Diecast scale size chart: 1:18 vs 1:24 vs 1:43
Scale is the one thing people get wrong when they buy their first model, usually by expecting a 1:24 to be bigger than it is. Here is what each scale works out to in centimetres, what you get at that size, and who it suits.
| Scale | Length (cm) | Length (in) | What you get | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:18 | 25 to 28 cm | 10 to 11 in | Large display piece. Opening doors, bonnet, boot; detailed engine and interior. | Single hero model, gifting |
| 1:24 | 18 to 21 cm | 7 to 8 in | Opening doors, pull-back motor, lights and sound on most. | Starting a collection, children 6+ |
| 1:32 | 13 to 15 cm | 5 to 6 in | Common in pull-back toys. Limited opening parts. | Younger children |
| 1:43 | 10 to 12 cm | 4 to 4.5 in | Sealed body. The traditional scale for Formula 1 and rally cars. | Motorsport collections |
| 1:64 | 7 to 8 cm | 3 in | Hot Wheels and Matchbox size. Cheap, huge variety. | Collecting in bulk |
| 1:16 RC | 26 to 30 cm | 10 to 12 in | Remote control scale. Plastic body over a chassis with battery and servo. | Something that drives |
Lengths assume a typical 4.5 m car. SUVs and limousines come out longer, hatchbacks and F1 cars shorter.
1:18, the large size
Roughly the length of a school ruler. This is the scale where the model maker can afford real hinges, a moulded engine and a carpeted interior, and it is the scale most serious collectors settle on. It is also the scale that needs the most shelf. Budget 30 cm of width per car and keep it out of direct sun. Browse 1:18.
1:24, the regular size
About the length of a smartphone and a half. Doors still open and the interior is still there, but the base is plastic and there is usually a pull-back motor, which makes it robust enough for a child's desk. It is the cheapest way to own a specific car, and most people who start here end up with a row of them. Browse 1:24.
1:43, the collector scale
The size of a matchbox car's bigger sibling. Nothing opens, but because the body is one piece the shape and livery can be exact, which is why motorsport collectors have used it for sixty years. A whole F1 grid fits on one shelf. Browse Formula 1.
