Logo of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt

Calibration capabilities

Mass standards and weights

The 26th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) has adopted a revision of the International System of Units (SI) on 16th November 2018, effective from 20th May 2019. As a result, all SI units refer to fixed values of seven constants of nature. In the new SI, the kilogram is derived from a fixed value of the Planck constant (in conjunction with fixed values of the frequency of the unperturbed ground state hyperfine transition frequency of the 133Cs atom and of the speed of light in vacuum).  As a consequence of the implementation of a consensus value for the dissemination of the mass unit by the ‘Comité consultatif pour la masse et les grandeurs apparentées’ (CCM) on 1st February 2021, the standard uncertainty (k = 1) of the mass of the international prototype of the kilogram with respect to the consensus value amounts to 0.020 mg (relative 2 × 10-8). This uncertainty contribution needs to be taken into account in the dissemination of the mass unit after 1st February 2021 and is already included in the following uncertainty statements.

Smallest uncertainties

Nominal value  Uncertainty
      (2 uc)  
Nominal value Uncertainty
      (2 uc)  
       1 kg   0,046   mg  
 500 g   0,024   mg        2 kg           0,10     mg
 200 g   0,010   mg        5 kg          0,24     mg
 100 g   0,006   mg      10 kg          0,49     mg
   50 g   0,0035 mg      20 kg           2,0       mg
   20 g   0,0020 mg      50 kg           5          mg
   10 g   0,0016 mg    100 kg    0,15            g
     5 g   0,0011 mg    200 kg    0,20            g
     2 g   0,0008 mg    500 kg    0,4              g
     1 g   0,0007 mg  1000 kg    0,6              g
 500 mg   0,0006 mg  2000 kg   1,1              g
 200 mg   0,0006 mg  5000 kg    2,5              g
 100 mg   0,0006 mg
   50 mg   0,0005 mg
   20 mg   0,0004 mg
   10 mg   0,0004 mg
     5 mg   0,0004 mg
    2 mg   0,0004 mg
    1 mg  0,0004 mg

Fixed prices for calibration of weights in EURO (valid from 1st October 2021)

Fixed prices without VAT (net) valid from 1st October 2021, excluding costs for transport, packaging, customs, remittances from abroad.

Costs for services are calculated based on the expected time and effort. The following average fees are valid only for the calibration of weights with the given measurement uncertainties.

Nominal value
Class E2*)
U = δm/3

Class E1*)
U = δm/3

more accurate than
Class E1*)

U = δm/5

Determination of
massvolumenmassvolumenmass
1 mg to 500 mg,
per pc.
135,-   -   405,-   -   540,-  
1 mg to 500 mg,
12 pc.
1440,-   -   3240,-   -   4140,-  
1 g to 1 kg,
per pc.
225,-   270,-   225,-   450,-   495,-  
1 g to 1 kg,
13 pc.
1845,-   2025,-   1845,-   4410,-   3510,-  
2 kg to 10 kg,
je Stück
225,-   450,-   225,-   810,-   495,-  
20 kg to 50 kg,
per pc.
270,-   450,-   270,-   495,-   495,-  
100 kg to 5000 kg,
per pc.
Auf Anfrage
(nach Aufwand)
+ preparatory and final work, per order  270,-  
+ per Calibration Certificate 180,-

A volume determination generally is not necessary for Class E2 and all classes for nominal values below 1 g. For Class E1 and more accurate calibrations, a volume determination will not be required if the volume is known with sufficient accuracy.
*) δm   corresponding the error of conventional mass in accordance to the International Recommendation OIML R 111.