Warhammer 40K 11th Edition Terrain Footprints

A terrain footprint in Warhammer 40,000® 11th edition is the flat marker you place under a piece of scenery to define its terrain area — the footprint where that terrain’s rules apply. The standard set is 16 pieces in 5 sizes: 11.5×7 in, two 11.5×8 in half-squares, 6×4 in, 10×2.5 in, and 6×2 in. LITKO cuts the full set to those exact dimensions in see-through clear acrylic or opaque MDF, laser-cut in the USA.

Below: every footprint size, what the terrain area actually does in the rules, why a pre-cut set beats printing your own, and how to choose between the acrylic and MDF sets.

Updated June 6, 2026 — we re-verify the rules figures against the official Warhammer 40K 11th edition Core Rules at launch.

The 11th Edition Terrain Footprint Sizes

11th edition standardizes terrain into a fixed set of footprint shapes — 16 pieces across 5 sizes. The two half-squares combine into a single large square, so a full set covers 11th edition’s standard terrain footprint shapes. Here’s exactly what’s in a LITKO set:

LITKO 11th Edition terrain footprint set — 16 pieces, 5 sizes

Qty	Footprint	Dimensions
4×	Large footprint	11.5 × 7 in
2×	Half-square (left + right — combine into one full square)	11.5 × 8 in each
4×	Medium footprint	6 × 4 in
2×	Small footprint	10 × 2.5 in
4×	Mini footprint	6 × 2 in

That’s the same 16-piece layout whether you choose clear acrylic or MDF — identical sizes, just a different material and finish.

What a Terrain Footprint Actually Does

Based on Games Workshop’s 11th edition previews — which we re-verify against the official Core Rules at launch — the terrain area (the flat footprint under the scenery) is what the rules key off. The walls and details on top can be anything; the footprint defines where the terrain’s effects apply. The main ones:

• Benefit of Cover. An Infantry, Beast, or Swarm unit wholly within a terrain area gains the Benefit of Cover, which gives the attacker −1 to their Ballistic Skill when shooting it — the new edition’s version of cover.
• The Hidden rule. An Infantry/Beast/Swarm unit in a terrain area that didn’t shoot in the current or previous turn can become Hidden — it can’t be targeted by enemies beyond their detection range (around 15 inches). Tucking a unit into a footprint keeps it safe from long-range fire until it opens up.
• Blocking line of sight. Larger footprints can be obscuring — line of sight can’t be drawn entirely through the area, so even big models can hide behind a section of terrain.
• Objectives are terrain. Most objectives in 11th are terrain areas you contest rather than small discs on the table. You can still use objective and control tokens to mark which footprints are the objectives.

Why a Pre-Cut Set Beats Printing Your Own

You can print footprint templates at home — but there’s a catch. The largest pieces are 11.5 inches long, which doesn’t fit on standard US Letter paper (11 inches). So the free route means printing on Legal or A4 paper, or taping pages together, then carefully cutting 16 pieces to size and hoping they’re square. A pre-cut set skips all of that:

• Exact dimensions, guaranteed. Every piece is laser-cut to the standard size, so your terrain areas match your opponent’s and the tournament layouts — no eyeballing a hand-cut edge.
• They last. Rigid acrylic and MDF survive being packed, dropped, and shuffled around the table for years; paper templates curl and tear.
• Clean, readable edges. A crisp laser-cut edge (with LITKO’s “ruined” styling) reads clearly so both players agree where the area is.
• Set up in seconds. Drop the 16 pieces and go, instead of an evening of printing, taping, and trimming.

Clear Acrylic vs. MDF: Which Set?

LITKO makes the same 16-piece set in two materials. They’re identical in size — the choice is about look, feel, and price:

	Clear acrylic	MDF
Price	$49.99	$34.99
Look	See-through — your battle mat and the terrain show through, so the table stays uncluttered	Opaque natural wood tone — bold, high-contrast areas that are easy to read at a glance
Profile	Ultra-thin (1.5 mm) — sits almost flush; minimal trip hazard for models	1/8 in — a touch more presence; takes paint and weathering well if you want to finish it
Best for	Players and refs who want the cleanest look and an unmistakable, see-it-exactly edge	Players who want bold, obvious areas, a paintable surface, or the lower price
Edges	Laser-cut “ruined” edge	Laser-cut “ruined” edge

Shop the Clear Acrylic Set → Shop the MDF Set →

Both sets are laser-cut in Valparaiso, Indiana, and ship as the full 16-piece layout. Going with MDF? It primes and paints up beautifully — see Finally, a Terrain Footprint Worth Painting. Browse the rest of our terrain kits.

Pair Them with Objective & Status Tokens

Because 11th edition ties objectives to terrain areas, a lot of players mark which footprints are objectives — and track wounds, orders, and effects around them — with matching acrylic tokens. If you’re setting up a full table, the Warhammer 40K token guide covers the marker sets that pair with these footprints, from objective and command tokens to wound and status markers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 11th edition terrain footprint sizes?

A standard set has 16 pieces in 5 sizes: four large 11.5 × 7 in footprints, two 11.5 × 8 in half-squares (which combine into one full square), four medium 6 × 4 in footprints, two small 10 × 2.5 in footprints, and four mini 6 × 2 in footprints. LITKO cuts every piece to those exact dimensions.

How many terrain footprints come in a set?

Sixteen pieces across five shapes — enough to lay out a full 11th edition terrain area layout. The two half-squares combine into a single large square, so you get the complete range of standard footprint sizes in one set.

Are these the standard tournament sizes?

They’re cut to the 11th edition terrain footprint sizes LITKO has confirmed, and we re-check them against the official Core Rules at the edition’s launch. Because every piece is laser-cut rather than hand-trimmed, the sizes come out exact and consistent from set to set.

Clear acrylic or MDF — which should I get?

Clear acrylic is see-through and ultra-thin (1.5 mm), so your mat and terrain show through and the table stays uncluttered — popular with players and referees who want the cleanest look and an unmistakable edge. MDF is opaque with a natural wood tone, giving bold, easy-to-read areas, a paintable surface, and a lower price. Both are the same 16 sizes.

Can I just print my own terrain footprints?

You can, but the largest pieces are 11.5 inches long and don’t fit on standard US Letter paper, so you’ll need Legal or A4 paper or have to tape pages together, then cut 16 pieces by hand. A pre-cut set guarantees the exact sizes, sets up in seconds, and lasts for years instead of curling and tearing.

What is a terrain “footprint” or terrain area?

It’s the flat marker placed under a piece of scenery that defines its terrain area — the footprint on the table where that terrain’s rules apply, such as the Benefit of Cover and the Hidden rule. The scenery on top can be anything; the footprint is what the rules measure.

Do terrain footprints work with objective and status tokens?

Yes. In 11th edition, objectives are terrain areas, and many players use acrylic tokens to mark which footprints are objectives and to track wounds, orders, and effects around them. LITKO’s token sets are made to pair with these footprints.

Where to Go Next

• Clear Acrylic Terrain Footprint Set — see-through, ultra-thin, 16 pieces
• MDF Terrain Footprint Set — opaque, high-contrast, 16 pieces
• Warhammer 40K Token Guide — objective, command & status markers that pair with your footprints
• LITKO Terrain Kits — the rest of our laser-cut terrain

This product is unofficial and is in no way endorsed by, affiliated with, or sponsored by Games Workshop Limited. Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer 40K are trademarks of Games Workshop Limited, used here for compatibility identification only. No challenge to their status is intended.