Plush Eye Placement Calculator
Calculate where to place eyes on a plush toy or stuffed animal.
Enter head dimensions and choose cute or realistic style to get horizontal and vertical placement guides.
Eye placement is the biggest single factor in whether a plush toy looks cute or off-putting. There is real visual science behind this.
Cute (neoteny) style:
Human brains are wired to find baby-like proportions appealing: large forehead, eyes positioned low on the face, eyes far apart. This is why anime, chibi art, and most commercial stuffed animals use:
- Vertical position: eyes at 50-55% down from top of head
- Horizontal spacing: eyes centered at +/- 20-25% of head width from center
Realistic / lifelike style:
Adult animal proportions have eyes higher and closer together:
- Vertical position: eyes at 40-45% down from head top
- Horizontal spacing: +/- 30-35% from center (varies by species)
The formula:
eye_Y = head_height x vertical_ratio eye_X_from_center = head_width x horizontal_ratio
Nose placement (cute style): nose at 65-70% down, centered. Mouth corners at 75% down, +/- 15% from center.
Safety eyes vs embroidery: Safety eyes (plastic backs with locking washers) are rated for toys for children 3 and older. For under-3 toys, embroider the eyes in yarn — nothing with a removable part can attach to a face on an infant toy. Embroidered features allow position adjustment after stuffing; safety eyes must be inserted before final stuffing.