Pedal Enclosure Size Chart & 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. Four steps:

1. Measure your PCB footprint. Note the width and height in millimetres. This sets the minimum usable internal area you need — not the external enclosure size. Leave a few millimetres of wiring clearance around the board.
2. Count your external controls. Knobs, switches, footswitches, jacks, and LEDs all need to mount through the face. More controls usually means a larger top surface (e.g. 1590BB or 1590XX over a 1590B).
3. Check internal depth. Tall electrolytic capacitors, relays, or top-mounted jacks need extra depth. A 1590B is 27 mm deep; a 1590BS or 125B gives 35–38 mm. If you're stacking PCBs, pick a deeper variant.
4. Compare visually and confirm the fit. Use the tool at the top of this page to overlay candidate enclosures at true scale, then enter your PCB dimensions in the fit checker to confirm which ones accommodate it.

Common Pedal 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 125B

The 1590B and 125B are the two most common pedal enclosure sizes. They're close in footprint but not interchangeable:

• 1590B — 59 × 111 × 27 mm external, 47 × 99 mm usable internal area. The classic “MXR-size” enclosure.
• 125B — 64 × 119 × 35 mm external, 52 × 107 mm usable internal area. About 5 mm wider, 8 mm taller, and 8 mm deeper than a 1590B.

Which should you use? The 125B is the safer default for most DIY builds — the extra 8 mm of depth leaves room for tall electrolytics, and the wider footprint makes wiring easier. Pick the 1590B when you want a more compact pedal and your PCB already fits (most “MXR-size” clone PCBs are designed around it).

1590B vs 1590BS

The 1590B and 1590BS share the same 59 × 111 mm footprint — the only difference is depth:

• 1590B — 27 mm deep. Works for most through-hole builds with side-mounted jacks.
• 1590BS — 38 mm deep (11 mm taller). Use this when you need room for top-mounted jacks, tall electrolytic capacitors, or stacked boards.

1590B vs 1590BB

The 1590B and 1590BB are often confused because of the naming, but they're very different sizes:

• 1590B — 59 × 111 × 27 mm, 47 × 99 mm usable. Single-footswitch pedals.
• 1590BB — 117 × 91 × 30 mm, 105 × 79 mm usable. Roughly twice the usable area — designed for dual-footswitch builds, complex circuits with many controls, or stereo effects.

The 1590BB is landscape-oriented (wider than tall) where the 1590B is portrait, so they're not drop-in replacements even beyond the size difference.

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 pedal enclosure sizes are there?

The common guitar pedal enclosure sizes are (from smallest to largest): 1590A (37 × 92 × 27 mm, micro pedals), 1590B (59 × 111 × 27 mm, standard single-effect), 1590BS (59 × 111 × 38 mm, deeper 1590B), 125B (64 × 119 × 35 mm, the most popular DIY size), 1590BB (117 × 91 × 30 mm, dual footswitch or wide builds), and 1590XX (143 × 119 × 35 mm, large builds). Gorva makes equivalents with larger usable area.

Is there a pedal enclosure size chart?

Yes — see the Common Pedal Enclosure Sizes table above for a quick reference of external dimensions, usable internal area, and typical use for every common size. Use the visual comparison tool at the top of this page to see any combination drawn to scale.

What are the dimensions of a 125B enclosure?

A Hammond 125B measures 64 × 119 × 35 mm (2.52 × 4.69 × 1.38 in) externally. Internal cavity is approximately 60 × 115 mm (external minus 2 mm wall thickness per side). After accounting for the 4 mm screw boss radius in each corner, the usable flat area for components is approximately 52 × 107 mm.

What are the dimensions of a 1590B enclosure?

A Hammond 1590B measures 59 × 111 × 27 mm (2.32 × 4.37 × 1.06 in) externally. The usable flat internal area (after wall thickness and screw bosses) is approximately 47 × 99 mm.

What are the dimensions of a 1590BB enclosure?

A Hammond 1590BB measures 117 × 91 × 30 mm (4.60 × 3.58 × 1.18 in) externally — note that it's wider than it is tall, unlike the 1590B. The usable flat internal area is approximately 105 × 79 mm, roughly twice the area of a 1590B.

What is the difference between a 1590B and a 125B?

Both are common pedal enclosure sizes. The 125B is about 5 mm wider, 8 mm taller, and 8 mm deeper than a 1590B. That gives a 125B roughly 20% more usable internal area (52 × 107 mm vs 47 × 99 mm) and the extra depth leaves room for tall components. The 125B is the most popular choice for DIY builds; the 1590B is slightly more compact.

What is the difference between a 1590B and a 1590BS?

They share the same 59 × 111 mm footprint. The 1590BS is deeper — 38 mm vs 27 mm (11 mm more internal height). Choose the BS variant when you need room for top-mounted jacks, tall capacitors, or stacked PCBs.

What is the difference between a 1590B and a 1590BB?

The 1590BB is roughly twice the usable internal area of a 1590B (105 × 79 mm vs 47 × 99 mm) and is landscape-oriented rather than portrait. Use the 1590B for single-footswitch builds and the 1590BB when you need dual footswitches, many controls, or a more complex circuit.

Which enclosure should I use for 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 in the tool above to confirm.

Do Gorva enclosures have screw bosses?

No. Gorva enclosures have no internal screw bosses, so you get the full internal cavity for components. This makes them a good option when you need maximum usable space in a compact footprint — the Gorva C65, for example, is comparable to a 125B in external size but offers more usable area inside.