Metal Earth vs Piececool: Which Should You Buy?
Updated
Metal Earth and Piececool are the two dominant names in the metal model kit hobby, and the most common question beginners ask is which one to buy. The honest answer is that they are designed for different skill levels and offer genuinely different building experiences. Here is a detailed comparison.
Background
Metal Earth (made by Fascinations, a US company) has been around since 2010 and is the original mainstream metal model kit brand. It has the widest catalog in the hobby and is sold at Target, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.
Piececool is a Chinese manufacturer that launched around 2014. It is primarily sold through Amazon and specialty hobby retailers, with a smaller but very focused catalog leaning into ships, architecture, and original fantasy designs.
Price
Both brands are similar in price:
| Metal Earth | Piececool | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard range | Budget | Budget to mid-range |
| Premium/advanced | Mid-range to premium | Mid-range to premium |
Piececool kits tend to cost slightly more but include significantly more parts for the money. At a comparable price, a Metal Earth Premium Series kit might have 200 parts; a Piececool kit might have 350-400.
Difficulty
This is the most important difference:
Metal Earth has a genuine Beginner tier. Single-sheet kits like the Eiffel Tower and the Spitfire are genuinely approachable for first-time builders. Tolerances are looser, parts are slightly larger on average, and the assembly sequences are more forgiving.
Piececool starts at Intermediate. Even their “easier” kits have tighter tolerances and smaller parts than Metal Earth’s beginner range. Small Piececool kits do exist (the Cicada lists 28 parts), but the Piececool listings we track that state an age say 16+, while Metal Earth’s entry kits such as the Eiffel Tower say 14+.
Recommendation by experience level:
- First kit: Metal Earth (no question)
- After 2-3 Metal Earth builds: Piececool is ready for you
- Experienced builder: Piececool offers more complexity and detail
Part count and detail
For equivalent price and theme, Piececool consistently packs in more parts and more detail. A Metal Earth ship kit might have 120-180 parts. A comparable Piececool ship has 300-400, with working cannon ports, detailed decking, and intricate rigging.
Higher part count means a more complex build but also a more impressive finished model.
Color and aesthetics
Standard Metal Earth: Bare silver-colored stainless steel. Clean, modern-looking.
Metal Earth Premium Series: Many Premium Series kits are sold in color. Listing photos of the Millennium Falcon (Color) show printed hull panels, and Hogwarts Castle in Snow shows bronze-toned walls with white snow roofs.
Piececool: Some models use two-tone steel (gold and silver tones) for contrast. No full-surface color printing, but the two-tone effect is distinctive.
Size of finished model
Do not assume a higher part count means a bigger model. Piececool’s 382-piece Notre Dame, for example, is listed at about 15.1 × 6.1 × 10.7 cm, which is a compact desk piece with dense detail. Many listings from both brands give only a size label such as “Small” or “Large” rather than measurements, so check the product listing or instructions for finished dimensions before buying for a specific shelf. Our biggest 3D metal puzzles ranking compares published part counts and sizes where they are available.
Subject matter
Metal Earth excels at licensed content. Star Wars, Harry Potter, Minecraft, Jurassic Park, aviation history, space exploration.
Piececool focuses on original designs. Their ship catalog is unmatched in the hobby. Their fantasy range (Black Dragon King, Titan Mecha) has no equivalent elsewhere.
Which should you buy?
Buy Metal Earth if:
- This is your first kit, or you have built fewer than three kits
- You want a licensed subject
- You want to finish a build in one evening
- You are buying as a gift for someone who may be a first-timer
Buy Piececool if:
- You have some experience with metal model kits
- You want the most impressive-looking finished model on your shelf
- You are interested in ships, architecture, or original fantasy designs
- You enjoy a longer, more demanding build
Frequently asked questions
Is Piececool better quality than Metal Earth?
It depends on how you define quality. Piececool uses slightly thicker steel and produces more detailed models at similar prices. Metal Earth has better quality control consistency and a longer track record. Both are reputable brands.
Can a beginner build Piececool?
It is possible, but expect a harder time than with a Metal Earth beginner kit. If you are set on a specific Piececool subject, go very slowly, read the full instructions before starting, and budget extra time.
Which brand has more variety?
Metal Earth by a wide margin — hundreds of models across every category. Piececool has a focused catalog of around 50-80 active models.
Do Metal Earth and Piececool kits need glue or tools?
Neither brand uses glue. Metal Earth listings describe tab-and-slot steel kits with no glue or solder, and Piececool’s Cicada listing describes parts joined with bent tabs. Several Piececool listings say tools are not included, so have a pair of fine pliers ready for either brand. Our metal model kit tools roundup covers what to buy.
How does Metalkitor compare with Metal Earth?
Metalkitor makes a small range of large mechanical creatures, such as the 454-piece Scorpion and the 1,200+ piece Giant Mantis, with poseable joints and, on some kits, built-in lights. See our Metal Earth vs Metalkitor comparison for piece counts, build times and sizes side by side.