Diorama Fern

Model scale, terrarium & diorama calculators

Real metres · real feet · any 1:N

Printable scale ruler

Measure a model or a plan in real-world units. Pick a scale, print at 100%, and check it against the calibration bar.

mm

60 to 260 mm. 180 mm fits A4 and US Letter upright; up to 260 mm sideways.

Mark it in

Your ruler

  • Metric ruler14 mnumbered every 1 m (11.48 mm on paper), small ticks every 10 cm (1.15 mm)
  • Imperial ruler45 ftnumbered every 5 ft (17.5 mm on paper), small ticks every 6 in (1.75 mm)

HO 1:87.1 scale ruler · Diorama Fern

01234567891011121314HO 1:87.1 · real metressmall tick 10 cm
051015202530354045HO 1:87.1 · real feetsmall tick 6 in
01234567891001234cmin

Check: the top bar should measure exactly 100 mm and the bottom one 4 in. If not, print again at 100% (Actual size).

How to print it at the right size

  1. Choose your scale, or type any ratio. The ruler is marked in real-world units, so at HO each numbered step is one real metre (11.48 mm on paper) or five real feet.
  2. Press Print ruler. In the print dialog set the scale to 100% or Actual size, and turn off “Fit to page” or “Shrink to fit”. Only the ruler sheet prints.
  3. Measure the calibration bar with an ordinary ruler: the top bar must be exactly 100 mm and the bottom one exactly 4 in. If it is off, the printer has scaled the page; fix the setting and print again.
  4. Cut along the outline and glue it to card or plastic strip, or keep the SVG and print it again whenever you need one.

The numbers sit on the round real distances that stay readable on paper: tick spacing never drops below 1 mm, and numbered steps are at least 8 mm apart, so small scales such as N and Z are numbered every 2 m. Ratios come from the NMRA and NEM standards for railway scales, and kit and dollhouse scales follow common conventions.

Questions

Why does my printed ruler come out the wrong size?

Most print dialogs shrink pages to fit the printable area unless told not to. Set the scale to 100% or Actual size and print again, then check the 100 mm calibration bar with a real ruler.

Can I make a ruler for a scale that is not in the list?

Yes. Type any ratio from 1:1 to 1:10,000 in the ratio box, such as 1:87.1, 1:25 or 1:300, and the ruler and its tick spacing follow.

What do the small ticks stand for?

Each strip says so in its bottom corner. They split each numbered step as finely as possible while staying at least 1 mm apart on paper: 10 cm at HO on the metric side and 6 in on the imperial side.

Sources