Quick answer: for most D&D groups, the best set-up is a magnetised tin or foam case for the miniatures you take to the table, a compartment organiser for bulk monsters at home, and a dice bag or lidded box for dice. Foam gives the best protection for painted models. Magnetic tins are the most compact to carry. Craft organisers are the cheapest way to sort a large collection. Binder-style foam pages suit flat or small models but struggle with large monsters.
D&D collections grow in an odd way: a few party characters you care about, plus a rising tide of goblins, skeletons and one dragon that fits nowhere. Here is how the main storage options compare, and which one suits each part of your collection.
The five main options at a glance
| Option | Protection | Portability | Relative cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foam case (pluck or cut foam) | High | Good | Medium to high | Painted party miniatures, fragile models |
| Magnetic tin or box | Medium to high | Very good | Low to medium | Session kit, models on 25mm bases |
| Compartment craft organiser | Medium | Fair | Low | Bulk monsters and pre-painted plastic minis |
| Binder with foam pages | Medium | Good | Medium | Small, flat or low-profile models |
| Open display stand | Low (no travel use) | Poor | Low to medium | Favourite painted models at home |
Costs are relative rather than exact, because they vary widely by size and brand. A homemade option is usually the cheapest way into any of these.
Foam cases
Foam cases hold each model in its own slot, so nothing touches. They are the safest choice for painted miniatures, especially ones with thin spears, wings or staffs.
- Pros: excellent protection, easy to see what is missing at the end of a session.
- Cons: bulky for large collections, slots are sized for particular models, and foam can rub paint off sharp edges over time.
- Tip: place models in slots facing the same way so the bit most likely to snag goes in first.
Our comparison of foam trays, magnetic cases and display stands goes deeper on the trade-offs.
Magnetic tins and boxes
Glue a small magnet under each base and line a tin or box with steel or magnetic sheet. The models stay put, and you can pack them tightly because the magnets stop them sliding into each other.
- Pros: compact, fast to pack and unpack, works with almost any base size.
- Cons: needs a magnet under every base, and tall models can still tip if the lid is shallow.
- Tip: most D&D miniatures sit on 25mm (one-inch) bases, which take a small disc magnet easily.
See the best magnets for miniature bases, steel sheet vs magnetic sheet and our DIY magnetic carry case guide to build one yourself.
Compartment craft organisers
Clear plastic organisers with adjustable dividers, the kind sold for beads or fishing tackle, are popular for large monster collections. They are cheap, stackable and easy to label by creature type or challenge rating.
- Pros: very good value, see-through, easy to sort.
- Cons: models rattle unless you add foam or tissue, so they are better for pre-painted plastic minis than for your best paint jobs.
- Tip: label each box by encounter type (undead, beasts, humanoids) so you can grab what you need before a session.
Binders with foam pages
Binder-style storage uses foam or card pages in a ring binder or folio. It is slim and sits on a bookshelf with your rulebooks.
- Pros: slim, easy to carry, good for tokens, flat terrain tiles and small models.
- Cons: limited height, so large monsters and tall miniatures do not fit, and pages can sag if overfilled.
- Tip: keep a binder for condition markers, initiative cards and flat tokens, and put models elsewhere.
Open display for your favourites
Your party characters and best-painted villains do not need to live in a box between sessions. A tiered stand on a shelf keeps them visible and easy to pick up for game night. Our guide on how to display D&D miniatures covers party line-ups and villain shelves. Open display needs a little dusting, but it is the only storage option that lets you enjoy the models when you are not playing.
How to store dice
- Dice bags are the classic option: cheap, portable and easy to fill.
- Lidded boxes or dice vaults protect resin, metal and sharp-edged dice from chipping against each other.
- Divided trays let you keep each player's set together at the table.
- Keep metal dice separate from resin or acrylic sets, because metal can chip softer dice.
What to choose
- Taking a party to a session: a magnetic tin or a small foam case.
- Storing a big monster collection: labelled craft organisers, with a little foam for anything painted.
- Protecting your best paint jobs: foam for travel and a display stand at home.
- Tokens and flat bits: a binder.
- Dice: a bag for everyday sets and a lidded box for special ones.
Whatever you choose, store everything somewhere cool and dry. See humidity and temperature for storing miniatures and our wider guide to storing miniatures painted, unpainted and for travel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to store D&D miniatures?
For models you take to sessions, a magnetic tin or foam case gives the best mix of protection and portability. For large monster collections at home, labelled compartment organisers are the cheapest and easiest to sort.
How do you store D&D miniatures for travel?
Use a foam case or magnetise the bases and pack them into a steel-lined tin. Both stop models knocking together in a bag.
Are craft organisers safe for painted miniatures?
They are fine for pre-painted plastic miniatures, but painted models can rub against the plastic walls. Add foam or tissue, or use a foam case for your best paint jobs.
What size bases do D&D miniatures use?
Most medium and small creatures sit on 25mm (one-inch) bases. Large creatures usually use 50mm bases, and huge creatures larger still.
How should I store resin or metal dice?
Keep them in a lidded box or padded dice vault, and store metal dice separately so they cannot chip softer resin or acrylic sets.