Quick answer: a miniature's scale in millimetres (28mm, 32mm and so on) is the height of an average human figure, usually measured from the soles of the feet to the eyes, not the top of the head, and never including the base. A 28mm human is roughly 1:56 to 1:64 of real size and a 32mm human roughly 1:51 to 1:54. "Heroic scale" is not a size at all: it is a sculpting style with bigger heads, hands and weapons, which makes a figure look larger than its scale number suggests.
Scale is one of the most confusing numbers in the hobby because manufacturers measure it differently, sizes have crept upwards for decades, and the base a model stands on is a separate number again. This guide explains what each figure means, gives you a chart you can use, and shows you how to measure your own miniatures so you can match new purchases, terrain and display space to what you already own.
How miniature scale is measured
There are two ways of describing size, and the hobby uses both:
- Millimetre size (28mm, 32mm, 54mm). The height of a standard human figure. Most makers measure from the soles of the feet to eye level, because eyes sit in roughly the same place on every character, whereas helmets, hats, hair and horns do not. The base is not counted, because base thickness varies.
- Ratio scale (1:56, 1:72). How many times smaller the model is than the real thing. Model kits, vehicles and railway scenery are usually sold this way.
The catch is that not every company follows the foot-to-eye convention. Some measure to the top of the head, so a figure that is 30mm to the top of its head can still be sold as 28mm. One guide notes that most "28mm" and "32mm" human figures are actually about 1:56, with the 28mm figure referring to the eye line and the 32mm figure referring to the top of the head. Treat the number on the box as a starting point, not a promise.
Miniature scale chart: size, ratio and typical use
The ratio column below is our own arithmetic, using an eye height of about 1,626mm (5ft 4in), the eye line Krakenships uses for an average adult man. Published ratios for the same size vary by a few points because makers pick different reference heights, so we show the range commonly quoted alongside.
| Size (foot to eye) | Our calculated ratio | Commonly quoted ratio | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6mm | about 1:271 | 1:285 to 1:300 | Mass battles with whole armies on the table |
| 10mm | about 1:163 | 1:160 to 1:182 | Large historical and sci-fi battles |
| 15mm | about 1:108 | 1:100 to 1:120 | Popular for modern-era and ancient wargames |
| 20mm | about 1:81 | 1:72 to 1:90 | Historical gaming, plastic model kit soldiers |
| 25mm | about 1:65 | 1:64 to 1:72 | Older wargames and roleplay figures |
| 28mm | about 1:58 | 1:56 to 1:64 | The mainstream size for skirmish games and RPGs |
| 32mm | about 1:51 | about 1:54 | Many modern sci-fi and fantasy ranges and 3D-printed figures |
| 35mm | about 1:46 | 1:48 to 1:52 | Larger modern ranges |
| 54mm | about 1:30 | 1:32 to 1:35 | Traditional toy-soldier and display figures |
| 75mm | about 1:22 | 1:24 | The largest common size, for display and some gaming |
To work out the ratio yourself, divide the real eye height (about 1,626mm) by the figure's foot-to-eye height. A 28mm figure gives 1,626 ÷ 28 ≈ 58, so 1:58.
28mm vs 32mm: what is the real difference?
On paper the gap is 4mm. In practice it can be much smaller, or even zero, because:
- Scale creep. Figures have grown over the years, partly because bigger details cast and paint more easily. Ranges sold as 28mm today often measure closer to 30mm foot to eye, and what everyone now calls 28mm started out as 25mm.
- Different measuring points. A "32mm to the head" figure and a "28mm to the eye" figure can be the same height.
- Proportions. A bulky, heroic-style 28mm figure can look as big as a slender 32mm one.
The practical test is simple: if you want new figures to stand next to old ones, compare a measured figure from each range rather than trusting the label. Within one game, the size can vary between factions too, with some troop types sculpted noticeably taller than others.
What is heroic scale?
Heroic scale describes proportions, not height. Heads, hands, feet and weapons are exaggerated, sometimes two to three times as thick as realistic proportions, so details stay crisp and readable across a gaming table and are easier to paint. According to an account repeated in one long-running scale guide, the term was first used in print by Reaper Miniatures in 1999 to describe one of its ranges, though the style is much older.
Realistic or "true scale" figures have natural proportions. They look more lifelike but can seem small and spindly beside heroic figures of the same nominal size. If you mix the two, put them in separate units or on separate shelves rather than side by side.
How bigger and smaller characters fit a scale
The scale number refers to a standard human. Everything else is sculpted relative to that human, so in a 28mm range a dwarf or goblin may be 15 to 20mm tall and an ogre or troll 30mm or more. That is correct, not a mistake. It is also why the scale number tells you little about the size of a monster, vehicle or mounted figure.
How to measure your own miniatures
- Pick a standing human figure with at least one foot flat on the base.
- Measure from the top of the base (where the feet stand) to the eyes, with a steel ruler or digital calipers.
- Round to the nearest common size: 25, 28, 30, 32 or 35mm.
- Note whether it looks heroic (big hands, head and weapons) or realistic.
- Measure the base separately: its diameter is a different number (see below).
- Write both numbers down before you buy terrain, carry trays or display space.
Scale and base size are different numbers
A very common mix-up is assuming a "28mm miniature" sits on a 28mm base. Scale describes the figure's height; base diameter is set by each game's rules and the model's role. Infantry in the 28–32mm range commonly stand on round bases somewhere between 25mm and 32mm, while characters, monsters and cavalry move up to 40mm, 50mm, 60mm or oval bases. Our guide on how to measure a miniature base shows how to get an exact figure, and the base and magnet sizes for several popular games show how much base sizes vary between systems.
Base size matters most when you plan storage and display, because trays, foam and stands are sized to bases, not to scale. The WarSplay Classic display stand, for example, holds 17 miniatures on 25mm to 32mm round bases across five tiers, which covers most infantry in the 28–32mm range. The WarSplay Hero holds 9 larger models, with one 80mm slot, one 75 × 42mm oval cavalry slot and remaining slots for 40mm and 50mm bases. Miniatures and magnets are not included. Compatible with miniatures used in Warhammer 40,000, within the stated base-size limits.
Mixing scales on the table and on the shelf
- Gaming: 28mm and 32mm figures usually mix happily in skirmish and roleplay games. 15mm and 28mm do not.
- Terrain: scatter terrain is usually sold by figure size, so check door and window heights against your tallest figures before you buy. Our 28mm sci-fi scatter terrain guide covers this.
- Display: group by size so a slender 28mm squad is not dwarfed by bulkier figures beside it. See how to display mixed-scale miniature collections.
Frequently asked questions
Is 28mm the same as 1:56 scale?
Roughly. Depending on the reference height used, a 28mm human works out at about 1:56 to 1:64. Manufacturers quote different ratios for the same nominal size, so compare a measured figure rather than relying on the ratio alone.
Are 28mm and 32mm miniatures compatible?
Usually, for gaming and terrain. A 28mm figure measured to the eye and a 32mm figure measured to the top of the head can be the same height. Side by side on a shelf, bulkier 32mm figures can make slimmer 28mm ones look small.
How is miniature scale measured?
Most makers measure a standard human from the soles of the feet to the eyes, excluding the base. Some measure to the top of the head, which is one reason sizes vary between brands.
What does heroic scale mean?
Exaggerated proportions, with larger heads, hands, feet and weapons than a real person would have. It describes the sculpting style, not the height, and it makes figures easier to read and paint.
What scale are most tabletop miniatures today?
Most skirmish, roleplay and sci-fi or fantasy wargame figures sit between 28mm and 35mm, with 32mm now one of the most common. Smaller sizes such as 6mm, 10mm and 15mm are used for large battles.
Does the base count towards a miniature's scale?
No. Scale is measured from where the feet stand, not from the bottom of the base. Base diameter is a separate measurement set by the game.
Sources
- We Print Miniatures: Miniature sizes explained (foot-to-eye measuring, scale creep)
- Krakenships: Scale and sizing (eye-line method, 1:58 and 1:64 worked examples)
- Kadmon: The complete guide to miniature sizes and scales (1:56, heroic proportions, Reaper 1999)
- Wikipedia: Miniature model (gaming), scale heights and ratios table
- Mindtaker Miniatures: Miniature scale, how it works
Sources checked 29 October 2026. Stand details from the live product pages on the same date.