POS Scale: How a Checkout Scale Talks to Your Register
A POS scale sits on the checkout counter and sends the weight into your register, and our first pick is the CAS PDN-30: 30 lb × 0.005 lb, USB and RS-232, NTEP legal for trade (CC 22-046), on sale for $493.00 (regular $619.00) and in stock.
Short answer: a POS scale is a checkout scale that weighs the item and sends that weight to your point of sale or cash register, so the cashier does not key the weight by hand. For most grocery, c-store and produce counters, the CAS PDN-30 is our pick at $493.00: 30 lb × 0.005 lb, NTEP Class III (CC 22-046), with USB and RS-232, USB power, and a tilting LED display on a low-profile 15 × 11 in platter. The CAS PDN-12 (12 lb × 0.002 lb) and CAS PDN-60 (60 lb × 0.01 lb) are the same price and the same interfaces. For a heavier-duty platter and selectable POS protocols (NCI, ECR, Sharp 8213 and EH), the Brecknell 6720U-15 (15 lb × 0.005 lb, NTEP CC 13-074A3) is $629.99, and the Brecknell 6710U-30 (30 lb × 0.01 lb, external display) is $529.00. We are an authorized dealer for every brand we sell.
On sale: $493.00 (regular $619.00) on the CAS PDN-30 (#32244), in stock. Contact us or call (832) 290-3120 with questions.
Shop the CAS PDN-30 (#32244) Call (832) 290-3120 Get a quote
Retail and checkout scale guides from MNM Scales
- POS scale: how a checkout scale talks to your register (you are here)
- Produce scale
- Torrey scales
- Deli scale with label printer
- How to connect a scale to a computer: USB vs RS-232
- What is NTEP and legal for trade
- TDA scale certification in Texas
Grocery lanes, convenience stores and farm stands all need a scale at the register that the POS system can read. A POS scale is built for that job: a low platter on the counter, a clear display, and a port that sends each weight into the checkout software. This guide covers how a POS scale differs from a price-computing scale, when to use USB or RS-232, customer displays, NTEP for selling by weight, and a short setup checklist.
POS scales in stock at live prices
| POS scale | Capacity × readability | Interface | Display | NTEP | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAS PDN-30 | 30 lb × 0.005 lb / 12 kg × 0.002 kg | USB and RS-232; USB powered | Tilting six-digit LED; optional remote customer display (not included) | NTEP Class III (CC 22-046) | $493.00 (reg. $619.00) |
| CAS PDN-12 | 12 lb × 0.002 lb / 6 kg × 0.001 kg | USB and RS-232; USB powered | Tilting six-digit LED; optional remote customer display (not included) | NTEP Class III (CC 22-046) | $493.00 (reg. $619.00) |
| CAS PDN-60 | 60 lb × 0.01 lb / 30 kg × 0.005 kg | USB and RS-232; USB powered | Tilting six-digit LED; optional remote customer display (not included) | NTEP Class III (CC 22-046) | $493.00 (reg. $619.00) |
| Brecknell 6720U-15 | 15 lb × 0.005 lb / 7.5 kg × 0.002 kg | USB and RS-232; NCI, ECR, 8213 (Sharp), EH (PS60) | Built-in 0.58 in backlit LCD; optional remote display kit (not included) | NTEP Class III (CC 13-074A3) | $629.99 (reg. $876.00) |
| Brecknell 6720U-30 | 30 lb × 0.01 lb / 15 kg × 0.005 kg | USB and RS-232; NCI, ECR, 8213 (Sharp), EH (PS60) | Built-in 0.58 in backlit LCD; optional remote display kit (not included) | NTEP Class III (CC 13-074A3) | $699.00 (reg. $896.00) |
| Brecknell 6710U-30 | 30 lb × 0.01 lb / 15 kg × 0.005 kg | USB and RS-232; NCI, ECR, 8213 (Sharp), EH (PS60) | External 0.58 in backlit LCD on a cable | NTEP Class III (CC 13-074A3) | $529.00 (reg. $568.81) |
Every scale in this table is NTEP Class III and legal for trade for selling by weight. Confirm the cable and protocol with your POS or register model before you order; we can help if you call or get a quote.
POS scale vs price-computing scale
A POS scale sends the weight to the register. The POS software already has the price per pound, the PLU and the tax rules, so the scale’s job is to be accurate, legal for trade, and easy to read. A price-computing scale has its own price look-up and often prints a label at the counter; it can stand alone without a POS. If your checkout already runs on a register or POS terminal, a POS interface scale is the usual fit. If you need a standalone counter scale that computes price or prints a label, see our produce scale guide and our deli scale with label printer guide.
USB vs RS-232, and which protocol to use
The CAS PDN models connect over USB or RS-232 and can draw power from the POS USB port, so there is no separate power brick on the counter (a 5 V USB power block is optional and not included). The Brecknell 67XXU models also use bi-directional USB and 9-pin RS-232, and the listings confirm they speak the NCI, ECR, Sharp 8213 and EH (PS60) protocols used by many cash registers and POS programs.
- USB. Simple on a modern POS terminal that has a free USB port. The CAS PDN can be powered from that same port.
- RS-232. Still the port many electronic cash registers and older POS systems expect. You will need the correct cable for your register.
- Protocol. The register has to understand the data format the scale sends. For the Brecknell 67XXU family we can point you to NCI, ECR, Sharp 8213 or EH (PS60), as listed. For a CAS PDN, confirm the interface your POS vendor supports over USB or RS-232.
For a general look at cables and ports, see how to connect a scale to a computer: USB vs RS-232. Call us with your POS or register model if you want the connection checked before the scale ships.
Customer displays
A display the customer can read builds trust at the checkout. The CAS PDN has a tilting six-digit LED that faces the cashier; a remote customer display is available as an option (not included). The Brecknell 6710U-30 includes a separate display on a cable, so you can face it toward the operator or the customer, or mount it on an optional post or bracket (not included). The 6720U models have a built-in display; an optional remote display kit is available (not included).
NTEP for selling by weight
If you sell, buy or charge by weight at the register, the scale needs to be NTEP legal for trade and placed in service under your state’s rules. Every POS scale in this guide is NTEP Class III: the CAS PDN series under Certificate of Conformance 22-046, and the Brecknell 67XXU series under 13-074A3. Read what NTEP and legal for trade mean, and for Texas shops, TDA scale certification. Piece counting on the Brecknell 67XXU, where the listing includes it, is not trade approved.
A POS scale setup checklist
- Match capacity to the heaviest item you will weigh at the register, with a little margin. 12 lb suits light produce and bulk candy; 30 lb covers most grocery and c-store lanes; 60 lb covers heavier bags and baskets.
- Confirm the port and cable your POS or cash register uses (USB or RS-232), and the protocol if your system requires one.
- Plan the display. Tilting, built-in, or a separate customer-facing display.
- Leave platter room on the counter. The CAS PDN platter is 15 × 11 in at a 3.2 in profile; the 6720U platter is 12 × 14 in; the 6710U-30 platter is 10 × 10 in.
- Add calibration if you want the scale certified before it ships, then do a daily zero check once it is on the counter.
A daily zero check
Before the first customer, look at the display with nothing on the platter. It should be at zero. If it is not, press zero (and make sure nothing is leaning on the platter or the cable). A known weight on the platter once a day catches a problem before you sell by a wrong weight. Log the date, the check weight and the reading, and keep the calibration due date with the scale.
Calibration, repair and rentals
The CAS PDN-12 (12 lb) is in the 2.2–6.2 kg tier: $195.00 in-house with a certificate or $495.00 NIST-traceable. The CAS PDN-30 and PDN-60, and the Brecknell 6720U-15, 6720U-30 and 6710U-30, are in the 6.2–35 kg tier: $250.00 or $595.00. Mail-in calibration is available nationwide by mail, for in-house and NIST certificates, and usually takes 1–3 business days after we receive the scale. On-site calibration across Houston and its suburbs is $295 plus $2 per mile round trip. We repair all brands and types of scales, including POS and checkout scales, through our Houston scale repair service, and we rent scales in the Houston area; call or get a quote.
Notes from our Cypress, TX shop
- Ask for the POS model first. The right cable and protocol matter as much as the capacity.
- USB power keeps the brick off the counter. That is one reason shops like the CAS PDN on a tight checkout.
- Zero it every morning. A POS scale that is off by a few divisions will sell all day at the wrong weight.
- Need a standalone priced counter scale instead? Start with our produce scale guide.
Ready to order? The CAS PDN-30 is our usual POS scale, on sale at $493.00 (regular $619.00), in stock. Need finer readability at 12 lb? The CAS PDN-12 is $493.00. Need an external customer display? The Brecknell 6710U-30 is $529.00. Questions? Call (832) 290-3120 or get a quote.
Shop the CAS PDN-30 (#32244) Call (832) 290-3120 Request a quote
Frequently asked questions
What is a POS scale?
A checkout scale that weighs an item and sends that weight to your point of sale or cash register. The CAS PDN-30 (30 lb × 0.005 lb, USB and RS-232, NTEP CC 22-046) is our pick at $493.00.
What is the difference between a POS scale and a price-computing scale?
A POS scale sends the weight to the register, and the POS software applies the price. A price-computing scale looks up the price itself and can work without a POS, often with a label printer. See our produce scale and deli scale with label printer guides if you need that standalone style.
Are these POS scales NTEP legal for trade?
Yes. Every scale in this guide is NTEP Class III: the CAS PDN-12, PDN-30 and PDN-60 under Certificate of Conformance 22-046, and the Brecknell 6720U-15, 6720U-30 and 6710U-30 under 13-074A3. See what NTEP means.
Will a POS scale work with my register?
The CAS PDN models connect by USB or RS-232 and can be powered from a POS USB port. The Brecknell 67XXU models connect by USB or RS-232 and speak the NCI, ECR, Sharp 8213 and EH (PS60) protocols listed on those pages. Confirm the cable and protocol for your POS or register model; call us if you want that checked before the scale ships.
How much does it cost to calibrate a POS scale?
The 12 lb CAS PDN-12 is $195.00 in-house or $495.00 NIST (2.2–6.2 kg). The 15, 30 and 60 lb models in this guide are $250.00 or $595.00 (6.2–35 kg). On-site in Houston is $295 plus $2 per mile round trip. Mail-in calibration is available nationwide by mail, for in-house and NIST certificates.