Almost every question we get about fit is asked in terms of base size — and almost every actual fit problem is about height. A 32mm base slots in perfectly; the two-handed sword above it does not clear the tier behind. Here is how clearance really works, with numbers you can measure against.
The Two Measurements That Matter
Base diameter decides whether a model sits in a slot. Total height — from the bottom of the base to the highest point of the model, banner tip and all — decides whether it works on a tiered display. Those are separate problems, and the second one is where people get caught out, because the box never tells you the height and most people measure the model rather than the model plus its banner.
There is a third, less obvious one: overhang. Outstretched wings, cloaks and long weapons project sideways beyond the base. A model can fit its slot and still foul its neighbours.
The Quick Answer
Standard infantry on 25–32mm bases typically stand 30–45mm tall and need around 50mm of vertical clearance. Characters with banners, wings or raised weapons run 55–80mm and need 90mm or more. Measure your tallest model from the tabletop to its highest point, add 10mm of working room, and check that figure against the tier spacing of any stand — and against the internal shelf height of the cabinet it will live in.
Typical Heights by Model Type
These are working ranges rather than exact figures — sculpts vary enormously and dynamic poses add height fast. Measure your own before committing to a layout.
- Rank-and-file infantry (25–32mm bases): roughly 30–45mm tall. The bulk of any army, and the easiest to display.
- Sergeants and squad leaders: 40–55mm — usually the same body with a raised weapon or a pointing arm, which adds more than people expect.
- Characters with banners or standards: 55–80mm and occasionally beyond. This is the category that decides your clearance requirement.
- Winged or jump-pack models: 50–75mm tall and, more importantly, 50mm+ wide across the wings. Overhang matters more than height here.
- Larger models on 40–50mm bases: 60–90mm typically. Our guide to displaying larger bases covers these in detail.
- Monsters and centrepieces (60–80mm+ bases): 100mm and up. These generally want their own space rather than a tier.
How Tier Spacing Actually Works
On a tiered stand, each rank sits higher than the one in front. That step is what makes rear ranks visible — but it also sets the clearance available to the models in front, because a model on tier one has to stay below the front lip of tier two if the display is going to read cleanly from the front.
In practice this means shorter models go at the front and taller models go at the back, which is also the correct arrangement visually. It sounds obvious, and it is the thing most first-time buyers get backwards. The tallest banner-carrying character belongs on the top tier where nothing sits behind it, not in the front rank where it blocks four models. Our size guide and comparison lists tier heights and slot dimensions for each stand, and how many miniatures fit on each stand covers capacity.
Don't Forget the Cabinet Above
A stand can have generous internal clearance and still fail because of what it sits inside. Add the stand's own height to your tallest model's height, then check that total against the internal shelf height of your cabinet or cube. This is where a 5-tier stand in a shallow shelf comes unstuck — the models at the back are lifted several centimetres by the tiers before they even start. If you're staging inside a cube or a glass cabinet, measure the opening first; our glass cabinet buyer's guide lists typical internal heights.
A Two-Minute Measuring Method
Stand your three tallest models on a flat table against a wall. Mark the wall at the top of each — banner tip, not helmet. Measure from the table to the highest mark. That number, plus about 10mm so models can be lifted in and out without catching, is your clearance requirement. Take a second measurement across the widest model's wings or weapons for overhang. Those two figures answer almost every fit question before you spend anything. Our stands hold models on standard 28–40mm bases and are compatible with Warhammer 40,000® miniatures along with most other tabletop systems, but the measuring method applies whatever you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is a standard 32mm-base miniature?
Usually 30–45mm from the bottom of the base to the top of the head. Raised weapons, aerials and crests can push the same model past 55mm, which is why total height rather than ‘model size’ is the figure to measure.
How much clearance should a display stand have?
Around 50mm suits rank-and-file infantry, while banner-carrying characters need 90mm or more. Measure your tallest model to its highest point and add roughly 10mm so it can be lifted in and out without catching.
What if a model is too tall for the tier?
Move it to the back row or the top tier, where nothing sits behind it. Tall centrepieces are almost always better displayed on their own plinth than squeezed into a rank.
Do wings and cloaks affect fit?
Yes — more often than height does. Overhang means a model fits its own slot but fouls its neighbours, so measure the widest point and leave an empty slot either side if needed.
Does the stand's own height matter?
It does when the display sits inside a cabinet or cube. Add the stand height to your tallest model and check the total against the internal shelf height before ordering.
Trademark note: Warhammer 40,000® is a trademark of Games Workshop Group PLC. WarSplay® and Blubbercove Ltd are not affiliated with, authorised by, endorsed by, or licensed by Games Workshop Group PLC. The name is used solely to indicate product compatibility.
Disclaimer: WarSplay® products are independently manufactured by Blubbercove Ltd. We are not affiliated with, authorised by, endorsed by, or licensed by Games Workshop Group PLC or Inter IKEA Systems B.V. All WarSplay® designs are the intellectual property of Blubbercove Ltd.