Guide to 40k bases

When it comes to scratch-building, kit-bashing and deep conversions it is often necessary to know a size of a base the finished model is supposed to be put on. While it wasn't a big problem up to a while ago, many recent GW models use unusual (and often unique) bases. Thus I've had a feeling that some king of basing guide could be useful. Maybe some fellow hobbyists might find this helpful as well. So let's see what each base is used for.

This is a living article: I update it as new releases hit the shelves.

Latest update - 31.08.2024

ROUND BASES

25 mm

Unaugmented humans in sub-flak and flak armour (Guardsman, Tempestus Scion, Solar Auxilia, Cultist, Ruinstorm Possessed Auxiliary (suggested), Hive Scum / Brood Scum, Neophyte Genestealer Hybrid, ), Arco-flagellant, Autosavant, Skitarii Ranger / Vanguard, Secutarii Hoplite / Peltast, Ratling, Servitor, Tech-thrall / Tech-thrall Certus, Servo-automata, CORV / E-COG, Servo skull / Tome-skull, Teleport Homer, Cherubim, Dog / Aximillion, Cyber-Mastiff / Macula, Rantal-class Venatus Reclamator / R-VR, Techmite Autoveyer, Cawdor Bomb Delivery Rat

Blue Horror, Brimstone Horrors, Poxwalker, Vox-Shambler, Mutoid Vermin (Sludge-Grub, Cursemite, Glitchling, Eyestinger Swarm), Daemonette / Herald of Slaanesh, The Masque, Daemonhost, Hamadrya, Accursed Cultist Mutant

Kabalite Warrior, Wych, Wrack, Harlequin Player

Gretchin / Grot Oiler / Grot Orderly / Grot Ammo Runt, Attack / Bomb Squig

Neurogaunt, Spore Mine (Poison / Frag / Bio-Acid), Neuroloid, Genestealer Familiar

Tau Fire Warrior / Breacher / Pathfinder, Vespid
Jokaero, Caryatid / Caryatid Prime, Watcher in the Dark, Spindle Drone, Phelynx, Psychoterric Wyrm, Borewyrm infestation, Sheen Bird, Malstrain Tyramite

Mole grenade

28 mm
Sister Repentia, Sister Novitiate, Astartes Scout/Primaris Neophyte, Gaunt's Ghosts (Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt, Colonel Colm Corbec, Major Elim Rawne, Master Sniper Hlaine Larkin, 'Try Again' Bragg, Sergeant Scout Oan Mkoll), Cadian Command Squad (Cadian commander, Veteran guardsman), Kasrkin, Adeptus Arbites, Imperial Navy Navis Gunner / Endurant, Hearthkyn Warrior, Cthonian Beserk, Ironkin Assistant, Ironhead Squat Prospector

Dark Commune Blessed Blade, Jakhal cultist

Guardian Defender / Storm Guardian, Howling Banshee, Dark Reaper, Dire Avenger, Striking Scorpion, Fire Dragon, Striking Scorpion, Shadow Spectre, Swooping Hawk, Warp Spider, Ranger, Corsair Reaver / Voidscarred, Incubus / Klaivex, Mandrake (Nightfiend / Abyssal / Chooser of the Flesh / Dirgemaw / Shadeweaver)

Flayed One, Canoptek Plasmacyte

Termagaunt / Hormagaunt, Neurogaunt Nodebeast
Kroot Carnivore / Long-quill / Farstalker, Kroot Hound

32 mm (AKA the small flying base)

Humans in power / artificer armour (Sister of Battle / Dominion / Seraphim / Zephyrim / Palatine / Dogmata / Celestian Sacresant, Repentia Superior, Novitiate Superior, Sister of Silence Prosecutor / Vigilator / Witchseeker, Inquisitor, Techpriest Enginseer, Macrotek Enginseer, Cybernetica Datasmith), Electro-Priest Fulgurite / Corpuscarii, Servitor / X-101, Van Saar Neotek on grav-cutter, Brôkhyr Iron-master, Einhyr Hearthguard, Spyrer in Yeld / Malcadon / Jakara / Sovereign hunting rig

Astartes Firstborn Tactical / Assault / Devastator Marine, Astartes Firstborn Sternguard / Vanguard Veteran, Astartes Pimaris Intercessor / Assault Intercessor / Sternguard Veteran / Hellblaster / Reiver / Infiltrator / Incursor / Desolation Marine / Infernus Marine

Chaos Astartes (Chosen, Fallen, Khorne Berzerker, Rubric Marine, Plague Marine, Noise Marine), Negavolt Cultist, Bloodletter / Herald of Khorne, Flamer of Tzeench, Screamer of Tzeentch, Pink Horror / Herald of Tzeench, Beastman (Ironhorn, Deathknell, Fluxbray, Shaman, Vandal) / Tzaangor, Plaguebearer / Herald of Nurgle, Fury, Ruinstorm Daemon Chosen (suggested), Ruinstorm Lesser Daemon (suggested), Ruinstorm Possessed Legionary (suggested)

Windrider / Skyrunner / Corsair Cloud Dancer, Reaver, Hellion / Beastmaster, Scourge, The Visarch Sword of Ynnead, Lelith Hesperax

Painboy, Wurrboy, Mek, Runtherd, Boss Nob, Ork Boy / Beast Snagga Boy / Stormboy / Loota Boy / Burna Boy / Kommando / Tankbusta

Genestealer, Gargoyle, Acolyte Genestealer Hybrid, Hybrid Metamorph / Kellermorph, Genestealer Aberrant / Hypermorph

Royal Warden, Plasmancer, Cryptothrall, Necron Warrior, Immortal / Deathmark, Lychguard / Triarch Praetorian, Tomb Blade

XV25 Stealth armour, most drones (MV1 Gun, MV4 Shield, MV5 Stealth, MV7 Marker, MV8 Missile, MV17 Interceptor, MV31 Pulse Accelerator, MV33 Grav-Inhibitor, MV36 Guardian, M37 Advanced Guardian, MV52 Shield, MV62 Command-link, MV71 Sniper, MV84 Shielded Missile, MB3 Recon, DX4 Technical, Blacklight Marker, Heavy Gun), Kroot Kill-broker, Kroot War Shaper / Flesh Shaper / Trail Shaper

Man of Iron / UR-025, Phyrr Cat, Millisaur, Cyberarachnid, Ripperjack, macro-grapplehawk / Terror's Shadow

40 mm

Ogryn / Bullgryn, Human in Terminator armour, Lady Haera, Krieg death rider, Celestine the Living Saint, Sicaran Ruststalker / Infiltrator, Sydonian Skatros, Pteraxii Skystalker / Sterylizor, Archmagos / Archmagos Prime / Archmagos Draykavac, Mechanicum Magos Dominus, Myrmidon Secutor / Myrmidon Destructor, Thallax / Ursarax, Scyllax, Luther Pattern Excavation Automata "Ambot", 'Sanctioner' Pattern Automata, Van Saar Arachni-rig, Astra Militarum scanner (OOP), Krieg engineers with mole launcher, Krieg weapon team with heavy flamer, Fire Wasp drone (suggested), Stig-shambler, Astartes Terminator (Paladin / Deathwing Knight) / Librarian in Indomitus / Cataphractii / Tartaros / Aegis Terminator armour, Wulfen, 30k-era Primarchs (Lion El'Jonson, Fulgrim, Perturabo, Jaghatai Khan, Leman Russ, Rogal Dorn, Konrad Curze, Sanguinius, Ferrus Manus, Angron, Roboute Guilliman, Mortarion, Magnus, Horus, Lorgar, Vulkan, Corvus Corax, Alpharius), Astartes Primaris Captain / Lieutenant / Ancient / Chaplain / Judicar / Apothecary / Apothecary Biologis / Techmarine, Inceptor / Supressor, Aggressor / Eradicator, Heavy Intercessor, Eliminator, Vitrix Guard, Bladeguard Veteran/Ancient, Custodian Guard / Custodian Wardens / Sagittarum Guard / Shield-Captain / Vexilus Praetor / Captain-General Trajann Valoris, Allarus Custodians / Shield-Captain or Vexilus Praetor in Allarus Terminator Armour, Custodian Venatari, Kâhl / Ûthar the Destined, Einhyr Champion, Grimnyr, Brôkhyr Thunderkyn, Spyrer in Orrus hunting rig, Lady Haera Helmawr in Sthenian hunting rig

Chaos Lord, Master of Possession, Noxious Blightbringer, Haarken Worldclaimer, Astartes Possessed / Greater Possessed / Eightbound / Exalted Eightbound / Gal Vorbak, Havoc, Exalted Sorcerer on a Disc of Tzeench / Fluxmaster / Herald on a Disc of Tzeench, Nightmare Hulk / Gnasher-Screamer / Vulgrar Thrice-Cursed, Accursed Cultist Torment, Jackal Dishonoured, Mutilator, Ruinstorm Daemon Beast (suggested), Skulltaker, The Changeling, Nurglings, Ruinstorm Daemon Swarm (suggested)

Asuryani heavy weapons platform, Wraithguard / Wraithblade, Grotesque, Jain Zar, Maugan Ra, Drazhar

Warboss, Big Mek, Weirdboy, Painboss, Meganob / Big Mek in Mega-Armour, Flash Git, Boss Snikrot, Da Red Gobbo on Bounca, Snotling swarm

Ravener, Zoanthrope / Neurothrope / Venomthrope, Barbgaunt, Von Ryan’s Leaper, Mucolid Spore, Mieotic Spore Sack, Rippers / Sky Slashers, Parasite of Mortrex, Abominant with a mindwyrm familiar, Malstrain Genestealer
Necron Overlord, Psychomancer / Chronomancer, C'Tan Shard of the Deceiver / Nightbringer, Canoptek Acanthrite, Canoptek Scarab Swarm

Tau sniper drone controller, DS8 tactical support turret, Ethereal on hover drone

Sslyth, Khymerae, Clawed Fiend, Sumpkroc, Piscean Spektor, Fenrisian Wolf / Cyberwolf, Khimerix, Razorwing flock, Wasteland Giant Rat

Warhammer 40000 objectives (suggested)

50 mm

Astra Militarum Heavy Weapon Team, Tech-Priest Dominus, Tech-Priest Manipulus, Astartes Captain in Terminator Armour / Belial, Asmodai, Astartes Firstborn in Centurion Assault / Devastator warsuit, Marneus Calgar in Armour of Heraclus, Horus Ascended, Custodes Aquilon Terminator, Penitent Engine / Mortifier / Anchorite, Junith Eruita on Pulpit of Saint Holline’s Basilica, Celestan in Paragon Warsuit, Hospitaller, Vartijan Exo-Driller, Chtonian Beserk with a mole grenade launcher and an L-COG loader

Chaos Spawn, Obliterator, Ruinstorm Daemon Brute (suggested), Death Guard Lord of Contagion in Terminator armour, Syll’Esske

Warboss/Ufthak Blackhawk,Warboss in Mega Armour, Beastboss, Zodgrod Wortsnagga, Big Mek

Technomancer on a Canoptek Scarab, Skorpekh / Ophydian / Hexmark Destroyer, Canoptek Wraith, Triarchal Menhir

Winged Tyranid Prime, Neurotyrant, Tyranid Warrior, Patriarch, Hive Guard / Tyrant Guard, Lictor / Neurolictor 

XV8 Crisis, Commander Shadowsun in XV22 Stalker battlesuit, Krootox / Krootox Rider / Krootox Rampager

Ambull, Zoat, Guardian Drone, Ash Wastes Arachni-rig

Warhammer 40000 Battlezone Objective Set

65 mm (Frequently mislabeled as 60mm, AKA the large flying base)

Hermes Light / Veletaris Sentinel, Drop Sentinel  (OOP), Support Sentinel (OOP), Sentinel Powerlifter (OOP), Kastellan robots, Domitar(Conqueror) / Domitar-Ferrum, Castellax, Vorax type battle-automata, Kataphron Breacher / Destroyer battle servitor, Magos / Archmagos / Archmagos Draykavac on Abeyant, Morvenn Vahl in Purgator Mirabilis warsuit, Castraferrum (OOP), Castraferrum Ironclad (OOP), Contemptor, Contemptor-Galatus, Contemptor-Achillus type Dreadnoughts, Land Speeder Tornado (OOP) / Typhoon (OOP) / Storm (OOP) / Tempest (OOP), Land Speeder Vengeance / Ravenwing Darkshroud, Javelin Attack Speeder, Proteus Pattern Land Speeder, Scimitar jetbike, Sammael on Corvex jetbike, Agamatus jetbike, 40k-era Primarch Guilliman, High Marshal Helbrecht, Throne of Judgement, Tallarn Mukaali rider (OOP), Thunderfolf Cavalry, Atalan Wolfquad

Helbrute, Decimator, Daemon Prince, Ruinstorm Daemon Shrike (suggested), 40k-era Abaddon the Despoiler, The Blue Scribes, Epidemius, Beast of Nurgle, Foetid Bloat-drone, Greater Blight Drone, Plague Drone of Nurgle

Wraithlord / Wraithseer, War Walker / Wasp Assault Walker, Wave Serpent / Falcon / Fire Prism / Night Spinner, Vyper, Hornet, Shining Spear, Shroud Runner, Raider / Ravager / Reaper, Venom, Talos / Chronos, Starweaver / Voidweaver, Skyweaver

Deff Dread, Killa Kan

Hive Tyrant, Carnifex, Malanthrope, Deathleaper

Skorpekh Lord, Canoptek Reanimator, Ghost / Doomsday Ark, Catacomb Command Barge / Annihilation Barge, Tesseract Ark, Canoptek Spyder, Lokhust Destroyer / Lokhust Heavy Destroyer / Lokhust Destroyer Lord, Transcendent C'Tan

TY7 Devilfish / TX7 Hammerhead / TX78 Sky Ray, TX4 Piranha / Piranha TX-42, Tetra, DX-6 Remora, XV85 Enforcer, XV86 Coldstar, XV88 Broadside, XV9 Hazard / Shas'o R'alai, Commander Farsight in XV86 Supernova battlesuit, Kroot Knarloc rider (OOP), Great Knarloc (OOP) / Goaded Great Knarloc (OOP)

80 mm

Armoured / Scout Sentinel, Aethon Heavy Sentinel, Deredeo Dreadnought, Leviathan Dreadnought, Firestrike Servo-turret, Lord Solar Arcadian Leontus on Konstantin cyber-steed
Myphitic Blight-hauler, Vashtorr the Arkifane

Avatar of Khaine, The Yncarne Avatar of Ynnead

Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka, Mozrog Skragbad on Big Chompa / Beastboss on Squigosaur

Illuminor Szeras, C'tan Shard of the Void Dragon

Biovore / Pyrovore

90 mm

Redemptor / Brutalis / Ballistus Dreadnought, Invictor Tactical Warsuit, Storm Speeder Hammerstrike / Hailstrike / Thunderstrike

Canoptek Doomstalker

Screamer-Killer

100 mm

Field Ordnance Battery with bombast field gun / heavy lascannon / malleus rocket launcher, Knight Armiger Warglaive / Helverin / Moirax, Repulsor / Repulsor Executioner / Impulsor, Gladiator Valiant / Lancer / Reaper, Telemon Heavy Dreadnought, Anacharis Scoria

Lord of Change (GW plastic) / Kairos Fateweaver, Keeper of Secrets (GW plastic) / Shalaxi Helbane, Ruinstorm Greater Daemon Beast (suggested), Skarbrand, Be'lakor the Dark Master, War Dog Karnivore / Brigand / Huntsman, Venomcrawler, Gigantic Chaos Spawn, Daemon Primarch Magnus / Mortarion / Angron / Fulgrim Transfigured

Norn Emissary / Norn Assimilator, Sporocyst

Szarekh the Silent King on Dais of Dominion

127 mm (Unique Forgeworld resin base)

Barbed / Scythed Hierodule

130 mm

Onager Dunecrawler

Ruinstorm Daemon Lord (suggested), Ruinstorm Greater Daemon (suggested), Great Unclean One / Rotigus, Bloodthirster (Forgeworld), Lord of Change (Forgeworld)

160 mm

Astraeus super-heavy tank, Orion Assault Dropship / Ares Gunship

Monolith

KX139 Ta'unar supremacy armour, Tiger Shark AX-1-0 / AX-2-2 (OOP)

OVAL BASES

60x35 mm

Rough Rider, Serberys Raider / Sulphurhound, Skitarii Ranger / Vanguard with transuranic arquebus

Atalan Jackal / Jackal Alphus, Escher Cutter, Cawdor Ridge Walker

Warpsmith, Flesh Hound of Khorne, Seeker of Slaanesh, Infernal Enrapturess

Yvraine Emissary of Ynnead

75x42 mm

Firstborn Space Marine on a bike (OOP), Vertus Praetors / Shield-Captain on Dawneagle Jetbike, Dustback Helamite / Wy'tari Stormcaller

Chaos Space Marine Biker, Karanak the Hound of Khorne, Exalted Flamer of Tzeentch, Fiend of Slaanesh, The Contorted Epitome

Ork Warbiker / Nob on Warbike, Squighog Boy, Deffkopta

Broodlord

90x52 mm

Outrider / Astartes Primaris character on Raider-pattern bike, Hernkyn Pioneer on Magna-Coil Bike, Goliath Mauler

Juggernaut / Bloodcrusher / Skullmaster / Lord Invocatus / Heretic Astartes on Juggernaut
Nob on Smasha Squig
Kroot Lone-spear on a Kalamandra
Freki and Geri the wolf-kin of Russ, Arthromite Duneskuttler

105x70 mm

Ironstrider Ballistarius / Cydonian Dragoon, Belisarius Cawl, Pallas Grav-attack

Keeper of Secrets (Forgeworld), Horticulous Slimux on Mulch

XV95 Ghostkeel

120x92 mm (AKA the flyer base)

Thanatar-Cavas / Thanatar-Calix / Thanatar-Cynis, Dreadknight, Logan Grimnar on Stormrider, The Triumph of Saint Katherine, Achilles Ridgerunner, Arvus Lighter, Aquila Lander (OOP), Valkyrie Assault Carrier / Valkyrie Sky Talon / Vendetta Gunship / Vulture Gunship, Lightning / Lightning Strike (OOP) / Voss pattern Lightning Strike Fighter, Avenger Strike Fighter, Thunderbolt Heavy Fighter, Stormtalon Gunship / Stormhawk Interceptor, Xiphon pattern Interceptor, Caestus Assault Ram, Stormraven Gunship, Storm Eagle / Fire Raptor Gunship, Corvus Blackstar, Ravenwing Dark Talon / Nephilim Jetfighter, Stormwolf Assault Craft / Stormfang Gunship

Bloodthirster (GW plastic), Forgefiend / Maulerfiend, Lord Discordant on Helstalker, Bloodthirster, Cor’bax Utterblight, Slaughterbrute / Mutalith Vortex Beast, Bloodthrone / Skull Cannon of Khorne, Burning Chariot of Tzeentch, (Exalted) Seeker Chariot of Slaanesh, Dreadclaw Assault Pod (OOP) / Anvillus pattern Dreadclaw Drop Pod, Heldrake, Hell Blade Fighter, Hell Talon Fighter-Bomber

Wraithknight / Skathach Wraithknight, Tantalus, Hemlock Wraithfighter / Crimson Hunter, Nightwing Interceptor, Phoenix Bomber, Razorwing Jetfighter, Voidraven Bomber, Dark Eldar Raven (OOP)

Dakkajet / Blitza-Bommer / Burna-Bommer / Wazbom Blastajet, Fighta (OOP), Fighta-Bommer (OOP), Warkopta

Trygon / Mawlock, Tyrranofex / Tervigon, Exocrine / Haruspex, Toxicrene / Maleceptor, Psychophage, Dimachaeron, Harpy / Hive Crone

Canoptek Tomb Stalker / Sentinel, Night Scythe / Doom Scythe, Night Shroud Bomber, Tesseract Vault / Obelisk

XV104 Riptide / XV107 R'Varna / XV109 Y'Vahra, AX3 Razorshark Strike Fighter / AX39 Sun Shark Bomber, Barracuda (OOP) / Barracuda AX-5-2

150x95 mm

Kustom Boosta-Blasta, Shokkjump Dragsta, Boomdakka Snazzwagon, Megatrakk Scrapjet, Rukkatrukk Squigbuggy, Warboss on a Deffkilla Wartrike

170x109 mm

Questoris Knight Paladin / Errant / Preceptor / Crusader / Warden / Gallant / Magaera / Styrix, Cerastus Knight Lancer / Acheron / Atrapos / Castigator, Dominus Knight Castellan / Valiant, Archaeopter Stratoraptor / Transvector / Fusilave, Caladius Grav-tank / Caladius Grav-tank Annihilator, Coronus Grav-carrier, Kharon Pattern Acquisitor

Questoris Knight Abominant / Desecrator / Despoiler / Rampager, Dominus Knight Tyrant, Kytan Daemon Engine, Ka'bandha, Ruinstorm Daemon Behemoth (suggested)

Gorkanaut / Morkanaut, Kill Rig / Hunta Rig

KV128 Stormsurge

PILL BASES

70x25 mm (AKA the biker base)

Scout Biker

Renegade Ogryn Hound (OOP), Ruinstorm Daemon Cavalry (suggested)

95x40 mm (Unique Forgeworld resin base)

Warboss on warbike

INCONSISTENCIES

It should be noted that GW doesn't take the matter of basing their models as seriously as some competition-oriented hobbyists do, especially when alternate versions of GW models are released by Forgeworld. The contradictions also arise when some type of model is in the process of being moved to another base. Here are some current examples:

• Plastic Seekers of Slaanesh box is supplied with biker bases, but the limited edition re-release of old metal miniatures was sold on 60x35 mm ones. At the same time the plastic miniature can be seen on the 75x42 mm base on the Sector Imperialis 60mm Round, 75mm Oval & 90mm Oval Bases page on GW website.
• The same goes for Carnifex — old version is still sold on 65 mm round base, while it was supplied with a 105x70 mm oval base in Deathstorm set and Old One Eye's Carnifex Brood bundle
• New plastic Greater Deamons from Games Workshop use different bases from the re-released Forgeworld versions — both options are included in the list above

Some models are ocassionally shown with unusual bases. In addition to the Hierodule and Forgeworld Warboss on warbike shown above, there are other examples:

• Some of FW field artillery pieces like Krieg Quad Launcher were initially shown on a large round base that predated the introduction of the 80/100/130/160 mm bases. This was likely just for show.
• Many Titans, especially Eldar ones, are commonly shown on some kind of custom base, mostly for stability purposes.
• The same goes for many super-heavy flyers: standard flyer bases can't really support the weight of those monstrosities and modelers are left to create their own basing solutions. The list includes Marauder Bomber/Marauder Destroyer, Kharybdis Assault Claw, Thunderhawk gunship, Sokar pattern Stormbird, Tau Manta, Orca Dropship (OOP) and Tyranid Harridan.

In the light of the above, the desire of some people to enforce very strict basing standards for 40k models seems even more ridiculous. In many cases in is left to the miniature owner to decide what base he wants to use. I, for one, put my Ork Nobs on 32mm bases and my Warboss in mega-armour is on 50mm one which seems perfectly fitting, given the Ork attitudes towards size and power. At the same time, I think that Assassins and Electro-Priests belong on smaller 25 mm bases, but at your workbench only your opinion matters - it's your models, after all. Hope this guile helps - I will add to it as new models get released or repackaged. And good hobbying to you all!