1:500 Scale Calculator & Conversion Chart

Urban planning scale · 0.2% of real size

1:500 is the urban design scale — whole city blocks as massing models, with 2 mm to the meter. Buildings become simple volumes, which is the point: at this ratio you are judging streetscape and shadow, not window frames.

Precision Scale Conversion Calculator

Real World Size

Scale (1 : N)

Scaled Size

1:500 Scale Quick Facts

1 real foot = 0.024″ (0.61 mm) on the model
1 real meter = 2 mm on the model
A 6 ft (183 cm) person = 3.7 mm (0.14″) tall
Model is 0.2% of real size — use this as the scale percentage in 3D-print slicers

1:500 Scale Reference Chart

Real Size	mm	cm	inches
1 inch	0.051 mm	0.005 cm	0.002″
1 foot	0.61 mm	0.061 cm	0.024″
6 ft (person)	3.7 mm	0.366 cm	0.144″
1 meter	2 mm	0.2 cm	0.079″
3 m (room height)	6 mm	0.6 cm	0.236″
10 meters	20 mm	2 cm	0.787″
30 m (building)	60 mm	6 cm	2.362″

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 1:500 scale in mm, cm, and inches?

In 1:500 Scale, 1 unit on the model equals 500 of the same unit in real life. One real foot equals 0.024 inches (0.61 mm) on the model, one real meter equals 2 mm (0.20 cm), and the model is 0.2% of real size.

How tall is a 6 ft person in 1:500 Scale?

A 6-foot (183 cm) person stands 3.7 mm (0.14 inches) tall in 1:500 Scale.

How do I convert a real measurement to 1:500 Scale?

Divide the real measurement by 500. For example, a 10 m object is 20.0 mm long in 1:500 Scale. The calculator on this page does this automatically in both directions.