How to Determine the Scale of a Model

Reviewed by Joseph Meyer

Last Updated: June 29, 2024

Scale models come in various different shapes and sizes, but sometimes, the scale may not be clearly written out for you. You have to make sure that you know what scale the model is; otherwise you may find yourself wanting a tiny model and getting a huge one, or vice versa.

Steps

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/77\/Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/77\/Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid8668529-v4-728px-Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

This can be done by simply searching up the type of model, and finding it's dimensions. For example, if you're making an Airbus A380 plane model, you would search up the dimensions of the plane, as this is the first step to finding the plane's scale.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/aid8668529-v4-728px-Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

It doesn't need to be millimeter perfect, but use a ruler for fairly accurate results.

Advertisement
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/57\/Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/57\/Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/aid8668529-v4-728px-Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

So, say the real life object had a length of 55m, and the model had a length of 50 cm, or 0.5m, then do 55/0.5. This is equal to 110. ^{[1]
X
Research source}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/aid8668529-v4-728px-Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

4
Take the reciprocal of the number you just had. So, after your division of 55/0.5, the answer is 110.
- Taking the reciprocal basically means putting 1 over it as a fraction. So, the reciprocal is 1/110. Now, instead of this being a fraction, just make it into a ratio, so, it is not 1/110 but 1:110.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/ba\/Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/ba\/Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-5-Version-2.jpg\/aid8668529-v4-728px-Determine-the-Scale-of-a-Model-Step-5-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

You now know that in this example, 110 of your scale model will make 1 of the real life model. ^{[2]
X
Research source}

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

If the height of the house is 21 feet, how can I determine the height of the scale model?

Community Answer

It would depend on the scale of your model. For example, if the scale you are using is 1:2, you would divide 21 by 2, which is 10.5. Therefore, the height of the model house would be 10.5 feet. If you are using any other scale, just divide 21 by the second number in the ratio. (Which in the example would be 2.)

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 22 Helpful 21
Question

How do I determine a model's scale if I know the dimensions?

Gakawamu Gabriel

Community Answer

You have to divide your real measurement to the model. For example, if your real measurement is 5m and your model is 20cm, divide 5/20 =1/4 and that means the ratio would be 1:4.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 63 Helpful 22
Question

I am having trouble calculating the size of the Viking's stadium. The scale provided says 1cm=55 ft. If the field is 6 CMA, then how long is the field in real life?

Community Answer

If it says that 1cm is equal to 55 ft, then just do 6 times 55. This gives you a total of 330 ft. Online, it says the length is 328. So the scale is accurate.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 11

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

[1]

[2]

Log in

How to Determine the Scale of a Model

Steps

Community Q&A

Tips

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Explore Categories