Scale On Balance SBS
Digital scales
by On Balance
On Balance SBS Precision Scale With Silicone Bowl
The On Balance SBS is a digital precision scale with silicone bowl that doubles as its own carrying case — the collapsible silicone bowl that comes with it folds down to protect the scale, then pops open when you need to weigh larger batches of herbs or concentrates. Available in two variants (200g x 0.01g and 1000g x 0.1g), it covers everything from micro-measurements to bulk weighing without needing two separate scales.
Which Variant Should You Pick?
This comes down to what you're weighing and how precise you need to be. The two variants serve genuinely different purposes.
| Variant | Capacity | Precision | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBS-200 | 200g | 0.01g | Concentrates, small herbs, anything where 0.1g isn't fine enough |
| SBS-1000 | 1000g | 0.1g | Larger batches, bulk herbs, harvest weighing |
If you're weighing sticky concentrates or small quantities where every hundredth of a gram matters, go with the 200 x 0.01g. If you're weighing bigger harvests or dried herb in volume, the 1000 x 0.1g gives you a full kilogram of capacity. We'd lean towards the 200 x 0.01g for most smartshop use — the finer precision is more useful day-to-day than the extra capacity.
Why a Precision Scale With a Silicone Bowl Changes Things
A precision scale with silicone bowl eliminates the two biggest annoyances of pocket scales: spillage and sticky residue. Most pocket scales ship with a tiny metal tray that's useless the moment you're weighing anything with volume. Dried herbs spill over the edges. Concentrates stick to steel. You end up improvising with plastic cups or rolling papers, which throws off your reading because you're constantly taring random containers.
The On Balance SBS solves this with a proper silicone bowl — blue, flexible, and large enough to actually hold a meaningful amount of material. Silicone doesn't stick, so waxy concentrates peel right off. When you're done, the bowl collapses flat over the scale and becomes a protective case. No separate pouch needed, no rattling around in a drawer. The whole unit stays compact and protected.
We've seen plenty of scales come back to shops with cracked screens or drifting calibration because they've been bouncing around loose in a bag. The SBS design genuinely addresses that — the collapsed bowl absorbs bumps that would otherwise land directly on the weighing platform or display. It's a small thing, but it's the difference between a scale that stays accurate for years and one that reads 0.3g off after six months.
Specifications
The On Balance SBS ships in two variants, both powered by 2 AAA batteries (included) with a backlit LCD and one-touch calibration.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | On Balance |
| Model | SBS-200 / SBS-1000 |
| Capacity (SBS-200) | 200g |
| Precision (SBS-200) | 0.01g |
| Capacity (SBS-1000) | 1000g |
| Precision (SBS-1000) | 0.1g |
| Display | Extra-large LCD with white backlight |
| Calibration | One-touch calibration |
| Functions | Tare/zero, piece counting, auto-off (3 minutes) |
| Overload protection | Built-in |
| Power | 2x AAA batteries (included) |
| Bowl material | Collapsible silicone with lid |
| Bowl colour | Blue |
Complete your setup: if you're working with dried herbs, a quality grinder ensures consistent particle size before weighing. Pair the SBS with a herb grinder from the On Balance or SLX range for more uniform results. If you're storing weighed-out portions, airtight stash jars like the Infinity Jar or TightVac keep everything fresh between sessions. Browse our full scales and measuring tools category for calibration weights and accessories.
Why You Actually Need a Proper Scale
Accurate weighing is the single most effective way to get consistent, repeatable results with any potent botanical material. Eyeballing quantities is how people get inconsistent results — whether you're preparing herbal teas, portioning supplements, or measuring out growing nutrients. A 0.5g difference might not look like much in your hand, but it can be the gap between a mild cup and an overpowering one.
According to the EMCDDA's harm reduction guidelines, accurate weighing is one of the most basic safety steps when working with any potent substance. The first step in precise dosing is always a reliable scale — not a kitchen spoon, not a "pinch," not guesswork. Clinical studies on medication tapering, for instance, rely on scales accurate to 0.01g to ensure patients reduce dosage by precise 10% increments. That same precision matters for anyone working with concentrated plant materials.
The honest limitation of any precision scale with silicone bowl in this price range: they drift over time if you don't calibrate them. The SBS makes this easy with one-touch calibration, but you do need to actually do it — once a week if you're using the scale daily, once a month for occasional use. A calibration weight isn't included, so pick one up separately if you don't already have one. That's the one thing we'd flag: budget for a 200g calibration weight alongside the SBS-200, or a 1000g weight for the SBS-1000.
How to Use the On Balance SBS Scale
Setting up takes under a minute — remove the bowl, power on, tare, and weigh.
- Remove the silicone bowl from the scale by expanding it upwards. Set the lid aside.
- Place the scale on a flat, stable surface. Uneven surfaces throw off readings — a wobbly table will cost you accuracy.
- Turn the scale on and wait for it to display 0.00g (SBS-200) or 0.0g (SBS-1000).
- Place the expanded silicone bowl on the weighing platform.
- Press the tare/zero button to reset the display to zero — this subtracts the weight of the bowl so you only measure your material.
- Add your herbs, concentrate, or material to the bowl. The reading on the backlit LCD shows the net weight.
- To weigh a second item, press tare again with the first item still on the scale, then add the second material.
- For piece counting: place a known quantity of identical items on the scale and activate the counting function. The scale calculates the average piece weight and counts from there.
- When finished, collapse the silicone bowl flat, place it over the scale with the lid on top, and store. The auto-off kicks in after 3 minutes of inactivity, but switching off manually saves a bit more battery.
