Things to Consider When Choosing a Display Case Size

Choosing a display case sounds simple enough: measure the collectible and find a case it fits inside.

But the dimensions only tell you whether there’s enough physical room. How much space you want around the collectible, how you plan to position it, and whether you’re displaying one piece or several can all influence the size that works best.

There’s no universal formula. Some collectors like plenty of breathing room around each piece, while others would rather fit more of their collection into the available space. A few simple considerations can help you figure out what works for yours.

Start with the collection

Before reaching for a measuring tape, think about what you’re actually planning to display.

Is it one collectible or several? Is this one particularly special piece, or part of a collection that’s likely to grow? Do you want everything out at once, or would you rather display a smaller selection and rotate pieces occasionally?

If you’re buying a display case for a loved one, for example, it can be helpful to find out whether you’re protecting one special item or buying something that might eventually need to accommodate several.

For someone finally getting a collection out of boxes and onto display, the question might be different. Maybe there are 40 pieces, but that doesn’t necessarily mean all 40 need to be displayed at once. Some collectors love seeing everything together. Others might rather display their favorites and change them every few months — and if you’ve already built a substantial collection, you probably have a good sense of how many pieces you actually want to see together at once.

And if you’re just starting a collection, it’s worth planning ahead a little without trying to predict everything. Your collection may grow quickly, your interests may change, and you may even move in the next few years. Starting with one or two tabletop cases and adding more as the collection grows can be a flexible approach.

Find the amount of space that feels right

Personally, we tend to like displays with a little breathing room.

For a tabletop case, we’ll often look at something in the neighborhood of 20–35% additional space in length. In depth, around an inch of space on either side can often look nice.

The easiest way to find your own preference doesn’t involve doing any math at all.

Try the tape trick

Put your collectible on a table and use painter’s tape or masking tape to make a rectangle around it.

Move the tape closer or farther away until the amount of empty space looks right. Once you’re happy with it, measure the rectangle.

You now have a pretty good idea of the interior length and depth to look for in a display case.

For height, simply hold a ruler or measuring tape next to the collectible. This makes it much easier to visualize how much space will be left above it.

It’s a simple little exercise, but it can tell you considerably more than looking at dimensions on a screen.

Think about how you’ll actually display it

Don’t necessarily measure your collectible only in its most compact position.

A model car may look great with its doors or hood open — our model car display cases are sized with that kind of display in mind. A figure might be more interesting in a particular pose. A LEGO® build may look better positioned at an angle rather than perfectly straight.

If that’s how you want to enjoy the piece, give yourself enough room to do it.

This is easy to overlook when shopping for a case. Something might fit comfortably based on its basic length, width and height but feel much tighter once you arrange it the way you actually want to see it.

Make it your display

Some collectors want a room filled with everything they’ve collected over the years. Others would rather have 15 special pieces beautifully displayed and rotate something new in every few months.

We tend toward the latter. We like a little breathing room and letting individual pieces stand out.

But ultimately, a display case is there so you can enjoy what you’ve collected. Measure the collectible, think about how you want to position it, leave the amount of space that looks good to you — and don’t be afraid to put some tape on the table before deciding.