AbstractThe variability of soil movement was studied using Young pit and T-bar techniques. Typical sample sizes required to estimate the true mean within±0.50,±0.05 and±0.025 mm are presented. Sample sizes of less than 10 are usually sufficient to estimate mean annual movement in the surface 12.7 cm to±0.50 mm. To increase the precision of estimate to±0.05 mm a sample size of more than 100 observations may be required. T-bar movements were much more variable on south than on north facing slopes. The type of pin used in Young pit studies was shown to influence the amount of movement.