Using Scales with Square for Retail
Overview
With Square for Retail, you can easily connect a compatible Bluetooth or USB scale to the device you’re using to take payments and start selling items by weight. To get started, check out our Hardware Compatibility page, or refer to the table below to review the various scales compatible with Square for Retail.
Supported Scales
| Manufacturer | Model | Connection Type | Square Stand | iPad (No Square Stand) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Micronics | mG-S8200 | Bluetooth | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | |
| Brecknell | 6710U | USB | ✔ Yes | ✖ No | |
| CAS | CAS SW-RS | USB | ✔ Yes | ✖ No | |
| Datalogic | Magellan 9400i/9600i/9800i | USB | ✔ Yes (2nd generation only) | ✖ No | ✔ Yes |
Note: Scales are not currently compatible with Square for Retail on Mobile (iPhone). If you’re using an iPad (with or without a Square Stand), you must run app version 5.60 or later. Learn more about updating your app.
Getting Started
In order to sell items by weight or use a compatible scale with Square for Retail, you’ll first need to make sure you have the appropriate unit types enabled for weight measurements. You can use the following unit types: Gram (g), Pound (lb) and Ounce (oz).
Online Square Dashboard
Visit Items & Orders > Items in your online Square Dashboard > click Units.
Click Add Unit.
Select the appropriate weight unit and precision > click Save.
Once you set up the weight unit and precision, visit your Item Library > click Create an Item. Enter the item name, category and details, and make sure to select a unit type for weight.
Click Save.
Square for Retail App
From the navigation menu, select Items > Unit.
Tap Create Unit, select the appropriate weight unit and precision > tap Save.
Once you set up the weight unit and precision, head to Items again and tap Create Item. Enter the item name, category and details, and make sure to select a unit type for weight.
Tap Save.
Connecting Your Scale
Depending on the scale you’re using, you’ll either need to connect to your hardware via Bluetooth LTE or USB.
Bluetooth Scale
To pair a Bluetooth scale:
Make sure your Bluetooth settings on your device are turned on.
From the Square for Retail app, navigate to Settings > Hardware > Scales.
Tap Connect a Scale.
You’ll see a list of supported scales. Tap Connect to pair the appropriate scale to your device.
Note: If your scale ever becomes disconnected, your Square for Retail app will remember the scale and attempt to reconnect automatically. Square for Retail can only pair with one scale at a time, and if you need to use the scale with another device, you’ll first need to unpair it from the device it’s actively paired with.
To unpair a Bluetooth scale:
From the Square for Retail app, navigate to Settings > Hardware > Scales.
You’ll see your connected scale – tap Disconnect to unpair.
USB Scale
Brecknell 6710U and CAS SW-RS are supported with the following Square Stands:
Square Stand for iPad (2017, 2018), iPad Pro 9.7” and iPad Air (1, 2)
Square Stand for iPad (2019, 2020, 2021), iPad Air 10.5” (2019) and iPad Pro 10.5”
For Brecknell 6710U and CAS SW-RS scales, you’ll need the right cable depending on your Square Stand model prior to getting started. This can be purchased through Square Shop.
For Square Stand for iPad (2019, 2020, 2021), iPad Air 10.5” (2019) and iPad Pro 10.5”:
Plug the 9-pin end of the RS-232 cable into the port on your scale, and insert the USB-A end into the Hub of your Square Stand or Square Register.
To check the connection, open the Square for Retail app and navigate to Settings > Hardware > Scales. The connected scale should appear in the app menu as USB Scale.
For Square Stand for iPad (2017, 2018), iPad Pro 9.7” and iPad Air (1, 2):
Plug in the 9-pin male end of the Serial-to-HID adapter into the port on your scale and plug the Micro-USB end of the cable to the adapter. Then insert the USB-A end into the Hub of your Square Stand or Square Register.
To check the connection, open the Square for Retail app and navigate to Settings > Hardware > Scales. The connected scale should appear in the app menu as USB Scale.
Scanner-Scale
With Square, you can also connect a scanner-scale to sell by weight and scan your items using each functionality separately or in tandem. Currently, Square is only compatible with the Magellan 9400i, Magellan 9600i and Magellan 9800i scanner-scales.
The Magellan 9400i is only compatible with Square Register and Square Stand (2nd generation). Learn more about connecting a scanner-scale with Square for Retail in our Support Centre.
Selling Items by Weight
Once you create your units and items and connect a compatible scale, you’re ready to start selling by weight.
From the Square for Retail app, select an item from your library.
Place the item on your scale, and refer to the weight in the top-right corner of the app screen.
Once the weight has been calculated and confirmed, tap Add to Cart.
Tap Charge, and complete the sale by processing your customer’s payment.
Note: If the unit type is not compatible with your scale or if your scale becomes disconnected for any reason, you’ll need to enter the weight manually. You cannot enter weight manually while a scale is connected to your device.
Selling Items by Weight with Tare
Tare weight is the weight of any container itself without the weight of a product being sold. When using a compatible scale, you can remove tare weight when customers are checking out at the POS and a weighted item is added to the cart.
You can add tare weight before or after placing the item on the scale. To set tare:
Select the item to add to cart, then open the item details screen.
Tap Set tare, located where the scale weight is displayed. The Set tare option only displays if there are no scale errors.
Enter a tare weight, then tap the check mark.
The tare weight and the net weight are shown on the item details screen. Tap Add to cart. If the Net weight is less than zero, the Add to cart button is disabled.
The net weight and tare weight used to calculate the price display in the cart. Both the net weight and the tare weight also show on the customer’s receipt. Once you add a weighted item to the cart, you can’t edit the weight. The only way to change the tare or net weight used is to remove the item from the cart and weigh it again.
Tare weight cannot be determined if you are using an incompatible precision unit. If tare weight is set on the scale directly, don’t set it on the POS.
To avoid erroneously including tare from both the scale and the POS on Brecknell scales, configure the scale needs to send additional context to the POS on what is weighed.
Hold down the Hold/Print + Zero button for three seconds to open the menu.
Use the Unit button to scroll to the USER menu.
Use the Tare button to select the USER menu.
Use the Unit and Tare buttons to scroll to and select the OTHER sub-menu.
Use the Unit and Tare buttons to scroll to and select the LEGACY sub-menu.
Use the Unit and Tare buttons to change the number from 1 to 2 and Save.
Hit the Zero button until you have exited the menus and are back on the main screen.
You need to enable the new cart experience on each of your devices to use the Tare feature. Manage your checkout experience by going to Settings > Favourites.
Troubleshooting
If you run into any issues with your Bluetooth or USB scale(s), most simple troubleshooting steps should resolve the problem. Learn more about troubleshooting your scales.