Why hexagons
On a square grid, a cell has four neighbours sharing a side and four more touching only at the corners, so diagonal moves are awkward. On a hexagonal grid, every cell has exactly six neighbours, all the same distance away. That makes hexes ideal for movement and distance in games, and gives designs a natural, organic look.
Measuring a hexagon
- Side length: the length of one edge. Quilters and EPP templates use this.
- Across the flats: the distance between two parallel sides, 1.732 × the side. Gamers usually mean this.
- Across the corners: twice the side.
For a 1 inch hex: in games, 1 inch across the flats, so each side is 0.577 in (14.7 mm). In quilting, 1 inch on each side, so 1.732 in across the flats.
So “1 inch hex” in a game shop and “1 inch hexagon” in a quilt shop are different sizes. Our 1 inch hex paper is measured across the flats for games; the 1/2 inch sheet is measured by side, as in quilting.
Uses
- Tabletop games and maps: terrain, wargames and board-game prototypes. The map scales guide explains common hex sizes.
- Quilting and EPP: plan Grandmother’s Flower Garden rosettes and colour layouts, then make matching paper templates.
- Chemistry: benzene rings and other ring structures drawn to a consistent size.
- Design: tiles, mosaics, honeycomb patterns and logos.
- Maths: tessellation, area and angles in the classroom.
Choosing a size
Small hexes (3–5 mm or 1/4 inch) suit detailed maps and molecules. Medium (1/2 inch, 1 cm) suit writing inside cells and quilt plans. Large (1 inch) suit miniatures and young children. All sizes are on the hexagonal paper page, in flat-top or pointy-top orientation.
- 1/4 in, flat topdetailed maps, molecules
- 1/2 in side, flat topquilt planning
- 1 in across, pointy topminiatures and battle maps
Sizes by use
| Use | Typical hex | How it is measured |
|---|---|---|
| Miniature wargames and RPG battle maps | 1 inch | Across the flats |
| Board game prototypes, overland maps | 1/2 to 3/4 inch | Across the flats |
| English paper piecing, quilt plans | 1/2 to 1 inch | Side length |
| Chemistry rings, detailed maps | 3–5 mm or 1/4 inch | Side length |
When a game or pattern gives a hex size, check which measurement it means before you print; mixing them up gives hexes 42% too small or 73% too large.
Drawing on a hex grid
Colour cells rather than drawing along lines: on hex paper, shapes are built from whole cells. To draw a straight path across the grid, follow a row of cells sharing sides; the path will zigzag slightly, which is normal. For distance in games, count cells along the shortest path, which is the same in every direction.
Hexagons and triangles
Every hexagon divides into six equilateral triangles, so hex paper and isometric paper are closely related. If you need both hexagons and triangles in a design, use isometric paper and outline hexagons on it; if you only need hexagons, hex paper is cleaner. Quilters often combine hexagons with 60° diamonds, which are two triangles joined together.
A classroom activity
Give pupils a sheet of hex paper and ask them to design a “honeycomb” map of an imaginary island, with each cell a different type of land. Then count the cells of each type and turn the counts into a bar chart: geometry, data and creativity in one lesson.
Printing
Print at 100% / Actual size so the hexes keep their exact dimensions, especially for quilt templates and miniatures.
