How Big is a 1/10 Scale RC Car?

How Big is a 1/10 Scale RC Car?

If you’re a remote/radio control (RC) car enthusiast, you’ll probably wonder about the scale of models at some point in your hobbyist journey.

When you pick up your first remote control car, you’ll probably see something like “1/10 scale” on the label. Then you’ll do a quick calculation in your head as you mentally shrink a life-sized vehicle.

How big is a 1/10 scale RC car exactly? It depends on the car model and its purpose.

The “purpose”? Not all RC cars are built with minute precision to race the tracks competitively for a chance at glory.

Some manufacturers have specially designed collectible models for novelty or “art for art’s sake.” While technically, all RC cars are miniature vehicles, manufacturers don’t mold them all after actual vehicles.

So, how big is a 1/10 scale RC car?

It depends on the manufacturer’s blueprint and how faithful it is to the layout of the actual automobile. In other words, the RC car’s measurements are relative to the referenced vehicle’s dimensions.

For example, there’s a big difference between a 1/10 scale of a Tesla S (195 inches long and 86 inches wide with mirrors) and a Mini Cooper S (159 inches long and 75 inches with mirrors).

Understanding 1/10 Scale RC Car Bodies

A 1/10 scale RC car’s body dimensions differ vastly across manufacturers and models. The larger the ratio or scale, the closer a model is to the actual size of the represented vehicle.

On a 1/10 scale, you might generally look at products ranging from 17.5 inches to 21.6 inches in length.

And for the width — 1/10 scale, RC car models are usually within 14 inches.

When it comes to height — expect measurements between 4.2 to 9.2 inches.

Weight-wise, RC car models typically range from 3.2 to 11.2 pounds.

Why Does Understanding RC Scale Matter?

A good grasp of your vehicle’s dimensions gives you a better idea of its capabilities. Think speed, torque, and navigation — along treacherous outdoor terrain or a tarmac track.

Also, you’ll have the technical information to confidently replace your RC car’s body or spare parts (rims, tires, shocks, etc.) while optimizing performance and ensuring a good fit.

The type of 1/10 scale RC car will also determine the size of your model. So depending on the kind of racing event you’d like to participate in (monster truck rallies, on-road races, buggy, or short course tracks), you’ll need to select a suitable 1/10 scale RC car for the best performance.

It’s a safe bet to say that a 1/10 scale monster truck would easily outweigh and exceed the size of an on-road vehicle of the same scale.

If you’re unsure how big a 1/10 scale RC car is, you might consider these models ten times smaller than the actual vehicle.

But despite their downscaled dimensions, you can expect the same competitiveness, intensity, and excitement in an RC car event as a regular race.