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Explainer

Gunpla grades explained: EG, HG, RG, MG and PG

Bandai sorts its Gundam model kits into grades. The grade tells you the scale, how detailed the kit is and roughly how long it takes to build. Here is every grade side by side.

GradeScaleHeight*Build timeDifficultyBest for
EG
Entry Grade		1/144~12–13 cm45–90 min●●●●●No tools needed. Parts twist off the runner. Ideal for kids and first-timers.
SD
Super Deformed		No scale~8–10 cm1–2 h●●●●●Chibi proportions, quick and fun. Cross Silhouette SDs add more articulation.
HG
High Grade		1/144~12–14 cm2–4 h●●●●●The biggest catalogue and the best value. The standard first kit.
RG
Real Grade		1/144~12–14 cm6–10 h●●●●●HG size with MG-level detail and an inner frame. Small, fiddly parts.
MG
Master Grade		1/100~18–20 cm8–15 h●●●●●Full inner frame, strong articulation, satisfying engineering.
PG
Perfect Grade		1/60~30 cm+20–40 h●●●●●The flagship. Hundreds of parts, often LEDs. A long-term project.

*Height for an 18 m mobile suit such as the RX-78-2. Build times are typical for a straight build without painting.

Which grade should you start with?

Start with an HG. It costs little, there are hundreds of designs, and it teaches the basics: cutting parts, cleaning nubs and applying stickers. If you are buying for a child or want zero tools, pick an EG.

Move to an MG for your second or third kit. The inner frame is fun to build and the bigger parts are easier to handle than an RG. Leave RG until you are comfortable with small parts and thin plastic, and PG until you know you enjoy long builds.

Other lines you will see

  • Full Mechanics (FM): 1/100 kits, mostly from Gundam SEED and Iron-Blooded Orphans, simpler than MG.
  • MGEX and MGSD: premium Master Grade variants with extra detail or SD proportions.
  • HGUC, HGCE, HGAC: High Grade kits grouped by Gundam timeline (Universal Century, Cosmic Era, After Colony).
Not sure about size? Use the scale calculator to see how tall a kit will stand on your shelf.
See our beginner picks