How tall is a standard LEGO minifigure, excluding its hair or headwear?

A standard LEGO minifigure is about four centimetres tall, excluding hair and headwear.

The minifigure was introduced in its modern articulated form in 1978 and became one of LEGO’s most recognisable products. Its compact scale allows figures to fit naturally into many LEGO play themes, from towns and castles to space, superheroes and licensed film worlds.

The four-centimetre measurement refers to the basic figure itself. Accessories can make a minifigure appear taller, while specialised figures and creatures may use different proportions. LEGO also produces larger character figures, such as big-fig versions of powerful superheroes, so not every character sold by LEGO is minifigure-sized.

The figure’s familiar design includes a cylindrical head, a torso, movable arms and legs, and usually a yellow head and hands in classic LEGO themes. Modern minifigures can instead have a wide range of skin tones, facial expressions, costumes and printed details.