How to Measure a Pinball Cabinet for Artwork

Perfectly fitting artwork starts with accurate measurements. Whether you’re wrapping a classic machine, restoring a vintage cabinet, or finishing a virtual pinball build, a few minutes with a tape measure saves you from sizing mistakes later. Here’s exactly what we need from you, and how to get it right. Why Measurements Matter: Every pinball cabinet is a little different. Panel sizes, side shapes, and backbox proportions vary between machines, and especially between custom builds. Artwork that is designed around your real dimensions fits the machine properly. A generic design stretched onto your cabinet doesn’t.

The good news is that this is easier than it sounds. Most pinball cabinets follow similar standard dimensions, so we always have a reference point. Your measurements simply confirm the details.

What You’ll Need:

• A tape measure (inches preferred)

• Pen and paper for a quick sketch

• Your phone for photos

Step 1: Measure Each Part Separately:

Measure every panel you want artwork for, as width × height, one part at a time. Depending on your machine, that can include:

• Left cabinet side

• Right cabinet side

• Front panel

• Backbox (front and back, if both are being wrapped)

• Backglass

• Speaker panel

• Side blades (art blades)

• Playfield (for playfield artwork, we’ll also need your template or production file)
  

Please list each measurement separately instead of giving one overall cabinet size. For example:

• Left side: width × height

• Right side: width × height

• Front panel: width × height

Measure the full visible area of each panel, edge to edge.

Step 2: Draw a Quick Sketch: You don’t need to be an artist. A rough sketch of your cabinet with each part’s dimensions written beside it is often the most useful thing you can send us. It tells us which panel is which, and it helps us catch anything unusual before design begins.

Step 3: Show the Side Shape at 90 Degrees: If your cabinet’s side shape differs from standard pinball machines (curved edges, angled cuts, cutouts, or a custom profile), please draw the side layout as viewed straight on, at a 90-degree angle. A flat side-on outline is the clearest way to show us the true shape.

If your cabinet is a standard shape, you can skip this step. Just tell us so. Step 4: Send Photos or a Link

Photos help us confirm what the measurements describe. Send either of these:

• Clear photos of your existing cabinet, front, sides, and back

• A link to the cabinet you purchased or plan to build from
  

A Quick Note on Shapes and Printing:

Your artwork will be printed as full rectangles. The shape and layout details you send us tell us where the main artwork needs to sit so important elements, like characters, logos, and titles, don’t get trimmed by your cabinet’s shape. In other words, the sketch isn’t telling us how to cut the print. It’s telling us where to place the artwork so it looks right on your machine.

Common Measuring Mistakes to Avoid:

• Giving one overall size. Each panel needs its own width × height.

• Measuring in the wrong units. Inches are preferred. If you measure in centimetres, tell us so we can convert accurately.

• Measuring only part of a panel. Measure the entire visible surface.

• Skipping shape details. If edges are angled or curved, show us.

• Guessing from memory. Re-measure the cabinet itself rather than relying on the manufacturer’s model dimensions.

We Double-Check Before Printing: Nothing is printed without your approval. When your artwork is finalized, we confirm the dimensions with you one more time. A small measuring slip won’t turn into a printing mistake.

Not Sure About Something? Don’t worry about getting everything perfect. If you’re unsure how to measure a part, or whether your cabinet needs a side layout sketch, just send us an email. We’re happy to guide you through it.

Ready to get started? Browse our pinball cabinet artwork collection or send us your measurements and we’ll take it from there.