Guide: which movement tray do I need?

A movement tray groups several models so a formation moves as one block. The starting point is the base under each model: its shape, size and the number of figures you want to group. The next choice is MDF or magnetic. In movement trays, the millimetre measurement in a product name describes each model base. The overall tray dimensions depend on the formation you choose.

First, the shape of the bases

For a The Old World unit on square or rectangular bases, the matching family is square-base movement trays. They also serve Warhammer Fantasy, Ninth Age or Reforged units on matching base sizes. A 25 × 25 mm base belongs to the square family; cavalry on 25 × 50 mm bases needs a rectangular one. The first measurement runs across the base frontage and the second gives its depth.

Many Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar units use round bases. The matching family is round and oval base trays, according to the diameter of each recess. For size examples, the Warhammer Event Companion, version 1.0, last updated June 2026 lists Space Marines · Assault Intercessor Squad · 32 mm round base. The January 2025 Orruk Warclans Battle Profiles list Ironjawz · Brutes · 40 mm round base.

Magnetic or MDF: according to use

On a magnetic tray, models with magnets in their own bases attach to the steel surface. They stay in place as you move and transport the unit. Hidden magnets in the tray hold the whole formation to a metal case shelf. Model and tray are therefore held at two different points. This version suits play and transport with a magnetic setup.

An MDF tray gathers models so you can move the block across the table. It is the economical option for the same base size and uses no magnets. If you store your miniatures another way and mainly want to move a unit without picking up each model, MDF is the option. Magnetic and MDF versions have separate product pages for each size, making it easy to choose the one that suits your setup.

Unit frontage and depth

On square-base trays, Files sets the number of models across the unit frontage and Ranks sets how many stand behind. The product page shows the available combinations and the internal dimensions of the selected variant. Four files and two ranks make eight positions when that combination is available for the size chosen. Round-base trays may list a number of Models with a Formation or Ranks, depending on the family. These choices turn an individual base size into the frontage and depth of the unit you want to play.

When you need a different size

The custom movement tray comes in MDF or magnetic, from 20 to 300 mm per side, in two size tiers: up to 120 × 120 mm and up to 300 × 300 mm. The price of each combination is shown on the product page, where the version, size tier, width and length are entered. If the dimensions do not match the selected tier, the page tells you before the tray can be added to your cart. It covers formations whose frontage or depth is absent from the listed variants.

A base adapter has a different job: it changes one model’s footprint. The 20 × 20 to 25 × 25 mm adapter for The Old World takes the older base inside a 25 × 25 mm frame, leaving the model on its original base. Adapted movement trays can also group several older bases at a new spacing. The adapter adjusts the base; the tray moves the formation.

Model bases for a magnetic tray

Each model needs a magnet beneath its base to attach to the tray’s steel sheet. The magnet needs to fit without protruding. An adhesive suited to the materials fixes it in place; the bond should cure before the tray is tried. The tray’s hidden magnets attach the tray itself to a metal case shelf; they do not replace the magnets in model bases. The magnets collection includes neodymium magnets for preparing your bases.

Before ordering, it is worth measuring an actual model base and checking that the selected variant offers the required formation.

Quick questions

Can I use a magnetic tray if my model bases do not yet have magnets? Yes, you can use it as a tray to group the unit. Models attach to its steel surface only when their own bases contain magnets.

Which version should I choose if I only want to move the unit during a game? MDF is the economical way to group models on the table. The magnetic version adds hold for the models and for the tray in a case with metal shelves.

What if none of the standard formations has the required frontage or depth? The custom tray, in MDF or magnetic, from 20 to 300 mm per side, with two size tiers: up to 120 × 120 mm and up to 300 × 300 mm.