What size doll do you prefer?

At first I was very strictly slim MSDs only. I think those just happened to be the size of the first few dolls I fell for, and the variety of slim MSDs available means it's easy for me to come across ones that fit my tastes. I do quite like them, they're nice and portable, easy to hold, and easy to sew for - there's lots of patterns available for that size and they don't take up a ton of fabric, but aren't so small that it becomes as fiddly a task as it is for the Barbies I tried collecting. Similar for knitting, I can use up the leftover yarn from a different project to make a sweater dress or something for them.

I did more recently start collecting a few smaller SD sized dolls, though. Started with a Volks DearSD, which is MSD height but SD chonkiness, then a couple that are in that 52-56cm range. Between them and my plus-size MSD, who also fits into SD-size patterns, I've got a bunch of weirdos who don't quite fit a lot of clothes! I've bought clothes that are supposedly SD10 or SD13 size for the actual 50cm-range dolls, but pant legs especially keep turning out too long. The other two, I just haven't bothered, I've made all their clothes so far But as others have said, once you get to that size you get the benefits of doll-scale sewing in terms of low supply needs and also you start to benefit from fabrics draping more nicely. I think I might have to convince my Nikki to get into lolita, though, so I can use up more of the trims and lace piled in my stash. My one slim MSD who I try to sew lolita stuff for can't eat through it fast enough!

The bullet point version:

Slim MSD:

• Small, portable, and easy to pose
• Lots of fun sculpts!
• Plenty of sewing patterns and a number of premade clothes
• Easy to craft for with little more than scraps
• Harder to find shoes just for them, but with thick socks, you can get away with standard MSD-sized shoes

Small SD:

• Bigger but still portable and posable, nice weight without getting unwieldy
• Harder to find these days, at least IME (the uncles have taken over)
• Fits some SD10/13 clothes but at least mine keep getting swamped in the pants
• Fits SD shoes beautifully though and those are all over the place
• Still uses smaller fabric bits but things drape nicely

Weirdo MSD/SD Combo:

• Wonderful blend of SD heft for holding and MSD size for movement
• Might just be coincidence but these two dolls hold poses the best out of all of mine (helps that the DSD came with kips)
• Oh my god is it impossible to find clothes. You better like not just sewing/knitting/crochet but pattern design
• Shoes are easier, though

 

I started with 1/4 and have stuck with it - I have limited space so they're a good size for that + I can manage to find enough room to make sets to take photos of them. I think if I had started with 1/3 I would have stuck with those instead but my current crew can share a lot of stuff I've collected for them so I'm hesitant to add a different size or start over in a bigger scale just because I'll have to buy more stuff. I don't really enjoy anything that goes much under 45cm though (unless it's a chonky MSD that has some heft and presence in other ways), it just ends up being too fiddly and tiny to make stuff for imo.

I think I might be open to a smaller SD in the future, if I ever get more space I'd love to have a pair of bigger gals.

 

I love dolls on the bigger side! generally the smallest I'll look at is 1/3, but I'll always make an exception for a doll I really really want if they are smaller. But I generally only seek out 1/3, 70cm, or even bigger! having a life size bjd is a longtime dream of mine

 

Prefer 1/4 scale dolls! I have a really small space for my collection so I'd rather have more dolls that are smaller than a couple of larger dolls. I also just enjoy the size! For making clothes and wigs, and their diorama ^^

 

I prefer 1/4 and dolls about the size of Littlefee. So cute!

 

I like 1/4 (mature msd) and I also like mature/fashion 1/6 and 1/5. I like smaller dolls for a space reason, plus it’s easier to dress them up etc.

 

I've always been fond of yosd and smaller, they don't take up a ton of space. plus when i was younger i used to take my honeydelf everywhere with me

 

I prefer 1/6 scale dolls because I am petite and they are easy to dress and transport for me.

 

I loved the 1/4, then the 1/3 65-70cm dolls and now I find myself wanting an adult face and body sculpt in 1/6 scale. The reason being is that I have recently discovered realistic versions of household items in that size. I want a whole doll house with the dolls, the clothes and the furniture with accessories!

 

I prefer 75 dolls, probably because I prefer more mature male BJDs. - I have a SD13 and SD17 from a decade ago (so 1/3 scale), but I gravitate towards taking my 75s out or fiddling around with them more. They are heftier than an SD13 or 17, but I don't find them to be so burdensome that I can't travel with them or bring them out to meetups.

 

My dolls range from 9.5cm Fairyland Realpuki to 51cm Dreamvalley lanky 1/4. I started out with mature tinies and that was my preferred size for a while, then a few years ago I got my first slim mini. Now they're my preferred size. I find them easier to sew for than smaller dolls. I like handling them more, since they are more substantial. It's also so much easier to find wigs and shoes for them.

 

I have a few 1/3 and 1/4 scale dolls those are my preferred sizes, the 70cm+ size is too big for me but they are nice dolls to look at on social media platforms.

 

1/6, 1/5, 1/4 scale are perfect for me. I’m an extremely small person and those sizes feel the most manageable and cost-effective as it doesn’t take as much materials to make clothes, wigs, and accessories. Smaller is trickier to sew for and bigger would just be awkward for me to handle and store.

I don’t care for the head/body and facial proportions on 1/8 scale dolls; they all look very similarly squished to me for some reason (cute, but just not my aesthetic).

 

I have a strong preference for the 1/3 size. My favorite size is small 1/3 scale dolls, typically in the ~56-ish cm range, but I'll collect anywhere between that and ~65cm. 1/4 and smaller are generally too young/child-like for my particular taste and 68+ feels unwieldy and overly large to me, though I may make exceptions for specific sculpts.

Small 1/3 hit the sweet spot for me of having some level of maturity while still being very manageable for playing with.

 

I think my favourite size is around 65cm - generally I prefer mature dolls and characters. At the same time 65cm is light enough for me to carry the doll without any problems. Sadly my arms are so weak that sometimes even handling a camera is a struggle

 

My fav size would be 60 to 65/70cm. I have 4 msd’s but sadly they do not get as much love and attention as the larger dolls.

 

My current dolls are 46cm and 48cm (when she gets a head lol) and i think it's pretty optimal in size for me. They are also both pretty close to the big baby size while not being that young looking. I like the weight of them a lot and find them very easy to handle and pose. I also like the more realistic proportions for sewing and knitting.

My first bjd was a 42cm slim mini so they are in the same size category height wise. The feel of her was very different though. I never really bonded with her partly because of that and probably won't get a doll in that size again. My girlfriend is interested in slim minies and 1/6 scale though so it'll be interesting to see how i like them if she ever gets one!

 

My favorite size is mostly the old school 1/3 size which falls between about 55 and 60cm tall. These dolls along with non slim 1/4 (like volks) are the most fun for me to sew for. The 1/3 size I prefer for portrait photography and multiple doll photo narratives, as well as painting faceups, whereas 1/4 is more convenient to carry around for outdoor photos, though I still do that plenty with the 1/3 as well. (Bigger 1/3 end up being usually too heavy and difficult to travel with or handle as much, and smaller dolls, while precious to me are just a little bit too hard for me to maneuver and craft for, so delicate and precise).

 

I ended up spending a lot on MSDs before realizing I actually prefer larger dolls. Since I read a lot of CN and KR webtoons/manhuas/novels, my 75cm dolls tend to have that “serious, cold male lead” vibe, which I really enjoy. I love developing original characters to bring my story ideas to life, and the 1/3 scale dolls really help me visualize everything better.

 

YOSD, MSD, Big Baby, SD, Uncles
I love SD size sculpts, but not SD boys bodies. Thank the dolly goddesses for Uncles
Big dolls are amazing, all their accessories are glorious but it takes some effort to lug them around and maintenance them. But the effort it takes to interact with them somehow adds to the appeal.
YOSD are so cute and quick to craft for but you are somewhat stuck to a couple of looks when shopping, but those couple of looks are pretty cute anyway.
MSD is a lovely meet in the middle being portable with lots of great sculpts and fashions and accessories available, they can be kids or adults depending what body you plunk them on.
and Big Baby is like SD Lite, or YOSD ultra The premium feel, of an SD doll, with the cuteness and ease of play of a YOSD
I also love about anime dolls that their big heads give you lots of wigs and eyes options to choose and swap, while picking whichever body size suits your fancy
Maybe picking one size makes collector life easier, but which size is my favorite varies on my mood, so good to have all them around