Crane Scales and Hanging Scales

A crane scale hangs from a crane, hoist or forklift attachment and weighs the load on its hook, so you can weigh coils, castings, bulk bags and scrap without setting them down. MNM Scales stocks crane scales and hanging scales from 11 lb mechanical hanging scales to 200,000 lb tension links, from MNM Scales, Optima, Brecknell, Rice Lake and Intelligent Weighing. We own the inventory on our shelves in Cypress, TX, and every crane scale ships free nationwide. Calibration before shipping is available on request (paid service tiers), and our TDA-Registered Technicians calibrate crane scales on-site across the Houston area.

Crane scales in stock by type

S-type load cell crane scale kits

A calibrated S-type load cell with a digital indicator on a 20 ft cable, so the operator reads the weight at a safe distance. Peak hold captures the highest force during a pull or tension test.

• MNM Scales 500 lb x 0.05 lb S-type crane scale for fine-resolution lifting and testing.
• 2,000 lb x 0.5 lb S-type crane scale kit: ST-2K load cell with an Optima OP-902 backlit LCD indicator, 20 ft cable, peak hold and RS-232.
• MNM Scales 3,000 lb x 0.2 lb S-type crane scale with ST-3K load cell and 20 ft cable.

Heavy-duty digital crane scales, 1,000 to 3,000 lb

The display is built into the scale body, which hangs from a shackle with a swivel hook below. Most include a wireless remote and a rechargeable battery.

• Optima OP-924A-1000: 1,000 lb x 0.2 lb, red backlit LED, wireless remote with peak capture at up to 100 ft.
• Optima OP-924B-2000: the 2,000 lb LCD model with remote.
• Brecknell CS-2000: 2,000 lb x 1 lb, 1.2 in LED display, remote and rechargeable battery.
• Brecknell BCS-2K: 2,000 lb heavy-duty crane scale in a cast aluminum housing.

10,000 lb crane scales

The most common size for fabrication shops, machinery movers, steel service centers and warehouses, with room for coils, molds and loaded pallets.

• MNM Scales OP-925 10,000 lb crane scale: 10,000 lb x 2 lb with LCD display, rechargeable battery and remote control.
• Brecknell BCS-5000 (formerly BCS-10K): 10,000 lb, 2 lb / 5 lb dual range, 1.4 in LED, remote with a 32 ft range and rechargeable battery.
• MNM Scales PS-CR-L: 10,000 lb x 2 lb super heavy duty, with remote.

20,000 lb and up, and tension links

• Brecknell 20,000 x 1 lb crane scale with S-type NTEP load cell and stainless steel indicator.
• MNM Scales 20,000 lb x 2 lb industrial crane scale.
• MS-927-50K tension link scale: a compact 50,000 lb link with LCD display for rigging and lifting. Tension links run up to 200,000 lb.

Hanging scales and NTEP hanging scales

• Intelligent Weighing AHS-60: 60 lb x 0.05 lb, NTEP Class III (CC 18-098A1), for selling produce, seafood and other goods by weight.
• Rice Lake OS-45: 99 lb x 0.1 lb digital hanging scale on two AA batteries, with hold and a carrying case.
• Brecknell ElectroSamson: a 99 lb digital hand-held hanging scale.

Mechanical hanging scales

A mechanical hanging scale uses a spring and a 6 in dial, so it needs no batteries and keeps working outdoors and in wet areas. The Brecknell 235 series is accurate to 1 part in 250 at full load, dual-marked in lb and kg, with stainless steel hooks.

• Brecknell 235-6S-5: 11 lb x 1 oz.
• Brecknell 235-6S-25: 56 lb x 4 oz, ABS case, and the 235-6M metal-case version.
• Brecknell 235-6S-50: 110 lb x 8 oz.

Need a legal-for-trade hanging scale for lighter loads? Ask about the CAS NC-1-250 crane scale, 250 x 0.1 lb: NTEP approved, with a weatherproof cast aluminum housing, wireless remote and rechargeable battery.

Popular crane scales compared

Specifications below come from each maker’s data sheet or NTEP certificate. “In-house use” means the model is sold for weighing inside your business, not for selling by weight.

Model	Capacity x division	Display and power	Remote	Legal for trade	Best for
Intelligent Weighing AHS-60	60 lb x 0.05 lb	Digital display, batteries	–	NTEP Class III (CC 18-098A1)	Selling produce and seafood by weight
Rice Lake OS-45	99 lb x 0.1 lb	LCD, two AA batteries	–	In-house use	Bags, buckets and field weighing
Brecknell 235-6S-50	110 lb x 8 oz	6 in mechanical dial, no power needed	–	In-house use	Outdoor and wet areas
Optima OP-924A-1000	1,000 lb x 0.2 lb	Red LED, rechargeable (up to 80 h)	Yes, up to 100 ft	In-house use	Shop hoists, fine readings
ST-2K S-type kit with OP-902	2,000 lb x 0.5 lb	Backlit LCD on a 20 ft cable, AC or AAA batteries	Cable	In-house use	Tension and pull testing
Brecknell CS-2000	2,000 lb x 1 lb	1.2 in LED, rechargeable (about 20 h)	Yes	In-house use	General lifting
MNM Scales OP-925	10,000 lb x 2 lb	LCD, rechargeable	Yes	In-house use	Fabrication shops and gantry cranes
Brecknell BCS-5000 (formerly BCS-10K)	10,000 lb, 2 lb / 5 lb dual range	1.4 in LED, rechargeable (60 to 200 h)	Yes, about 32 ft	In-house use	Steel, coils and heavy rigging

Shop crane scales by brand

MNM Scales crane scales · Optima crane scales · Brecknell crane and hanging scales · Rice Lake crane scales

How to choose a crane scale

Capacity

Pick a crane scale rated above your heaviest lift, with headroom for the rigging. A 2,000 lb or 3,000 lb scale covers most shop hoists, 10,000 lb covers forklifts and gantry cranes, and 20,000 lb and up suits steel, scrap and heavy rigging. Our crane scale buying guide walks through capacity and safety factors.

Resolution

Readability usually scales with capacity: 0.05 lb on a 500 lb scale, 0.5 lb on a 2,000 lb scale, 2 lb on a 10,000 lb scale. For tension testing at fine resolution, choose an S-type load cell scale.

Display and operator distance

S-type kits keep the indicator on a 20 ft cable, so operators read the weight away from the load. Heavy-duty crane scales with large LED or LCD displays are easy to read from the floor, and a wireless remote lets the operator zero, tare and hold without reaching up to the scale.

Digital or mechanical

A digital hanging crane scale gives finer readings, hold and tare. A mechanical hanging scale needs no batteries or charging and suits produce stands, farms and wet areas where light loads are weighed all day.

Legal for trade

When crane weights set a price, as in scrap, metals or produce sold by weight, choose an NTEP approved crane scale and have it placed in service. Browse NTEP legal-for-trade scales.

Load cells and parts

Building your own hanging scale or replacing a sensor? See our load cells, including S-type tension and compression cells, and scale indicators. For a ready-to-read set with an indicator, see our tension and compression scales.

Who uses crane scales

• Steel, metal and scrap yards: weighing coils, beams, bundles and scrap bins on the hook before they ship or are bought by weight.
• Oil and gas operations: checking pipe, valves, tools and equipment on rigs, in yards and in shops.
• Car, motorcycle and suspension manufacturers: weighing dies, molds, engines and assemblies, and pull and tension testing with S-type kits.
• Aerospace manufacturers: weighing tooling and components on overhead cranes, and checking rigging loads.
• Chemical and plastics plants: weighing bulk bags, drums and resin sacks on hoists.
• Fastener makers and paper goods plants: weighing bins of parts and paper rolls between lines.
• Food manufacturers, distributors and grocery stores: hanging scales for produce, meat and seafood.
• Acorn and pecan companies: hanging and mechanical scales for weighing sacks of nuts as they come in from the field.

Crane scale calibration

For any crane scale, calibration before shipping is available on request (paid service tiers), done in our Cypress, TX shop. Pricing is set by the scale’s maximum capacity:

Scale maximum capacity	In-house calibration with NIST-tested weights	NIST calibration with NIST-traceable certificate
2.2–6.2 kg (4.85–13.7 lb)	$195	$495
6.2–35 kg (13.7–77 lb)	$250	$595
35–150 kg (77–330 lb)	$350	$750
Over 150 kg (330 lb)	$495	$995

A scale whose capacity is exactly at a tier limit uses the lower tier.

An 11 lb (5 kg) hanging scale falls in the 2.2–6.2 kg tier, a 100 lb or 250 lb scale in the 35–150 kg tier, and scales of 500 lb and above in the over 150 kg tier. Calibration usually takes 1–3 business days after receipt. We also offer mail-in calibration for scales bought anywhere. Read our crane scale calibration guide for what to expect.

Calibrated on-site in Houston

For crane scales already in service, our TDA-Registered Technicians come to you across Houston and the surrounding suburbs, with Dallas, Austin and San Antonio on request. They bring their own test weights for on-site crane calibration and can check every crane and hanging scale in a plant in one visit. On-site service is $295 plus $2 per mile round trip, charged once per visit, with calibration priced per scale. See industrial scale calibration in Houston and scale repair for all brands.

Crane scale rentals

MNM Scales rents all types of scales, including crane scales for short-term lifts, audits and projects, or while your own scale is in for repair. See crane scale rental in Houston.

Crane scale FAQ

What is the difference between a crane scale and a hanging scale?

The terms overlap. Crane scale usually means an industrial digital scale rated for overhead cranes and hoists, typically 500 lb and up. Hanging scale usually means a lighter scale for produce, fish or general weights, typically under 300 lb.

What size crane scale do I need for 10,000 lb loads?

Choose a scale rated at 10,000 lb or higher. For regular lifts near 10,000 lb, a 20,000 lb scale adds headroom. Popular 10,000 lb choices include the MNM Scales OP-925 at 10,000 x 2 lb and the Brecknell BCS-5000 (formerly BCS-10K) at 10,000 lb with 2 lb / 5 lb dual range.

Can a crane scale measure tension?

Yes. S-type load cell crane scales measure tension and compression, and many include peak hold to capture the highest force during a pull test.

What is a mechanical hanging scale good for?

A mechanical hanging scale uses a spring and dial, so it needs no batteries or charging. It suits produce, farms, fishing and wet areas for loads up to about 110 lb. For finer readings or selling by weight, choose a digital NTEP hanging scale such as the Intelligent Weighing AHS-60.

How often should a crane scale be calibrated?

Most crane scales should be calibrated at least once a year, and more often when they lift near capacity every day. Recalibrate after an overload, a shock load or a repair, and before any scale is placed in service for trade. Our crane scale calibration guide covers what is checked.

Can you calibrate my crane scale?

Yes. Calibration before shipping is available on request (paid service tiers). You can also send your scale to us for mail-in calibration, or have our TDA-Registered Technicians calibrate it on-site in the Houston area with their own test weights.

Do you offer crane scale rentals?

Yes. See crane scale rental in Houston for short-term lifts and projects.

How do I get a quote?

Call (832) 290-3120 or contact us with the capacity, quantity and your location. For volume orders, ask about wholesale pricing.