Miniature scale calculator: 28mm, 32mm, heroic and 1:X ratios

The formula

A miniature scale such as “28mm” is a figure’s height, not a ratio. Its ratio depends on the real height assumed for a person:

X (as in 1:X) = real height (mm) / figure height (mm)
figure height (mm) = real height (mm) / X

Moving a mini from one scale to another is a plain size ratio. The real height cancels out when both scales are measured the same way:

slicer scale (%) = target figure height / source figure height × 100

A real object at a given scale:

size on the model (mm) = real size (mm) / X

The calculator’s default real height is 1.73 m, measured to the top of the head. The Miniatures Page uses 1,730 mm as the average man’s height to the top of the head and 1,610 mm as his eye height. With 1.73 m, every named scale except 75mm lands inside the ratio range Wikipedia’s miniature scale table gives for it (75mm comes out 1:23.1 against 1:24). Switch to “Eyes” for makers who measure to eye level, or type your own height.

What scale is 28mm?

28mm is roughly 1:56 to 1:64. Wikipedia’s scale table puts it at about 1:62 to 1:64, The Miniatures Page gives 1/58 measured to the eyes, and Perry Miniatures sells vehicles at 1/56th for its 28mm figures. The calculator shows 1:61.8: a 1.73 m person measured to the top of the head.

The spread comes from two choices: the real height assumed, and whether the figure is measured to the eyes or to the top of the head.

Source	28mm is	How it gets there
Wikipedia, Miniature model (gaming)	≈1:62 to 1:64	Figure height without the base
Wikipedia, same article	1:60	Grid of 1 inch to 5 feet, a 1.68 m person at 28 mm
The Miniatures Page	1/58	1,610 mm eye height ÷ 28
Perry Miniatures; Wikipedia, List of scale model sizes	1:56	Vehicle kits made for 28mm figures (Perry, Warlord Games and others)
This calculator, default	1:61.8	1,730 mm to the top of the head ÷ 28

Wikipedia notes that some makers measure from the feet to the eyes instead of to the top of the head, so a figure 30 mm to the top of its head can still be sold as 28mm. Measuring to the eyes alone moves the ratio by 1,730 / 1,610 = 7.5%: 28 mm at eye level is about 30.1 mm to the top of the head.

For vehicles and terrain, use what the figures’ maker sells. Perry’s own vehicle range is 1/56th, and Warlord Games’ plastic Bolt Action vehicles made with Italeri are 1:56.

What scale is 28mm heroic?

28mm heroic is about 1:58 to 1:60, according to Wikipedia, which lists it as the 30mm size Games Workshop introduced for Warhammer 40,000. Heroic figures stand taller and bulkier than true 28mm, with oversized heads, hands and weapons. For a 30 mm figure and a 1.73 m person, the calculator gives 1:57.7.

“Heroic” describes proportions as much as height. Wikipedia defines heroic scale by oversized feet, heads, hands, wrists and weapons, which leave room for detail. Two figures of the same height can look a size apart because of build, so the calculator treats heroic 28mm as a 30 mm figure and leaves bulk out of it.

To move a true 28mm figure up to heroic 28mm, scale it to 30 / 28 = 107.14%. To bring a heroic figure down to 28mm, use 93.33%.

What scale is 32mm?

32mm is about 1:50 to 1:54. Wikipedia’s miniature scale table gives roughly 1:54, and its list of scale model sizes names 1:50 for 32mm heroic figures. Measured to the top of the head of a 1.73 m person, 32 mm is 1:54.1. Measured to the eyes of a 1.61 m person, it is 1:50.3.

Wikipedia calls 32mm the most common size for modern wargaming miniatures and describes it as the heroic version of 30mm. A 2.0 m door at 32mm is 37.0 mm tall at the default 1.73 m reference, against 32.4 mm at 28mm.

How do you scale miniatures to a different size?

Divide the target scale by the scale the model was made for, then type the result as a percentage in the slicer’s scale box with uniform scaling on. 28mm to 32mm is 32 / 28 = 114.29%. 32mm to 28mm is 87.5%, 28mm to 15mm is 53.57% and 28mm to 54mm is 192.86%.

From	To	Slicer scale
28mm	32mm	114.29%
32mm	28mm	87.5%
28mm	28mm heroic (30 mm)	107.14%
28mm heroic (30 mm)	32mm	106.67%
25mm	28mm	112%
28mm	15mm	53.57%
15mm	28mm	186.67%
28mm	54mm	192.86%
28mm	75mm	267.86%
32mm	54mm	168.75%
32mm	75mm	234.38%

Keep the X, Y and Z factors equal so the figure keeps its proportions. Check three things before printing:

1. Base size. The base scales with the figure. A model scaled to 114.29% gets a base 14.29% wider. If your game fixes base sizes, cut the base off before scaling and glue the figure to a stock base.
2. Measuring convention. The percentages assume both scales measure the same way. If the file’s maker measures to the eyes and your other figures are measured to the top of the head, multiply by a further 1,610 / 1,730 = 0.93 to match them.
3. Thin parts. Scaling down shrinks spears, swords and antennae by the same factor. At 53.57%, a 1 mm sword blade becomes 0.54 mm.

To check a figure you already have, type its slicer height into “Your model’s height now”. A 33 mm figure at 114.29% comes out 37.7 mm.

Miniature scale chart

The table lists each scale’s Wikipedia range and the ratio the calculator works out at both reference heights from The Miniatures Page.

Scale	Wikipedia range	1.73 m to top of head	1.61 m to eyes
6mm	≈1:285 to 1:300	1:288.3	1:268.3
10mm	≈1:160 to 1:182	1:173	1:161
15mm	≈1:100 to 1:120	1:115.3	1:107.3
20mm	≈1:72 to 1:90	1:86.5	1:80.5
25mm	≈1:69 to 1:72	1:69.2	1:64.4
28mm	≈1:62 to 1:64	1:61.8	1:57.5
28mm heroic (30 mm)	≈1:58 to 1:60	1:57.7	1:53.7
32mm	≈1:54	1:54.1	1:50.3
35mm	≈1:48 to 1:52	1:49.4	1:46
54mm	1:32 to 1:35	1:32	1:29.8
75mm	1:24	1:23.1	1:21.5

Wikipedia ties 20mm to plastic kits: Airfix figures once labeled “HO & OO” are now sold as 1/76 or 1/72. At the default reference, a 1:72 figure is 24.0 mm tall and a 1:76 figure 22.8 mm.

How tall is a real object at miniature scale?

Divide the real size by the ratio. A 2.0 m door at 28mm (1:61.8) is 32.4 mm tall, or 1.27 in. The same door is 34.7 mm at heroic 28mm and 37.0 mm at 32mm. Pick “Real object at mini scale” and type the size in meters.

Battle maps set a scale of their own. Wikipedia’s List of scale model sizes gives Dungeons & Dragons maps as 1:60, one inch to five feet, which suits 28mm figures of a person about 1.7 m tall. One real foot at 1:60 is 5.08 mm on the table.

For vehicle kits, buildings and parts with a known size, the scale calculator turns a 1:X ratio or a target dimension into a slicer percentage.