Techniques · Plan and sort
28mm vs 32mm miniatures: what the numbers mean
Miniature scales are quoted as a height in millimetres, not a ratio. Here is what 28mm and 32mm mean, roughly how they convert, and why figures labelled the same can look different sizes.
Height, not ratio
Wargaming and roleplaying figures are usually described by height in millimetres. Printable Scenery's scale table defines the measurement as from the bottom of the feet to the eye height of an average human, and notes that this is not the same as base size: a 28mm figure often stands on a 25mm round base.
How they convert
Printable Scenery's table gives 28mm as roughly 1:62 and 32mm (which it calls heroic scale) as roughly 1:54, and says terrain made for 28mm should be printed at 114.3% to suit 32mm.
On the same table, 15mm wargames scale is about 1:116 and OO railway scale about 1:76.
Who uses which
Reaper states its miniatures are 28mm scale unless noted.
Games Workshop's current figures are larger: Miniset.net lists the 2024 Age of Sigmar Introductory Set at 32mm.
Why same-scale figures still differ
In common hobby usage, 'heroic' sculpting exaggerates heads, hands and weapons so figures read well on the table, and makers interpret the same nominal scale differently. Two 28mm ranges can look mismatched side by side, so compare actual figures, or photos next to a ruler, before mixing ranges in one army or scene.
For terrain
Battle Systems, for example, rates its Fantasy Village for 28 to 35mm games.