Enclosure Size Comparison

How to Choose a Pedal Enclosure Size

The enclosure is one of the first decisions in a DIY pedal build. It needs to be large enough to hold your PCB, pots, jacks, and wiring — but small enough to fit on a pedalboard. The right choice depends on three things: the PCB footprint, the number of external controls (knobs, switches, jacks), and the internal depth needed for tall components or top-mounted jacks.

Use the comparison tool above to overlay enclosures at true scale and enter your PCB dimensions to instantly see which sizes work.

Common Enclosure Sizes

Enclosure	External (mm)	Usable area (mm)	Typical use
1590A	37 × 92 × 27	25 × 80	Micro pedals, single-knob boosts
1590B	59 × 111 × 27	47 × 99	Standard single-effect pedals (Tube Screamer, Fuzz Face)
125B	64 × 119 × 35	52 × 107	Most popular size — fits most PedalPCB / Aion boards
1590BB	117 × 91 × 30	105 × 79	Wide pedals, dual footswitches, complex circuits
1590XX	143 × 119 × 35	131 × 107	Large builds, multi-effects, amp-in-a-box

1590B vs 1590BS vs 125B

These three enclosures have a similar footprint but differ in ways that matter for your build:

• 1590B (59 × 111 × 27 mm) — the classic "MXR-size" enclosure. Shallow depth works for most through-hole builds with side-mounted jacks.
• 1590BS (59 × 111 × 38 mm) — same footprint as the 1590B but 11 mm deeper. Use this when you need room for top-mounted jacks, tall electrolytic capacitors, or stacked boards.
• 125B (64 × 119 × 35 mm) — 5 mm wider and 8 mm taller than a 1590B with similar depth. The extra space makes wiring easier and fits most off-the-shelf PCBs. This is the most popular size for DIY builds.

Hammond vs Gorva Enclosures

Hammond enclosures (1590 series, 125B) have screw bosses in each corner that reduce the usable internal area. Gorva enclosures use a different mounting system with no internal bosses, so you get the full internal cavity for components. The Gorva C65 is comparable to a 125B in external size but offers more usable space inside.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the internal dimensions of a 125B?

The internal cavity of a 125B is 60 × 115 mm (external minus 2 mm wall thickness on each side). After accounting for the 4 mm screw boss radius in each corner, the usable flat area is approximately 52 × 107 mm.

What is the difference between 1590B and 1590BS?

They share the same 59 × 111 mm footprint. The 1590BS is deeper — 38 mm vs 27 mm. Choose the BS variant when you need extra internal height for top-mounted jacks, tall capacitors, or stacked PCBs.

Which enclosure fits a PedalPCB board?

Most standard PedalPCB boards are designed for a 125B enclosure (52 × 107 mm usable). Larger dual-footswitch or high-component-count designs may need a 1590BB or 1590XX. Always check the PCB dimensions listed on the PedalPCB product page and use the fit checker above to confirm.

Do Gorva enclosures have screw bosses?

No. Gorva enclosures have no internal screw bosses, which gives you the full internal volume for components. This makes them a good option when you need maximum usable space in a compact footprint.