Capsule Collider 2D component reference

The Capsule ColliderAn invisible shape that is used to handle physical collisions for an object. A collider doesn’t need to be exactly the same shape as the object’s mesh - a rough approximation is often more efficient and indistinguishable in gameplay. More info
See in Glossary 2D component is a Collider 2D that interacts with the 2D physics system. The capsule shape of the collider, with its smooth, round circumference and absence of vertex corners, allows for smoother movement along other colliders, preventing snagging on sharp corners.

Note: The capsule shape of the collider is solid and not hollow. Unity regards any other Collider 2Ds that are inside the Capsule ColliderA capsule-shaped collider component that handles collisions for GameObjects like barrels and character limbs. More info
See in Glossary 2D to be in constant contact with the collider and gradually forced out of the Capsule Collider 2D over time.

Capsule Collider 2D component Inspector window properties.

Property	Function
Material	Select the Physics Material 2DUse to adjust the friction and bounce that occurs between 2D physics objects when they collide More info See in Glossary that determines properties of collisionsA collision occurs when the physics engine detects that the colliders of two GameObjects make contact or overlap, when at least one has a Rigidbody component and is in motion. More info See in Glossary, such as friction and bounce.
Is Trigger	Enable this if you want this Collider 2D to behave as a trigger. The physics system ignores this Collider when this is enabled.
Used by Effector	Enable this if you want the Collider 2D to be used by an attached Effector 2D.
Composite Operations	Select the composite operation used by an attached Composite Collider 2D component. Note: When you select any operation besides None, the following properties—Material, Is Trigger, Used By Effector, and Edge Radius—become controlled by the attached Composite Collider 2D component and are no longer available in this collider’s properties.
	None	Select this to have no composite operation take place.
	Merge	Select this to have this composite operation compose geometry using a Boolean OR operation.
	Intersect	Select this to have this composite operation compose geometry using a Boolean AND operation.
	Difference	Select this to have this composite operation compose geometry using a Boolean NOT operation.
	Flip	Select this to have this composite operation compose geometry using a Boolean XOR operation.
Offset	Set the local offset values of the Collider 2D geometry.
Size	Set the x and y values to define the size of the box region that the Capsule Collider 2D fills. Refer to Defining Size and Direction for more details.
Direction	Select the orientation of the Capsule Collider 2D. This determines the position and orientation of the curved ends of the Collider shape. Refer to Defining Size and Direction for more details.
	Vertical	Select this to orient the ends of the Collider shape upwards and downwards.
	Horizontal	Select this to orient the ends of the Collider shape left and right.
Layer Overrides	Expand for the Layer override settings.
	Layer Override Priority	Assign the decision priority that this Collider2D uses when resolving conflicting decisions on whether a contact between itself and another Collision2D should happen or not. Refer to its API page for more information.
	Include Layers	Select the additional Layers that this Collider 2D should include when deciding if a contact with another Collider2D should happen or not. Refer to its API documentation for more information.
	Exclude Layers	Select the additional Layers that this Collider 2D should exclude when deciding if a contact with another Collider2D should happen or not. Refer to its API documentation for more information.
	Force Send Layers	Select the Layers that this Collider 2D is allowed to send forces to during a Collision contact with another Collider2D. Refer to its API documentation for more information.
	Force Receive Layers	Select the Layers that this Collider 2D can receive forces from during a Collision contact with another Collider2D. Refer to its API documentation for more information.
	Contract Capture Layers	Select the Layers of other Collider 2D, involved in contacts with this Collider2D, that will be captured. Refer to its API documentation for more information.
	Callback Layers	Select the Layers that this Collider 2D, during a contact with another Collider2D, will report collision or trigger callbacks for. Refer to its API documentation for more information.

Defining size and direction

The settings that define the shape of the Capsule Collider 2D are Size and Direction. Both the Size and Direction properties refer to X and Y (horizontal and vertical, respectively) in the local space of the Capsule Collider 2D, and not in world space.

A typical way to set up the Capsule Collider 2D is to set the Size to match the Direction. For example, if the Capsule Collider 2D’s Direction is Vertical, the Size of X is 0.5 and the Size of Y is 1, this makes the vertical direction capsule taller, rather than wider.

In the example below, the X and Y are represented by the yellow lines.

An example of a Capsule Collider 2D set so the Size matches Direction — An example of a Capsule Collider 2D set so the **Size** matches **Direction**

Capsule configuration examples

You can change the Capsule Collider 2D with different configurations. Below are some examples.

Note that when the X and Y of the Size property are the same, the Capsule Collider 2D always approximates to a circle.

Examples of Capsule Collider 2D configurations

Note: A known issue in the 2D physics system is that when a GameObjectThe fundamental object in Unity scenes, which can represent characters, props, scenery, cameras, waypoints, and more. A GameObject’s functionality is defined by the Components attached to it. More info
See in Glossary moves across multiple Colliders, one or several of the Colliders may register a collision between the Colliders. This may occur even when the Colliders are perfectly aligned. This collision can cause the Collider to slow down or stop.

While constructing a surface with the Capsule Collider 2D can help reduce this problem, it is recommeneded to use a single Collider rather than multiple Colliders for a surface, such as the Edge Collider 2D.

Additional resources

CapsuleCollider2D

Edge Collider 2D component reference

Composite Collider 2D component reference