Touch target
A touch target is the area that responds to a tap, which can be larger than the control people see. Apple gives 44 by 44 points as the default control size on iPhone, and Material asks for at least 48 by 48 dp.
Why it matters
A target below the minimum is hit and missed. It is the commonest reason a mobile screen fails an accessibility review.
The minimum differs by platform, 44 points on iOS and 48 dp on Android, so a shared design has to read it from the mode.
Touch target on iOS and Android
Also called Tap target, Hit area. The same idea in each system, with the values Appetite UI gives it.
| Value | iOS | Android | Appetite UI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Hit region, 44 by 44 pt by default, 28 by 28 pt at the smallest | Touch target, 48 by 48 dp minimum | platform/min-touch-target |
| Minimum touch target | 44 pt | 48 dp | platform/ |
In Appetite UI
The components, drawn live from the kit’s tokens. Tap them: they behave as the Figma prototype does.
Social Button, Text Input and Button
In practice
A small icon can keep its size on screen while its target grows to the minimum around it. Targets that are too small are the commonest reason a mobile screen fails an accessibility review.
In Appetite UI the minimum is one Platform variable, platform/min-touch-target, so a component reads 44 on iOS and 48 on Android from the mode of its frame.
Common mistakes
- Making the drawing the target, such as a 24 point icon with nothing around it. Grow the target, not the icon.
- Using one number for both platforms.
- Packing targets with no gap, so the areas overlap.
Questions
What is the minimum touch target size on iOS and Android?
Design to 44 by 44 points on iOS and 48 by 48 dp on Android. Apple’s accessibility guidance lists 44 by 44 points as the default control size and 28 by 28 as the smallest; WCAG 2.2 asks for at least 24 by 24 CSS pixels at Level AA.
Can a control look smaller than its touch target?
Yes. The hit area can extend past what is drawn, which is how a 24 point icon stays tappable: the icon keeps its size and the target around it meets the minimum.
Sources
The pages the facts above rest on, each read October 31, 2026.