Best Shipping Scale for Small Business: Brecknell PS25 Pink & Blue, PS-USB-150 NTEP and LPS400
Our picks: for most small businesses and online sellers, the Brecknell PS25 in pink or blue is the best shipping scale: 25 lb capacity, 0.1 oz resolution up to 2 lb, a USB cable that sends the weight to PC postage software, and both batteries and the USB cable in the box, all for under $50. If you charge customers by weight, step up to the NTEP legal-for-trade Brecknell PS-USB-150. For heavy boxes up to 400 lb, the Brecknell LPS400 has a 15″ × 12″ stainless platform.
Guessing package weight costs money two ways: overpay on postage, or get hit with carrier adjustments later. A good shipping scale pays for itself in a few weeks. These are the shipping scales we recommend to online sellers, mailrooms, warehouses and fulfillment centers.
Quick comparison
| Scale | Capacity × readability | Platform | Connectivity | Legal for trade | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brecknell PS25 Pink / Blue | 25 lb: 0.1 oz to 2 lb, 0.2 oz to 25 lb | 8″ × 6″, flip-up letter stand | USB (cable included) | General purpose (non-NTEP) | Letters, small parcels, home and small business shipping |
| Brecknell PS-USB-150 | 150 lb × 0.05 lb | 14″ × 12″ stainless steel | USB and RS-232 | NTEP Class III | Charging customers by weight, shipping stores, busy shipping benches |
| Brecknell LPS400 | 400 lb × 0.2 lb | 15″ × 12″ × 1″ stainless steel | RS-232 (cable not included) | General purpose (non-NTEP) | Heavy boxes, warehouses, receiving |
1. Brecknell PS25 (Pink or Blue): best overall for small business
The PS25 is the scale we’d put on almost every small shipping desk. It’s compact (about 8.5″ × 6″ × 2″) and low profile, so it fits next to a keyboard, and the flip-up letter stand holds large envelopes and shipping tubes. The pink and blue models are the same 25 lb PS25 in different housings (Brecknell PS25PINK and PS25BLUE).
- Capacity and resolution: 25 lb / 11.5 kg. It reads in 0.1 oz steps up to 2 lb and 0.2 oz steps from 2 to 25 lb, so letters and light packages are weighed finely.
- Units: lb/oz, kg and g, with an On/Off/Tare key and a Units key.
- USB to your PC: the USB interface works with most current USPS PC postage applications, so the weight goes straight into the software.
- Power: four AAA batteries or the USB cable, both included. Auto power-off after 2 minutes saves the batteries.
- Display: 0.6″ backlit digits with a low-battery icon.
- Overload protection up to 120% of capacity.
Equipping a team? Get the PS25 Pink 4-pack or PS25 Blue 4-pack for multiple packing stations.
Note: the PS25 is a general-purpose postal scale. To charge customers for shipping by weight, choose an NTEP model like the PS-USB-150 below.
2. Brecknell PS-USB-150: best NTEP legal-for-trade shipping scale
When the weight sets what your customer pays, the scale has to be NTEP approved. The PS-USB series carries NTEP CC 15-083 (base) and CC 15-084 (SBI-240 indicator), Class III, and it’s NSF listed.
- Capacity: 150 lb × 0.05 lb / 60 kg × 0.02 kg.
- Platform: removable 14″ × 12″ stainless steel platter on a cast aluminum base with adjustable feet and a level bubble.
- Indicator: 1″ backlit LCD on a detachable bracket. Weighing, counting, checkweighing, percent and accumulation.
- Software: USB (virtual COM) and RS-232 with NCI, 8213, 3835 and Autosend protocols. It interfaces with programs such as UPS WorldShip.
- Power: AC adapter and USB cable included, or four AA batteries (not included).
3. Brecknell LPS400: best for heavy boxes
For cases, totes and small crates, the LPS400 gives you a low-profile 15″ × 12″ × 1″ stainless steel platform and a separate indicator that mounts on the wall or desk (brackets included). The large keys work with gloves. Counting parts or kits into those boxes before they ship? See our counting scale buying guide.
- Capacity: 400 lb × 0.2 lb / 182 kg × 0.1 kg.
- Output: RS-232 port that interfaces with common shipping software, including UPS WorldShip (cable not included).
- Power: four AAA batteries (included).
- Display: 0.625″ backlit LCD.
How to choose a shipping scale
- Capacity: pick about 25% more than your heaviest package. Most small sellers are fine with 25 lb, while warehouses usually need 150 to 400 lb.
- Resolution: 0.1 oz matters for letters and First-Class packages, where every ounce changes the price.
- Platform size: a box that hangs over the edge and hides the display is hard to read. Larger boxes need a larger platform or a remote display.
- Software: USB is the simplest way to send weight to PC postage software. RS-232 and USB with standard protocols connect to UPS WorldShip and similar systems.
- Legal for trade: if you charge by weight, buy an NTEP scale. See our NTEP guide.
Keep your shipping scale accurate
Check your scale every so often with a known weight. If it’s off, a carrier will notice before you do. Shipping stores and fulfillment centers that need documentation can add calibration with a certificate. The PS25 (11.5 kg) is in our 6.2 to 35 kg tier and the PS-USB-150 (68 kg) is in the 35 to 150 kg tier:
| Scale | In-house calibration with certificate | NIST calibration with NIST-traceable certificate |
|---|---|---|
| PS25 and other scales over 6.2 kg up to 35 kg | $250 (add to cart) | $595 (add to cart) |
| PS-USB-150 and other scales over 35 kg up to 150 kg | $350 (add to cart) | $750 (add to cart) |
| LPS400 and scales over 150 kg | $495 (add to cart) | $995 (add to cart) |
Legal-for-trade scales in Texas also need to be placed in service by a registered technician. MNM Scales is TDA licensed with registered technicians. See placing a scale in service in Texas.
Why buy your shipping scale from MNM Scales
MNM Scales has been in business for over 30 years, is one of the largest scale distributors in the country and is an authorized Brecknell dealer. We stock shipping scales in Texas and ship fast, often the same day, and a real person answers the phone when you have a question. Browse all shipping and postal scales and shipping bench scales.
Ready to ship smarter?
PS25 Pink PS25 Blue PS-USB-150 NTEP LPS400
Outfitting a warehouse or several locations? Request a quote or call (832) 290-3120.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best shipping scale for a small business?
For most small businesses and online sellers, the Brecknell PS25 (pink or blue) is the best choice: 25 lb capacity, 0.1 oz resolution up to 2 lb, USB to PC postage software, and batteries and USB cable included.
What is the difference between the PS25 Pink and PS25 Blue?
Only the color. Both are the Brecknell PS25 25 lb postal scale with the same 8 x 6 inch platform, USB interface and specifications.
Does the Brecknell PS25 work with USPS postage software?
Yes. The PS25 USB interface works with most current USPS PC postage applications, which take the weight directly from the scale.
Do I need a legal-for-trade shipping scale?
You need an NTEP legal-for-trade scale if you charge customers for shipping by weight. The Brecknell PS-USB-150 is NTEP Class III approved. For weighing your own packages before buying postage, a general-purpose scale like the PS25 works.
What size shipping scale do I need?
Choose about 25% more capacity than your heaviest package: 25 lb for letters and small parcels, 150 lb for most shipping benches and 400 lb for heavy boxes and warehouses.
Does the PS25 come with batteries?
Yes. The PS25 runs on four AAA batteries or the USB cable, and both are included.