Cheap Miniature Storage For Under $20

By Travis Pasch | March 17th, 2024 | Categories: How To Tutorial, Squad Marks, Tabletop Gaming News & Rumors, Videos

Store your miniatures without breaking the bank, with all these great miniature storage tips for traveling, and protecting your models with magnets for cheap!

Check out a cheap and smarter way to store your miniature and models for under $20 with items you can easily find at Amazon, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, or DIY home improvement stores!

Best Tabletop Hobby & Storage Tools List

Check out the list above for all the parts you need! Miniature storage can be a hassle, but not after we show you some cheap tricks of the hobby trade. Let’s jump into this amazing super affordable hobby hack to store your minis.

Cheap Miniature Storage For Under $20

Making your own miniatures case for under $20 seems fantastic compared to the other storage options out there, as some run into the hundreds. The practical applications of this storage system work for transporting your models to gaming stores as well.

Getting a higher-end storage container may be useful for tournament play where travel is necessary. But if you are only traveling to your friendly local gaming store, this storage solution will work much better.

Clear Case For Miniatures 15″x 17″, 6″ Tall

The storage container set we recommend is the Iris Project and Scrapbook Cases. You can find them at Hobby Lobby or on Amazon, but you will also need to grab some metal plates to get some magnetization going for your models.

The size difference between the two cases

At 16″ wide and 6″ deep, these plastic cases can hold a ton of models. If you opt to go for battle foam storage trays, 2 medium-sized trays fit snugly inside the plastic cases. For magnetization, go for refrigerator magnet sheets and put them on the bottom of your model bases. Then, use a little double-sided tape at the bottom of your case to secure your trays. For standard GW bases start with 1/4″ or 5/16″ N52 magnets from Magnet Baron.

Here’s the parts list:

Steel Sheet (For Clear Cases) You can also use 2′ x4′ HVAC sheets of Tin from home improvement stores.
3M Double Sided Mounted Table (For Steel Sheets) Or you can use Duct Tape.
10 Adhesive Magnetic Sheets 8.5″ x 11″ 20 mil Magnet Peel & Stick These work great for those non-standard shapes of flat bottom resin bases.
25mm-60mm pre-cut magnetize bases from Squad Marks These work great for standard shapes of flat bottom resin bases.

Iris Project Cases, 6 Cases 12″x 12″ 2″-1/2″

These smaller bins are perfect for infantry, weapon teams, etc… Anything that is shorter than 2-1/2″. They also come in a neat roller shelf for moving around the house.

Some folks also use the bigger collapsable cart to set things on for tournaments. The casters on this cart are VERY strong and, barring concrete surfaces, really glide along well. Plus, you can fold it up, which also fits most luggage!

You can also use these Larger Acid-Free Cases that are perfect for miniatures like Magnus, Mortarion, Beetle Lady, and more.

If you’re looking for a storage solution for your models that won’t break the bank, go with some easy plastic cases. Whether it’s foam trays or magnets, we try to make hobbying easier and cheaper for you!