons including measuring weight loss and gain for dieting, illness and overall health.

Ask your volunteer to step onto the weight scale.

Find the largest bar labeled with hundreds. This bar measures the hundreds digit of the person's weight. Set this bar to 100.

Find the bar numbered with 10s. It should start at 10 and progress to 90 in increments of 10. This measures the tens digit of the person's weight. So move this bar to rest on 10.

Find the bar numbered from 1 to 9 or 10. This measures the ones digit of the person's weight. Move this along until the bar is even and does not fall either to the left or right. If moving just this bar does not balance out the scale, move the 10s and/or the 100s bar to find the right weight measurement.