Quick answer: for 28mm games, most tabletop trees sit somewhere between about 5cm and 15cm tall. That is much smaller than a true-scale tree, but it keeps the table playable. Build woods as removable trees on a flat base or felt shape, so the footprint shows where the forest is and the trees can be lifted out when miniatures move through. Mix two or three tree heights with stumps and fallen logs, and start with one or two wooded areas on a typical table.
Trees are often the first terrain people buy and the last they get right. Here is how to choose 28mm trees, how many you need and how to use them so they help the game rather than getting in the way.
How tall should 28mm trees be?
28mm miniatures are roughly 1:56 to 1:64 scale. At that scale, a real 15m tree would stand around 25cm tall, taller than most shelves and awkward to reach over during a game. That is why almost all tabletop trees are compressed: shorter than real life but still clearly taller than the models around them.
| Tree height | What it reads as | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| About 4–7cm | Young trees, shrubs, twisted fantasy trees | Skirmish games, RPG encounter maps, filling gaps |
| About 8–12cm | Mature woodland | Most wargaming woods |
| 15cm and up | Old giants, landmark trees | One centrepiece, photography, dioramas |
A good rule is that a tree should be at least twice the height of the infantry around it. Mixing sizes matters more than the exact number: a wood made entirely of identical trees looks like a plantation.
How many trees does a table need?
Check your game's own terrain guidance first, because some rules expect a lot of cover and some very little. As a starting point:
- Skirmish and RPG tables: two or three small clusters of three to five trees, plus stumps and logs for low cover.
- Larger battles: one or two wooded areas, each roughly the size of a dinner plate to a large tray, alongside buildings and hills.
- Encounter maps: trees along one edge or around a clearing are often enough to set the scene.
Woods work best as one part of a wider terrain mix. If you also need ruins, walls or buildings, our guide to 28mm fantasy terrain and buildings covers the rest of the table.
Build woods that miniatures can move through
The most common complaint about forest terrain is that models cannot stand inside it. The fix is area terrain:
- Cut a base shape from felt, card, hardboard or thin MDF. Keep the outline irregular so it looks natural.
- Texture and paint the base to match your board, with a slightly darker ground colour so the wood reads clearly.
- Keep the trees separate from the base. Place them on top for the look, and lift them out when a unit moves in.
- Agree what the footprint means before the game, for example whether it blocks sight, gives cover or slows movement.
This approach means the edge of the wood is always clear, which avoids arguments about whether a model is "in" the forest or not.
Stumps, logs and other woodland scatter
Trees on their own block sight but rarely give useful cover at ground level. Adding low scatter makes woodland far more interesting to play over:
- Broken stumps make good partial cover and mark the edge of a wood.
- Fallen logs act as natural barricades across paths and clearings.
- Rocks and roots break up open ground between wooded areas.
- Clearings in the middle of a forest give you a natural objective or ambush point.
Our 28mm scatter terrain trees set is an easy starting point: five fantasy trees of about 6.5cm, two broken stumps and a fallen log of about 8cm, printed in PLA+ in the UK with no assembly needed. It suits skirmish games and RPG tables straight out of the box, and you can add taller trees later for larger woods.
Fantasy, sci-fi or historical?
Trees are one of the few terrain types that cross genres. A few small choices help them fit your setting:
- Fantasy: twisted trunks, gnarled roots and exaggerated shapes look right. Autumn or unusual foliage colours work well.
- Sci-fi: dead or scorched trees suit a war-torn world. Alien growths and spires can stand in for trees entirely; see our 28mm sci-fi scatter terrain guide.
- Historical: realistic deciduous or pine trees with natural greens and browns.
Painting and finishing 3D-printed trees
Printed trees take paint well and look much better finished. A quick method:
- Wash off any dust and prime the trees in a dark brown or black.
- Base-coat trunks in a mid brown and foliage in a mid green.
- Apply a dark wash over the whole piece so it settles into the bark and leaves.
- Drybrush lighter tones on the raised edges: a light brown on the bark, a yellow-green on the foliage.
- For extra stability, glue each tree to a small washer or base, then texture and flock it to match your board.
Painting all the trees in one session with the same colours makes a mixed set look like a single wood.
Storing and transporting trees
Trees are tall and awkward, so they are easy to snap in a crowded box. Store them upright in a deep box with card dividers, or lie them on their sides between layers of foam. Keep the flat wood bases separate and stack them like placemats. Our guides on how to store tabletop terrain and how to transport tabletop terrain go into more detail.
Frequently asked questions
How tall are 28mm scale trees?
Most tabletop trees for 28mm games are between about 5cm and 15cm tall. A true-scale tree would be much taller, so tabletop trees are shortened to keep the table playable while still standing well above the miniatures.
How do you make forest terrain miniatures can stand in?
Use area terrain: put removable trees on a flat base shape such as felt or MDF. The base marks the edge of the wood, and you lift trees out when miniatures move inside.
How many trees do I need for a wargaming table?
It depends on your game and table size. For skirmish and RPG tables, two or three clusters of three to five trees with some stumps and logs is a good start. Larger battles usually want one or two bigger wooded areas.
Do 28mm trees work with 32mm miniatures?
Yes. Trees have no fixed scale in the way buildings do, so the same trees work with 28mm and 32mm miniatures. Taller trees look more natural next to larger models.
Should I glue trees to bases?
Gluing each tree to a small washer or base makes it much more stable and less likely to fall over. Keep the trees separate from the larger wood footprint so they can still be moved.