Below is our Top 5 NTEP-Certified Hanging Scales List. Accurate, Durable & Legal for Trade Hanging Scales.
When you’re selling products by weight or operating in a regulated commercial environment (think farmers markets, produce stands, meat counters, industrial shipping, etc.), then you need a legal-for-trade hanging scale that’s been certified under the National Type Evaluation Program (NTEP). These scales meet strict standards and are approved for commercial transactions in the United States. In fact, each of these legal for trade hanging scales has a certificate of conformance number (CoC#).
In this guide, we break down the top mechanical and digital hanging scales that are legal for trade NTEP certified—highlighting features, benefits, potential drawbacks, and best use cases to help you pick the right one for your weighing application. And, just for clarity, I use the terms hanging scale and crane scale interchangeably in this article. Although, most of the time when I say crane scale, I am usually referring to a digital scale.
#1. Intercomp CS1500 Crane Scales NTEP Approved
Overview: A professional digital crane scale series with high capacity and NTEP certification. Capacities range from 2000 to 10,000 pounds making it ideal for medium-to-heavy industrial weighing. And, I believe this scale is built in the US. at the time of this writing.
Features
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Large LED display for easy reading.
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Accurate to ± 0.1% of weight.
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Runs on alkaline D-cell batteries with long life.
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Remote control and USB/RS232 output available.
CS1500 Benefits
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Excellent for industrial, shipping, and overhead weighing.
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Wide capacity range suits many applications.
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Industrial tough, good compliance and traceability with Legal-for-Trade status.
CS1500 Alternatives
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MSI crane scales, CAS Crane Scales.
Cons
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Might be overkill for small shops or low-capacity needs.
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Higher price point than basic hanging scales like the CS-750.
#2. Chatillon 4200 Series (Mechanical, Legal for Trade)
Overview: A classic mechanical legal for trade hanging scale, rugged and reliable with a clear double dial and NTEP Class III legal-for-trade option.
Features
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Glass-covered 9″ double dial with bold readings.
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Avoirdupois/metric models available.
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Optional pan or hook attachments.
Benefits
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No power required — great for remote or simple weighing.
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Very durable and easy to read by multiple users.
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Ideal for markets, produce stands, or general use where mechanical simplicity matters.
Chatillon 4200 Alternatives
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Intercomp CS-750 Digital Crane Scale or Larger mechanical hanging scales (e.g., the Chatillon 8200 Series).
Cons
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Slower, Limited precision vs. digital units.
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No data output or advanced functions.
#3. Intercomp CS750 Medium‑Duty Digital Hanging Scale
Overview: Looking for an affordable 1000 lb scale that is legal for trade? This CS-750 could be a great choice for you. These scales are available in NTEP certified models for ensuring that businesses adhere to the necessary regulations while enjoying accurate, traceable weighing data. Accuracy of ±0.1% of reading, Easy-to-Read, LCD Display, available in capacities up to 1,000 lb (500 kg) and NTEP Certified, except the 100 lb model. And, to the best of my knowledge, this scale is built in the US.
CS-750 Features
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Digital hanging scale with large LCD display and NTEP legal-for-trade certification.
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Capacities typically from ~300 lb up to ~1000 lb.
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Includes tare, unit conversion (lb/kg), automatic backlight, and remote control.
Benefits
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Digital accuracy (±0.1% of reading) and easy interface.
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Great for medium industrial or commercial uses, including shipping checks, pallet weighing, or larger produce/outdoor markets.
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Optional wireless (RFX) weighing available.
Best For
Warehouses, recycling centers, medium-duty industrial weighing, commercial suppliers needing precise digital readings.
CS750 Alternatives
CAS NC-1, Intercomp CS-1500, Cardinal HSDC, MSI crane scales
Cons
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More expensive than mechanical options.
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Requires battery power and only available up to 1000 lb.
#4. CAS NC-1 Digital Crane Scale
Overview: A portable, NTEP legal-for-trade digital crane scale with capacities around 250 lb, 500 lb, and 1000 lb — perfect for light-to-medium commercial use. A popular choice among many of our customers.
NC1 Features
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Easy-to-read backlit LCD display.
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Wireless remote control included.
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Battery operated with AC adapter.
NC-1 Benefits
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Great for smaller operations — recycling centers, markets, small industrial facilities.
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Weather-resistant, rugged housing.
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Fairly affordable option in the legal-for-trade space.
NC-1 Alternatives
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Chatillon 4200 Series, Cardinal HSDC, Intercomp CS-750
Cons
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Lower maximum capacity than large industrial units.
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Basic features set compared to more advanced digital crane systems.
#5. Chatillon Century Series (Mechanical, Legal for Trade)
Overview: Another strong mechanical NTEP legal-for-trade hanging scale with single or double dials and various attachments. There is some debate about whether this model is going to be available in the future, but at least for now, I’m going to include them. This has been a good legal for trade hanging scale for farmers market use for years.
Century Series Features
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Full capacity reached in two pointer revolutions.
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Optional stainless steel pan or scoop attachments.
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Class III accuracy with dial options.
Century Series Benefits
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Great readability and build quality.
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Double dial version useful where both operator and customer need to see weights.
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Nice Factory warranty.
Alternatives
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Cardinal HSDC, CAS NC-1, Intercomp CS-750
Cons
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Double Dial version no longer offered
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Slower than digital
#6. Other Possible choices we could have added to this list
Honorable mentions include the classic S-Beam with digital weight indicator, the MSI line of crane scales, Detecto SCS30 NTEP Solar Hanging Scale, and the Intelligent Weighing Technology AHS digital hanging scale.
| Scale | Capacity Range | Display Type | Power | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS1500 Crane Scales | 2000 lb–10,000 lb | LED | Batteries | Medium/Heavy Industrial |
| CAS NC-1 Series | 250–1,000 lb | LCD | Battery/AC | Light Industrial |
| Chatillon 4200 Series | Varies | Mechanical Dial | None | Simple/Outdoor/Produce |
| Chatillon Century Series | Varies | Mechanical Dial | None | Retail/Market Weighing |
| Intelligent Weighing AHS Series | Up to ~60 lb | Digital | Batteries | Small Commercial |
I hope this list of the top legal for trade hanging scales has been helpful. I based this list off of past sales and recommendations that we have provided over the past several decades. One thing you’ll notice with this list is each scale manufacturer builds quality scales and weighing equipment and has a U.S. location with factory support and spare parts. That’s an important distinction to make these days since it seems there is always a new cheap import scale at every turn.
If you need some legal for trade hanging scale buying advice, please contact our sales department and we would be happy to assist you.
SCALES AVAILABLE
https://www.centralcarolinascale.com/Intercomp-CS-1500-Crane-Scale.htm
https://www.centralcarolinascale.com/Intercomp-CS-750.htm
https://www.centralcarolinascale.com/NC-1-NTEP-crane-scale.htm