Copyright 2005 T. Sheil & A. Sheil All Rights Reserved
Military Miniatures come in different sizes. These are approximate to scales. A scale is the size relationship between a miniature and its real-life counterpart. Most military miniature enthusiasts use the millimeter measurement. Fractions tend to be used by model builders, and Railroad scales are standardized for model railroading. Inches are given as a convenience for the reader.
In most circles, it is assumed that the millimeter height denotes a 6" tall man in a particular scale. Military miniature collectors tend to measure from bottom of foot to the top of the head. Miniature wargamers are more concerned with consistency than scale. They might measure as military miniaturists. They also measure from bottom of foot to top of headgear (as opposed to top of head), bottom of base to top of headgear, and bottom of base to top of head. Wargame figures tend to have more inconsistencies in scale than traditional military miniatures.
| Inches (Approximate) | Millimeters | Fractional Scale | Closest Railroad Scale | Origin |
| 11 3/4" to 12" | 290 to 300mm | 1/6 | x | Action Figures |
| 5 1/2" to 6" | 140 to 150mm | 1/12 | x | Modern |
| 4 7/8" | 120mm | 1/16 | x | Modern |
| 3 5/8" | 90mm | 1/18 to 1/20 | G | Modern |
| 3" | 75mm | 1/24 | G | German composition |
| 2 1/2" | 60mm | 1/29 to 1/30 | G | US Dimestore Figs. |
| 2 1/4" | 54mm | 1/32 | #1 | Europe |
| 2" | 51mm | 1/35 | x | Japanese model tanks |
| 1 3/4 to 1 7/8 | 45 - 48mm | 1/40 | x | Heyde of Germany |
| 1 1/2" to 1 5/8" | 40mm | 1/43 to 1/48 | O | German Flats |
| 1 3/16" | 30mm | 1/60 | O27 | German Flats |
| 1 1/8" | 27.5 / 28mm | 1/64 | S, O27 | American Flyer Trains |
| 1" | 25mm | 1/76 to 1/72 | OO | Lionel OO |
| 7/8" | 20mm | 1/87 | HO | Model railroading |
| 5/8" | 15mm | 1/100 to 1/120 | TT | Model Railroading |
| 1/2" | 12mm | 1/160 | N | Model Railroading |
| 1/4" | 6mm | 1/285 - 1/300 | X | Armor wargaming |
| 1/12" | 2mm | 1/900 | X | Wargaming |
How these scales are used by hobbyists
| 2mm, 6mm, etc | 1/285, 1/300, | Micro scales introduced in the late 1960s for modern wargames. Used by wargamers for mass tank battles. |
| 15mm | 1/120 to 1/100 | Used by wargamers for creating large armies and large battles. |
| 20mm | 1/87 scale HO | Used by wargamers - formerly the most popular small scale for modern wargames |
| 25mm (24mm) | 1/72 (1/76) | A standard small scale used by wargamers, popular since the 1970s. |
| 28mm | 1/64, S Gauge | Interim scale between 25 and 30mm. Fits S scale (actually 27.5mm) |
| 30mm | Classic small soldier scale introduced by makers of flats. Also used by wargamers | |
| 40mm | 1/43 (1/48) O scale | Larger scale, introduced by makers of flats. Combines detail wanted by military miniature collectors with small size for wargames. |
| 45mm - 48mm | 1/40 | Scale used for knights by Courtenay (Introduced by Heyde of Germany.) |
| 50 / 51mm | 1/35 scale | Originally used for heraldric knights. Popularized by 1/35 model military vehicle kits in the 1970s. |
| 54mm | 1/32 scale (#1 gauge / scale) | Classic toy soldier size for US, UK, France and most Western countries. |
| 60mm | 1/29 scale (American #1 gauge) | Used by American toy soldier makers, whose dimestore figures tended to be larger than those from Europe. |
| 75mm | 1/24 scale (American G scale) | Favorite scale for German figures, used initially in composition figures by Elastolin and Lineol. |
| 90mm and 120mm | 1/20 and 1/18 | Uncommon larger figures used by some military miniaturists. |
| 150mm and 300mm | 1/12 and 1/6 | Two scales used for doll-type action figures. The 12 inch is the most common. |