Description
This body fat caliper measures skinfold thickness from 0 to 70mm and ships with a printed reference chart and instructions, priced at $16.99 with fast Australian shipping. The ABS body measures approximately 16.5 x 11 x 0.6cm, needs no batteries, and reads directly off a printed scale.
What a caliper is good at is not what most people expect. It will not tell you your body fat percentage to a decimal place - no consumer tool will, including the expensive scales. What it does extremely well is measure the same fold, in the same place, week after week, and show you which direction it is moving. A bathroom scale cannot separate a kilo of muscle from a kilo of fat or a kilo of water. A tape measure catches only the largest changes. A caliper picks up a two-millimetre change in a skinfold that a scale would miss entirely, and it costs less than a month of gym membership.
Specifications
| Measurement range |
0 to 70mm |
| Material |
ABS |
| Dimensions |
Approx. 16.5 x 11 x 0.6cm |
| Reading |
Direct, printed millimetre scale |
| Power required |
None |
| Operation |
One-handed thumb press |
What's in the Box
| 1 x |
Body fat caliper |
| 1 x |
Reference chart and instructions |
Why Choose a Skinfold Caliper
-
Tracks what a scale cannot - it measures fat directly rather than inferring it from total weight
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Nothing to power or calibrate - no batteries, no app, no pairing, no firmware
-
Repeatable - the same site measured the same way gives a comparable number every time
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One-handed operation - the thumb press means you can pinch with one hand and measure with the other
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Chart included - the printed reference means you can convert readings without hunting online
How Accurate Is a Skinfold Caliper Compared to a Scale?
Different kinds of accurate. A body composition scale estimates fat by passing a small current through the body, and that estimate swings with hydration, time of day, food and even whether your feet are damp - which is why the same person can get readings several percent apart within one morning. A caliper measures a physical thickness, so it does not drift with hydration. Its weakness is the operator: pinching in a slightly different spot, or at different pressure, changes the number. The fix is consistency rather than precision - same sites, same person taking the measurement, same time of day.
How Many Skinfold Sites Should You Measure?
More sites means a more representative picture, because fat is not distributed evenly and a single site can move for reasons that have nothing to do with overall change. Three-site and seven-site protocols are both widely used, and the included chart explains the method it is designed around. If you are tracking rather than estimating a percentage, even a single consistent site tells you the direction of travel. Take each measurement on the right side of the body, as the included instructions describe, and record which sites you used so you repeat exactly the same ones next time.
How Often Should You Take Skinfold Measurements?
Every two to four weeks is enough, and measuring more often mostly generates noise. Skinfold thickness does not change meaningfully day to day, so daily readings show measurement variation rather than real change and are a reliable way to become discouraged for no reason. Measure at the same time of day, before eating and before training, and write the numbers down. The trend over three or four readings is the information; any single reading is not.
Buyers are typically people following a structured training or nutrition programme who want a measurement that a scale cannot give them, personal trainers taking client baselines, and people who have grown frustrated with a smart scale that reads differently every morning.
Browse the rest of our Sports & Fitness range, or see Health & Beauty for wider wellbeing products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I measure myself?
Yes for the accessible sites - abdomen, thigh, suprailiac. The subscapular site behind the shoulder blade genuinely needs a second person.
How hard should I pinch?
Grasp firmly enough to lift the fold clear of the muscle beneath, then let the caliper apply the pressure. The pinch holds the fold; the caliper does the measuring.
Does it need calibrating?
There is no calibration adjustment on a caliper of this type. Check it closes cleanly to zero and reads consistently.
Will it work for very lean or very large skinfolds?
The range is 0 to 70mm, which covers most people. Folds thicker than 70mm cannot be measured with this tool.
Is it suitable for children?
Body composition in children should be interpreted by a health professional. This is sold as a general fitness tool for adults.
Why do I get different numbers each time?
Almost always site or pressure variation. Mark your sites, take three readings at each and use the middle one.
Does it come with the formulas?
A printed chart and instructions are included. Which protocol they cover is set by the supplier and shown on the sheet.
Fast Australian Shipping
We ship from within Australia to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin, and to regional addresses nationwide, with tracking on every order.
This is a general fitness and self-monitoring tool, not a medical or diagnostic device, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any condition. Readings are estimates that depend heavily on technique and are not a measure of health on their own. Nothing here is medical or dietary advice - speak to a doctor, dietitian or accredited exercise professional before making changes to your diet or training, and particularly if you have any health condition. Not intended for use on children except under professional guidance. Dimensions are supplier-stated and may vary slightly.
