Display Stand vs Riser vs Plinth: What's the Difference for Miniature Displays?

Search for ways to display painted miniatures and you'll come across three terms that get used almost interchangeably: display stands, risers, and plinths. They're not the same thing, and choosing between them changes how your army looks, how many models you can fit, and how much you'll spend. This is the plain-English version.

Plinths: the single-model spotlight

A plinth is the smallest unit in this category — a solid base, usually square or rectangular, designed to hold one model and elevate it slightly above the surface it's standing on. Think museum exhibit on a small scale. Plinths are how you say "this model is special."

Use a plinth when:

• You've painted a hero or character model you want to display individually. Warlords, commanders, named characters compatible with Warhammer® systems.
• You're submitting to a painting competition. Most competition rules require a plinth presentation.
• You want to photograph a single model against a clean background.

Plinths are excellent for what they do, but they're terrible for displaying an army. One plinth = one model. If you have 30 models, you need 30 plinths, and your shelf becomes a graveyard of small wooden blocks.

Risers: lifting groups to one level

A riser is a step-up — a flat platform that lifts a group of models to a single elevated height. The classic use case is inside an IKEA Detolf or other glass cabinet where you have a deep shelf and the rear models would otherwise be hidden behind the front rank.

Use a riser when:

• You have a glass cabinet and want the back row of models to be visible.
• You're displaying a uniform unit — a squad, a regiment — where all models are roughly the same height and you want them all on the same plane.
• You want maximum density. Risers fit more models per square inch than tiered stands because there's no "wasted" stepping.

The downside: a single-level riser still hides anything behind it if the depth of your shelf is generous. Two ranks of infantry on one riser look like one rank from the front.

Display stands: tiered, multi-height, "stadium seating"

A display stand — sometimes called a tiered stand or stadium-seating stand — is a structure with multiple stepped levels. Front row models sit low, second row sits higher, third row higher still. Every model in the group is visible at once. Our own measurements quantify the gain: lifting a 20mm-tall figure onto a 49mm tier more than triples its visible display height (a 245% increase), which is precisely what keeps a stepped back row in full view.

This is the format you actually want for displaying a tabletop army of any meaningful size. It solves the "back row hidden" problem permanently, presents the whole unit cinematically, and looks like a parade or formation rather than a random pile.

Browse the full range in the WarSplay modular display system collection.

Which one is right for your collection?

• One hero model, no army: Plinth.
• Single unit, uniform height, deep cabinet: Riser.
• Multiple units, mixed model heights, full army display: Tiered display stand.
• Realistic mixed setup: A combination — tiered stands for the army, one or two plinths for hero pieces, occasional risers in deep cabinets.

Where modular systems change the maths

A modular display system blurs the lines between these three categories. A single WarSplay Classic tier behaves like a riser when used flat, like a tiered stand when stepped, and a Hero tier can present a single character almost like a plinth would. That flexibility is why "modular" has become the dominant approach in this category — you're not committing to one shape forever.

For glass cabinets specifically, our plastic display risers for IKEA Detolf cabinets collection is the right starting point. For multi-tier army displays, the skirmish and warband display stands range is purpose-built.

A note on terminology used in the hobby

Hobbyists and retailers don't agree on the terms. You'll see "plinth" used to describe a small tiered stand, "riser" used to describe a stand with multiple levels, and "display base" used to describe all three. Don't get hung up on the labels — focus on the structure. Single model on a base? That's a plinth-type product. Flat platform lifting multiple models to one height? That's a riser. Stepped levels with models at multiple heights? That's a tiered stand.

If you're comparing options across different shops, look at the photos and ignore the words. The shapes don't lie.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a tiered stand replace a plinth?

For hero presentation, yes — a single Hero-tier stand presents a character model very effectively. For competition entry, check the rules; some require a specific plinth format.

Do I need risers if I already have a glass cabinet?

Only if the cabinet is deeper than one rank of models. Most IKEA Detolfs and BILLY bookcases have enough depth to benefit from at least one level of risers or tiered stands. See our BILLY bookcase fitting guide for measurements.

Are plinths overkill for normal miniatures?

For rank-and-file infantry, yes. Plinths are best reserved for characters, heroes, monsters, or competition entries. Using them for an entire army gets visually cluttered and expensive fast.

What's the cheapest entry point?

A single Classic tier from the modular system, which functions as a small tiered stand and starts under £20. Add tiers as the collection grows.

Can I mix risers and tiered stands in one display?

Yes, and most experienced collectors do exactly this. A flat riser at the back of the cabinet, tiered stands in front, plinths for hero pieces. The result is a layered, museum-style display.