What Scale Is Warhammer 40,000?

Dec 19

Written By Chapter Master Mercius

Short answer:
28mm heroic scale
(though in truth… it is larger than that).

The Official Answer

Warhammer 40,000 uses what is traditionally called:

28mm scale
Often described as “heroic scale”

This means:

An average human model stands ~28–32mm tall from feet to eyes
Proportions are exaggerated for visibility and style

What “Heroic Scale” Really Means

This is not true scale realism.

Heroic scale features:

Oversized heads
Thick weapons
Broad hands and armor
Chunky details that read clearly on the tabletop

Space Marines are especially exaggerated:

Taller than normal humans
Wider and heavier than real-world proportions
Designed to look powerful, not realistic

The Unspoken Truth

Modern Warhammer 40K is closer to:

32mm heroic scale

Over time, models have grown:

Older miniatures look smaller
Newer kits are taller and bulkier
Proportions have shifted for detail and presence

This is why mixing old and new models can look… odd.

Approximate Real-World Equivalent

Depending on interpretation:

Roughly 1:56 to 1:60 scale
Not consistent across factions or eras
Aesthetic matters more than measurement

Warhammer favors visual impact over precision.

Chapter Master’s Verdict

The scale of Warhammer 40K is not measured in millimeters.

It is measured in:

Presence
Silhouette
Dominance on the battlefield

The models are built to be seen, recognized, and feared.

That is the only scale that truly matters.

If you want, I can also explain:

How 40K compares to Kill Team, Titanicus, or Epic
Why Primaris Marines changed the scale perception

Chapter Master Mercius

Chapter Master Mercius is the unyielding architect and moral fulcrum of the Wardens of the Damned, a commander shaped not by triumph, but by catastrophe. Once a loyal son of a now-sundered chapter, Mercius rose through the ranks during an era of unquestioned obedience—until the internal conflict disaster that would later be known as the Sundering tore truth from dogma and exposed rot within his previous chapter command. Where others clung to denial or ambition, Mercius chose responsibility.

A strategist renowned for patience and restraint, Mercius is defined by his refusal to sacrifice truth for comfort. He is not a charismatic conqueror nor a zealous tyrant; he is a watchman. His leadership style favors deliberation, layered contingencies, and the preservation of brotherhood even when faith is strained. Those who serve under him know that he demands obedience, but never blind loyalty. Every order carries weight, and every life lost is remembered.

Mercius is deeply scarred by the choices he has made. He carries the burden of abandoning his previous chapter, of defying inquisitorial decrees when they conflict with conscience, and of condemning brothers who could not be saved. Yet he does not waver. To him, damnation is not a curse, it is a cost paid so that others may endure.

As Chapter Master, Mercius leads a fleet-based force that stands vigil where corruption festers and hope is already failing. Under his command, the Wardens of the Damned fight wars no one records, hold lines no one notices, and accept a future where redemption is uncertain. He does not promise victory. He promises that no brother will be left behind.

https://www.wardensofthedamned.com