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Dollhouse Scales: How little is little?

When looking at dollhouse kits or buying dollhouse furniture, one of the first things you’ll notice is that there are different dollhouse scales. The scale of the dollhouse determines how big the dollhouse (and the furniture) is. You will want to choose your dollhouse scale based on how you plan to use your dollhouse.

Most dollhouses are, of course, built to represent real houses. They are built on a scale so that so many inches of dollhouse space is equivalent to a foot of space in a real house. The same goes for furniture: so many inches of a dollhouse table, for example, is equivalent to so many feet of a real table.

1:12 Scale

The most common scale for dollhouses is a 1:12 scale. This means that 1 inch of dollhouse space represents 12 inches, or one foot, of real space. So, for example, a 10 inch high ceiling in a dollhouse is equivalent to a 10 foot ceiling in a real house; a 6 inch sofa is equivalent to a 6 foot sofa. There are several advantages to this scale. First, since it is the most common scale, you will have more choices in terms of house style than any other scale. Secondly, most furniture is built to match that scale, so your options for furnishing and decorating your dollhouse are also greatly increased. Finally, a dollhouse of this size is easier to work with and play with than smaller dollhouses. Dollhouse kits vary greatly in size, but a dollhouse on this scale would usually measure from 3 to 5 feet long, 1 ½ to 3 feet wide, and 2 to 4 feet tall.

1:24 and 1:48 Scale

Dollhouses are also made to smaller scales. 1:24, or half-inch, scale is the second most common option. In this scale, 1 inch of dollhouse space represents 24 inches, or two feet, of real space. (In other words, ½ inch of dollhouse space is equivalent to 1 foot of real space.) So, for example, a 5 inch high ceiling in a dollhouse is equivalent to a 10 foot ceiling in a real house; a 3 inch sofa is equivalent to a 6 foot sofa. With the 1:48 or ¼ inch scale, 1 inch of dollhouse space represents 48 inches, or four feet, of real space. (In other words, ¼ inch of dollhouse space is equivalent to 1 foot of real space.) So, for example, a 2 ½ inch high ceiling in a dollhouse is equivalent to a 10 foot ceiling in a real house; a 1 ½ inch sofa is equivalent to a 6 foot sofa. The biggest advantage to smaller kits is that they take up much less room than 1:12 scale dollhouses, which makes them easier to display and store. They are also slightly less expensive. The major disadvantage is that ½ inch kits and furniture are harder to find and there are much fewer options. That is doubly true of the ¼ inch kits and furniture.

Fashion Size Scale

The largest scale for dollhouses is known as fashion size or play scale. There are no specific measurements for this size; however, most are built for play with Barbie-sized dolls. Many of these dollhouses are inexpensive, made with less durable material (such as plastic), and mass-produced. They are most often intended to be played with by little children. If you are looking for a no-fuss dollhouse that is durable enough for rowdy play, and you are not intending to display it, you will want to look at fashion size dollhouses. Keep in mind that these dollhouses tend to be quite large.

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Dollhouse City has built many dollhouses and loves sharing knowledge and tips in building a dollhouse. DollhouseCity.com offers dollhouse kits dollhouse furniture, accessories, and helpful hints in setting up your dollhouse kits.

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