What Scale is Warhammer 40k?

So what scale is Warhammer 40k, really? It's one of those questions that sounds simple until you actually start measuring things. The short answer is 28mm heroic scale (roughly 1:56) but the reality gets messier the deeper you dig. 

Don’t worry, we’re going to break it all down for you. Whether you're building your first squad or trying to figure out if that third-party terrain piece will look right next to your Intercessors, understanding the scale of Warhammer 40k miniatures saves you from expensive mistakes. 

Key Takeaways

• Warhammer 40k uses a 28mm heroic scale (1:56 ratio) for standard human-sized infantry.
• The “heroic” part means exaggerated hands, heads, and weapons - intentional, not a flaw.
• A Guardsman stands 30mm tall, while a Primaris Space Marine is 40mm+ to the helmet.
• Scale creep is real. Newer kits are noticeably bigger than older ones across every faction.
• Vehicles are slightly underscale on purpose so they don't dominate every game board.
• Danireon is your North American Warhammer shop for everything from minis to paints.

The Importance of Warhammer 40k Scale

The Warhammer 40k scale matters for more reasons than you might think. Get it wrong and your custom terrain looks cartoonishly oversized. Your kitbashed conversions sit awkwardly next to official sculpts. Third-party accessories don't fit. And if you're deep into the painting side, scale determines brush size, detail techniques, and how much time each model demands from your hobby desk.

It also matters for gameplay. Base sizes are tied directly to model scale, and base sizes affect line of sight, melee range, and how many bodies you can physically fit onto an objective. Bigger models on bigger bases change how the game plays.

What Scale is Warhammer 40k?

Games Workshop (abbreviated as GW, the parent company for Warhammer) officially labels the range as 28mm. That measurement refers to foot-to-eye-level on a standard human-sized miniature, so the actual top-of-head height lands closer to 30-32mm. 

So, what scale is Warhammer 40k? The ratio works out to approximately 1:56, meaning one millimetre on the model equals roughly 56 millimetres in real life.

But here's where the Warhammer 40k scale gets interesting. GW uses what hobbyists call “heroic scale.” This means proportions are purposefully exaggerated. Heads are bigger than anatomically correct. Hands and feet are chunkier. Weapons are comically oversized compared to true-scale equivalents. 

This isn't lazy sculpting, though. It's a deliberate choice so models are easier to paint, more readable on the tabletop at arm's length, and more visually striking overall.

Here's how the scale of Warhammer 40k models shakes out across unit types:

Different Types of Infantry

Standard human infantry (your Cadian Shock Troops, for example) stand roughly 28-30mm tall on 25mm round bases. They're the baseline that everything else is measured against.

Firstborn Space Marines bump up to about 32-35mm to the helmet on 32mm bases. Then Primaris Marines push that even further to around 38-43mm tall (depending on the kit and pose). Primaris are physically larger than standard Marines in the lore, and the models are crafted accordingly.

That’s an important piece of context - factions scale relative to their lore. Aeldari Guardians are slim and roughly Firstborn height. Ork Boyz hunch but are super bulky. T'au Fire Warriors sit close to standard human proportions. Tyranid Termagants crouch lower than everyone, while Terminators and Ork Nobs tower at 50-60mm on 40mm bases. They’re massive! 

Monsters and Mechs

This is where the Warhammer 40k scale starts climbing fast. 

• A classic Dreadnought stands 60-70mm on a 60mm base, absolutely dwarfing infantry. 
• The newer Redemptor Dreadnought pushes 80-90mm. 
• Wraithlords and Carnifexes sit in a similar range. The Carnifex is around 100mm (about four inches) on its 105x70mm oval base.

Imperial Knights are where jaws drop, though. A Questoris-class Knight stands roughly 175mm - nearly seven inches of plastic towering over everything around it. 

Even the smaller Armiger War Dogs reach 120-130mm. These models need more shelf space, paint hours, and will probably take up a serious chunk of your army's points budget.

Titans

Forge World produces full Warhammer 40k scale Titans, and they’re absurd. 

• The Warhound Scout Titan stands about 250mm (ten inches). 
• The Reaver Battle Titan climbs to 400mm. 
• The Warlord Battle Titan is 560mm - one of the largest resin kits ever produced. That's over 22 inches of model assembled from 200+ parts, priced accordingly.

These are centerpiece projects that take months to build and paint The separate Adeptus Titanicus game uses a way smaller scale if you want Titan battles without needing a dedicated display cabinet.

Vehicles

GW intentionally makes vehicles slightly underscale relative to infantry. A Rhino transport measures about 11.5cm long and 7.5cm wide. Try not to overthink it. Yes, it’s technically too small to fit the ten Space Marines it carries in-game. But a realistically scaled Rhino would eat half the table. The compromise works.

The Leman Russ battle tank sits at roughly 11cm long with a turret height around 7.5cm. A Land Raider stretches to 17cm. The Baneblade super-heavy runs 22.5cm long and 14cm wide - it’s one of the biggest standard plastic vehicle kits. Flyers like the Valkyrie span about 25cm in wingspan.

How the Warhammer 40k Scale Compares to Other Games

It might help to compare the scale of Warhammer 40k models to other tabletop games you may have played in the past. So, what scale is Warhammer 40k compared to other games? Here are some of our personal favorites:

• Bolt Action runs 28mm at roughly 1:56. Technically the same ratio, and standard infantry looks right next to Astra Militarum models. But GW's heroic proportions make their sculpts chunkier, so there's a visible style difference side-by-side, even if the height matches.
• Star Wars Legion sits at about 35mm with realistic (non-heroic) proportions, so figures are taller but thinner. Infinity’s newer sculpts measure closer to 32-35mm. 
• Marvel Crisis Protocol towers over everything at roughly 40mm - not even close to compatible.
• Age of Sigmar uses the same heroic scale as 40k - no surprise, given it's the same manufacturer (GW). Models are functionally interchangeable in terms of size. 

A Word on Scale Creep

Models from the early 2000s are visibly smaller than current kits from the same faction. The 2017 Primaris launch was the biggest single jump, but even newer Cadians and Ork Boyz have grown compared to their predecessors. 

Old and new models are still game-legal together, but it’ll be hard to ignore the differences in sizing on the table. Keep that in mind!

Tips on Bringing Your Warhammer 40k Army to Life

Understanding the scale of Warhammer 40k models is step one. Actually building and painting them is the part that hooks people for decades. 

Start with a faction you like the look of, not whatever the internet says is strongest this month. The meta is constantly evolving. Our guide on how to start Warhammer 40k walks through the first steps without overwhelming you if you're not sure where to begin.

Get decent Warhammer paints from the jump. Citadel's range is designed specifically for GW's heroic scale sculpts, and the colour guides assume you're using their paints. Mixing brands works fine once you know what you're doing, but matching coverage and consistency is one less headache when you're learning. Our article on how to paint Warhammer 40k models covers the fundamentals.

Oh - and pick the easiest Warhammer 40k army to paint so you can get some confidence before tackling anything with a hundred trim details. Space Marines with contrast paints. Necrons with drybrushing. Death Guard if you want messy to be a feature.

The next thing to do? Browse our shop here at Danireon and discover what keeps enthusiasts coming back for more. As the trusted choice in North America you’ll gain access to everything you need in one place!

Final Words on the Scale of Warhammer 40k Models

In closing, what scale is Warhammer 40k? 28mm heroic (roughly 1:56) but that barely scratches the surface. Infantry alone ranges from 28mm Guardsmen to 60mm Terminators. Vehicles stretch to nearly nine inches. Every new release seems to push the boundaries just a little further than the last.

Whatever size army you're building, browse our full Warhammer shop to find everything from starter kits to centerpiece models — all shipping from right here in Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scale of Warhammer 40k models?

28mm heroic scale at approximately a 1:56 ratio.

Is 40K 28mm or 32mm?

Officially 28mm, measured foot-to-eye on human infantry. But newer kits measure closer to 32mm at eye level. 

Is 28mm the same as 1/48?

No. 28mm heroic scale is approximately 1:56, not 1:48. The 1:48 scale (used by Star Wars: Legion) produces noticeably larger figures. 

Why do some miniatures look bigger or smaller?

Pose, base size, and kit generation all play a role. A crouching model looks shorter than a standing one from the same kit. Older sculpts are genuinely smaller due to scale creep. Different factions are intentionally different sizes.

Do old and new Warhammer 40k models work together?

Yes. GW doesn't require rebasing, and older models are fully game-legal. The size difference between, say, a 2004 Tactical Marine and a 2024 Primaris Intercessor is noticeable, but they share a battlefield just fine. 

What do I need to get started painting Warhammer 40k miniatures?

Clippers, a hobby knife, plastic glue, a few brushes, and a starter paint set. Citadel's essentials sets give you the basics. A cutting mat and decent lighting make a big difference too.

What's the biggest Warhammer 40k model right now?

The Forge World Mars-Pattern Warlord Titan at roughly 560mm (22 inches) tall. 

How big are Age of Sigmar models compared to Warhammer 40k?

Virtually identical in scale. Both lines use GW's heroic 28mm proportions. Infantry from either system looks right standing side by side. The main differences are aesthetic (fantasy vs sci-fi). Compare Warhammer 40k vs Age of Sigmar in our blog.

Is the Warhammer 40k scale going to impact gameplay at all?

Indirectly, yes. Bigger models on bigger bases are easier to see (and shoot) in line-of-sight rules. They take up more space on objectives. And larger base footprints change charge distances and pile-in geometry.