EK-1200i vs EK-610i: 0.1 g NTEP Class II or 0.01 g Non-NTEP?

By MNM Scales · Last updated October 31, 2026

The EK-1200i and EK-610i look almost identical and share the same keys, menus, RS-232C port and battery. The decision comes down to one trade-off: legal-for-trade approval at 0.1 g, or ten times finer readings at 0.01 g without it. This guide covers only that choice; for the rest of the lineup, see the A&D EK-i series guide.

Side by side

	EK-1200i	EK-610i
Capacity x readability	1200 g x 0.1 g	600 g x 0.01 g
NTEP	Class II (CC 04-019A3)	Not on the certificate
Linearity	±0.1 g	±0.02 g
Pan	133 x 170 mm rectangular	110 mm round
Max count / smallest unit weight	12,000 pcs / 0.1 g	60,000 pcs / 0.01 g
Trade units	g, oz, lb, ozt, dwt, ct, GN	Similar unit set (not for trade)
Calibration tier (in-house / NIST)	$95 / $395	$95 / $395
Battery	EKW-09i (not included)	EKW-09i (not included)

Question 1: will the balance set a price by weight?

If you buy or sell by weight, the scale is a commercial device and has to be legal for trade. The EK-1200i is NTEP Class II, the class used for precious metals and other high-value weighing, which is why pawn shops and gold buyers ask for it. Read our legal-for-trade jewelry scale guide for counter use, and what NTEP legal for trade means for the background.

Texas note: TDA does not require an NTEP certificate for every device, but the scale must meet NIST Handbook 44 and suit its use; some scales do need one, so we recommend NTEP models and can check yours. See TDA’s scales used in trade guidance (PDF), our TDA scale certification guide and what the RWM-780 placed-in-service form means, or call us or TDA to confirm your use.

Question 2: do you need 0.01 g?

If nothing is sold by weight, readability decides. A 0.1 g balance shows changes in 0.1 g steps, so it suits loads where a tenth of a gram is a small share of the weight: parcels, parts, portions, precious metal lots. A 0.01 g balance resolves ten times finer, which matters for small samples, powders, seeds, ingredient additions and formulations measured in hundredths. Use our tolerance calculator and capacity and readability guide to check which your tolerance needs.

Need both 0.01 g and legal-for-trade approval? That is outside these two models; call us and we will match a balance to the job.

Question 3: what are you putting on the pan?

• Containers, bags, trays and parts: the EK-1200i’s 133 x 170 mm pan gives them room, and 1200 g covers a container plus contents.
• Weigh boats, small dishes and samples: the EK-610i’s 110 mm round pan is sized for them, and 600 g is plenty.
• Counting: the EK-610i counts parts down to 0.01 g each, up to 60,000 pieces; the EK-1200i counts parts down to 0.1 g, up to 12,000. Counting is for inventory on both.

Which fits your industry

Work	Better fit	Why
Pawn shops, gold and silver buying	EK-1200i	NTEP Class II with ozt and dwt
Shipping, packing and kitting	EK-1200i	Larger pan and capacity; 0.1 g is enough
Food portioning and recipe work	EK-1200i	Capacity for containers; NTEP if sold by weight
Plastics and chemicals: small additions, samples	EK-610i	0.01 g on small quantities
Labs, from pharmacies to big pharma: general weighing	EK-610i	0.01 g where nothing is sold by weight
Aerospace and oil and gas: small-part counts	Depends on part weight	EK-610i below 0.1 g per part

What stays the same

Both balances use the same keys, function menu, RS-232C output and the EKW-09i battery pack (not included), and both fall in our up-to-2.2 kg calibration tier. Our EK-1200i manual guide covers setup, units, counting and RS-232C for either one, and our EK-1200i calibration guide covers calibration. Browse all A&D precision balances to see both listings.

Calibration, repair and rentals

• Calibrated before it ships: in-house calibration $95 or NIST calibration certificate $395 for balances up to 2.2 kg. See NIST vs in-house certificates and how to calibrate the EK-1200i.
• Mail-in calibration: ship your balance to our shop with the mail-in calibration service.
• Cypress pickup by appointment: drop off or pick up at our Cypress, TX shop (21249 FM 529 Rd, Cypress, TX 77433).
• On-site service: on-site calibration is $295 plus $2 per mile per visit, plus the calibration fee for each scale.
• Legal-for-trade placement in Texas: our TDA-registered technicians calibrate and place commercial scales in service. See legal-for-trade scale calibration and balance calibration in Houston.
• Repair: load cell, cable, adapter and keypad problems go to our scale repair bench.
• Rentals: we rent all types of scales; ask about a scale rental while yours is in for service.

Frequently asked questions

Is the EK-1200i or EK-610i better for a pawn shop?

The EK-1200i. It is NTEP Class II, reads troy ounces and pennyweight, and weighs up to 1200 g. The EK-610i is not on the NTEP certificate, so it is not used to price by weight.

Which reads finer, the EK-1200i or the EK-610i?

The EK-610i reads 0.01 g, ten times finer than the EK-1200i’s 0.1 g. The EK-1200i weighs twice as much, up to 1200 g versus 600 g.

Is the EK-610i NTEP approved?

No. The EK-i models on NTEP Certificate of Conformance 04-019A3 are the EK-1200i and EK-12Ki (Class II) and the EK-600i and EK-6000i (Class III).

Do the EK-1200i and EK-610i use the same battery?

Yes. Both take the EKW-09i rechargeable NiMH battery pack, which is not included with either balance.

What pan does each balance have?

The EK-1200i has a 133 x 170 mm rectangular pan. The EK-610i has a 110 mm round pan.

Does it cost the same to calibrate both?

Yes. Both are in our up-to-2.2 kg tier: $95 for in-house calibration with a certificate or $395 with a NIST-traceable certificate.