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STLSCALE Engine v1.0 — Scaling for Miniature Printers

STL Scale Converter
for 3D Printed Miniatures

stlscale calculates the exact slicer percentage to scale STL files between 15+ tabletop gaming scales — from 28mm to 32mm, 1:35 to 1:48, and more. Built on a 175cm human baseline with eye-level and top-of-head options. No file upload. No login.

Warhammer 40K, D&D, Star Wars Legion, Bolt Action, and a bunch of historical systems.

Scale Calculator

Measurement method

Material compensation

Add a small percentage for cooling shrinkage

Slicer scale
175cm baseline Methodology

Conversion logic assumes a 175cm human baseline. Eye Level measures to 160cm. Top of Head accounts for hair and helmets at 175cm.
Tip: Always use Uniform Scaling (lock X, Y, and Z axes) to avoid distorted models.

How to scale your STL

  1. 1

    Select your scales

    Pick source and target in the calculator above. Choose Eye Level or Top of Head.

  2. 2

    Copy the percentage

    Open your STL in Chitubox, Lychee, PrusaSlicer, or Cura.

  3. 3

    Paste and lock axes

    Enter the percentage into the scale tool. Lock X, Y, and Z to uniform scaling. Slice and print.

Popular scale conversions

Percentages for the most common tabletop wargaming and historical modeling transitions. These are what I use and what the community has landed on, but if something looks off on your printer, let me know.

View full scale reference library

Scale conversion questions

Direct answers to the scaling questions I get asked most. If yours is not here, send it in.

What scale is Warhammer 40k miniatures?

Most people in the hobby treat Games Workshop miniatures as 32mm heroic scale, measured from eye level at roughly 160cm. To convert from true 28mm, scale your STL to 114.3% in your slicer. Your mileage may vary depending on the sculpt.

How do I convert 28mm to 32mm for D&D?

Multiply your 28mm STL file by 114.3% to get what most players call heroic 32mm scale. This accounts for the 175cm human baseline and eye-level measurement I use on STLACCESS. If your group uses something different, adjust accordingly.

Does material shrinkage affect FDM miniatures?

PLA and PETG shrink about 0.2-0.5% during cooling. This is small enough that I do not add compensation. If you want maximum accuracy, print a test piece first and measure with calipers.

What is the difference between 28mm and 32mm miniatures?

28mm true scale measures a 175cm human from eye level. 32mm heroic scale uses the same baseline but adds exaggerated proportions for detail and durability. A 32mm miniature ends up roughly 14% taller than its 28mm equivalent.

Games Workshop uses 32mm heroic for Warhammer 40k. A lot of D&D and Pathfinder miniatures are closer to 28mm true scale, though it varies by manufacturer.

How do I scale an STL file in my slicer?

Import the STL into your slicer (Chitubox, Lychee, PrusaSlicer, or Cura). Select the model, open the scale tool, and enter the percentage from stlscale. Lock the X, Y, and Z axes to uniform scaling. Apply the change and slice as normal.

What does 1:56 scale mean in miniature gaming?

1:56 is a ratio scale common in historical wargaming, including Bolt Action. It works out to roughly 28mm true scale when you use a 175cm human baseline. To convert 1:56 STLs to 32mm heroic, most people scale them to 114.3%.

Why I built stlscale

I got tired of calculating the same percentages manually in Chitubox every time I resized an STL for my Warhammer or D&D prints. I would forget which baseline I used last time and end up with minis that looked wrong next to my existing army. Sometimes too tall. Sometimes weirdly squat. It annoyed me enough to build this.

The conversions here use a 175cm human baseline — the same one most of the hobby uses, as far as I can tell. I print the numbers before I post them. If a conversion does not look right on my table, I change it. If enough people message me saying a specific system needs different math, I update it. That is the deal.

All calculations run in your browser. I never see your STL files, and nothing gets uploaded to any server.