Most of us browse on our phones, and very often with one hand: a coffee in the other, a bag on the shoulder, a child to keep an eye on. That's why where you put buttons on a mobile site matters as much as how they look.
What is the thumb zone?
The thumb zone is the part of a phone screen your thumb reaches comfortably while you hold the phone in the same hand. When mobile UX researcher Steven Hoober observed how people actually hold their phones, around half were using just one hand.
For a right-handed person holding the phone in their right hand, the easy area is roughly the lower middle of the screen. The top corners, especially the top left, are a stretch.
How it shapes a mobile website
- Put the main action, such as Book, Call or Enquire, where the thumb lands naturally, often at the bottom of the screen
- Make buttons big enough to hit without zooming in
- Leave space between links so people don't tap the wrong one
- Keep less common actions, like settings or language switches, in the harder-to-reach areas
Where it comes up in our work
On a site like the one we built for a motorcycle school, many visitors are checking lessons and prices on their phones. Planning the mobile layout around the thumb zone keeps the key actions within easy reach.
Your turn
Pick up your phone and open your own website with one hand. Can you reach your main button without shuffling your grip?