Resizing a model for 3D printing
To rescale an STL from one scale to another, set your slicer’s scale percentage to (current scale ÷ target scale) × 100. Because material follows volume, the filament or resin used changes by the cube of that ratio — so a model printed at 200% uses roughly 8× the material.
Common wargaming & miniature scales
Figure heights mapped to ratios (based on a ~1.8 m human; conventions vary by manufacturer):
| Figure size | Approx. ratio | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 6 mm | 1:300 | Epic / mass battle |
| 10 mm | 1:180 | Small skirmish |
| 15 mm | 1:120 | Historical / sci-fi |
| 20 mm | 1:90 | 1:72-ish historical |
| 28 mm | 1:64 | Most common (Warhammer-era) |
| 32 mm | 1:56 | Heroic / modern |
| 54 mm | 1:33 | Display figures |
| 75 mm | 1:24 | Large display / busts |
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out the percentage to resize a 3D model?
Divide the scale you have by the scale you want and multiply by 100. To go from 1:56 to 1:48, that is 56 ÷ 48 × 100 = 116.7%, so set your slicer to about 117%.
What scale is a 28mm miniature?
Measured against a ~1.8 m human, a 28 mm figure is roughly 1:64, though "heroic" 28 mm minis are often nearer 1:56 because of bulkier proportions and how height is measured.
How much more material does a bigger print use?
Material scales with volume — the cube of the size change. Doubling a model (200%) uses about 8× the filament or resin. The calculator shows the material multiplier for you.
See also the scale factor calculator and the main scale calculator with 50+ presets.