Anime figure display: from shelf to case

Best for

12–16 scale figures and Nendoroids in one cabinet

Holds

2 × 1/7 (one under the cover), 6 × 1/8, 6 Nendoroids

Footprint

42 × 37 cm (16½ × 14⅝ in) of floor, 155 cm (61 in) tall

Budget

from $240 to $406

Drilling

Yes — anti-tip bracket, two screws

Build steps Parts list

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Figures crammed onto one flat shelf hide each other and collect dust fast. A glass cabinet with staggered risers, a cover for the top grail and warm edge light turns the same collection into a display worth walking past.

Last updated September 23, 2026

The problem

Every figure at the same height means the back row disappears and the front row blocks it. Dust settles into joints and bases and is miserable to clean. And overhead room light flattens everything — scale figures live from shadow and depth.

The setup

Reference build: one 42 × 37 × 155 cm (16½ × 14⅝ × 61 in) glass cabinet with three enclosed levels (the fixed steel shelf that forms the case floor plus two glass shelves; the open shelf below stays free) — six Nendoroids on the small two-step riser at the bottom, six 1/8-scale figures on the middle level (three in front, three on the large riser behind), two 1/7 grails on the top level at eye level, one of them under its own acrylic cover — one warm-white LED strip at the front edge of each level — a researched concept, not yet built by us.

One tall glass cabinet: the glass case stands on a steel frame above an open shelf, and inside it has three levels — the fixed steel shelf that forms the case floor plus two glass shelves. Leave the open shelf below free; it isn't dust-protected. Per level: the bottom holds six Nendoroids on the small two-step riser, the middle holds six 1/8-scale figures — three low in front, three on the large riser behind — and the top holds the two 1/7 grails at eye level, one under its own 30.5 cm (12 in) tall acrylic cover and one beside it. Before you load it, set or check the two glass shelves so the levels clear about 24 cm (9½ in), 40 cm (15¾ in) and 32 cm (12½ in) from the bottom up. Those are our targets, not IKEA figures: each one is the needed inner height from «What to look for» (figure height + 3 cm) plus the riser under it — Nendoroid 13 cm + small riser 10.8 cm ≈ 24 cm; 1/8 scale 23 cm + large riser 16.5 cm ≈ 40 cm; on top, the 30.5 cm (12 in) cover plus a little air ≈ 32 cm, which also clears the uncovered 1/7 (28 cm). IKEA doesn't list the shelf positions and the supports only fit a few preset holes, so measure each level. If the middle level can't reach 40 cm, swap the risers: the Nendoroids on the large riser need about 30 cm, the 1/8 back row on the small riser about 34 cm. A warm LED strip runs along the front edge of each shelf, and — because most tall glass cabinets, this one included, don't ship with wall-anchoring hardware — a separate anti-tip strap ties the cabinet to the wall.

Build it in four steps

1. Thin the lineup. Pick the 60% of figures that earn display; box the rest for rotation. Curation is what reads as intentional.
2. Stagger heights with risers. Small figures front-low, tall or dynamic poses back-high. Every base fully visible.
3. Case the grail. One clear acrylic case for the most valuable piece — dust protection where it matters most; the second 1/7 stands beside it.
4. Light from the front edge. LED strip along each shelf lip, angled slightly back — warm white or RGB, whichever look you want, kept the same on every shelf.

What to look for

• Figure sizes — scale · typical height incl. base · needed inner height:
  • Nendoroid: ≈ 10 cm (4 in) · needs ≈ 13 cm (5 in) of inner height
  • 1/8 scale: ≈ 20 cm (8 in) · needs ≈ 23 cm (9 in) of inner height
  • 1/7 scale: ≈ 25 cm (10 in) · needs ≈ 28 cm (11 in) of inner height
  (needed inner height = figure height + 3 cm / 1 in of headroom)
• Risers: clear acrylic, two steps, with a footprint and thickness that hold a top-heavy scale figure steady — every base fully supported, never overhanging.
• Display case: inner height ≥ 28 cm (11 in) for a 1/7-scale figure with its base, clear on all sides.
• Light bar: LED strip sized to the shelf width, warm white (2700 K) or RGB. RGB reads as a gaming setup, warm white reads as a gallery — both are valid; pick the one you want and keep it consistent across the cabinet.
• Dust tool: soft detail brush; follow the maker's care notes and test any method on a hidden spot first.

Parts list

Everything for the reference build above. Quantities and dimensions are the ones that matter; swap brands freely as long as the dimensions hold.

About $387 for the reference build — prices in USD as of September 2026, before tax and shipping.

Three mistakes that ruin a figure shelf

1. Overhanging bases. A dynamic-pose figure with its base half off the riser is one door-slam from the floor.
2. Skipping the anti-tip strap. A tall glass cabinet full of figures is top-heavy, and most — this one included — don't ship with wall-anchoring hardware. Buy the strap kit and use it.
3. Front-row giants. Tall figures up front erase the back row — stagger by height, always.

Budget vs. premium

Price bands are rough planning ranges in USD as of September 2026, before tax and shipping. Actual prices vary by retailer and location.