10 Best Fat Calipers Tested & Fully Reviewed
When losing weight, you can’t just look at a number on the scale, instead you need to make sure you consider your body fat percentage, so you know your true muscle to fat ratio—remember, muscle weighs more than fat!
Fat calipers are easy to use and to measure your body fat percentage you merely pinch your skin and different location, and the best body fat calipers will do the rest! These are really popular nowadays, which is why we put together the top ten selections out there.
Enjoy and get to shredding!
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Materials
When it comes to fat calipers, you need to make sure they are made of high-quality materials that you can trust--after all, you're going to want to track your progress over a period of time, not just once!
The materials a pair of calipers is made from is an important aspect to consider when choosing your caliper because it attests to the product’s overall quality and durability. To begin, you should first consider the materials the caliber is constructed from. Metal and glass calipers are an excellent option, while plastic ones are far less durable and can become less precise over time.
Some calipers may also have electronic components that can facilitate their use and provide you with additional features. Lastly, you should also consider the caliper’s comfort–some may be made of high-quality material but this may make them more comfortable or difficult to use. To determine a score in this area we first looked at the material a product was made from.
Options made from high-grade plastic or metal were given higher scores. Products made from lower grade plastics received a lower score. Secondly, we considered reviews from real-world users. If people who have actually used the product found it to be both effective and durable it scored higher than if it was something that broke easily.
As with any product or type of gear. the last thing you want is it to be cheaply made and break easily. We firmly believe in spending a little bit more on a high-quality product that lasts, than saving a few bucks to get a cheap option that breaks quickly and ends up costing you more time and money in the long run because not only do you have to replace it, but you have to spend your valuable time doing so.
Features
Some fat calipers offer more features than others. Make sure to take a look at everything they each have to offer to ensure you are getting the perfect option for you.
While calipers technically only need to pinch a portion of skin to determine your body fat measurements, additional features can also improve the product’s overall effectiveness and accuracy. Many products come with a guide to help you determine your body fat percentage while others provide you with a carrying case, electronic measuring tools, or additional measuring materials.
There are also digital calipers available that will do all the math for you and simply calculate and present the body fat percentage. Some come with carrying cases or bags, and some don't. If you're just looking for something to use once in a while it's probably not necessary to buy a pair of body fat calipers with a lot of features.
In fact, if you just want to get tested you can go to a gym and have a personal trainer do it for you, either for free or a small fee. But if you're really serious about tracking and changing your body composition, invest in a good pair of skin calipers. A good carrying case will allow you to safely bring your calipers to the gym or friend's house to measure their body fat percentages.
Losing body fat can be difficult and takes a lot of time and discipline, so having a friend as an accountability partner can really help, and what better way to show your friend how serious you are about weight loss than showing up to their house with your very own set of calipers?
Accuracy
The best calipers will always give you accurate measurements so you can accurately track your progress and get to where you want to be!
Although these calipers don’t provide the same level of accuracy as a hydrostatic body fat tester, it’s still important the body fat caliper you choose will provide you with precise measurements that are as accurate as possible. When looking at accuracy, we also looked at whether or not the caliber is able to take consistent measurements in the same body area.
In order to gauge how accurate and effective a fat caliber we were considering was, we made sure to read through countless reviews to see what people had to say. We also paid close attention to whether or not the users who reported these reviews were using the calipers correctly each and every time.
As we've mentioned before, changing your body composition doesn't happen overnight, but takes time, discipline, the right mindset, and hard work. Having a friend who can also act as an accountability partner can go a long way to helping you achieve your goals, and perhaps most importantly it makes the journey a lot more fun and rewarding.
Ease of Use
We rated each of the fat calipers on our list based on how easy they are to use. Some of you won't find any issues with any of them, but it is safe to say that several of them are much more straightforward than others when it comes to use.
You don't want to be standing around with your friend looking silly trying to figure out your body fat calipers. The formulas used to calculate them are pretty simple but do take a little time to get used to. We recommend googling the Jackson and Pollock method. Yes, Jackson Pollock, like the painter, weird right?
Finally, regardless of whether you live in the United States or Europe, you will want to purchase a product that uses the unit of measurement you prefer and are more comfortable with, otherwise, it will be difficult for you to quickly and easily use your body fat calipers. You can do this by looking carefully at the product page before you buy it.
The information should be listed there. If it isn't you can use the zoom feature to get a closer look at the product in question. Of course, if you order the wrong one it certainly isn't the end of the world. You can simply return or exchange it, or view it as an opportunity to learn about how the rest of the world measures things, which can be very valuable in the long run.
To determine how easy a product is to use we analyzed it to see if it is functional or not, and then we considered reviews from real-world users who were using the calipers to see what they had to say. If average people can easily use something, that's a good sign that it will be easy for you as well.
Value
When we talk about value, we consider more than just price--instead, we compare it to the overall cost to everything it has to offer and evaluate the value from there.
Body fat calipers are an affordable option compared to the more expensive hydrostatic body fat testing you can have done. The products on our list vary when it comes to how affordable they are and we have made sure to include an option for all budgets. The most expensive options on our list are made of extremely high-quality materials and come with sturdy carrying cases.
They are also extremely accurate, easy to use, and are oftentimes the same ones used by professional trainers and nutritionists to help monitor the progress of their clients. As we mentioned before however if you really just want to measure yourself once in a great while or simply out of curiosity, it might be simplest and easiest to go to a local gym and ask if they will measure your body fat percentages.
They'll likely be happy to help, and will probably either do it for free, a small fee, or include it as part of a personal training session. Either way, the most important thing you need to consider when looking at value is number one, that you can afford it and number 2, that the fat caliper you decide to get offers all of the features you need.
Top 10 Picks
1. Baseline
This fat caliper is a higher quality and pricier option. However, it is highly durable and comes with several additional features we know you will enjoy.
Read moreMaterials
This caliper is made of aluminum and is extremely lightweight. They also feature "floating tips" for comfortable, accurate, and precise measurements.
Features
As previously mentioned, these body fat calipers feature folding tips that allow for more accurate and precise measurements. It also comes with a padded case as well as detailed instructions, tables, and charts.
Accuracy
The measurements this caliper provides are easy to read and highly accurate. This one is pretty popular and comes highly recommended
Ease of Use
This body fat caliper is really easy to use and a great option for those of you who want something that is simple and to the point when it comes to use.
Value
This one is pricier than other options, but it is well worth the investment if you can afford it and comes with lots of additional features.
2. Go Fit
These calipers are affordable, accurate, and easy to use. They are a great option for those of you looking to easily keep track of your body fat without having to spend much.
Read moreMaterials
This skin caliper is lightweight, portable, and able to measure up to 60mm in thickness.
Features
This body caliper can measure up to 60mm in thickness and comes with charts to refer to when making your measurements. It also has an accuracy lever to provide you with accurate and precise results. It is simple to use and requires measurements from 3 different sites and is a great option to track your weight loss and fitness goals.
Accuracy
This fat caliper has an accuracy lever to provide you with both precise and accurate measurements each time.
Ease of Use
This one comes highly rated and highly recommended by many users who personally use it themselves.
Value
It is highly affordable and provides accurate measurements.
3. Lift Heavy Fitness
The Lift Heavy Fitness body fat calibers are the best budget-friendly calibers out there. They come with many additional features that will help you reach your weight loss goals.
Read moreMaterials
Built to last, this body fat caliber will hold its own over time so you can track your progress for years to come.
Features
It comes with a downloadable weekly tracking chart and a one year warranty.
Accuracy
This one is accurate and precise and comes with downloadable charts to track your progress.
Ease of Use
This fat caliper is lightweight and really easy to use. It is perfect anyone--even if you have never measured your own body fat before.
Value
This caliper is highly affordable and comes with a one year warranty. This product comes highly reviewed by many customers and is highly rated all around.
4. Accu-Measure
Accu-Measure is one of the most recognizable and universally praised manufacturers of fitness accessories around. They are well known for creating high-quality products, such as this portable body fat caliper. Although there aren’t any gimmicks or extra features, this measuring tool is still highly praised.
Read moreMaterials
The overall construction of this caliper is a departure from the standard gun-like design, instead opting for something closer to a protractor. However, despite being made of lighter materials and featuring an unconventional style, these are still fully capable of taking accurate measurements.
Features
This is a fairly bare-bones model, without a lot of gimmicks or add-ons to sell it further. One aspect that can be considered as a feature is the lightweight and highly portable design, which enables this measuring tool to be transported easily and without any hassle.
Accuracy
With the aid of an instructional booklet included with every order, this caliper is able to take consistently accurate body fat measurements. Additionally, a small click can be heard when pinching skinfolds, helping to remove the possibility of human error.
Ease of Use
As is standard with any inexpensive fitness product sold online, hundreds of individuals have purchased these fat calipers and left their reviews online. The general opinion regarding this product seems to be that it delivers consistent results, while not necessarily the most accurate.
Value
It makes sense that this product costs so little since it’s essentially two long pieces of plastic connected by a hinge at one end. However, don’t let its modest price fool you. This is still a very useful and accurate tool. Considering just how competently this skin caliper is designed and manufactured, the low cost is a steal.
5. Lange
The Lange line of body fat calipers come highly recommended by fitness enthusiasts and medical professionals alike. Their praises are mostly due to the high quality found in their construction and accuracy, but this sadly doesn’t seem to translate into their popularity among the general public.
Read moreMaterials
One of the reasons why serious fitness freaks swear by the Lange brand of skinfold caliper is the sturdiness and high quality of its construction. No expense has been spared in the manufacturing of this device, which even includes a protective case. If it is taken care of properly, you can expect this measuring tool to last decades without degradation.
Features
There really isn’t anything particularly noteworthy that Lange includes with this product as an extra feature. The overall quality of the core product speaks for itself. However, there are a few extra things added to this caliper set that can be beneficial. This includes a protective case and a calibration block to improve its accuracy.
Accuracy
Speaking of accuracy, this is the biggest selling point for this particular brand of body fat caliper. Thanks to the included calibration block, it’s easy to ensure that the readings you are taking are precise, removing any possibility of error on behalf of the machine.
Ease of Use
Although the overwhelming majority of customers who have purchased this skin caliper have stated it was worth the purchase, the total amount of verified customers is low. This is most likely because of the plethora of cheaper alternatives, and isn’t necessarily indicative of any shortcomings from the product itself.
Value
While the construction and accuracy of this fat caliper are impressive, it comes at a significant cost. The price for this measuring tool is ridiculously high, making it only appealing to the most dedicated fitness freaks. It’s an unfortunate middle ground this caliper falls into, since casual exercise enthusiasts can be satisfied with cheaper alternatives, and serious trainers can pay a slight margin more for even more impressive measuring instruments.
6. Digital LCD Analyzer
Sometimes you don’t want to drop a few hundred dollars on a piece of plastic that pinches your skin. In order to accommodate the needs of this particular demographic, this digital LCD skin caliper analyzer was made, offering an affordable and portable measuring tool for the common man.
Read moreMaterials
Some nice aspects of this measuring tool is its digital display, which can tell you specific skinfold measurements, and its very small size, which makes it highly portable. This results in an excellent piece of equipment you can fit in your gym back if you want to check your progress after a workout session.
Features
When measuring your body fat, the digital display can switch the measurement between inches and millimeters. That’s about the only special feature you get with this device; there’s nothing additional that really sells it more than its portability and digital display.
Accuracy
You simply aren’t going to get the same level of accuracy with this digital caliper that you would get with a decent analog caliper. Thanks to its inferior build quality there simply isn’t a guarantee that you will get consistent readings if you use this device. However, if you’re just looking to track changes in skinfolds and aren’t concerned with the exact measurements, this product can suffice.
Ease of Use
Although this caliper’s extremely low price and high portability factor make it appealing to many, it’s difficult to find customer reviews for this product online. It may be because it’s a generic product that is resold by multiple vendors. However, some reviews have been left on a few websites that say the item ships in working condition and can be a bit difficult to use at first.
Value
Because this is one of the most inexpensive skinfold calipers available for purchase, a lot of the shortcomings this fat caliper has can be forgiven. It will never replace a more sturdy and accurate full-size caliper, but its low cost makes it terrific for casual gym goers wanting to track their progress.
7. Care Touch
Care Touch has released a skinfold caliper that is geared to easy use and high versatility. An interesting style and bonus measuring tape help to provide multiple approaches to measuring your body, and a helpful chart is included for the inexperienced.
Read moreMaterials
This caliper is made entirely of plastic, which means that it is less durable than other calipers containing metal components. Couple that with its unique design and you have a much more fragile caliper that will require careful handling. On the bright side, the included measuring tape is fairly durable and has a protective container.
Features
The main draw of this fat caliper set that sets it apart from other products is the inclusion of measuring tape. This can help to determine other measurements besides basic body fat readings, which helps to further set these calipers apart. However, there are still other brands that bring more to the table.
Accuracy
Although the lack of a spring-loaded arm or electronic reader can detract slightly from the overall accuracy of this caliber, the additional measuring tape can help offset this setback. Using it in conjunction with the caliper and bonus measuring chart, a decent level of accuracy should be possible.
Ease of Use
Due to its low cost and bonus accessories, it’s no surprise that so many customers have taken the plunge on this skin caliper. However, while the majority of reviews left online are positive, there is a significant minority who have expressed disappointment with the fragility and inaccuracy of this product.
Value
Considering how much product you get for the price, this skin caliper set is a terrific deal. The caliper and measuring tape are a fraction of the cost that you would have to pay for many other brands, further reinforcing its value. However, you ultimately get what you pay for, with a less accurate and more fragile product.
8. Sequoia Fitness TrimCal 4000
Since it is designed for the sole purpose of measuring body fat, this skinfold caliper from Sequoia is terrific at accomplishing it purpose. The instruction manual that is included in the package will help you figure out what to do and the spring-loaded arm will ensure all readings are accurate.
Read moreMaterials
Being constructed primarily of plastic, these fat calipers are comfortable when measuring skinfolds but not quite as durable as more serious models that predominately use metal for their build. The addition of a spring on the arm helps to maintain accurate measurements without the need for any sort of digital apparatus.
Features
There aren’t many additional features that come with these skinfold calipers. The design is spartan in nature, being intended only for taking body fat measurements. For this reason, customers may be turned off by the lack of calibration tools or carrying cases, but the attached instruction booklet will help them understand the sole purpose for this tool.
Accuracy
If measurements are taken with the aid of the included instruction booklet, they should be consistently accurate. The spring-loaded arm used to take these measurements helps in this regard, and many customers have remarked that they are satisfied with their results when using it.
Ease of Use
With a low price and recognizable brand name, many people have purchased these Sequoia calipers and left reviews. Out of the aggregate reviews left online, the vast majority have been positive, with customers praising the accuracy and sturdiness of this model. One minor complaint is that this measuring tool isn’t ambidextrous, meaning left-handed individuals will have a tougher time making measurements.
Value
Due to the lack of any frills or gimmicks, these body fat calipers are highly affordable. However, shrewd shoppers can find a few different products that are even less expensive than these, with a minimal loss in accuracy or features. Regardless, the price for these calipers is justified and a very good value.
9. Brown and Sharpe IP40
These high-end calipers from Brown and Sharpe are designed to offer highly precise width measurements that are accurate within a fraction of a fraction of an inch. For these purposes, the IP40 digital calipers are an excellent choice, especially for use in measuring things besides body fat. However, the fact that these aren’t intended for skinfold measurements make them less appealing for this purpose.
Read moreMaterials
Brown and Sharpe are well known for their extremely well-made measuring tools, and this caliper doesn’t fall far from that tree. Stainless steel construction ensures that this tool is highly durable and resistant to spills. Unfortunately, these calipers weren’t designed to be used for skinfold measurements, so the points used for making these measurements are very uncomfortable.
Features
In addition to a highly precise electronic measuring system, this high-end caliper can sync wirelessly with other measuring tools. A thumbwheel allows for meticulous adjustments conveniently and comfortably, and the placement of analog measurements along the side of the caliper offers a greater degree of accuracy.
Accuracy
To provide a highly accurate measurement every time, the Brown and Sharpe IP40 has both analog and electronic measuring tools. The LCD screen on the front provides readings that are accurate to three-thousandths of a millimeter, and the ruler-like markings along the side offer a failsafe and second opinion.
Ease of Use
Due to its highly specific purposes and high price tag, there aren’t very many customer reviews for this Brown and Sharpe product. However, those who have left feedback are very pleased with their product, admiring its durability and precision. One customer stated that they appreciate the accuracy of this electronic caliper although they usually prefer the analog variety, which is a real testament to its quality.
Value
This is a high-end measuring tool with a price to match. The value gained from this investment is certainly present, considering the very high build quality and precision. However, considering that these calipers aren’t even intended for use in taking body fat measurements, this higher price tag can be unjustified for individuals looking to only use calipers in this way. Because of that, these are only really affordable to individuals who want a caliper for other purposes in addition to skinfold measurements.
10. Frankford Arsenal
Frankford have designed an excellent set of measuring calipers that are both highly affordable and packed with appealing features. It certainly shouldn’t be your first choice for making skinfold measurements, but the level of accuracy offered with this product can certainly provide that service.
Read moreMaterials
One important thing to note about this set is that it wasn’t designed for use as a bodyfat caliper. Instead, this is a standard measuring caliper for use in construction and design. Because of this, you can expect a high level of build quality but also a high level of discomfort when pinching your skin to take measurements.
Features
In order to provide highly precise measurements, the Frankford Arsenal Electronic Caliper comes with features for this purpose. The electronic screen that displays measurements can be switched between imperial and metric readings, and a protective case will prevent damage that can throw off its calibration.
Accuracy
Being designed to measure width for the purposes of engineering and design, these calipers are accurate to within one one-thousandth of an inch. This means that so long as you are able to measure the same spot every time, you will receive a consistent and highly accurate body fat measurement.
Ease of Use
Many customers have purchased these calipers and left reviews singing its praises. Some common compliments regarding the Frankford Arsenal is that it can deliver consistently accurate measurements and how simple it is to use. However, no one has mentioned their experience using it to measure body fat.
Value
Although there are a few cheaper calipers on the market, the amount of features and level of build quality offered by this set more than justifies the slight price boost. These calipers can also be used for taking measurements other than body fat, which adds to the overall
Sources
- , The Idiot's Guide To Testing Your Body Fat!, Article
- , How To Measure Your Body Fat % Using Calipers, Article
- , How to Use Body Fat Calipers, Encyclopedia article
- , Body Fat Calipers, Article
- , 4 Reasons Calipers Fail to Give Accurate Body Fat Results, Article
- , A Guide to Choosing and Using Body Fat Calipers, Article
- , Hydrostatic Body Fat Testing, Article
- , Charts of Body Fat Percentage by Gender and Age, Article
