Vehicle control systems and methods for sizing such systems are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, an actuator mechanism capability is selected, at least one operating requirement is selected, and the required number, size, and locations of a plurality of control surfaces needed to satisfy the at least one operating requirement are determined. In another embodiment, a set of control laws is selected, at least one operating requirement is selected, and the number size, and location of a plurality of control surfaces needed to satisfy the at least one operating requirement are determined.