Kitchen Scale Specs Compared: Capacity, Display Increments and Tare

Three specifications that mean different things

• Maximum capacity: the maximum load on the scale, including the container.
• Display increment: the step between displayed numbers. A 0.1 g display does not promise accuracy within ±0.1 g at every load.
• Permissible error and minimum measurable amount: separate specifications. If these are unconfirmed, do not fill them in with zero or the display increment.

For example, a 300 g bowl already uses part of a 500 g scale’s capacity. Taring the display to zero does not add another 500 g of physical capacity. Check the remaining allowance against the total load. This is an illustrative capacity example, not a test result.

Read the official specifications together

On narrow screens, scroll the table horizontally. These facts come from Korean official product or distributor materials. Recheck the exact model, supplied accessories and current manual before purchasing.

CAS’s official KE-5000 table states 1 kg. Read the capacity specification rather than inferring it from the model name. TANITA’s Korean distributor is identified in its official Asia distributor directory. Do not automatically transfer an overseas package’s accessories or warranty to a Korean purchase.

Which specification matters for your task?

For a large mixing bowl

Estimate the empty bowl plus the largest amount of ingredients. If the total exceeds 1 kg, none of these three models meets that load requirement. Check a higher-capacity product’s documentation instead of prioritizing a smaller display increment.

For small amounts

KE-500 displays 0.1 g steps, but that alone does not establish low-load error, repeatability or minimum measurable quantity. Ask the manufacturer about the weight range your task requires. This comparison is not intended for medicine dosing or medical use.

For cleaning and maintenance

The Korean KJ-120 instructions say it is not waterproof and must not be washed with water. They describe wiping with a soft cloth dampened with water or neutral detergent and wrung out, then removing moisture. We did not establish the two CAS models’ cleaning methods or water resistance from the materials reviewed. Follow each exact model’s instructions.

Five questions before buying

1. Will the maximum bowl-plus-food load fit within capacity?
2. Have you checked the needed increment, permissible error and minimum measurable amount separately?
3. Do tare, automatic shutoff and unit options fit the task?
4. Are batteries included, and what replacement and cleaning arrangements apply?
5. What warranty period, service contact and return terms apply to the Korean package and seller?

Current prices, stock and each seller’s warranty terms were not verified. An unlisted feature in this comparison is unconfirmed, not necessarily absent.

From weighing to a food record: four checks

1. Check the total load, including the container. Tare changes the displayed value, but the container still loads the scale. CAS currently lists 500 g capacity with 0.1 g increments for KE-500 and 1 kg with 1 g increments for KE-5000; both list low-power and overload indicators. Do not record a warning display as a measurement. Remove the load and follow the model’s power and error instructions. Contact the manufacturer if warnings recur.
2. Tare the empty container, then record the food weight in grams. A hypothetical 300 g bowl plus 150 g of food creates a total load of 450 g, while the tared food reading is 150 g. This illustrates the principle; it is not a product test. Keep checking the total load when adding ingredients.
3. Match the label basis to your portion. For a hypothetical food with 200 kcal per 100 g, a 150 g portion calculates to 300 kcal. For a different food labeled 120 kcal per 30 g serving, 45 g is 1.5 servings and calculates to 180 kcal. These are arithmetic examples, not recommended portions.
4. Record the food, cooking state, grams and nutrition-data basis together. Your actual portion may differ from the labeled serving. FDA guidance explains that a US Nutrition Facts serving size is not a recommendation of how much to eat. For Korean products, check the basis on the actual Korean label.

Use matching nutrition information and the measured grams in the food nutrition comparison tool. A scale alone does not measure calories or nutrients. Do not independently change medicines or a prescribed diet based on this record.

Limits of care and verification

These products are compared as ordinary kitchen tools. Regulatory authorization or certification and clinical accuracy validation are separate checks; this article does not establish either medical-device authorization or clinical validation for these models. Display increments also differ from error limits. Follow each model’s cleaning and water-resistance instructions rather than transferring another model’s care advice.

Update checked 2026-10-18: CAS KE-500, CAS KE-5000, FDA serving-size guidance and NIDDK portions and food records. TANITA Korea’s detail and care materials could not be reverified in this update; their earlier 2026-10-04 check remains separately dated. No hands-on weighing, accuracy or durability testing was performed.

Use the measured amount in a food record

A scale measures mass. Nutrition information still comes from the product label or a source matching the food’s cooking state. After taring the container, enter the food amount in grams into the existing food nutrition comparison tool. Keep raw and cooked foods, brands and sources distinct; do not mix per-100 g and per-serving figures.

The result is an arithmetic comparison of the entered nutrition data and portion weights. Neither this scale comparison nor the tool guarantees a suitable diet, treatment or weight-loss result.

Sources and scope

• CAS official specifications: the KE-500 and KE-5000 links in the table.
• TANITA Korea KJ-120 materials: product label and increment, capacity, power and care, container tare instructions.

Life Choice Note · Checked October 4, 2026. This compares public manufacturer and official-distributor specifications. No hands-on accuracy or durability tests were performed. An official listing does not establish current stock or continued availability. Specifications and package contents can change.