Is my new scale calibrated and ready to use?  If you are purchasing a scale from us and you are located in central NC then there is probably a 99.9% chance we have tested and calibrated your scale. However, if you are or have purchased a scale from us and it is being shipped to you from the factory then that is a different situation.

In fact, we are asked this question quite often…. Do your scales come calibrated? I would say probably at least 95% of the time the answer is yes, they have been calibrated. The calibration is what we refer to as factory calibration. Most new scales are calibrated at the scale manufacturer or “factory” location. 

The vast majority of our suppliers calibrate the scales before the end user starts weighing.  But, that factory calibration can vary. We have some suppliers who have the scales calibrated overseas. So, they are not calibrated in the US. As you probably know, a lot of rough handling and bumps and tumbles can occur between the manufacturers location and yours. Some suppliers also charge extra fees to calibrate their scales in the US.

Many scales these days are manufactured overseas and the scales are tested and basically run through QC before final packaging. So your scale will be calibrated at that point. However, that doesn’t guarantee it will be correct once it’s shipped halfway around the world. You also will not typically receive any calibration documentation from this testing either. In fact, many of the scale manufactures located in the US don’t like providing written calibration reports either.  

So, you may be wondering, what can I do?  If you’re purchasing scales online, you really need to have your scales tested and calibrated once you put them into service in the location where you plan to use them. You will need to contact a reputable local scale company in your area to do this. They should have certified test weights.  At that point a calibration certificate or report should be able to be generated that is actually valid. 

So, do new scales come calibrated?  Basically, if you’re one of our local customers and you purchase a scale from us, your scale calibration should be taken care of and you will likely be able to find it online using our best in class software. If you’re purchasing a scale online, you need to verify with the sales department what type of calibration and/or documentation you need. Questions?  Call us at (919) 776-7737.