Which chess pieces fit my board?
Pieces are sized by the height of the king, boards by the width of the squares. When they match, the pieces stand comfortably in the squares without looking small. The table below is the one we use in the shop.
For tournament play FIDE recommends a king of about 9.5 cm and squares of 5–6 cm.
Square size and king height
| Square size | King height | Inches | Staunton No. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38–40 mm | 7.5–8 cm | 3″ | 4 | |
| 45 mm | 7.5–9 cm | 3–3.5″ | 4–5 | |
| 50 mm | 8.5–9 cm | 3.5″ | 5 | |
| 55 mm | 8.5–9.5 cm | 3.5–3.75″ | 5–6 | |
| 57–60 mm | 9.5–10.8 cm | 3.75–4.25″ | 6–7 |
How to measure
The square
Measure a single square from edge to edge, not the whole board. A 52 × 52 cm board usually has 55–58 mm squares, since the border is part of the size.
The king
Measure from the base to the top of the cross. Product names often give the height in inches (″): 3.5″ is about 8.9 cm and 3.75″ about 9.5 cm.
Woods that go together
Black pieces, ebonised or ebony, suit every board. Acacia pieces go especially well with mahogany and black boards. These are the same combinations as in our complete tournament sets, and they are marked "Matching wood" in the suggestions on product pages.
| Board | Pieces |
|---|---|
| Mahogany | Black or acacia |
| Black | Black or acacia |
| Walnut | Black |
| Padauk | Black |
Not sure? Email info@schackeriet.se with your board's measurements and we'll help you choose.