Continuous footings are currently optimized for the footing thickness and overhangs on either end of the footing, parallel to the footing's major axis. The footing width parallel to the footing's minor axis is not currently optimized. The dimension optimization is also heuristic and similar in concept to the spread footing.

Thickness is controlled by punching shear and beam shear only when adequate shear reinforcement cannot be found. Footing plan dimensions are controlled by soil stress.