Helena Scale Services provides the greater Helena area with accurate and precise scale calibration services. We are licensed by the State of Montana to place scales in service for commercial use.
We are the only licensed scale service company based in the Helena area. This means faster service and the best prices, guaranteed. Found a better price? We'll match any scale service company willing to send a technician to Helena.
If you sell a product by weight, your scales must be calibrated annually by law. However, it’s a good idea to do this every three to six months. When your scale goes out of calibration, it’s likely to under-weigh, meaning you could be giving away free product with every sale.
Before you start using a scale for commercial purposes (where the weight could change the price a customer pays), it must be placed in service by a state-registered scale service company. When we first purchased our own scales, we discovered there is no such agency in the Helena area, so we became one ourselves.
If your scale is used to sell a product or service, it must be legal for trade. This means it needs an NTEP certificate. NTEP is a testing process that ensures your model of scale is reliable and trustworthy. Click here to check if your scale has an NTEP certificate.
You also need to make sure your scale has the capacity and resolution you need for what you’re weighing. For example, a postal scale for packages will not help you if you need to weigh by the gram. Your scale’s NTEP certificate will list the official capacity and resolution.
Yes, we can also test scales that are not legal for trade (not NTEP certified). That way you’ll have peace of mind that you’re using accurate measurements for healthcare, shipping, or any other purposes.
Pricing is based on the scale’s capacity and sensitivity. Most scales are Class III, while laboratory balances and cannabis scales are usually Class I or II. We charge one price per scale for any combination of calibration, testing, sealing, and placing in service.
Most scales are Class III. This includes retail scales, shipping scales, etc.
Class I and II scales are more precise, and are often used for precisely weighing very
lightweight items such as cannabis and pharmaceuticals.
We are equipped to test and certify Class I and II scales and balances
up to 20kg. Our mass standards (i.e. calibration weights) are
certified to within approximately 0.01mg by the State of Montana, which
is the limit of the state laboratory's testing capabilities.
We also have a variety of mass standards suitable for Class III and
other scales up to 1000 pounds (see note below regarding scales
with a capacity over 300 pounds).
For scales over 300 pounds, you'll need to provide objects weighing
under 300lbs each to load on the scale for testing, and you'll need
to assist with weighing and moving them.
We first test and calibrate the scale with precision weights to
ensure accuracy up to 300 pounds, then your test objects are weighed on your scale,
then they're used in combination with our weights to continue working on your scale.
This allows us to fully and accurately test the scale while keeping prices low.
Travel fees are charged once per visit, regardless of how many scales you have. We may waive or discount the travel fee if you have several scales, or if we can visit other businesses in your area on the same trip.
Please contact us before making any appointment outside the Helena area (farther than Clancy), so we can ensure our travel time doesn't affect other clients. Thank you!