How Big Is a Warhammer Table? — Board Sizes by Format
How Big Is a Warhammer Table?
The standard table size for a 2,000-point game of Warhammer 40,000 or Age of Sigmar is 44 x 60 inches (112 x 152 cm). Combat Patrol games use a smaller 44 x 30 inch (112 x 76 cm) surface, and Kill Team plays on an even more compact 22 x 30 inch (56 x 76 cm) board. Age of Sigmar uses the same table dimensions as Warhammer 40,000 for equivalent points levels.
Getting your table size right is more important than many new players realise. A table that’s too large makes games feel empty and favours shooting armies disproportionately, while a table that’s too small creates chaotic first-turn charges and leaves no room for tactical manoeuvring. Games Workshop has carefully calibrated the recommended sizes to create balanced, engaging games at each points level.
Whether you’re setting up a dedicated gaming space at home, playing at a local game store, or improvising on a dining table, this guide covers everything you need to know about Warhammer table sizes, including how to adapt when you don’t have the perfect dimensions available.
Table Sizes by Game Format
Each Warhammer game format has its own recommended table size, designed to create the best gameplay experience for that format’s scale and army size.
Standard Games (2,000 Points) — 44 x 60 Inches
The 44 x 60 inch (112 x 152 cm) table is the gold standard for Warhammer. This is the size used in official Games Workshop tournaments, most competitive events, and the format that the core game rules are balanced around. At this size, armies have enough space to deploy, manoeuvre, and engage over several turns without the game feeling cramped or empty.
The 44-inch depth is a relatively recent change — older editions used a 48-inch (4-foot) deep table. The reduction to 44 inches in 9th Edition was designed to get armies into combat faster and reduce the advantage of pure gunline armies that sat at maximum range. This change has been retained and generally well-received, as it creates more dynamic, interactive games.
A 44 x 60 inch table fits comfortably on a standard 6-foot folding table (72 x 30 inches) if placed across the width, though you’ll need to add depth. Many players use a 6 x 4 foot table and simply mark the 44-inch depth boundary, playing within the correct area while using the remaining space for dice, rulebooks, and dead models.
Combat Patrol — 44 x 30 Inches
Combat Patrol, Warhammer’s introductory game format using pre-set army boxes, plays on a half-size table of 44 x 30 inches. This compact area creates fast, intense games where armies clash quickly and every model matters. The smaller table is perfect for kitchen tables, small gaming spaces, and learning games where you want to get into the action immediately.
A standard 4-foot dining table easily accommodates a 44 x 30 inch playing area with room to spare for books and supplies. This accessibility is part of Combat Patrol’s design — it’s meant to be a format you can play anywhere without needing dedicated gaming furniture.
Incursion (1,000 Points) — 44 x 60 Inches
In 11th Edition, Incursion games (custom 1,000-point army lists) are played on the full 44 x 60 inch table, the same as Strike Force, according to Warhammer Community’s 11th Edition missions article. Only Combat Patrol uses the half-size board, so if you’re stepping up from Combat Patrol to Incursion you’ll need the bigger table.
Kill Team — 22 x 30 Inches
Kill Team, Warhammer’s skirmish game featuring small squads of individual operatives, uses a compact 22 x 30 inch (56 x 76 cm) playing area. This tiny battlefield creates tense, tactical games where every inch of movement matters and terrain placement is crucial. The small table size means Kill Team can be played virtually anywhere — on a coffee table, a desk, or even a large cutting board.
Kill Team boards are typically sold as themed terrain sets that fit exactly within the 22 x 30 inch dimensions. These sets include walls, ruins, and scatter terrain designed to create interesting sight lines and movement challenges. While you can use any terrain, the official boards offer an excellent, balanced gameplay experience right out of the box.
Warcry — 22 x 30 Inches
Warcry, the Age of Sigmar equivalent of Kill Team, also uses a 22 x 30 inch playing area. Like Kill Team, Warcry is a skirmish game with small warbands, and the compact table size creates the tight, vertical combat that defines the game’s identity. Warcry terrain tends to feature more verticality than Kill Team terrain, with platforms, walkways, and multi-level structures.
Warhammer Underworlds — Game Board
Warhammer Underworlds uses pre-printed hex-based game boards rather than a traditional open table. Each player brings one board, and the two boards are placed together to form the playing area. The combined board size is roughly 12 x 20 inches, making Underworlds the most compact Warhammer game and ideal for small spaces.
How to Set Up Your Gaming Table
Getting the right table size is only the first step. How you set up the terrain on that table is equally important for a good game.
Terrain Density
Games Workshop recommends covering approximately 25-33% of your table surface with terrain. This density provides enough cover for infantry to advance without being shot to pieces, while still leaving open fire lanes for shooting armies to exploit. Too little terrain creates a shooting gallery; too much terrain turns the game into a pure melee brawl. The sweet spot creates interesting tactical decisions about when and where to advance.
For a standard 44 x 60 inch table, this means you want 8-12 significant terrain pieces, including a mix of line-of-sight blocking ruins, area terrain like forests or craters, and smaller scatter terrain. Most game stores stock pre-built terrain sets that provide appropriate coverage for a standard table.
Terrain Placement
Terrain should be distributed relatively evenly across the table, with a notable piece in the centre and balanced coverage on both sides. Avoid clustering all the terrain in one half of the table, as this creates an asymmetric game that heavily favours the player who deploys on the terrain-rich side.
A common terrain placement pattern is the “L-shape” approach: place a large line-of-sight blocking piece near the centre, then arrange smaller pieces in L-shaped clusters around the table. This creates natural corridors, firing lanes, and defensible positions without making the board feel cluttered.
DIY Table Options
You don’t need an expensive dedicated gaming table to play Warhammer. Here are practical solutions for every budget:
Folding Tables
A 6-foot folding table (available from hardware stores for £30-£60) is the most common gaming surface. At 72 x 30 inches, it’s wider than necessary but not quite deep enough. Many players add a sheet of MDF or plywood cut to 44 x 60 inches, placed on top of the folding table, to get the exact dimensions needed. This is inexpensive, sturdy, and easily stored when not in use.
Gaming Mats
Neoprene gaming mats are the gold standard for playing surfaces. These mouse-pad-like mats provide a non-slip surface, protect miniatures from hard table impacts, and come pre-printed with attractive battlefield designs. They range from £25 for basic mats to £60-£80 for premium options from brands like Gamemat.eu, Deep Cut Studio, or Frontline Gaming. A mat in the correct dimensions can be placed on any flat surface, instantly transforming a dining table into a gaming table.
Permanent Gaming Tables
For dedicated gaming rooms, purpose-built gaming tables offer the ultimate experience. These range from simple DIY constructions (a sheet of MDF on trestles, total cost under £50) to elaborate pieces of furniture with recessed playing surfaces, storage drawers, and convertible dining tops (£500-£3,000+). Companies like Geeknson, Rathskellers, and BoardGameTables.com sell premium options, or you can find detailed DIY plans on YouTube and hobby forums.
Adapting to Non-Standard Table Sizes
Not everyone has access to the exact recommended dimensions, and that’s perfectly fine. Here’s how to adapt:
Slightly smaller tables: If your table is within a few inches of the recommended size (say 40 x 56 instead of 44 x 60), the game plays nearly identically. Small differences are barely noticeable in practice. Just ensure both players agree on the playing area before the game starts.
Significantly smaller tables: If your table is much smaller than recommended, consider reducing the points level. A 4 x 4 foot table works well for 1,000-1,500 point games. Scale terrain down proportionally to maintain the same coverage ratio.
Larger tables: If your table is bigger than needed, simply mark the playing area boundaries with tape, books, or terrain pieces. The extra space is useful for storing dice, books, and casualties.
Dining tables: Many dining tables are close to the right dimensions for Combat Patrol or Kill Team. A standard 6-seater dining table is typically around 60 x 36 inches — already large enough for a 44 x 30 inch Combat Patrol board.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size table do Games Workshop stores use?
Games Workshop stores typically use 44 x 60 inch tables for standard games, with smaller tables available for Combat Patrol and Kill Team. The tables are usually covered with Citadel-brand gaming mats and stocked with store terrain. If you’re playing at a GW store, the table size is already sorted for you.
Can I play Warhammer on the floor?
Technically yes, but it’s not recommended. Playing on the floor is hard on your back and knees, makes it difficult to see the battlefield from a useful angle, and increases the risk of stepping on miniatures. If you have no table available, a large sheet of MDF or cardboard on the floor is better than the bare floor, but investing in even a basic folding table dramatically improves the experience.
Does table size affect game balance?
Yes, significantly. Larger tables favour shooting armies (more distance to cross before melee armies can engage) while smaller tables favour assault armies (less time spent advancing under fire). This is why Games Workshop specifies table sizes — the game is balanced around those dimensions. Playing on a significantly different size will change the gameplay experience noticeably.
What about 3D printed terrain?
3D printed terrain is an excellent and increasingly popular option for filling your table with high-quality, customisable terrain pieces. Sites like MyMiniFactory, Cults3D, and Thingiverse offer thousands of free and paid terrain designs specifically sized for Warhammer. A budget resin or FDM printer can produce a full table’s worth of terrain for the cost of a single Games Workshop terrain kit. The quality of 3D printed terrain has improved dramatically and is now indistinguishable from commercial products when properly painted.
Do I need different tables for 40k and Age of Sigmar?
No — Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar use the same table dimensions for equivalent game sizes. A 44 x 60 inch table works for standard games in both systems. The only difference is terrain style — 40k tends toward ruined buildings and industrial terrain, while AoS favours fantasy structures, forests, and mystical terrain. But the table itself is the same size.
What is the Warhammer 40k table size in cm?
A standard Warhammer 40,000 or Age of Sigmar table is 44 x 60 inches, about 112 x 152 cm. Combat Patrol uses 44 x 30 inches (about 112 x 76 cm), 11th Edition Incursion games use the full 112 x 152 cm board, and Kill Team and Warcry use 22 x 30 inches (about 56 x 76 cm).
What size board does Age of Sigmar Spearhead use?
Spearhead, Age of Sigmar’s small-format game, is played on a 44 x 30 inch board (about 112 x 76 cm), the same half-size battlefield as Combat Patrol in 40k. Full 2,000-point Age of Sigmar battles use the standard 44 x 60 inch table, so a Spearhead player stepping up needs the bigger board.