They Are Not the Same & Here’s the Proof!
For decades, wargamers have casually said:
“20mm and 1/72 are basically the same.”
Retailers blur the line.
Forum posts repeat it.
Product listings mix the labels as if they were interchangeable.
But mathematically?
They are not the same scale.
And once you understand the numbers — and more importantly, how figures are actually measured — the confusion disappears permanently.
Start With Mathematics, Not Tradition
Let’s remove opinion entirely and begin with conversion.
All accurate miniature scale conversion uses a consistent real-world reference. The widely accepted eye-height constant is 1610 millimetres, representing average adult male eye level.
Using that constant, converting ratio scale into millimetre height is simple:
1610 divided by the ratio equals the miniature’s eye-level height.
When we apply that to 1/72:
1610 ÷ 72 = 22.36mm
Rounded correctly:
1/72 equals 22.4mm.
Now let’s calculate 20mm in reverse.
If a figure measures 20mm to eye level:
1610 ÷ 20 = 80.5
That means 20mm corresponds to approximately 1/80 scale.
So mathematically:
1/72 = 22.4mm
20mm ≈ 1/80.5
That is not rounding error.
That is a completely different proportional scale.
A true 1/72 figure should stand approximately 2.4mm taller than a strict 20mm figure when measured anatomically.
At this size, 2.4mm is very visible.
So Why Has the Myth Survived?
The confusion developed historically rather than mathematically.
1/72 dominated aircraft modelling. Tanks followed. Buildings followed. Plastic ecosystems formed around that ratio.
Meanwhile, metal wargaming lines often used “20mm” as a convenient height descriptor. Many of those figures were designed before strict cross-compatibility with plastic modelling ecosystems became common practice.
On the tabletop, both felt similar enough that hobby shorthand took over. Over time, casual language replaced proportional clarity.
But feeling similar is not being identical.
Once you measure, the distinction is obvious.
What 1/72 Figures Actually Measure
Across widely recognised 1/72 plastic brands (based on publicly available information and hobbyist measurement discussions as of 25/02/2026) figures typically measure somewhere between 21mm and 23mm overall.
The variation usually comes from headgear height, sculpt pose, or measurement method.
Importantly, most publicly reported heights are measured to the top of the head.
When measured from base of foot to bridge of nose, many align closely with the 22.4mm theoretical anchor.
That is what defines true 1/72 proportionally.
Not the packaging. Not the label. The anatomical measurement.
What 20mm Figures Actually Measure
Ranges commonly described as 20mm typically measure closer to 19–20mm anatomically.
Some may measure slightly above that when measured to helmet top. But measured to eye level, most sit around 19.5–20.5mm.
That aligns proportionally with approximately 1/80–1/85 scale.
Not 1/72.
This is where casual terminology causes confusion.
If a 20mm figure is measured to the top of a helmet, it may measure 21–22mm overall. That creates the illusion of equivalency with 1/72.
But measured anatomically, it drops back toward 20mm.
Measurement reference matters more than marketing label.
The Vehicle Test, Where Reality Becomes Obvious
The easiest way to expose scale mismatch is to place infantry beside vehicles.
1/72 vehicles are strict ratio models. Their dimensions are mathematically reduced from real-world measurements.
If you place true 1/72 infantry (measuring approximately 22.4mm anatomically) beside 1/72 tanks, proportions align naturally.
If you place strict 20mm infantry beside 1/72 tanks, the infantry will appear slightly undersized.
The difference may not scream at you instantly, but in dioramas and combined-arms formations it becomes clear.
Vehicles do not drift in scale. They reveal drift in figures.
Proportion Complicates the Picture
There is another factor that blurs perception: sculpting philosophy.
Some 20mm ranges use slightly chunkier proportions. Heads may be slightly larger. Rifles slightly thicker. Limbs slightly broader.
That added visual mass can make a 20mm figure feel closer in size to a 1/72 figure, even when it is shorter.
Height and proportion are separate variables.
Height defines mathematical scale.
Proportion defines visual weight.
Both matter — but only height defines ratio equivalency.
How Significant Is 2.4mm at This Size?
At 28mm scale, a 2mm difference may feel moderate.
At 20–22mm scale, 2mm is dramatic.
Across a ranked formation:
Shoulder lines misalign.
Helmets stagger unevenly.
Units look inconsistent.
In isolation, the difference might seem minor.
Across forty or sixty figures, it becomes obvious.
For collectors who care about realism and formation discipline, that difference matters.
How to Measure Correctly
If you want to know whether your figures are truly 1/72 or 20mm, the method is simple.
Place the figure on a flat surface.
Measure from the base of the foot.
Measure to the bridge of the nose.
Ignore helmet tops. Ignore plumes. Ignore packaging claims.
If the measurement is approximately 22.4mm, it aligns with 1/72.
If it is approximately 20mm, it aligns with 20mm scale, roughly 1/80.
This anatomical reference removes distortion and eliminates ambiguity.
How Battle Honours 3D Defines 1/72
Battle Honours 3D anchors 1/72 precisely at its mathematical conversion point:
22.4mm.
Every BH3D 1/72 figure is measured base of foot to bridge of nose.
Not to the top of a helmet.
Not rounded upward.
Not simplified for marketing shorthand.
This ensures vehicle compatibility, internal consistency across ranges, and protection against scale drift over time.
If your current figures measure 22.4mm anatomically, they will align with ours.
If they measure 20mm anatomically, they are smaller — regardless of what the packaging suggests.
Measurement removes debate.
So Are 20mm and 1/72 the Same?
No.
They are different proportional scales.
They overlap in casual hobby language. They sometimes appear similar due to measurement confusion. But mathematically:
1/72 equals 22.4mm.
20mm equals approximately 1/80.5.
That is the reality.
Once understood, it becomes impossible to unsee.
Final Word
20mm and 1/72 are not interchangeable terms.
If you care about vehicle accuracy, diorama realism, ranked formation consistency, and long-term compatibility, measurement discipline matters.
Battle Honours 3D anchors 1/72 at 22.4mm anatomically, delivering predictable compatibility within one of the world’s most widely used modelling ecosystems.
If you want clarity, measure anatomically.
Everything else is noise.
Industry Measurement Notice
All third-party references in this article reflect publicly available information and commonly reported measurements as of 25/02/2026. Heights are approximate and may vary by sculpting style, pose, tooling generation or measurement method.
This content is provided for educational clarification of scale conventions. No assertion is made regarding the accuracy or practices of any other manufacturer.
If clarification or correction is required, please contact us and we will review and update accordingly.
