This page provides human strength and endurance data for engineering design, including static, dynamic and explosive strength characteristics relevant to ergonomics and mechanical design.
For control forces and operator interaction, see machine interfaces and control design. Human strength data should also be considered alongside anthropometric data and human body dimensions when designing equipment and workspaces.
The information supports engineers in designing equipment, assessing manual handling tasks and understanding human performance limits. Human capability varies considerably, however, and the values on this page should be treated as indicative engineering data rather than universal design limits.
Human strength varies considerably between individuals and depends on factors including body size, age, physical condition, posture, joint position, grip, direction of force and the duration and frequency of the task.
The values on this page are provided as general engineering guidance and should not be treated as fixed human capability limits. Where manual handling, operator safety or regulatory compliance is involved, the relevant legislation, standards and validated human-factors data should be used for the intended user population and application.
Human strength can broadly be considered in three categories:
The force that a person can exert is not a single fixed value. Capability can change significantly with the position of the body, the direction in which force is applied and the way the load or control is gripped.
Important factors include:
Maximum strength and endurance should not be treated as the same design quantity. A person may be capable of producing a relatively high force for a short period but may be unable to sustain that force or repeat it frequently without fatigue.
Task frequency and duration are therefore important engineering considerations. A force or movement required only occasionally may present a different ergonomic demand from the same action repeated many times during a working shift.
Frequency should not be considered in isolation. The required force, posture, reach, duration, load, working environment and consequences of an error or loss of control should also be considered.
The following values provide indicative examples of the forces and torques that may be associated with particular human actions. They are useful for developing an appreciation of the approximate magnitude of human forces but should not be treated as universal design values.
Human capability varies considerably with the population, test method, posture, equipment geometry and operating conditions. For safety-critical design, manual handling assessment or specification of operator forces, appropriate current standards and validated data for the intended user population should be used.
Data source: Selected human strength data on this page are derived from Peebles, L. and Norris, B. J. (1998), Adultdata: The Handbook of Adult Anthropometric and Strength Measurements – Data for Design Safety, Department of Trade and Industry, UK, URN 98/736.
Persons aged 31–50 years; gripping a test handle approximately 50 mm wide × 100 mm long.
| Sex | Mean (N) | S.D. (N) | Range (N) |
| Male | 54.03 | 7.04 | 43.10 – 64.40 |
| Female | 31.42 | 4.99 | 21.50 – 37.30 |
Persons aged 31–50 years; smooth circular knob approximately 40 mm diameter × 20 mm deep with a horizontal axis.
| Sex | Mean (Nm) | S.D. (Nm) | Range (Nm) |
| Male | 4.48 | 1.69 | 2.56 – 6.08 |
| Female | 3.89 | 1.32 | 1.45 – 6.13 |
Persons aged 31–50 years; knurled lid approximately 65 mm diameter.
| Sex | Mean (Nm) | S.D. (Nm) | Range (Nm) |
| Male | 7.94 | 1.67 | 5.29 – [verify original upper value] |
| Female | 4.75 | 1.72 | 1.22 – 6.93 |
Note: The upper value in the original male range should be checked against the source data before publication because the legacy entry contains an apparent transcription error.
Persons aged 31–50 years; horizontal cylindrical bar 20 mm diameter × 300 mm long, using one hand.
| Sex | Mean (N) | S.D. (N) | Range (N) |
| Male | 477.3 | 213.75 | 408.48 – 647.03 |
| Female | 294.87 | 96.29 | 189.75 – 460.09 |
Persons aged 31–50 years; horizontal cylindrical bar 20 mm diameter × 300 mm long, using one hand.
| Sex | Mean (N) | S.D. (N) | Range (N) |
| Male | 457.22 | 99.37 | 290.65 – 543.61 |
| Female | 314.47 | 136.42 | 215.91 – 500.26 |
Persons aged 31–50 years; pedal 400 mm long and 30 mm wide, positioned within a 55 mm wide space to restrict the amount of the foot that could be placed on the pedal.
| Sex | Mean (N) | S.D. (N) | Range (N) |
| Male | 329.183 | 129.99 | 173.00 – 579.70 |
| Female | 237.99 | 106.80 | 121.50 – 435.60 |
The following values are based on US data and represent adjusted values derived from tests on young men. They are retained as indicative engineering reference data only. The force that can be exerted by the arm depends strongly on posture, arm position, direction of force and individual capability.
| Angle | B | C | D | E | F | G | ||||||
| L (N) | R (N) | L (N) | R (N) | L (N) | R (N) | L (N) | R (N) | L (N) | R (N) | L (N) | R (N) | |
| 180° | 177.6 | 184.8 | 149.6 | 177.6 | 32 | 49.6 | 46.6 | 60.8 | 46.6 | 71.2 | 28.8 | 49.6 |
| 150° | 149.6 | 199.2 | 106.4 | 149.6 | 53.6 | 64 | 64 | 71.2 | 53.6 | 71.2 | 28.8 | 53.6 |
| 120° | 120.8 | 149.6 | 92.8 | 128 | 60.8 | 85.6 | 74.4 | 92.8 | 71.2 | 78.4 | 36 | 53.6 |
| 90° | 113.6 | 132 | 78.4 | 128 | 60.8 | 71.2 | 74.4 | 92.8 | 56.8 | 64 | 36 | 56.8 |
| 60° | 92.8 | 85.6 | 78.4 | 120.8 | 53.6 | 71.2 | 60.8 | 71.2 | 42.4 | 60.8 | L | R |
The following legacy data provide indicative lifting capabilities for young, fit men with adequate working space:
These values should not be interpreted as recommended manual handling limits. The acceptability of a lifting task depends on factors including load, frequency, duration, starting and finishing height, horizontal reach, twisting, grip, posture and the characteristics of the intended user population.
The legs are used in standing, walking, lifting, cycling and the operation of foot controls and can generally exert considerably greater forces than the arms. However, published leg-strength values vary substantially according to posture, joint angle, test method and the population being measured.
For this reason, simple leg-strength values should be used cautiously. Validated data and appropriate standards should be used where leg force forms an important part of an equipment or workplace design.
As a simple mechanics example, the approximate static torque produced when the full body weight is applied to one horizontal bicycle pedal may be estimated from:
Torque = Force × Pedal Radius
For a person of mass 82 kg and a pedal radius of 160 mm, using body weight as the applied force gives an approximate torque of 129 Nm.
This is an illustrative mechanics calculation and should not be interpreted as a general human leg-strength design value.
Standing push, pull and operating forces depend strongly on body posture, foot position, available support, direction of force and the friction between the footwear and floor. Values should therefore be interpreted in relation to the test arrangement and intended application.
Human strength data should be applied in the context of the actual engineering task. A value measured under controlled test conditions does not automatically represent a suitable operating force or manual handling limit.
Engineers should consider the intended user population together with the posture, reach, grip, task frequency, duration, working environment and consequences of an error or loss of control.
For frequently repeated operations, reducing the required force can be particularly important because fatigue and cumulative physical loading may become significant. An occasional inspection or adjustment may justify different ergonomic criteria from a control operated hundreds of times during a working shift, subject to the applicable safety and regulatory requirements.
Ergonomic guidance should also be considered alongside other engineering requirements including safety, security, maintainability and operational needs. Where requirements conflict, the applicable legislation, standards and industry-specific procedures should be established and the engineering decision appropriately assessed.
Peebles, L. and Norris, B. J. (1998), Adultdata: The Handbook of Adult Anthropometric and Strength Measurements – Data for Design Safety, Department of Trade and Industry, UK, URN 98/736.
Peebles, L. and Norris, B. J. (2003), "Filling 'gaps' in strength data for design", Applied Ergonomics, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 73–88.
Human strength data is used to design equipment, controls and workspaces that can be safely operated by the intended user population without excessive force or risk of injury.
Human strength is generally categorised as static or isometric strength, dynamic strength and explosive or impulsive strength, depending on how force is applied over time.
Human strength varies considerably between individuals and with posture, task and test conditions. The values presented on this page are indicative and should not be used for detailed or safety-critical design without reference to validated data sources and relevant standards.
Human strength influences the forces required to operate controls, handle components and interact with equipment. The required capability should be considered together with the intended user population, task frequency, posture and duration when designing equipment and workplaces.
For access and clearance considerations, see human access space requirements.