Ergonomics and anthropometrics

A chair that is too high, a handle that is too small, a button you cannot reach: bad ergonomics makes products hard to use.

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Ergonomics

Ergonomics is designing products so they fit the people who use them, making them comfortable, safe and easy and efficient to use.
It includes size and shape, but also how easy controls are to see, reach and understand, and the noise, light and temperature around the user.
A computer mouse shaped to fit the hand is an ergonomic design.

Anthropometrics

Anthropometrics is the study of human body measurements, such as height, hand length or arm reach.
Designers use tables of anthropometric data for different age groups.
People vary a lot, so data is given in percentiles. The 5th percentile value means 5% of people are smaller than this. The 95th percentile means 95% of people are smaller.

Designing for most people

Designers often design for people between the 5th and 95th percentiles, which covers 90% of people.
For clearance (such as door height), design for the tallest users (95th percentile), so nearly everyone fits.
For reach (such as a high shelf or a light switch), design for the shortest users (5th percentile), so nearly everyone can reach.
Making a product adjustable, like an office chair, means it fits even more people.
Worked example

A designer is choosing the height of a bus handrail that passengers must reach. Should they use 5th or 95th percentile data? Explain.

  1. The handrail must be reached by as many people as possible.
  2. If shorter people can reach it, taller people can too.
  3. So the designer uses the 5th percentile arm reach of the shortest users.

Answer: 5th percentile, because if the shortest users can reach it, almost everyone can.

Key idea

Ergonomics makes products comfortable, safe and efficient to use. Anthropometrics is body measurement data. Designing from the 5th to 95th percentile covers 90% of people: use the 95th for clearance and the 5th for reach.

Key words
Ergonomics
Designing products to fit the people who use them, so they are comfortable, safe and efficient.
Anthropometrics
The study of human body measurements, such as height and hand length, used to size products.
5th to 95th percentile
Designing for this range covers 90% of people.
Percentile
A value that shows the percentage of people below it. 5% of people are smaller than the 5th percentile.

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  1. Which is an example of ergonomics?

    1. Choosing a bright colour
    2. Shaping a mouse to fit comfortably in the hand
    3. Cutting the cost of materials
    4. Recycling packaging
    Show the answer

    Answer: Shaping a mouse to fit comfortably in the hand

    Ergonomics fits products to people.

  2. Which of these is anthropometric data?

    1. The price of pine
    2. The melting point of acrylic
    3. The number of shops in a town
    4. The average hand length of 14-year-olds
    Show the answer

    Answer: The average hand length of 14-year-olds

    Anthropometrics are body measurements.

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Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.