RC cars’ scale sizes [all sizes and weights by scales]
How big an RC car is will determine where and how you use them.
Usually, all RC cars are designed to look like their full-sized real vehicles. However, RC cars don’t have the same size as real cars since they are miniature models of full-sized RC vehicles and are made to operate differently in diverse terrains and surfaces.
how big are RC cars (listed below)
How big or small your RC car is generally referred to as scales in the hobby-grade RC industry.
If you plan on buying an RC car, you want to know how big or small they are before purchasing one.
In this guide, we learn all there is to know about RC car sizes to know which works better on what environment and surface.
RC cars Sizes and Scales
In RC, scale is usually listed as a ratio or fraction such as 1:10 or 1/10.
The higher the scale, the smaller the size of your RC car, the bigger the scale; the smaller the size.
To explain this best, RC car in the size of an actual car will be 1/1 scale. As the size of the RC car gets smaller, the scale gets bigger – an 1/64 scale RC car is some of the smallest RC cars.
RC cars range in different scales, from 1/5 to 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/15, 1/20, and 1/18. You can also get mini-sized RC car models with a scale between 1/28 and 1/64. However, the scale describes how big or small your RC car is to real-life full-sized automobiles.
For example, if you have an RC car with a 1/10 scale modeled after a Jeep Wrangler (RC crawler), it simply means the RC car is 10x smaller than the full-sized Jeep Wrangler. Hence, a 1/8 scale RC car will be bigger than an RC car on a 1/10 scale.
| Measurement | scale | 1/28 | 1/16 | 1/12 | 1/10 | 1/8 | 1/5 |
| Weight | 1 to 1.98 pounds | 5.4 – 10lbs | 2.8 – 3.3lbs | 3.2 – 11.2lbs | 5.4 to 10lbs | 60 – 80lbs |
| Length | 3 – 7” | 10 – 14” | 14 – 16” | 17.5 – 21.6” | 18. -23.43” | 36 – 40” |
| Width | 3.46” | 7 – 7.3” | 3.5 – 6.5” | 7.8 – 14.4” | 10.4 – 16.6” | 28 – 32” |
| Height | 4.65” | 4 – 4.92” | 2.5 to 3.9.” | 4.2 – 9.1” | 3.9 – 9.8” | 16 – 24” |
RC cars size range
Most RC enthusiasts confuse the word size for scale. But they aren’t the same.
The size of an RC car describes its dimension. Hence, when considering the size of your RC car, you have to think about its measurement, which will include:
- Weight: the total mass of the RC car
- length: measures from the front to the back of the car
- width: measures how wide the vehicle is at the side
- Height: measures how high the car is from the ground to the highest part of the RC car
However, you need to understand that as each manufacturer may produce different RC cars with the same size range, the other RC models will vary. For instance, if you have an RC car with a 1/10 scale from Traxxas and also have a Tamiya 1/10 RC car, the weight, length, height, and width will differ from each other.
Do different RC cars with the same scale have the same size
Each RC cars differ in size even if they have the same scale.
If you have a 1/10 monster truck, you will observe that dimension varies with the length of the Monster Truck being 21.6inches long, the width 14.5inches, the height 9.12inches, and the maximum weight will be 4.4kg (9.7lbs) without battery and 4.86kg (10lbs) with battery. On the other hand, if you have a 1/10 drift car, it may weigh 4kg, 18inches long, 13inches wide, and 8.5inches high.
What is the most common scale
While RC cars come in different scales such as 1:6, 1:8, 1:10, 1:12, and more, the most common size is the 1:8 or 1/8 scale.
How big is a 1/28 scale RC car
Models with a 1:28 ratio can be considered small as they usually have a small size and dimension.
Averagely, a 1/28 RC car will have measurements like:
- Weight: 1 to 1.98 pounds
- length: 3 to 7inches
- width: 3.46inches
- height: 4.65inches
How big is a 1/16 scale RC car
RC 1:16 scale dimensions vary mainly because of the different models produced by different manufacturers. Some light models have smaller dimensions, while larger styles like the monster truck come larger.
Depending on your 1/16 RC car type, their dimensions will vary between:
- Weight: 2.45 to 4.54 kg (5.4 to 10lbs)
- Length: 10 to 14inches (272 – 356mm)
- Width: 7 to 7.3inches (178 – 185mm)
- Height: 4 to 4.92inches (102 – 125mm)
How big is a 1/12 scale RC car
1/12 RC cars are twelve times smaller than real cars. For this reason, they will be as big as:
- Weight: 2.8 to 3.3pounds
- length: 14 to 16 inches (36 – 38cm)
- width: 3.5 to 6.5inches
- height: 2.5 to 3.9inches
How big is a 1/10 scale RC car
There are different 1/10 scale RC vehicles, from monster trucks to on-road cars. However, their measurement differs.
Typically, 1/10 scale RC cars have dimensions as:
- Weight: 3.2 and 11.2 pounds
- Length: 17.5 inches to 21.6 inches
- Width: 7.8 inches to 14.4 inches.
- Height: 4.2 inches to 9.1 inches
How big is a 1/8 scale RC car
1/8 scale RC cars are the most common among seasoned RC enthusiasts due to their large size. However, even when they come large, how big they vary with the type of models produced by manufacturers.
An average 1:8 scale RC car will have dimensions like:
- Weight: 2.45 – 4.54kg (5.4 to 10 pounds)
- Length: 470 – 595mm (18.5 to 23.43inches)
- Width: 265 – 422 mm (10.4 to 16.6inches)
- Height: 100 – 250 mm (3.9 to 9.8inches)
How big is a 1/5 scale RC car
Compared to actual cars, 1/5 scale RC cars are five times smaller. However, it is probably one of the largest scales you’ll find in the RC industry.
An RC car with a 1/5 scale will have dimensions ad:
- Weight: 60 to 80pounds
- length: 36 to 40inches
- width: 28 to 32inches
- height: 16 to 24inches
Which RC car is the biggest
The biggest RC car in the world is the 1:3 scale Mammuth Rewarron RC car.
It is three times smaller than the full-sized vehicle and the only 1:3 scale RC car globally. This RC model weighs 176pounds, 72inches long, 35inches wide, and 29inches tall.
What is the biggest scale RC truck
The biggest scale RC truck is the 1/5 RAMINATOR Monster Truck.
This model weighs 80pounds, is 32 inches wide, 40 inches long, and has a height as high as 24inches.
What is the smallest RC car
The smallest RC car is the Mercedes Benz Smart car developed by Michihiro Hino, Tokyo, Japan, in 2002.
This RC car has a 1/90 scale, a 25mm length, 7mm width, weight lesser than 1pounds, and height between 3 to 5mm.
Conclusion
Knowing the scale and size of your RC car is essential when choosing your preferred RC model.
The scale size will determine where you can drive your RC car and how you use them.
Seasoned racers will love bigger RC cars with a 1/5 scale since they have a larger dimension. On the other hand, 1/8 0r 1/10 RC cars can suffice for any purpose.
Sources used for this article
http://www.axialracing.com/blog_posts/1073910474
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1:12_scale
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-meaning-of-the-ratios-written-on-RC-toys-eg-1-14-1-24
