Analytical Balance Price: What a 0.1 mg Balance Costs, Tier by Tier

By MNM Scales · Last updated October 31, 2026

Reviewed by MNM Scales technicians · Updated October 31, 2026 · Prices checked October 31, 2026

Two analytical balances can both read to 0.1 mg and still be a few thousand dollars apart. The difference is in what the balance does for you: whether it calibrates itself, how much it holds, whether it is approved for selling by weight, whether it removes static, and whether it can read finer than 0.1 mg. MNM Scales has sold, calibrated and repaired balances for over 30 years from our shop in Cypress, Texas. This guide lays out what an analytical balance costs at each tier across brands, using the live prices in our store, so you can match the budget to the features you will use.

Analytical balance price by tier

Tier	Balance	Capacity x readability	Price	What you get
Entry: external calibration	A&D HR-100A	102 g x 0.1 mg	$939	You calibrate with a separate weight (not included). Good for teaching labs, QC benches and steady rooms.
	A&D FX-104	102 g x 0.1 mg	$1,315
Workhorse: internal calibration	A&D HR-250AZ	252 g x 0.1 mg	$1,349	A built-in weight calibrates the balance; the BCE224I-1S and GX-224A also recalibrate on their own when the temperature changes.
	Sartorius BCE224I-1S	220 g x 0.1 mg	$1,879
	A&D GX-224A	220 g x 0.1 mg	$2,199
Legal for trade: NTEP Class I	Sartorius BCE224-1NUS	220 g x 0.1 mg	$1,998	Approved for selling by weight: pharmacies, jewelers and dispensaries.
	A&D GX-224AN	220 g x 0.1 mg	$2,415
Static control: built-in ionizer	A&D GX-224AE	220 g x 0.1 mg	$3,029	Neutralizes static on powders, plastic vials and filters before you weigh.
	A&D BM-200	220 g x 0.1 mg	$3,376
Semi-micro: dual range	A&D GH-202	51 g x 0.01 mg / 220 g x 0.1 mg	$3,799	A fine 0.01 mg range for small samples plus a 0.1 mg range to 220 g.

See every model, including other capacities and brands, in analytical balances.

What drives the price of an analytical balance

• Calibration type. External-calibration models cost less up front, but you need a certified calibration weight (not included) and someone to run the check. Internal calibration adds a motorized weight inside the balance. See internal vs external calibration.
• Automatic recalibration. Some internal-calibration balances recalibrate themselves when the room temperature changes, such as Sartorius isoCAL on the BCE224I-1S and A&D automatic self calibration on the GX-224A and BM-200. That matters in rooms where the HVAC cycles.
• Capacity. Moving from about 100 g to about 220 g or 252 g adds cost within a series. Buy the capacity your heaviest container plus sample needs, not the largest model.
• NTEP Class I approval. A legal-for-trade version costs more than the matching lab model. The GX-224AN is the NTEP version of the GX-224A, and in legal-for-trade mode it reads in 0.001 g steps.
• Ionizer and sensors. A built-in ionizer, like the one in the GX-224AE and BM-200, adds cost but saves time on static-prone samples. The BM-200 also shows temperature, humidity and pressure.
• Readability below 0.1 mg. A semi-micro range of 0.01 mg, as on the GH-202, is the next price step. See microbalance vs semi-micro vs analytical balance.
• Data and compliance features. USB, GLP reports, ID and clock data, and self-checks such as A&D ECL on the GX series help with audits. See connecting a scale to a computer.

Analytical scale price vs analytical balance price

Many buyers search for an analytical scale price; in the lab, the instrument is called an analytical balance, and the two terms mean the same 0.1 mg (0.0001 g) instrument. If you only need 1 mg or 0.01 g, a precision balance costs less; analytical balance vs precision balance explains where the line falls. A balance that reads to 0.1 mg needs a draft shield, a steady bench and a few minutes of warm-up, so the price also buys the glass chamber and the sensor that make that readability usable.

Total cost: calibration, weights and service

The balance price is the largest line, but a lab budget should include what it takes to keep the balance in tolerance and documented.

• Calibration with your order (balances up to 2.2 kg): in-house calibration with a certificate $95 or NIST calibration with a NIST-traceable certificate $395, done before the balance ships. See NIST vs in-house certificates and what scale calibration costs.
• Weights: external-calibration models need a calibration weight, and daily checks need a check weight. Both are sold separately (not included); see calibration weights and calibration weight classes.
• Annual calibration: the same $95 or $395 by mail-in or in our shop; mail-in calibration covers balances outside Houston.
• On-site service: $295 + $2 per mile per visit across the Houston area, with calibration charged per balance. Details on on-site calibration in Houston and our balance calibration service.
• Upkeep: a short daily and weekly routine protects the investment; see our analytical balance preventive maintenance checklist.
• Rentals: MNM rents all types of scales if you need a balance while yours is in for service.

Which tier fits your lab?

If you	Start with	Price
Weigh in a steady room and can run an external calibration	A&D HR-100A or A&D FX-104	$939 to $1,315
Want the balance to calibrate itself	A&D HR-250AZ, Sartorius BCE224I-1S or A&D GX-224A	$1,349 to $2,199
Sell by weight (pharmacy, jewelry, dispensary)	Sartorius BCE224-1NUS or A&D GX-224AN	$1,998 to $2,415
Fight static on powders, filters or plastic vessels	A&D GX-224AE or A&D BM-200	$3,029 to $3,376
Weigh samples below 1 mg	A&D GH-202	$3,799

Selling by weight in Texas: 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. TDA explains this in Legal for Trade Scales in the State of Texas (PDF). See what NTEP legal-for-trade means and, for jewelers, our legal-for-trade jewelry scale guide.

Shopping for one brand? Our Sartorius balance price guide compares Sartorius families on their own; this guide compares tiers across brands.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an analytical balance cost?

At MNM Scales, 0.1 mg analytical balances start at $939 for the A&D HR-100A with external calibration. Internal-calibration models run about $1,349 to $2,199, NTEP Class I models $1,998 to $2,415, ionizer models $3,029 to $3,376, and the GH-202 semi-micro balance is $3,799 (prices checked October 31, 2026).

Why do analytical balances with the same readability cost different amounts?

Price follows features: internal or automatic calibration, capacity, NTEP Class I approval, a built-in ionizer, a finer semi-micro range, and data features such as USB and GLP reports.

Is an analytical scale the same as an analytical balance?

Yes. Both terms describe a balance that reads to 0.1 mg (0.0001 g) inside a draft shield, so an analytical scale price and an analytical balance price refer to the same instruments.

Is internal calibration worth the extra cost?

If the room temperature changes or several people use the balance, yes: internal calibration keeps it adjusted without handling a separate weight. In a steady room with a trained user, an external-calibration model and a certified weight can do the job for less.

How much does it cost to calibrate an analytical balance?

Balances up to 2.2 kg are $95 for in-house calibration with a certificate or $395 for NIST calibration with a NIST-traceable certificate. On-site service adds $295 + $2 per mile per visit.

Do I need an NTEP analytical balance?

If you sell product by weight, choose an NTEP Class I balance such as the Sartorius BCE224-1NUS or A&D GX-224AN. TDA does not require an NTEP certificate for every device, but some scales do need one, so we recommend NTEP models and can check your use.