HG vs RG vs MG vs PG: Which Gunpla Grade Should You Buy?

HG (High Grade): the best place to start

High Grade is the biggest and most affordable grade, with hundreds of kits since the line began in 1990. They're 1/144 scale, snap together without glue and take an afternoon to build.

Modern HGs pose well and need only a few stickers. Older HGs (before about 2010) are simpler, so check the release year. HG is also where you'll find most mobile suits that never got a bigger kit.

Best for: Beginners, budget builders, and anyone who wants a big collection.

See: Every HGUC kit · Every HG SEED & HGCE kit · All HG lists

RG (Real Grade): MG detail at HG size

Real Grade packs Master Grade-level detail into a 1/144 kit, the same size as an HG. Most RGs have an inner frame and many more, smaller parts.

That makes them the most detailed models you can fit on a small shelf, but the tiny parts and fiddly joints are harder for a first build. Newer RGs (from about 2019) are much easier than the early ones.

Best for: Builders with one or two kits done who want more detail without more space.

See: Every RG kit

MG (Master Grade): the classic step up

Master Grade kits are 1/100 scale, about 18 cm tall, with a full inner frame you build first and then cover with armour. They have more moving parts, better detail and a real presence on the shelf.

Building an MG takes a weekend or two. The bigger parts are actually easier to handle than an RG's, so many builders go straight from HG to MG. The Ver.Ka line and the premium MGEX kits sit within this grade.

Best for: Builders ready for a bigger project, and anyone who wants a centrepiece.

See: Every MG kit · MG Ver.Ka · MGEX

PG (Perfect Grade): the ultimate kit

Perfect Grade is Bandai's top tier: 1/60 scale, around 30 cm tall, with hundreds of parts, detailed frames and often LED options. There are only a few dozen PG kits, released over three decades.

They're expensive and take many evenings to build, and they need real display space. The PG Unleashed kits are the most advanced Gunpla ever made.

Best for: Experienced builders and collectors who want the definitive version of a suit.

See: Every PG kit

EG (Entry Grade): for complete beginners and kids

Entry Grade kits are 1/144 scale like HG but snap together by hand, with no nippers needed. They're surprisingly well coloured and pose well for the price.

They're perfect as a first taste of the hobby or a gift for a younger builder, but you'll quickly want an HG once you're hooked.

Best for: Kids, gifts and absolute first-timers.

See: Every EG kit

Which grade should you build next?

1. Never built a kit? Start with an EG or a modern HG.
2. Enjoyed it? Build two or three more HGs, then try an RG or an MG.
3. Want something big for the shelf? Go MG. Want detail but little space? Go RG.
4. After a few MGs, you're ready for a PG or an MGEX.

Tools: You only need a pair of side cutters (nippers) for HG, RG, MG and PG. A hobby knife and a sanding stick help clean up the marks where parts were cut. EG kits need no tools at all.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Gunpla grade for beginners?

HG (High Grade). Modern HGs are cheap, quick to build and easy to find. If you've never built a model kit, an EG (Entry Grade) is even easier and needs no tools.

Is RG harder than MG?

Usually, yes. RG and MG are similarly detailed, but RG parts are much smaller because the kit is 1/144 scale, so many builders find an MG easier to build.

Which Gunpla grade is the biggest?

Among the main grades, PG (1/60, about 30 cm tall). Mega Size kits (1/48) are even bigger but simpler, closer to an HG in detail.

Do I need to paint Gunpla?

No. All modern Gunpla are moulded in colour and look good straight from the box. Painting and panel lining are optional extras.

What does 1/144 or 1/100 mean?

It's the scale. A 1/144 kit is 144 times smaller than the 'real' mobile suit, so an 18 m Gundam becomes about 12.5 cm tall. A 1/100 kit of the same suit is about 18 cm.