Three sets of scales worth buying at each budget for weighing carp, plus what actually matters and how to weigh a fish safely.
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On a budget, the Trakker T1 Digital Scales read to 110lb in 1oz divisions with a weight-hold button for under £25. The Avid Digital Scales step up to a stainless steel frame, fold-out arms and a sealed backlit screen for about £75. For a premium dial scale, Korda's Dual Rev 60lb is calibrated by Reuben Heaton and reads to the ounce.
BudgetBest budget carp scales
Trakker
Digital scales from a mainstream carp brand that read up to 110lb in 1oz divisions, with a weight-hold function so a wriggling fish still gives a clear reading.
Mid-rangeBest mid-range carp scales
Avid
A stainless steel frame inside a reinforced moulded body, fold-out steel arms and a sealed backlit screen make these built for weighing big fish in the wet and the dark.
PremiumBest premium carp scales
Korda
A dual-revolution dial scale calibrated by Reuben Heaton, with a zeroing dial that copes with heavy weigh slings, for anglers who want a scale with no batteries to go flat.
Every price from £9.99 to £87.99, cheapest first. In stock at Total Fishing Tackle when we last checked.
Scales only come out a handful of times a season, but when they do you want a quick, accurate number so the fish goes back fast. A UK carp angler needs a capacity of 60lb or more, divisions of 1 or 2oz, and a way to zero a wet sling. These picks are judged on the listed spec and price, not on hands-on testing.
| Product | Price | Type | Capacity | Divisions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trakker - T1 Digital Scales | £24.99 | Digital | 110lb / 50kg | 1oz | Weight hold, folding handles |
| Fox - Dial Scales-60lb | £29.99 | Dial, single revolution | 60lb / 27kg | 2oz / 100g | Stainless hook and hanging point; 120lb version too |
| Reuben Heaton - 9000 Series Digital Scales | £39.99 | Digital | – | 1oz / 25g | Tare to 15% of capacity, pouch included |
| Avid - Digital Scales | £74.99 | Digital | 132lb / 60kg | 1oz | Stainless frame and fold-out arms, sealed backlit screen |
| Korda - Scales - Digital Scale 132lb/60kg | £84.99 | Digital | 132lb / 60kg | 1oz / 25g | Waterproof, shockproof, stores 50 weights |
| Fox - Digital Scales 60kg | £86.99 | Digital | 132lb / 60kg | 1oz | Backlit, sealed electronics, PU hard case |
| Korda - Dial Scale Dual Rev 60lb/1oz | £99.99 | Dial, dual revolution | 60lb | 1oz | Calibrated by Reuben Heaton, zeroing dial |
A 60lb scale covers almost every UK carp, and a dual-revolution dial or a 50–60kg digital gives you headroom for a big sling and the odd monster abroad. Divisions matter more than people think: 1oz lets you tell a new PB from an old one, while 2oz or 4oz steps are fine for a rough weight.
Dial scales need no batteries and keep working when wet. A dual-revolution dial spreads 60lb over two turns of the needle, so it's easier to read to the ounce. Digital scales are easier to read at a glance, often have a backlight for night captures and a hold button for a wriggling fish, but they rely on batteries and their seals.
Always zero (tare) the scales with the wet sling hanging on them, then weigh. Look for a generous tare or zeroing dial, because a soaked sling can weigh a couple of pounds on its own.
Scales live in the bottom of a bag for months, so a pouch or hard case is worth having. If you night fish, a backlit digital screen or a dial that reads well under a head torch saves fumbling about with a fish in the sling.
For the whole routine from net to release, read our guide to carp care on the bank.
A 60lb scale covers nearly every carp in the UK. If you fish abroad or want room for a heavy sling, go for a 120lb dial or a 50–60kg digital scale.
Both can be accurate. A good dial scale reading to 1oz needs no batteries and copes with rain, while digital scales are easier to read, especially at night. What matters most is zeroing the wet sling first and keeping the scales clean.
Soak the weigh sling, zero the scales with it hanging on them, then lift the fish only just clear of the mat while kneeling. Read the weight quickly and return the fish. Use a weigh bar for big fish so you can keep the lift low and steady.
Not for small fish, but a bar through the scales' top loop spreads the load across both hands, which makes lifting a big fish steadier and safer. Several of the digital scales here have a hoop or handles that take one.
Dry them after use, keep them in a pouch or case, and take the batteries out of digital scales over long breaks. Check them now and then against a known weight, and use the maker's servicing if they drift.