You’ve probably noticed that some of your action figures have small peg holes that are usually located in the center of the figure’s back and/or on the figure’s feet—usually on the heel. As for the holes in the feet, these are likely foot peg holes for display stands. They are there so that the action figure can be connected to a display stand. This is especially helpful for figures that have very small or narrow feet as they may have difficulty standing on their own.
As for the holes in the back, these could also be peg holes to connect the figure to a display stand; but that’s not necessarily the reason for the hole in the back of your action figure. You’ll notice that with the Marvel Legends figures, for example, some have these holes in their backs while others don’t. The reason is because some figures have accessories that are stored on the back of the figure, and some figures don’t have accessories, and therefore don’t need the hole for storage.
Action Figure Molds Get Reused
In the case of Marvel Legends figures (and probably some other figures), you have probably noticed that some figures have holes in their backs, but don’t come with any accessories that can be mounted back there. The reason for this is because Hasbro reuses body molds. Certain body molds will be used again and again regardless of whether a specific figure requires a hole in its back. Hasbro is going to go the most cost-effective route and reusing the same mold for multiple figures regardless of their accessories will save them money.
Display Stands for Action Figures
Some figures come with display stands and some do not. For example, Max Factory’s Figma Overwatch figures come with display stands that plug into the back of the figure. Other figures such as Hasbro’s Ultimates Overwatch line have holes in their feet for presumably a stand, but don’t come with any stand.
So, what do you do if you have a figure that looks like it should be able to utilize a display stand, but doesn’t come with one? Well, you purchase the display stand separately.
When looking for display stands for your figures, be aware that not all display stands are the same, and not all action figures have the same sized peg holes in their backs and feet. Different types of figures may require different stands. The age of the figure and who manufactured it are a couple factors among many that will determine the size the peg hole. For example, a stand made for vintage Star Wars figures probably won’t be compatible with modern Marvel Legends figures. These are just some things to keep in mind when shopping around for display options.
Speaking of display options, I’ve put together a list of a few here to help get you started:
ProTech AFS-1C Clear Action Figure Stands (Amazon)
| Peg Size: | 3/32 inches |
| Stand Width: | 2 inches |
| Number of Pegs Per Stand: | 1 |
| Quantity: | 100 |
| Figure Size Supported: | 3.75-inch figures |
| Made for: | 3.75 inch Star Wars figures (1995 – PRESENT) |
| Can Also Work for: | Vintage Indiana Jones figures, GI Joe 25th Anniversary figures, Mattel DC Multiverse figures, Glamour Gals |
ProTech AFS-2 Black Action Figure Stands (Amazon)
| Peg Size: | 1/8 inch |
| Number of Pegs Per Stand: | 1 |
| Stand Width: | 2 inches |
| Quantity: | 100 |
| Figure Size Supported: | 3.75-inch figures |
| Made for: | Vintage Star Wars figures (1977-1985) |
| Also Can Work for: | Playmates Star Trek figures, Funko Reaction figures, vintage Kenner lines like Batman, Aliens, Ghostbusters and Predator. |
SMALLJOES.COM, LLC Action Figure Stand (Amazon)
| Peg Size: | .127″ (3.2mm) to .143″ (3.6mm) |
| Number of Pegs Per Stand: | 4 |
| Stand Dimensions: | 3.5″ x 3.5″ x 0.130″ |
| Quantity: | 20 |
| Figure Size Supported: | 6-inch |
| Made for: | Marvel Legends, GI JOE: Classified, Star Wars Black, DC Universe |
| Also Can Work for: | ??? |
NECA Figure Display Stands (Amazon)
| Peg Size: | ??? |
| Number of Pegs Per Stand: | 1 |
| Stand Width: | 2 inches |
| Quantity | 10 |
| Figure Size Supported: | 6-8 inches |
| Made for: | 6-8 inch NECA figures |
| Also Can Work for: | Peg may need to be filed down to work for other types of figures |
Action Figure Stands for Star Wars Black Series (Etsy)
| Peg Size: | ??? |
| Number of Pegs Per Stand: | 2 |
| Stand Dimensions: | 3 ¼ x 2 ¾ |
| Quantity: | 10-100 |
| Figure Size Supported: | 6-inch |
| Made for: | Star Wars Black Series |
| Also Can Work for: | ??? |
Choose the Right Stand for Your Action Figures
Make sure whatever stand you choose is compatible with your figures before you make a purchase. If you can’t get an answer to this question from the retailer, you can always ask about it on sites like Quora, Yahoo Answers, or Reddit. For this topic, it may be best to visit the Action Figures subreddit for help. If you want to be 100% certain that the peg on the display stand will fit the peg hole on you action figure’s foot, then you could always take measurements yourself.
For figures that don’t have holes in their feet, you might want to consider something like a display holder base, which is probably going to be a little more cumbersome, but it will get the job done, and that’s what matters.