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Nutrition and Food Health
How to Monitor Your Weight at Home Without a Scale Download ArticleExplore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Measure your waistline. 2 Do a skinfold test with body calipers. 3 Take before and after pictures. 4 Try on your old clothes. 5 Check in with how your body feels. 6 Perform a water displacement test. 7 Add weights to a see-saw until it’s balanced. 8 Use bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). 9 Take a Bod Pod test to measure body composition. 10 Get a full-body DXA scan. + Show 7 more... - Show less... Other Sections Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Brendon Rearick and Hunter Rising
Last Updated: April 20, 2025 Fact Checked
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This article was co-authored by Brendon Rearick and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Brendon Rearick is a Personal Trainer, Strength Coach, Fitness Program Director, and co-founder of Certified Functional Strength Coach (CSFC), a fitness education company in the San Francisco Bay Area. With 17 years of experience in the fitness industry, Brendon specializes in strength and conditioning, and his company CSFC has certified over 3,000 trainers in over 20 countries. Brendon has worked as a Program Director for Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning (MBSC) and earned his massage therapy license from the Cortiva Institute-Boston. Brendon holds a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 161,793 times.
If you're trying to lose weight, how can you track your progress if you don't have a scale at home? Even though a scale makes it easier to see your weight, it might be a little misleading as you build up muscle. Luckily, there are many other effective ways you can check your weight and body composition. Keep reading for at-home alternatives you can use instead of a scale and more accurate tests you can have done by your doctor.
How to Check Your Weight Without a Scale
Measure your waistline with a flexible measuring tape.
Use body calipers to do a skinfold test.
Take before and after pictures to make comparisons.
Put on old clothes to check if their fit has changed.
Notice if you have more energy or if workouts are easier.
Steps
1
Measure your waistline.
Download Article
You can track fat loss by the changes in your waist measurements. Stand straight up and wrap a flexible measuring tape around your waist just above your hip bones. Make sure the tape measure is parallel to the floor and snug against your skin. Right after you take a deep breath out, check where the measuring tape overlaps to take an accurate measurement.[1]X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
Take your measurements every 2–4 weeks.[2]XResearch source
Other common parts of your body you can measure include your bicep, chest, hips, and thighs.[3]XResearch source
Taking your measurements is a better way to record your weight since your waistline gets smaller as you work out.
Since muscle weighs more than fat, only recording your weight may make it seem like you’re not making progress as you get more fit.
Advertisement 2
Do a skinfold test with body calipers.
Download Article
Skinfold tests can give you a rough estimate of your body fat percentage. A pair of body calipers looks like a C-shaped clamp used to measure the folds of your skin. Use calipers to measure the skin on the back of your triceps, the front of your biceps, the inner edge of your shoulder blade, and the skin right above your hip bone.
Pinch the skin between your finger and thumb and clip the calipers on to take your measurements.
Position the jaws of the calipers about 1⁄4–1⁄2 inch (0.64–1.27 cm) from where you’re pinching the skin with your fingers.
Try taking the measurements 2–3 times to ensure you get an accurate read.
Body fat percentage depends on the sum of your measurements as well as your age and gender.
3
Take before and after pictures.
Download Article
A visual comparison makes it easy to see body changes over time. Take your photos shirtless or while you’re wearing tight athletic clothing since you’ll be able to see your progress better. Start with a picture where you’re looking directly into the camera, and take another picture of your side profile so you can compare a few different angles.[4]XResearch source
Wait 1 month before you take pictures again to see if you’ve lost weight.
Wear the same clothes in each of your photos so the changes in your figure are more noticeable.
Advertisement 4
Try on your old clothes.
Download Article
You’ll be able to track weight changes based on how well your clothes fit. Dig through your closet for an old shirt or pair of pants that you used to wear, and put them on to see how they fit. While you won’t get an accurate number for your weight, you can tell if you’ve lost or gained weight based on how loose or snug your clothes fit to your body.[5]XResearch source
Try clothes on every 1–2 weeks so you can keep better track of any weight changes.
5
Check in with how your body feels.
Download Article
Increased energy levels and easier workouts are signs you lost weight. Rather than focusing on the numbers when you’re trying to lose weight, get in tune with your body and pay attention to how you feel doing your usual tasks. If you’re feeling more energetic than you used to or if workouts and daily tasks don’t make you as exhausted as before, then you’re getting more fit.[6]XResearch source
You’ll also feel like you’ve found a consistent groove and routine if you’re losing weight.
Advertisement 6
Perform a water displacement test.
Download Article
You can track the changes in water level to estimate your weight loss. You may notice that the water level changes when you get in your bathtub, and that’s because your bodyweight displaces the water.[7]XResearch source Fill a tub with water so you can submerge your entire body and mark the water level. After you hop in the tub, check how much the water level rose. You can get an estimate of your weight by calculating the change in volume.
This method usually works best for weighing smaller objects.
It’s tricky to measure your body weight with water displacement test since you need a tub deep enough to submerge your entire body without overflowing.
7
Add weights to a see-saw until it’s balanced.
Download Article
A see-saw acts as a makeshift balance scale to measure your weight. Sit on one end of the see-saw and have a friend load weights or gallons of paint onto the other end. Once the see-saw is parallel to the ground, then the weight on the side is the same as your bodyweight. Check the amount of weight you needed to balance out the see-saw to know how much you weigh.
See-saws are basically large balance scales that will stay level if the weight is even on each side.[8]XResearch source
This method might be a little impractical since you’ll have to take multiple weights to a park or playground to use a see-saw.
Advertisement 8
Use bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).
Download Article
BIA uses electricity to measure muscle and fat density in your body. Bioelectrical impedance analysis is a non-invasive test that sends a small unnoticeable current through your body. The current travels faster through lean body mass than it does through fat, so the test gives you a rough estimate of your body composition within a few minutes.[9]X Trustworthy Source PubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
BIA isn’t the most accurate since physical activity, hydration, and temperatures can affect the readings.
Getting a BIA from a doctor or weight specialist is the most accurate, but you can buy a scale with BIA technology to use at home.
9
Take a Bod Pod test to measure body composition.
Download Article
Bod Pods use air displacement to compare fat mass to lean mass. A Bod Pod is a large egg-shaped device that you sit in that measures the change of air pressure. The device takes a baseline reading when it’s empty and tracks your body mass when you get inside. Once you get a reading, a doctor or specialist can give you a detailed breakdown of your body composition.[10]XResearch source
Bod Pods are still relatively new so they aren’t widely accessible.
Advertisement 10
Get a full-body DXA scan.
Download Article
DXA scans use x-rays to accurately read your body composition. During a DXA scan, you’ll lie on a table and have 2 X-rays pass through your body to get the most accurate image of body fat compared to lean muscle mass. That way, you’ll be able to see the exact makeup of your body composition so it’s easier to track.[11]X Trustworthy Source PubMed CentralJournal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
You can get a DXA scan at a hospital or a university if they have the proper equipment.
DXA scans take around 10–15 minutes to complete.
You’ll get the most accurate results if you’re well-hydrated and haven’t eaten within 3 hours of the scan.[12]XResearch source
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You may be able to find free scales you can use at a gym, pharmacy, or doctor’s office if you want a more accurate measurement of your weight. Thanks Helpful 31 Not Helpful 8
Unfortunately, there aren't any scale apps you can use to measure your own weight with your phone. Fitness tracker and wellness apps can be helpful for monitoring weight loss, but you'll still have to use a scale to weigh yourself so you can log your weight in the app. Thanks Helpful 15 Not Helpful 24
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Co-authored by: Brendon Rearick Personal Trainer & Strength Coach This article was co-authored by Brendon Rearick and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Brendon Rearick is a Personal Trainer, Strength Coach, Fitness Program Director, and co-founder of Certified Functional Strength Coach (CSFC), a fitness education company in the San Francisco Bay Area. With 17 years of experience in the fitness industry, Brendon specializes in strength and conditioning, and his company CSFC has certified over 3,000 trainers in over 20 countries. Brendon has worked as a Program Director for Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning (MBSC) and earned his massage therapy license from the Cortiva Institute-Boston. Brendon holds a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This article has been viewed 161,793 times. 56 votes - 53% Co-authors: 4Updated: April 20, 2025 Views: 161,793 Categories: Nutrition and Food Health In other languages Portuguese Dutch Spanish Czech Japanese
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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Brendon Rearick Personal Trainer & Strength Coach 56 votes - 53% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 4Updated: April 20, 2025 Views: 161,793
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Download Article Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Measure your waistline. 2 Do a skinfold test with body calipers. 3 Take before and after pictures. 4 Try on your old clothes. 5 Check in with how your body feels. 6 Perform a water displacement test. 7 Add weights to a see-saw until it’s balanced. 8 Use bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). 9 Take a Bod Pod test to measure body composition. 10 Get a full-body DXA scan. + Show 7 more... - Show less... Other Sections Video Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Brendon Rearick and Hunter Rising 
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Co-authored by: Brendon Rearick Personal Trainer & Strength Coach This article was co-authored by Brendon Rearick and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Brendon Rearick is a Personal Trainer, Strength Coach, Fitness Program Director, and co-founder of Certified Functional Strength Coach (CSFC), a fitness education company in the San Francisco Bay Area. With 17 years of experience in the fitness industry, Brendon specializes in strength and conditioning, and his company CSFC has certified over 3,000 trainers in over 20 countries. Brendon has worked as a Program Director for Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning (MBSC) and earned his massage therapy license from the Cortiva Institute-Boston. Brendon holds a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This article has been viewed 161,793 times. 56 votes - 53% Co-authors: 4 Updated: April 20, 2025 Views: 161,793 Categories: Nutrition and Food Health In other languages Portuguese Dutch Spanish Czech Japanese 
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You can track fat loss by the changes in your waist measurements. Stand straight up and wrap a flexible measuring tape around your waist just above your hip bones. Make sure the tape measure is parallel to the floor and snug against your skin. Right after you take a deep breath out, check where the measuring tape overlaps to take an accurate measurement.[1] 
Skinfold tests can give you a rough estimate of your body fat percentage. A pair of body calipers looks like a C-shaped clamp used to measure the folds of your skin. Use calipers to measure the skin on the back of your triceps, the front of your biceps, the inner edge of your shoulder blade, and the skin right above your hip bone. 
A visual comparison makes it easy to see body changes over time. Take your photos shirtless or while you’re wearing tight athletic clothing since you’ll be able to see your progress better. Start with a picture where you’re looking directly into the camera, and take another picture of your side profile so you can compare a few different angles.[4] 
You’ll be able to track weight changes based on how well your clothes fit. Dig through your closet for an old shirt or pair of pants that you used to wear, and put them on to see how they fit. While you won’t get an accurate number for your weight, you can tell if you’ve lost or gained weight based on how loose or snug your clothes fit to your body.[5] 
Increased energy levels and easier workouts are signs you lost weight. Rather than focusing on the numbers when you’re trying to lose weight, get in tune with your body and pay attention to how you feel doing your usual tasks. If you’re feeling more energetic than you used to or if workouts and daily tasks don’t make you as exhausted as before, then you’re getting more fit.[6] 
You can track the changes in water level to estimate your weight loss. You may notice that the water level changes when you get in your bathtub, and that’s because your bodyweight displaces the water.[7] Fill a tub with water so you can submerge your entire body and mark the water level. After you hop in the tub, check how much the water level rose. You can get an estimate of your weight by calculating the change in volume. 
A see-saw acts as a makeshift balance scale to measure your weight. Sit on one end of the see-saw and have a friend load weights or gallons of paint onto the other end. Once the see-saw is parallel to the ground, then the weight on the side is the same as your bodyweight. Check the amount of weight you needed to balance out the see-saw to know how much you weigh. 
BIA uses electricity to measure muscle and fat density in your body. Bioelectrical impedance analysis is a non-invasive test that sends a small unnoticeable current through your body. The current travels faster through lean body mass than it does through fat, so the test gives you a rough estimate of your body composition within a few minutes.[9] 
Bod Pods use air displacement to compare fat mass to lean mass. A Bod Pod is a large egg-shaped device that you sit in that measures the change of air pressure. The device takes a baseline reading when it’s empty and tracks your body mass when you get inside. Once you get a reading, a doctor or specialist can give you a detailed breakdown of your body composition.[10] 
DXA scans use x-rays to accurately read your body composition. During a DXA scan, you’ll lie on a table and have 2 X-rays pass through your body to get the most accurate image of body fat compared to lean muscle mass. That way, you’ll be able to see the exact makeup of your body composition so it’s easier to track.[11] 
Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy.