So you’ve ditched the carbs. You’re feeling better. Your clothes fit differently. But here’s the annoying bit, you’re flying blind. You don’t actually know if you’re in ketosis or just really good at avoiding bread.
That’s where keto test strips come in.
These little strips are dead simple: you dip them in your wee, they change colour, and boom, you’ve got a quick answer about whether your body’s actually producing ketones. No faffing about with blood tests. No expensive equipment. Just a few quid and a straightforward way to confirm you’re on the right track.
Now, here’s the thing. Not all strips are created equal. Some are rubbish. Some are great but cost a fortune. And some will do the job perfectly well for what you need them for. The trick is knowing which is which.
I’ve tested loads of these strips over the years, and I’ve narrowed down the best ones on the market. Whether you’re just starting keto or you’ve been doing this for ages, you’ll find something here that works for you, won’t break the bank, and actually gives you reliable results.
Let’s get into it.
Our Top Choices for the Best Keto Test Strips
As a nutritionist who has been on this keto path for a good while, I’ve tried my fair share of these strips. Here are some of the ones I think are great for keeping you in the loop.
Feeling a bit swamped by choice? Don’t worry. Here’s what to think about.
- Sensitivity: You want strips that can pick up even low levels of ketones. Look for ones that can measure at least 0.5 mmol/L. This tells you they’re sensitive enough to give you a real reading.
- Ease of Use: Life is complicated enough! You want strips that are simple to handle and don’t need lots of faffing about.
- Cost: Cheaper isn’t always better. Sometimes spending a tiny bit more gets you a much better product that gives you results you can trust. Think about the cost per strip.
- Testing Method: We’re talking about urine strips here, which are cheap and cheerful. Blood testing is the gold standard for accuracy, but it’s also pricier and involves pricking your finger. For most people starting out, urine strips are perfectly fine.
Quick Picks
🥇 Best for Beginners: Ascensia Ketostix – Widely available at Boots and trusted brand used by the NHS
💰 Best Value: NKD Living – Lowest cost per strip without sacrificing quality
🔬 Most Accurate: MediMad – Professional grade, foil packed for freshness
🎒 Best for Travel: Seba Nutrition – Individual sachets perfect for your bag
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Seba Nutrition Keto Test Strips
I highly recommend Seba Nutrition Keto Test Strips to anyone who wants to monitor their ketone levels.
I’ve had a lot of people in the keto community ask me about these. And the honest answer? They’re pretty good for what they are.
One thing I really rate is the packaging. Each box comes with 5 individual foil sachets of 25 strips. That sounds like a small detail, but it isn’t. Moisture is the enemy of any urine strip, and I’ve seen so many people bin an entire pot because they left the lid off too long. With Seba, even if you’re a bit careless with the open sachet, you’ve still got 4 others sitting there completely fresh.
I’ve also compared these against strips bought from the chemist at double the price. The results were the same. That’s the kind of real-world comparison that actually matters when you’re deciding where to spend your money.
What’s good about them?
- Individual foil sachets are a genuine standout feature, keeping each portion sealed and fresh until you need it
- Developed by medical professionals, which I find reassuring when recommending them to people new to testing
- 125 strips per box, which lasts ages without any mess or finger pricking involved
What’s not so good?
- The colour chart can be hard to interpret at trace levels, particularly if the shades on your batch are quite similar
Ascensia Bayer Ketostix Diagnostic Urine Test Strip
These are the ones I’d call the old faithful of keto testing. Ketostix have been around for decades. They were originally developed to help people with diabetes avoid ketoacidosis, which means they were designed with clinical seriousness in mind. That heritage counts for something.
You’ll find them at Boots. That alone tells you about their credibility.
One thing worth knowing, and I genuinely wish more people understood this, is what happens after the first few weeks. When you first start keto, the strips go purple and you feel brilliant. Then the colour barely changes. Many people think something’s gone wrong. It hasn’t. Your body has become fat-adapted. You’re using ketones as fuel now, not spilling them into your urine. The strips going lighter is actually a sign of progress. Mind-blowing, right?
I always recommend these to complete beginners. They’re in Boots, they’re affordable, and there’s something reassuring about a brand that’s been trusted by the NHS and diabetes community for years. If you’re just dipping your toe into keto testing, this is where I’d start.
What’s good about them?
- Dead simple to use, just dip and wait, with consistent results for spotting whether ketosis is happening at all
- Very reasonable price, and available at Boots with no waiting around for delivery
- The brand’s clinical background gives real confidence when recommending them to newcomers
What’s not so good?
- The shades between levels are sometimes genuinely hard to differentiate, and I’ve seen people convince themselves they’re out of ketosis based on a misread
MediMad Ketone Test Strips
These sit in a slightly different category to the others on this list. MediMad are positioned as professional grade, and the foil packaging backs that up. Each strip is individually sealed to prevent oxidation, which is something the cheaper pots really struggle with over time.
The timing is the one thing I’d flag from my own experience. The instructions say 40 seconds. In practice, give it a full minute. The colour continues to develop after you’d normally look at it, and reading too early can make you think the level is lower than it actually is. Wait the full 60 seconds, then compare to the chart.
The colour chart itself can be a bit fiddly in dim light. I always take mine to a window before comparing. It sounds obvious, but misreading results because of dodgy bathroom lighting is more common than you’d think.
For anyone who wants something a notch above the basic strip without committing to blood testing, these are a really solid choice.
What’s good about them?
- Foil packing is proper quality and makes a genuine difference to how long the strips stay accurate once opened
- The colour-coded fat burning scale is more detailed than most strips, which I find motivating once you get used to it
- 100 strips that stay fresh, meaning you’re not racing to use them up before they go off
What’s not so good?
- The 40-second instruction on the packet is misleading from experience, a full minute gives a noticeably clearer result
- The colour chart requires decent lighting to read accurately
NKD Living Ketone Test Strips
NKD Living is a British brand, and these are one of the most popular urine strips among UK keto dieters right now.
NKD Test Strips come as 120 strips split across two separate resealable foil packs of 60. That dual packaging is genuinely clever. You open one pack, use it over 60 to 90 days, and your second pack sits completely sealed and unaffected.
The strips are brilliant for staying engaged with your progress. Testing after a cheat day and watching the reading change in real time is honestly one of the most motivating things you can do when you’re new to keto. I’ve seen people go from sceptical to obsessed after their first few tests. That feedback loop keeps people on track.
What’s good about them?
- The two-pack system means you’re always testing with strips that haven’t been sitting exposed to air and moisture
- Quick results, usually reading within 15 seconds, with a clear enough colour chart to use without squinting
- Great value per strip, and a proper British brand worth supporting
What’s not so good?
- Strips lose accuracy if the pack is left open too long, so disciplined resealing after each use is a must
- The strips becoming less reactive after a few weeks confuses a lot of people who don’t yet know about fat adaptation
- Anyone wanting precision over a general indication should look at blood testing instead
Keto Test Strip Buying Guide
Choosing between these strips is less complicated than it might seem. Here’s what actually matters in practice.
Sensitivity is the starting point. Look for strips that can pick up ketones at around 0.5 mmol/L. That threshold means you’ll catch early ketosis rather than only registering when levels are already high. Most of the strips on this list hit that mark.
Freshness matters more than people think. This came up repeatedly in real user feedback. Strips that come in individual foil sachets, like Seba Nutrition, or split packs, like NKD Living, stay usable for much longer than a single pot with a screw lid. If you’re testing daily, a big pot is fine because you’ll get through them. If you test occasionally, go for the sealed sachets every time.
Timing affects your result. Test first thing in the morning with your first wee of the day. Ketone concentration is at its peak then, giving you a clearer colour reading. Testing after a large glass of water will dilute the sample and make results look lighter than they actually are.
The light you read in matters. This one surprised me when I first came across it in user reviews, but it makes sense. Take the strip to a window before comparing it to the chart. Bathroom lighting is often yellow-toned and makes the colour differences genuinely hard to tell apart.
Strips going lighter doesn’t mean failure. Real keto dieters consistently report this. After the first couple of weeks, strip activity often drops. This is your body becoming fat-adapted and using ketones as fuel rather than expelling them. A lighter strip after week two is frequently a good sign, not a bad one.
Urine vs blood testing is the fundamental choice. Urine strips are cheap, widely available, and perfectly adequate for most people starting keto. Blood meters give you a precise number in mmol/L and are considered the gold standard for accuracy.
If you’ve been on keto for a few months and want more reliable data, a blood meter is worth the investment. For most beginners though, urine strips do the job without the faff or the finger pricks.
Cost per strip is a better metric than cost per pack. NKD Living and Seba both work out at excellent value when you break it down. Ketostix from Boots cost a bit more per strip but win on accessibility and brand trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most accurate way to test for ketosis?
The most accurate way to test for ketosis is by measuring the levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in the blood. This can be done using a blood ketone meter, which is more reliable than urine or breath tests.
How do you properly use ketone test strips?
To properly use ketone test strips, you should follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Generally, you will need to collect a small sample of urine, dip the test strip into the urine, and wait for the designated amount of time before reading the results.
Are urine test strips a reliable indicator of ketosis?
Urine test strips can provide an indication of ketosis, but they are not as accurate as blood ketone meters. This is because they only measure the levels of acetoacetate in the urine, which may not always reflect the actual levels of ketones in the blood.
How often should you test your ketone levels?
This is up to you! When you’re starting, you might test once a day to see how you’re getting on. Once you’re in the swing of things, you might only test when you’ve tried a new food or feel a bit off. Testing at the same time each day gives you more consistent readings.
What do different levels of ketones on test strips indicate?
The packet will have a chart. Generally, any colour change from the negative marker means you’re producing ketones. A light pink might show a small amount, while a deep purple suggests a much higher concentration. A reading between 0.5-1.5 mmol/L is usually considered ‘nutritional ketosis’. Don’t obsess over chasing the darkest colour; just being ‘in’ is what counts!
SUZIE WALKER
Keto Collective Co-Founder & Naturopathic Nutritionist dipNT.CNM
Suzie has researched and reviewed the many health benefits of low-carb living. She co-founded The Keto Collective, a company that aims to make it easier to find whole food, great tasting, keto alternatives to their everyday favourites.
Read more about Suzie Walker
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