We get a lot of posts on r/americangirl about displays for dolls, what shelves are good, etc. I find that most of the recommendations are good, but the measurements for 18 inch dolls are a little odd, there aren't many shelves that fit them well. So here, I decided to go into more detail about why my personal recommendations are what they are, and the experiences that led me up to this point.
We start with the ideal dimensions for any doll display, whether it's a shelf, area, etc.
Height: 20-24"
A lot of people underestimate the amount of height they need for a display. Not only are the dolls 18" tall, but it is incredibly nice if your dolls can wear headbands or high hairstyles while in the display. (Kaya's hairpieces, Melody's hairstyling set, high ponytails, etc.) That is something a lot of people forget to think about when making their doll displays.
(what I really want to do is measure the displays at the AG store itself, but I feel like that would be odd and I don't have that ability at the moment.)
Width/Depth: ~20", sometimes larger
The width/depth measurement is based around the average doll bed Width. The doll boxes themselves are about 10" wide (that's an estimate). Doll beds vary widely. The shortest width doll bed from AG is Molly's bed, with is around 11" in width. The larger beds though, such as Julie's four post bed, are 22", and sometimes longer. You may also want to accommodate a nightstand or other furniture into the room besides a bed. This is what makes 18" doll displays so big.
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| This room is great, but if it had more depth, it would be able to house more furniture |
Length: 30-36"
This measurement is again based on the assumption that you want to have something besides a bed in your doll display. I do see plenty of doll displays that consist of a shelf that encases a doll bed and nothing more, and they look great! However, some collectors do have that space and want a larger experience. This measurement takes into account an average doll bed length of 20", with 10" of extra space. It can go up to 36", but more than that and you may not be able to fit your display through a doorframe if it's a set of shelves or something similar.
*Note* The dimensions to most AG items can be found either on American Girl's website, or on an Amazon listing of that product, as they have to include the dimensions of everything for shipping reasons. If the dimensions of a certain product that you don't own yet aren't there, you can also ask collectors on forums or look for Ebay listings or catalog photos that might show the dimensions as well.
Also, consider how your furniture fits onto shelves. This is more for collectors with tight space, but everyone can keep it in mind. Melody's bed, for example, has two long pieces that hold up the ends of the bed, instead of the traditional four even feet. This means that Melody's bed can go on a shelf that is thinner than the bed itself. Many other doll beds, on the other hand, need a shelf wide enough for all four feet.
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| In the background of this photo, notice how Melody's bed is hanging off the shelf a little bit. |
This is the reason that my eventual goal is a custom dollhouse. There are some decent dollhouses for 18" dolls on the market, but they just don't take into account how big these dolls really are. One of the best doll displays I have ever seen has to be "Pleasantville" by Kkollect, who is sadly no longer on YouTube. This video, though, shows the huge doll display that almost enveloped the entire house. Kkollect was a grandmother who shared the love of AG with her granddaughter "Zaza" and her husband. I highly recommend watching, and paying attention to how the house really fits the size and scale of 18" dolls.
