Warhammer 40k Points Calculator
Your essential tool for building legal and balanced army lists for Matched Play.
Army Builder
Total Army Points
0
Add a Unit
Points for the basic unit or per model.
Set to 1 if using total unit points.
Total extra points for all upgrades.
Current Army Roster
| Unit Name | Base Points | Models | Wargear Points | Total Unit Points | Action |
|---|
Your army roster is currently empty. Add some units to begin building your list.
Points Breakdown by Unit
This chart shows the points contribution of the most expensive units in your army.
What is a Warhammer 40k Points Calculator?
A warhammer 40k points calculator is a specialized tool designed to help players of the tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000 build their armies. In the game’s most popular format, Matched Play, armies are constructed based on a points system. Each model, weapon, and piece of wargear has an associated points value, and players must build an army that does not exceed a predetermined points limit (e.g., 1000, 2000, or 3000 points). This calculator streamlines the process of adding up all these values, ensuring a player’s army is “legal” for play. It helps prevent manual calculation errors and allows for quick adjustments to a list during the army building phase. Using a reliable warhammer 40k points calculator is crucial for both casual and competitive players.
The Warhammer 40k Points Formula and Explanation
Calculating the total points of a Warhammer 40,000 army is a process of summation. You calculate the cost of each individual unit and then add all those costs together. Our warhammer 40k points calculator automates this for you. The basic formula for a single unit is:
Total Unit Points = (Base Points × Number of Models) + Total Wargear Points
Once you have the total for each unit, the army’s total is simply:
Total Army Points = Sum of all “Total Unit Points”
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Points | The cost of a single model in a unit, or the cost for the entire unit at its minimum size. Found in the Munitorum Field Manual or your army’s Codex. | Points | 5 – 300+ |
| Number of Models | The quantity of models in the unit. If the Base Points value is for the whole squad, this should be 1. | Count (integer) | 1 – 20+ |
| Total Wargear Points | The sum of points for all optional weapons, equipment, and character upgrades on the unit. Many are free in 10th Edition. | Points | 0 – 100+ |
| Total Unit Points | The final points cost for a single, fully-equipped unit in your army. | Points | 25 – 600+ |
To learn more about army composition, you might want to read about 40k army building rules.
Practical Examples
Example 1: Calculating a Space Marine Tactical Squad
Let’s build a simple squad to see how the warhammer 40k points calculator works. We want to add a 10-man Tactical Squad where the Sergeant has a Power Fist.
- Inputs:
- Unit Name: Tactical Squad
- Base Unit/Model Points: 17.5 (This is an average, real values vary)
- Number of Models: 10
- Wargear & Upgrades Points: 10 (for the Power Fist)
- Calculation: (17.5 points/model * 10 models) + 10 wargear points = 175 + 10 = 185 points.
- Result: The Tactical Squad costs 185 points.
Example 2: Calculating a Vehicle
Now, let’s add a Leman Russ Battle Tank. For single-model units, you set the number of models to 1.
- Inputs:
- Unit Name: Leman Russ Tank
- Base Unit/Model Points: 150
- Number of Models: 1
- Wargear & Upgrades Points: 15 (e.g., Lascannon and two Heavy Bolters)
- Calculation: (150 points/model * 1 model) + 15 wargear points = 150 + 15 = 165 points.
- Result: The Leman Russ Battle Tank costs 165 points.
Understanding these costs is key. For more tips, check out our guide on 40k list building strategy.
How to Use This Warhammer 40k Points Calculator
- Enter Unit Details: In the “Add a Unit” section, fill in the name, base points cost, number of models, and the total cost of any wargear or upgrades.
- Check Official Point Values: Always refer to the latest official Games Workshop publications (like the Munitorum Field Manual) for the most accurate point values. This calculator helps with the math, but doesn’t contain the game’s data.
- Add to Army: Click the “Add Unit to Army” button. The unit will appear in the “Current Army Roster” table below, and the total army points will update.
- Review Your Roster: The table provides a clear breakdown of each unit and its cost. You can remove individual units by clicking the “Remove” button in their row.
- Analyze the Breakdown: Use the “Points Breakdown by Unit” chart to visualize which units are taking up the biggest portion of your points budget.
- Reset if Needed: Click the “Reset Army” button to clear the entire list and start over.
Key Factors That Affect Warhammer 40k Army Points
The points cost of your army is the primary balancing mechanism, but several factors influence how you spend those points:
- Game Size: The agreed-upon points limit (e.g., Incursion at 1000 pts, Strike Force at 2000 pts) is the most significant constraint.
- Unit Roles: A balanced army needs units for different roles: holding objectives (Battleline units), anti-tank, anti-infantry, and psychic support. Your choices here will dictate your points allocation. See our article on 40k unit roles for more.
- Wargear and Upgrades: Equipping units with powerful weapons or giving characters special Enhancements can significantly increase their cost and effectiveness. A key part of using any warhammer 40k points calculator is tracking these small additions.
- Power Level vs. Points: While points are used for Matched Play, Power Level is a simpler, less granular system for quicker games where wargear is often free. This calculator is designed for points, not Power Level.
- Army Faction Rules: Each army has unique abilities, stratagems, and enhancements that can make certain units more valuable, influencing your choices.
- Edition and Balance Dataslates: Games Workshop periodically updates points values to balance the game. Always use the most current points. What might be 200 points today could be 220 tomorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Where do I find the official points values?
- Official points are found in the most recent Munitorum Field Manual, which is updated periodically by Games Workshop and available on their Warhammer Community website.
- Is this warhammer 40k points calculator updated automatically?
- No, this is a manual calculator. You must input the points values from the official sources. It is a tool to automate the arithmetic, not a database of points.
- What’s the difference between points per model and points per unit?
- Some datasheets list a cost for the entire unit (e.g., “10 models for 120 points”). In this case, you would enter “120” as the Base Points and “1” as the Number of Models. Others give a cost per model (e.g., “12 points per model”), where you would enter “12” and the number of models in the squad.
- Do I have to pay points for all wargear?
- In Warhammer 40,000 10th Edition, many units have their wargear costs “baked in” to their base points cost, and many options are free. However, some specific powerful upgrades still have an additional points cost. Check your sources carefully.
- Can I save my army list?
- This calculator does not save your list between sessions. Use the “Copy Results” button to paste your list into a text document to save it.
- Why does my total not match other apps like BattleScribe?
- Discrepancies can arise if the points values you’ve entered are outdated, or if you’ve misinterpreted a unit’s cost (e.g., points per model vs. points for the whole unit). Always double-check your data entry against the current Munitorum Field Manual. Explore other tools with our review of 40k army builder apps.
- What are Enhancements?
- Enhancements are special upgrades you can give to CHARACTER models in your army. They have a points cost and are a common thing to track with a warhammer 40k points calculator. An army can typically take up to three.
- What does ‘Battleline’ mean?
- Battleline is a keyword on certain units (typically your core troops). In army construction, you are usually allowed to take up to six of any Battleline unit, whereas you can only take up to three of other units. This is a list-building rule, not a points rule.
Related Tools and Internal Resources
Expand your knowledge of the 41st Millennium with our other guides and tools:
- 40k Army Building Rules: A deep dive into the core rules of list construction for 10th edition.
- 40k List Building Strategy: Advanced tips on creating competitive and fun army lists.
- 40k Unit Roles Explained: Learn the difference between a screening unit and a heavy hitter.
- Top 40k Army Builder Apps: A review of other digital tools to help you on the battlefield.
- Understanding Power Level: An explanation of the alternative system to points.
- Warhammer 40k Faction Overview: A guide to help you choose your first army.