Steric effects arise from the spatial arrangement of atoms. When atoms come close together there is generally a rise in the energy of the molecule. Steric effects are nonbonding interactions that influence the shape (conformation) and reactivity of ions and molecules. Steric effects complement electronic effects, which dictate the shape and reactivity of molecules. Steric repulsive forces between overlapping electron clouds result in structured groupings of molecules stabilized by the way that opposites attract and like charges repel.

Steric hindrance is a consequence of steric effects. Steric hindrance is the slowing of chemical reactions due to steric bulk. It is usually manifested in intermolecular reactions, whereas discussion of steric effects often focus on intramolecular interactions. Steric hindrance is often exploited to control selectivity, such as slowing unwanted side-reactions.

Steric hindrance between adjacent groups can also affect torsional bond angles. Steric hindrance is responsible for the observed shape of rotaxanes and the low rates of racemization of 2,2'-disubstituted biphenyl and binaphthyl derivatives.

Because steric effects have profound impact on properties, the steric properties of substituents have been assessed by numerous methods.

Relative rates of chemical reactions provide useful insights into the effects of the steric bulk of substituents. Under standard conditions, methyl bromide solvolyzes 10⁷ faster than does neopentyl bromide. The difference reflects the inhibition of attack on the compound with the sterically bulky (CH₃)₃C group.^[3]

A-values provide another measure of the bulk of substituents. A-values are derived from equilibrium measurements of monosubstituted cyclohexanes.^[4][5][6][7] The extent that a substituent favors the equatorial position gives a measure of its bulk.

Ceiling temperature (${\displaystyle T_{c}}$) is a measure of the steric properties of the monomers that comprise a polymer. ${\displaystyle T_{c}}$ is the temperature where the rate of polymerization and depolymerization are equal. Sterically hindered monomers give polymers with low ${\displaystyle T_{c}}$'s, which are usually not useful.

Ligand cone angles are measures of the size of ligands in coordination chemistry. It is defined as the solid angle formed with the metal at the vertex and the hydrogen atoms at the perimeter of the cone (see figure).^[9]

Steric effects are critical to chemistry, biochemistry, and pharmacology. In organic chemistry, steric effects are nearly universal and affect the rates and activation energies of most chemical reactions to varying degrees.

In biochemistry, steric effects are often exploited in naturally occurring molecules such as enzymes, where the catalytic site may be buried within a large protein structure. In pharmacology, steric effects determine how and at what rate a drug will interact with its target bio-molecules.

• Prominent sterically hindered compounds
• 
  Tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)phosphite, a widely used stabilizer in polymers.
• 
  Tricyclohexylphosphine, a bulky phosphine ligand used in homogeneous catalysis and, with B(C₆F₅)₃, comprises the classic frustrated Lewis pair.^[10]
• 
  2,6-Di-tert-butylphenol is used industrially as UV stabilizers and antioxidants for hydrocarbon-based products ranging from petrochemicals to plastics.^[11]
• 
  Hindered amine light stabilizers are widely used in polymers.^[12][13]
• 
  Titanium isopropoxide is a monomer, the corresponding titanium ethoxide is a tetramer.
• 
  An isolable selenenic acid owing to steric protection.^[14]

• Collision theory
• Intramolecular force
• Sterically induced reduction
• Reaction rate accelerate as result of steric hindrance in the Thorpe–Ingold effect
• Van der Waals strain, also known as steric strain

• Steric Effects (chem.swin.edu.au) at the Wayback Machine (archived July 25, 2008)
• Steric: A Program to Calculate the Steric Size of Molecules (gh.wits.ac.za) at the Wayback Machine (archived December 22, 2017)