Buying Chess Pieces Separately: What Matters When You Already Have a Board

It happens more often than you'd think: the board is there — inherited, gifted, pulled out of a closet — but the pieces are missing. Or they're still around, but scratched, incomplete, made of cheap plastic, and simply don't do a beautiful board justice.

So you go looking for chess pieces sold separately. And discover it's trickier than expected.

The most important question first: king height

When shopping for chess pieces, the width is rarely listed — but the king's height almost always is. It's the reference point everything else is built around.

If you already have your board, work backward: king height = square size ÷ 0.55. A 2-inch (50 mm) square calls for a king around 3.5 inches (90 mm). At 2.2 inches (55 mm), you're looking at roughly 4 inches (100 mm).

When in doubt, measure it yourself — with a ruler on a single square, not the board's overall dimensions.

The no-math practical test

If you'd rather skip the calculation: four pawns lined up side by side should fill a square comfortably with a slight overhang. This rule of thumb works just as well as the formula — as long as you can set the pieces on the board first.

What else to check

The shape. Staunton is the standard — recognized worldwide, required in tournament play. Ornate fantasy pieces look striking on a shelf but play worse.

The weight. Good pieces are weighted, with metal in the base and felt underneath. They stand firm and feel substantial to move.

The contrast. Light and dark sides need to read clearly apart — even in dim evening light. A common mistake: dark pieces on a dark board. They vanish into the black squares.

The wood. It doesn't need to match the board exactly — but it should have a dialogue with it. Boxwood pieces on a walnut-and-maple board are the classic pairing, because the lightness and warmth complement each other.

Don't forget storage

Thirty-two pieces without a board need somewhere to live. Good piece sets come in a wooden case, or at minimum in cloth bags — two separate ones, so the light and dark pieces don't rub against each other.

Pieces stored loose in a drawer scratch each other over time. After two years, it shows.

When a complete set makes more sense

An honest consideration: if your existing board is veneered, warped, or damaged, buying expensive pieces for it rarely pays off. Good pieces on a weak board are like tailored shoes with a tracksuit.

But if the board is a family heirloom in solid wood — then it's worth it twice over. You're not just buying pieces. You're completing a piece of family history.

Schachatelier: at home in Berlin

Schachatelier is at home in Berlin. Every set is genuinely handcrafted by experienced makers — with pieces in the classic Staunton design, weighted and proportioned to work together.

→ Explore handcrafted chess sets

Frequently Asked Questions

What king height matches my chess board?

Work backward: king height = square size ÷ 0.55. A 2-inch (50 mm) square pairs with a king around 3.5 inches (90 mm); a 2.2-inch (55 mm) square calls for roughly 4 inches (100 mm).

Can you buy chess pieces without a board?

Yes, piece sets are sold on their own. What matters is that king height and square size match up, and that the contrast between the pieces and the board reads clearly.

How do you properly store chess pieces?

Ideally in a wooden case, or in two separate cloth bags for light and dark pieces. Left loose in a drawer, they'll scratch each other over time.