How to Draw Accurate Human Body Proportions

Co-authored by Renée Plevy

Last Updated: June 24, 2024 Approved

Do your arms seem too long every time you draw a person? Or maybe your torso seems too short. Once you know how to proportion the body, it isn't so hard to get it looking right.

Steps

Download Article

1
Draw 7 circles of about the same size. These will be your guidelines.
- Some people prefer to start with 8 circles since it's easier to grasp the alignments of the anatomy.^{[1]
  X
  Research source}
2
Draw an oval parallel to the topmost circle. This will be the head.

Advertisement
3
Halfway down the second circle from the top, add a horizontal line. This is where the shoulder stops.
4
Halfway down the third circle, draw another horizontal line. This is where the waist will be, and also where the elbows end.
5
Halfway down the fourth circle, end the torso.
6
Halfway down the fifth circle, end the fingertips. Draw the beginning of the wrists about where the torso ends.
7
Just past the top of the sixth circle, end the knees.^{[2]
X
Research source}
8
Finish the bottom of the feet where the last circle ends. That's it!

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

I need help drawing the hands, any advice?

Community Answer

Hands are very difficult to draw, even for an artist! They take much practice to draw. Check how-to-draw books, find tutorials online, or use a reference picture of the position you'd like. For proportions, if your character's arm is at the side of the body, the wrist starts at the crotch and the hand goes to around the middle of the thigh.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 20 Helpful 46
Question

I need to draw people shorter than the idealized proportions. Any tips for scaling them down?

Community Answer

Keep the head the same size, and simply make them 5 or 6 heads tall instead of 7. You can do this by shortening the torso or the legs.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 15 Helpful 35
Question

How did people figure out that its 7 heads long and how each proportion is?

Belle K.

Top Answerer

They measured how long an average head is and how tall an average person is. Then divided the height by the length of the head. They did this with many different people's heights and head lengths and found it was 7.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 15 Helpful 24

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Reader Videos

Tips

These are rough guidelines for the average human body, and do not apply to all body types and sizes.^{[3]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
These measurements do not take into consideration the width of each body part in proportion to one another, just the lengths.

Thanks
Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0
Stretching and exaggerating these proportions are what give a stylized twist to caricatures.

Thanks
Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0