What Miniature Size Should You Buy?

Are you looking to create a miniature display in your dollhouse or to decorate a room? If so, you want all of the miniatures, whether it’s a miniature kitchen set or living room, to be proportionate to each other. This ensures that the display looks realistic and accurate.

You will also want to pick a certain size miniature depending on what you plan to do with the furniture. So how do you determine what pieces to collect? Here are the standardized sizes:

• 1:6
• 1:12
• 1:24
• 1:48

You may also run into antique dollhouses and miniatures that are custom sizes. Each of these scales is perfect for a specific type of miniature collection. Here’s how to determine which one is right for you.

1:12

This is often called “1-inch scale.” This is a popular scale amongst collectors of artisan miniatures and playhouses for younger children. This is a great size for people that want to create a very detailed setup, like an entire miniature kitchen set and dining room. You often won’t find this size for cars and animals, however.

1:6

This scale is often used for fashion dolls, like Barbie or military action figures. In this scale, one inch equals six inches in full size. These dolls are often too large to fit into miniature setups, unless you’re looking to make them look like giants squeezing into a tiny living room!

1:16

This is a common scale for dollhouses from the 1930s to 1950s, which makes this a good size for collectors. Some toy brands have revived this scale in newer collections as well. You’ll find a lot of popular older brands using this scale, so you’ll be able to create an entire setup quite easily if you scour antique shops and vintage stores.

1:18

You’ll find some dollhouses made in other countries that fit this scale. A lot of these brands create dollhouses that are already furnished. This makes it a bit easier to create a miniature display.

1:24

This is considered dollhouse scale. It’s becoming quite popular in Europe and a lot of the miniatures are now mass-produced. From popular hobby brands to children’s brands, you’ll be able to find an abundance of miniatures at this scale. This includes vehicles as well.

1:48

This is also known as quarter scale. You’ll find it a lot in the west coast of North America where it’s gaining popularity. This scale is often used for hobbyists. A lot of miniatures at this scale include vehicles like trains and railroad buildings as well as miniatures for games like Warhammer or Dungeons & Dragons. This means that some of them will need to be painted!

1:144

This is the smallest scale, often called micro-scale. You’ll find it used for a lot of railroad sets as well as small dollhouses. This is a great choice if you are trying to create a display on a shelf or another location in your home.

Looking to start your own miniature display or add some decor to a dollhouse? Dollhouse City LLC. has intricate, detailed, and realistic minis that will bring your display to life. When it comes to putting together a miniature kitchen set, Dollhouse City has a variety of styles to choose from — from walnut cupboards and white appliances to a 1950s kitchen set that’s bright red and retro.