Grade guide
Gunpla grades explained
Bandai sorts Gunpla into grades by size, detail and difficulty. Here's how they compare, so you can pick the right kit for your skill level, your shelf and your weekend.
Compare the grades
Size, parts and build time
Heights are typical for each grade and vary by mobile suit. Tap a grade for details.
SD · Non-scale
Super Deformed
Chibi-style mobile suits with big heads and short bodies. Small, affordable and fast to build, with lots of character.
Shop SD kits- Height
- about 8 cm
- Pieces
- 30 to 80
- Build time
- About 1 hour
- Inner frame
- No
- Difficulty
- Best for
- Quick, fun builds and collectors
EG · 1/144
Entry Grade
Made for your very first build. Parts can be popped off by hand, so you don't even need nippers, and they still look great.
Shop EG kits- Height
- about 13 cm
- Pieces
- 40 to 80
- Build time
- About 1 hour
- Inner frame
- No
- Difficulty
- Best for
- Absolute beginners and kids
HG · 1/144
High Grade
The most popular line, with almost every mobile suit ever made. Good detail and poseability without a big time commitment.
Shop HG kits- Height
- about 13 cm
- Pieces
- 100 to 200
- Build time
- 1 to 3 hours
- Inner frame
- No
- Difficulty
- Best for
- First kits and the widest variety
30MM · 1/144
30 Minute Missions
Bandai's own mecha line built for mixing and matching. Quick builds with standard 3 mm ports for weapons and option parts.
Shop 30MM kits- Height
- about 13 cm
- Pieces
- 80 to 150
- Build time
- 1 to 2 hours
- Inner frame
- No
- Difficulty
- Best for
- Customizers and parts swappers
RG · 1/144
Real Grade
HG size with Master Grade detail: a pre-built inner frame, tiny parts and lots of decals. Small kits that build big.
Shop RG kits- Height
- about 14 cm
- Pieces
- 250 to 400
- Build time
- 5 to 10 hours
- Inner frame
- Yes
- Difficulty
- Best for
- Detail lovers who like a challenge
FM · 1/100
Full Mechanics
1/100 scale with sharp detail and fewer parts than a Master Grade. A great step up from HG.
Shop FM kits- Height
- about 18 cm
- Pieces
- 200 to 300
- Build time
- 4 to 8 hours
- Inner frame
- Partial
- Difficulty
- Best for
- A bigger kit without a full frame
MG · 1/100
Master Grade
Full inner skeleton, moving pistons and great articulation at a size that really stands out on a shelf.
Shop MG kits- Height
- about 18 cm
- Pieces
- 350 to 600
- Build time
- 8 to 15 hours
- Inner frame
- Yes
- Difficulty
- Best for
- The classic next step
PG · 1/60
Perfect Grade
Bandai's flagship. Huge, incredibly detailed and often with LED options. A weekend, or a month, of building.
Shop PG kits- Height
- about 30 cm
- Pieces
- 500 to 1,000+
- Build time
- 20 to 40 hours
- Inner frame
- Yes
- Difficulty
- Best for
- Showpieces and long projects
Know the lingo
Terms you'll see
Scale
Size compared to the real mobile suit. 1/144 is about 13 cm tall, 1/100 about 18 cm, 1/60 about 30 cm.
Inner frame
A full mechanical skeleton the armor attaches to. Found in RG, MG and PG kits.
Runner and gate
The runner is the plastic frame parts come on. The gate is where each part connects to it.
Ver. Ka
Special Master Grade versions designed by Hajime Katoki, known for extra detail and decals.
Shop by grade
Find your grade
FAQ
Grade questions
HG or RG: what's the difference?
Same 1/144 size. RG adds a pre-built inner frame, far more parts and finer detail, so it takes several times longer and needs more care.
RG or MG for my second kit?
MG is bigger and easier to handle, with parts that are less fiddly. RG packs similar detail into a small kit, which makes it trickier.
What are SDCS and SDEX?
Both are Super Deformed lines. SD Cross Silhouette uses a swappable frame for more realistic proportions; EX-Standard kits are simple, quick builds.
Do bigger grades need special tools?
The same basics work for every grade: nippers, a sanding stick and a panel line marker. Tweezers help with RG and MG decals.
Still deciding?
Ask Mira-Chan
Tell our chat assistant your experience and budget, and she'll suggest a kit. Or start with the beginner guide.