Miniatures -

Scales

TL;DR:

• Classical wargaming models are 15 - 25 mm; 23 mm - 1:72 is the most common.
• Modern Games Workshop models are 28 mm heroic; meaning large heads and items.
• D&D models are usually between 25 - 28 mm or 1:72 - 1:60 scale.
  • Horizontal scale in D&D is frequently 1:60 so 1 inch equals 5 ft, this is important for the game mechanics. It's good to default to 1:60 when in doubt.
  • The diameter of a standard humanoid base is 1 inch or 2.54 cm.
  • Large creatures can obviously have as large of a base as they need.

"25 mm model" means that, for an average human being, it is 25 mm between the feet and the eyes or the top of the head, there isn't more accurate standard for that.

"1:72" scale ratio means that you multiply distances by 72.

The reference humanoid is between 5.5 - 6.0 ft or 168 - 183 cm.

Human skeleton height in mm * scale ratio = 1680 - 1830 (should be)

Many systems aim for 180 cm (5.9 ft) for an average human.

Example:
* True scale: a person is 7.5 head heights tall
* Heroic scale: a person is 5 head heights tall; larger body, weapons, etc.

Games Workshop's scale is 28 mm heroic
    old GW      == 25 mm ~= 1:67
    new GW      == 28 mm ~= 1:60
    looks like  == 32 mm ~= 1:52   (because of most heroic scale models)
    looks like  == 35 mm ~= 1:48   (because of some heroic scale models)

    anything between 28-35 mm or 1:60-1:48 scale should work with modern Warhammer

    1 inch in model is...
        feet    inches      mm
1:1     0.0833  1         25.4
1:12    1       12        30.5      <- The standard scale in collector's dollhouses.
1:18    1.5     18       457.2      <- The standard scale in children's dollhouses.
1:20    ?       ??       ?????      <- The 90mm scale in historical metal models.
1:24    2       24       609.6      <- The Playmobil scale.
                                       The 77mm scale in historical metal models.
1:32    ?       ??       ?????      <- The most common 54mm historical model scale.
1:42    3.5     42      1066.8      <- The Lego scale.
1:48    4       48      1219.2     <-- The "quarter scale" in dollhouses.
                                       The largest that works with Warhammer, usually.
                                       The 40mm scale in historical vehicle models.
1:60    5       60      1524.0     <-- The most common D&D and role-playing scale.
                                       The 30mm Zinnfiguren scale
                                       The smallest that works with Warhammer, usually

1:76-1:72 The historical 25mm "one-inch" scale in military wargaming.
1:86-1:90 The historical 20mm scale in military wargaming.