What Size Magnets Do You Need for Warhammer? The Complete Guide

What Size Magnets Do You Need for Warhammer? The Complete Guide

Picking the right magnet size for Warhammer miniatures comes down to one thing: what are you magnetizing? Arms on infantry need tiny magnets. A Knight's torso joint needs something beefy. This guide covers every common use case so you buy the right magnets the first time.

Quick Reference: Magnet Sizes by Model Type

Model Type	Examples	Magnet Size
Infantry arms/weapons (small joints)	Tactical Marines, Guardsmen, Eldar Guardian weapons	2mm x 1mm or 3mm x 2mm
Infantry arms/weapons (standard joints)	Intercessors, Crisis Suits weapon pods, Terminator arms	3mm x 2mm
Heavy weapons / vehicle sponsons	Predator sponsons, Leman Russ turrets, Dreadnought arms	5mm x 2mm
Vehicle turrets / large weapon mounts	Land Raider sponsons, Hammerhead turret, flyer hardpoints	5mm x 3mm or 6mm x 2mm
Knights / large model joints	Imperial Knight arms, Wraithknight torso, Stormsurge weapons	6mm x 3mm
Super-heavies / Titan joints	Warhound carapace, Baneblade sponsons	10mm x 3mm
Basing (25-28mm bases)	Standard infantry	4.5mm x 2.2mm (flush-fit)
Basing (32-100mm bases)	Primaris, characters, vehicles, monsters	6mm x 2.6mm (flush-fit)

Infantry Arms and Weapons: 2mm x 1mm and 3mm x 2mm

Most infantry weapon swaps use 3mm x 2mm magnets. This is the single most versatile magnet size in Warhammer 40k. It fits inside standard Space Marine shoulder joints, Crisis Suit hardpoints, and most infantry arm sockets without any modification beyond drilling a 3mm hole.

For older, smaller kits (firstborn Marines, Guardsmen, Eldar) where the joint is tight, 2mm x 1mm magnets work but have noticeably less holding power. If you can fit 3mm x 2mm, use them.

Tips for Infantry Magnetization

• Drill to the exact depth of the magnet. Too deep and you lose pull strength. Too shallow and the joint won't close flush.
• Mark polarity before gluing. A Sharpie dot on one face works. Get it wrong and you'll be prying magnets out with a hobby knife.
• Use a pin vise, not a power drill. You need control at this scale.

Vehicles and Heavy Weapons: 5mm x 2mm and 5mm x 3mm

Vehicle sponsons, turret weapons, and Dreadnought arms need more surface area and holding power than infantry magnets provide. 5mm x 2mm is the standard here. For heavier assemblies like Leman Russ battle cannons or Land Raider sponsons, step up to 5mm x 3mm for extra hold.

At this size, you have more material to drill into, so fitment is more forgiving than infantry work. The main concern is alignment -- make sure the magnet sits flat so weapon options don't droop or sit at an angle.

Knights and Large Models: 6mm x 2mm, 6mm x 3mm, and 10mm x 3mm

Imperial Knights, Wraithknights, and similar large kits have big, heavy arm assemblies. You need magnets with serious pull strength.

6mm x 3mm is the go-to for Knight arm joints. For the heaviest builds (Warhound Titan weapons, super-heavy vehicle turrets), 10mm x 3mm magnets handle the weight.

For Knight-class models, consider using two magnets per joint (stacked or side-by-side) for extra hold and to prevent rotation. A single 6x3mm magnet will hold the arm in place, but it can spin. Adding a second magnet or a locating pin solves that.

Basing Magnets

Magnetizing bases is a separate concern from magnetizing weapons. You're not swapping parts -- you're securing models to magnetic transport trays and display boards.

Flush-fit basing magnets sit inside a counterbored hole in the base so they're completely hidden. No wobble, no visible hardware. The size depends on your base diameter:

• Medium (4.5mm x 2.2mm) -- 25mm and 28mm bases (standard infantry)
• Medium Thick (4.5mm x 2.6mm) -- When you need extra pull on medium bases
• Large Thick (6mm x 2.6mm) -- 32mm through 100mm bases (Primaris, characters, vehicles, monsters)

For a full breakdown of basing magnets by base size, see our Basing Magnet Sizing Chart.

New to Magnetizing? Start Here

If you've never magnetized miniatures before, the Magnetization Starter Pack includes the most common magnet sizes plus a pin vise and drill bits sized to match. It's everything you need to start magnetizing infantry and light vehicles without buying five separate items.

Essential Tools

• Pin vise with matching drill bits (3mm bit for 3mm magnets, etc.)
• Super glue (gel formula gives you a few seconds to adjust)
• Polarity marker (Sharpie, nail polish, or a magnicator tool)

Summary

Don't overthink it. For 90% of Warhammer magnetization projects:

• 3mm x 2mm handles infantry
• 5mm x 2mm handles vehicles
• 6mm x 3mm handles knights and big stuff
• Flush-fit basing magnets handle transport

Buy the right size for your project, mark your polarity, drill carefully, and you're set.

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