Miniature scale chart
Every ratio here is calculated, not copied: a figure scale is the foot-to-eye height of a 1.8 m adult, whose eyes are 93.5% of their height (1,682 mm). Heroic 28mm and the kit ratios are fixed ratios. The last column shows what the sources quote, so you can see where they agree.
| Scale | Ratio | 1.8 m adult, to top of head | 1.8 m adult, to eyes | % from 28mm | Often quoted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6mm | 1:280 | 6.42 mm | 6.00 mm | 21.43% | ≈1:285 (Ameralabs, Wikipedia) |
| 10mm | 1:168 | 10.70 mm | 10.00 mm | 35.71% | ≈1:182-1:160 (Wikipedia) |
| 15mm | 1:112 | 16.05 mm | 15.00 mm | 53.57% | 1:100 (Ameralabs); ≈1:120-1:100 (Wikipedia) |
| 20mm | 1:84.1 | 21.40 mm | 20.00 mm | 71.43% | ≈1:90-1:72 (Wikipedia) |
| 25mm | 1:67.3 | 26.75 mm | 25.00 mm | 89.29% | ≈1:72-1:69 (Wikipedia) |
| 28mm | 1:60.1 | 29.96 mm | 28.00 mm | 100.00% | ≈1:64-1:62 (Wikipedia); 1:56 (Ameralabs) |
| 28mm heroic | 1:56 | 32.14 mm | 30.04 mm | 107.29% | ≈1:56 (ultimatefinancecalculator) |
| 32mm | 1:52.6 | 34.24 mm | 32.00 mm | 114.29% | ≈1:54 (Wikipedia); 1:57.2 (Ameralabs) |
| 35mm | 1:48.1 | 37.45 mm | 35.00 mm | 125.00% | ≈1:52-1:48 (Wikipedia) |
| 54mm | 1:31.2 | 57.78 mm | 54.00 mm | 192.86% | 1:35-1:32 (Wikipedia) |
| 75mm | 1:22.4 | 80.25 mm | 75.00 mm | 267.86% | 1:24 (Wikipedia) |
| 1:87 (HO railway) | 1:87 | 20.69 mm | 19.34 mm | 69.06% | ratio by name |
| 1:72 (kits) | 1:72 | 25.00 mm | 23.36 mm | 83.44% | ratio by name |
| 1:48 (O scale) | 1:48 | 37.50 mm | 35.05 mm | 125.17% | ratio by name |
| 1:35 (military kits) | 1:35 | 51.43 mm | 48.06 mm | 171.66% | ratio by name |
| 1:24 | 1:24 | 75.00 mm | 70.09 mm | 250.33% | ratio by name |
| 1:12 (dolls house) | 1:12 | 150.0 mm | 140.2 mm | 500.67% | ratio by name |
Ratio = eye height of a 1.8 m adult ÷ figure scale in mm (for example 1,682 ÷ 28 gives 1:60.1). Printed size = real size ÷ N. % from one scale to another = N of your scale ÷ N of the target × 100.
28mm vs 32mm
- Scale the model by 114.29% to go from 28mm to 32mm, and by 87.50% to go back. Everything grows, including the base: a 1 inch (25.4 mm) base becomes 29.0 mm.
- Measured to the eyes, a 1.8 m adult is 30.0 mm to the top of the head at 28mm (1:60.1) and 34.2 mm at 32mm (1:52.6).
- Heroic 28mm (1:56) sits between the two: going from heroic 28mm to 32mm is only 106.5%. That is why many "28mm" and "32mm" figures look similar on the table.
- Makers do not all measure the same way: some measure 32mm to the eyes, others to the top of the head. If figures must match, measure one from each range.
How miniature scales are measured
A name like 28mm or 54mm is a height, not a ratio. Many makers measure from the sole of the foot to the eyes, others to the top of the head, and the base is never counted. The real person behind the number is usually taken as about 1.68 to 1.83 m (5 ft 6 in to 6 ft), so the same name can mean slightly different ratios. This page uses one clear rule, foot to eye of a 1.8 m adult, so every number agrees.
Heroic scale is about shape as much as size: heads, hands, feet and weapons are oversized. Heroic 28mm is usually quoted as 1:56, so a 1.8 m person is 32.1 mm tall, bigger than the 30.0 mm of true 28mm. Model kits and railways use a plain ratio such as 1:72, 1:35 or 1:87, where the printed size is simply the real size divided by N.
How to use the calculator
- 1
Pick a scale
Choose a figure scale (6mm to 75mm), 28mm heroic, a kit or railway ratio such as 1:72 or 1:35, or type your own 1:N.
- 2
Type the real size
Start from a preset (person, horse, car, door, house) or type any size in m, cm, mm, inches or feet and inches.
- 3
Read the printed size
The calculator divides the real size by N and shows the result in mm and inches.
- 4
Rescale an STL
In the second calculator pick the scale your model is and the scale you want, copy the % and type it into Scale STL.
Got the %? Resize the file in Scale STL, check it in the STL viewer and price the print with the 3D print cost calculator.
Turn a photo of yourself, a pet or a character into a 32mm miniature with AI
Upload a photo and The3DAI makes a 3D figurine you can download and print. Scale it to 32mm (or any size from the chart above) and add it to your tabletop wargames or fantasy RPG table.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Miniature figure (gaming), scale table and measuring
- Ameralabs: miniature scale for 3D printing
- SelfCAD: what size are tabletop miniatures
- ultimatefinancecalculator: miniature scale conversion
- NC State Ergonomics Center: anthropometric data for U.S. adults (PDF)
The3DAI is not affiliated with any miniature or game publisher.