What is a comfortable distance between people?

In every culture, there are certain expectations about personal space. If you are too near the person with whom you are interacting, you may be perceived as excessively intimate. If you are too far away, you may be perceived as too formal, uncaring, or emotionally distant.

How near should you be when you are interacting with Americans?

The anthropologist Edward Hall studied personal space and found that Americans tend to favor a slightly greater distance than in many other cultures. For ordinary interaction with friends and acquaintances, Americans favor a distance of at least 2 feet (60 cm). This is comparable to the distance between two people shaking hands. They often feel comfortable with as much as 4-5 feet (120-180 cm). For more formal or business interactions, the distance may range from 4-12 feet (120-360 cm). A distance of 18 inches (45 cm) or less is reserved for intimate interactions: between very close friends, family members, and pets.

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