What's The Best Size LED For My Scale Model?
Hello Hobby Lighting Enthusiasts!
We get a lot of questions from folks asking, "What's the best LED for [my scale]?"
We've created this reference chart for all of you hobbyists out there working with different scales—think of it as your trusty sidekick for LED selection! Here's the fun part: these are just suggestions. Feel free to break the rules and experiment with larger or smaller LEDs than what we recommend. After all, some of the coolest lighting effects come from happy accidents. This guide simply reflects what we, our customers, and plenty of makers across the internet have found works brilliantly for these different scales. So grab your toolbox, pick an LED, and let's light things up!
Pro Tip: Press Control + F on your keyboard and type in your scale or model type to jump to that spot on this page!
Scale Model References |
||||
Scale |
Common Name |
Most Common Uses |
Our LED Size Recommendation |
Other Notes |
| 1:12 | Standard Dollhouse Scale | 6-inch action figures (such as Marvel Legends), model cars (static and R/C driven), live steam trains (non-ridable), dollhouses for adult collectors, motorcycles, model horses ("Classic scale"). | 1.8mm to 3mm traditional bulb LEDs for fixtures and lamps, or small SMD LEDs (such as Nano/0603 or Chip/1206 sizes). Larger SMD LEDs (such as Deka/2835 and Mega/5050) can be used for ceiling fixtures or places that need light over a wide surface area. | 1 inch = 1 ft |
| 1:18 | Cars made from kits, 1:18 scale diecast models, children's dollhouses, (very rarely) aircraft kits such as by MPM. Most popular scale for action figures. | 3mm (for headlights) and Chip/1206 or Nano/0603 SMD LEDs (for tail lights and detailing) | ||
| 1:24 | G Scale (1:20-1:32); Half Scale | Largest common scale for model aircraft, such as those produced by Airfix. Common scale for cars and figures. Some American dollhouse brands. Die-cast vehicles by Danbury and Franklin Mint. American G Scale trains by Delton Mfg. Many Book Nook and Miniature kits (such as Rolife) loosely follow a 1:24 configuration. | 3mm LEDs for headlights/taillights and interior light fixtures; and Pico/0402 or Nano/0603 SMD LEDs for smaller indicators | Book Nook kits tend not to have a standardized scale, many incorporating elements of 1:24, 1:43, and 1:60 scales for effects such as forced perspective. |
| 1:43 | O Scale (Euro) | most popular scale for diecast cars worldwide | 3mm LEDs for headlights, and Pico/0402 or Nano/0603 SMD LEDs for smaller spaces like tail lights and dashboard lighting | |
| 1:48 | Quarter Scale, O Scale (America) | one-quarter of the 1:12 "standard" dollhouse scale, same scale used for Legos. American O Scale. | 3mm wired LEDs for general lighting (cockpits/interiors) and Nano/0603 or Pico/0402 SMD LEDs for tight spaces like navigation lights | Ives Manufacturing Company, American Flyer, and Lionel Corporation used O gauge for their budget line |
| 1:64 | Diecast, S Scale | Ships, diecast cars. most common scale for matchbox, hot wheels, and Warhammer 40k | Pico/0402 are best for headlights, followed by Nano/0603 and 1.8mm micro LEDs. | |
| 1:87 | HO/H0 Scale | HO = Half of O Scale. It is the most popular scale of model railway in the world. Also used for civilian and military vehicles. |
Chip/1206: Useful for vehicle headlights or signal lighting. Pico/0402 or Nano/0603: Ideal for headlights on locomotives or detailed lamps, as they can be hidden easily, sometimes even using 40-gauge wire for minimal visibility. 3mm and 1.8mm LEDs: Good for larger locomotive lights, street lamps, or building interiors. |
In slot car racing, HO does not denote a precise scale of car, but a general size of track on which the cars can range from 1:87 to approximately 1:64 scale. |
| 1:144 | HOO Scale | Popular for ships, aircraft, rockets, spacecraft. Occasionally used with NASCAR cars. Also some Japanese N scale trains, as well as Japanese giant robot models (such as Gunpla) and toys. | 1.8mm mini hobby bulbs, or ultra-small SMD LEDs (Pico/0402 or Z/0201 sizes) due to tight spaces. | |
| Depending upon the manufacturer (or country), the scale ranges from 1:148 to 1:160 | N Scale | popular with model railroads. approximately 1/2 the size of HO scale. |
1.8mm LEDs: Excellent for general building lighting and small models where space is limited. Pico/0402 and Z/0201 LEDs: Extremely small, ideal for adding headlights to vehicles, locomotive ditch lights, or lighting inside small buildings. 3mm LEDs: Suitable for warning beacons, train running lights, and dioramas. |
An advantage of N scale is that it allows hobbyists to build layouts that take up less space than HO scale |
| 1:200 | A scale used for high-end model aircraft and very detailed paper and plastic model ships | 1.8mm or smaller, Pico/0402 or Z/0201 LEDs, which fit inside tight spaces like portholes or small structures. | ||
| 1:220 | Z Scale | Most used for building model railway layouts in very tight spaces or compact storage areas | the smallest LEDs such as Pico/0402 and Z/0201 LEDs will be the most appropriate for this scale. | |
Is your experience different? Let us know! Shoot us an email and tell us what size LEDs work best in your experience!
Compiled and Written by: Kae Benton ✌️
Sources & References:
theminiaturespage.com/ref/scales.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_scale_model_sizes
scalemates.com/search.php?fkSECTION%5B%5D=All&q=scale+reference
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scale_model
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