Useful Dimensions ..A page on this website with some useful human related dimensions
Anthropometric Data
Introduction
This data provides information on the sizes of British ?? people between the ages of 18 to 65.
It can only be used to give rough ideas of people sizes for the following reasons
- The statistical sizes vary with age the average height for an elderly person would be up to 80mmm lower than that
for a younger person
- People sizes vary significantly for different nationalities, i.e Americans are generally larger than
British who are larger than people from India.
- Over time the average sizes of people change. If you are designing a doorway for the average person today it may be too small for the average person in 80 years time .
- Over time the ethnic make up of a population can change e.g. in the UK at this time there is a rapid growth in the population
as people imigrate into the UK from overseas, Also the average population is aging. This could possibly result is a reduction in the average peoply sizes- contradicting 3) above
- Importantly - the relevant target group may be significantly different to the general population.
Designing equipment for a basket ball team would require totally different set of data to that for the general population
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The table relates to British person age 19 to 65 .
The 5% percentile indicates that 5% of people are smaller than the sizes given.
The 95% percentile indicates that 95% of people are smaller than the sizes given.
Therefore the size range show the mid 90% range of people sizes in the UK. The average values is simply the mean of these to values
The data relates to people wearing the minimum of clothing and wearing no footwear. In height allowances it is prudent
to allow about 25mm for male shoes and about 45mm for female shoes.
Important Note:
The numbers I present in the table below are not directly obtained from any source. I have
referred to a number of information sources, which I identify, below and used interpreted/interpolated values.
These are of the top of my head values which I believe are just as relevant for general/rough use as formal statistical data derived from specific
groups at specific times, using specific methods. For formal design work requiring justification of data it is important
to use quality information such as The Openerg website Database Peoplesize -
This is probably the best current source of this information (at a cost). or DTI document "Adultdata" by L/Peebles/B Norris (1998) if you get hold of it - I referred to a copy about 2 years ago in my local library.
The table below is not based on any data included in these two reference sources. |
Reference Information
1) Metric Design Handbook Planning and Design Data 2nd Ed.edited by D. Adler, Architectural Press. (Latest version linked above.)
2) Bodyspace: Anthropometry, Ergonomics and the Design of Work, 2nd Ed,by Stephen Pheasant, Taylor & Francis Ltd;
3) Fitting the Task to the man, by Etienne Grandjean, 4th Ed 1988 ,Taylor & Francis
4) PD ISO/TR 7250-2:2010 :Basic human body measurements for technological design Part 2: Statistical summaries of body
measurements from individual ISO populations...Provides dimensions for populations in certain countries .Not UK. But German seem close to UK
5) BS EN ISO 7250:1998 : Basic human body measurements for technological design.. Provides basis for measurements
6) Link to Anthropometry - Belgium ...Anthropometric information for 2005 Belgium population... (similar to UK)
8)
Human dimensions in Workplace design...Some anthropometric data (imperial sizes)..US information.
9)
Design Bites -Human Factors and Aesthetics ....Very useful - includes 50th percentile dimensions.
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Dimension s | Man (Percentiles) | Women (Percentiles) | 5% | 50% | 95% | 5% | 50% | 95% |
1- Height | 1630 | 1745 | 1860 | 1510 | 1620 | 1730 |
2-Eye | 1520 | 1640 | 1760 | 1410 | 1515 | 1620 |
3-Shoulder Height | 1340 | 1445 | 1550 | 1240 | 1330 | 1420 |
4-Elbow Height | 1020 | 1100 | 1180 | 950 | 1020 | 1090 |
5-Hip Height | 850 | 935 | 1020 | 750 | 820 | 890 |
6-Knuckle Height (Fist grip height) | 700 | 765 | 830 | 670 | 720 | 770 |
7-Fingertip Height | 600 | 675 | 730 | 560 | 620 | 680 |
8-Sitting Height | 860 | 915 | 970 | 800 | 855 | 910 |
9-Sitting Eye Height | 740 | 800 | 860 | 700 | 750 | 800 |
10-Sitting Shoulder | 570 | 615 | 660 | 530 | 580 | 630 |
11-Sitting Elbow Height | 210 | 250 | 290 | 190 | 235 | 280 |
12-Thigh Thickness | 130 | 155 | 180 | 120 | 150 | 180 |
13-Buttock-Knee Length | 560 | 605 | 670 | 520 | 585 | 650 |
14-Buttock-popliteal length | 450 | 510 | 570 | 440 | 500 | 560 |
15-Knee Height | 490 | 535 | 580 | 460 | 595 | 530 |
16-Popliteal Height (Lower leg Length) | 410 | 450 | 490 | 370 | 410 | 450 |
17-Shoulder Breadth (Bideltoid) | 440 | 485 | 530 | 390 | 440 | 490 |
18-Shoulder Breadth (Biacromial) | 370 | 405 | 440 | 340 | 365 | 390 |
19-Hip Breadth | 350 | 390 | 430 | 350 | 405 | 460 |
20-Chest Depth | 210 | 245 | 280 | 210 | 250 | 290 |
21-Abdominal Depth | 220 | 275 | 330 | 200 | 270 | 340 |
22-Shoulder-Elbow Length | 330 | 365 | 400 | 300 | 330 | 360 |
23-Elbow Fingertip Length | 440 | 475 | 510 | 400 | 430 | 460 |
24-Upper Limb Length | 730 | 790 | 850 | 650 | 715 | 780 |
25-Shoulder Grip Length | 680 | 745 | 810 | 620 | 685 | 750 |
26-Head Length | 190 | 200 | 210 | 170 | 185 | 200 |
27-Head Breadth | 140 | 155 | 170 | 140 | 150 | 160 |
28-Hand Length | 170 | 190 | 210 | 160 | 175 | 190 |
29-Hand Breadth | 80 | 90 | 100 | 70 | 80 | 90 |
30-Foot Length | 240 | 265 | 290 | 220 | 240 | 260 |
31-Foot Breadth | 90 | 100 | 110 | 80 | 90 | 100 |
32-Span | 1670 | 810 | 1950 | 1520 | 1650 | 1780 |
33-Elbow Span | 870 | 845 | 1020 | 780 | 855 | 930 |
34-Vertical Reach | 1950 | 2100 | 2250 | 1810 | 1940 | 2070 |
35-Vertical Reach (sit) | 1220 | 1305 | 1390 | 1100 | 1190 | 1280 |
36-Forward Grip Reach (Standing) | 720 | 790 | 860 | 660 | 725 | 790 |
Hand capacities....( Average male )
Pictures showing same Information
Maximum height of reach-
Note: As a very general rule the maximum height of reach = 1,24 x Body Length..
Sex |
Stature |
Percentile |
To Fingertip(mm) |
Grasping Height (mm) |
Male |
Tall |
95 |
2310 |
2190 |
Male |
Average |
50 |
2180 |
2060 |
Male |
Short |
5 |
2040 |
1920 |
Female |
Tall |
95 |
2120 |
2020 |
Female |
Average |
50 |
2000 |
1900 |
Female |
Short |
5 |
1890 |
1790 |
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