Designing for Touch: Tap Targets and Gestures
On a phone or tablet, people interact by tapping and swiping with their fingers rather than pointing precisely with a mouse. Designing for touch means making everything comfortable to hit and operate that way.
Get it wrong and visitors mis-tap, get frustrated and leave. Get it right and your mobile experience feels effortless.
Sizing and Spacing
- Make buttons and links large enough to tap easily — around 44–48 pixels.
- Leave space between tappable items to avoid mis-taps.
- Keep key actions within easy thumb reach.
- Avoid relying on hover, which does not exist on touch.
Gestures Used Sparingly
Swipes and pinches can feel natural — for image galleries, say — but hidden gestures confuse people. We use them only where they are expected and always provide a visible alternative.
The Payoff
A touch-friendly site converts more mobile visitors, who now make up the majority of traffic for most businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big should buttons be on mobile?
Around 44 to 48 pixels is the widely accepted minimum, with a little space around each one so people do not tap the wrong thing.
Should I rely on swipe gestures?
Only where they are expected, such as image galleries, and always with a visible alternative. Hidden gestures tend to confuse visitors.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.