Touch Targets

Touch targets are the areas of a user interface that respond to touch input. They must be appropriately sized and spaced to accommodate human finger interaction, ensuring users can accurately and comfortably interact with touchscreen interfaces without frustration or errors.

Recommended Sizes

Platform Guidelines

iOS Human Interface Guidelines:

• Minimum: 44×44 pts (points)
• Comfortable: 48×48 pts or larger

Material Design (Android):

• Minimum: 48×48 dp (density-independent pixels)
• Recommended: 56×56 dp for primary actions

WCAG 2.5.5 (Level AAA):

• Minimum: 44×44 CSS pixels
• Exception for inline text links

WCAG 2.2 (Level AA):

• Minimum: 24×24 CSS pixels with adequate spacing (exceptions apply for controls in certain authoring contexts or when adequate spacing cannot be applied)

Common Problems

Fat Finger Problem

When touch targets are too small, users accidentally tap adjacent elements, leading to errors and frustration.

Edge Positioning

Targets too close to screen edges are hard to reach, especially with one-handed use or protective cases.

Overlapping Hit Areas

Invisible touch areas that overlap cause mispresses even when visual elements appear separated.

Implementation Best Practices

Minimum Spacing

.touch-target {
  min-width: 44px;
  min-height: 44px;
  margin: 8px; /* Minimum spacing between targets */
}

Expanding Hit Areas

Make touch areas larger than visual elements:

.button {
  position: relative;
  padding: 12px 16px;
}
 
.button::before {
  content: '';
  position: absolute;
  top: -8px;
  right: -8px;
  bottom: -8px;
  left: -8px;
}
 
/* Note: Pseudo-elements don't expand the element's CSS box; they proxy events to the parent but can be brittle. Consider using padding or min-size for more robust hit areas. */

Thumb-Friendly Zones

Place primary actions in easy-to-reach areas:

• Bottom third of screen for one-handed use
• Center areas for tablets
• Avoid top corners on large phones

Accessibility Considerations

Motor Impairments

Users with motor disabilities need larger targets:

• Tremors require extra spacing
• Limited dexterity needs bigger targets
• Consider alternative input methods

Age Factors

• Children: Need larger targets due to developing motor skills
• Elderly: Benefit from increased size and spacing

Assistive Technology

• Screen readers may require different interaction patterns
• Switch controls need clear target boundaries
• Voice control benefits from visible labels

Testing Methods

Device Testing

• Test on actual devices, not just simulators
• Use different hand positions and grips
• Test with and without cases

Heat Map Analysis

• Track tap locations to identify problem areas
• Look for clusters indicating missed targets
• Measure error rates

User Testing

• Observe real users interacting with your interface
• Note hesitation or multiple attempts
• Ask about difficulty hitting targets

Common Patterns

Button Groups

Space buttons adequately in toolbars and action sheets:

.button-group > * + * {
  margin-left: 16px; /* Sufficient spacing */
}

List Items

Make entire rows tappable:

.list-item {
  display: block;
  padding: 16px;
  min-height: 56px;
}

Icon Buttons

Ensure adequate hit areas for small icons:

.icon-button {
  width: 48px;
  height: 48px;
  display: flex;
  align-items: center;
  justify-content: center;
}
 
.icon {
  width: 24px;
  height: 24px;
}

Related Patterns

Touch target considerations apply to:

• Pagination - Page number buttons
• Tabs - Tab selection areas
• Buttons - All interactive buttons

Tools & Resources

• Chrome DevTools: Device mode for testing
• Accessibility Inspector: iOS/macOS testing tool
• Touch Target Guidelines: Platform-specific documentation
• Figma/Sketch plugins: Touch target validators

Key Takeaways

1. 44×44px minimum for comfortable interaction (Apple HIG; Material Design recommends 48×48dp)
2. 8px minimum spacing between targets
3. Expand hit areas beyond visual boundaries
4. Consider context - one-handed use, device size
5. Test on real devices with real users
6. Account for accessibility needs