This article focuses on the optimum design of bridge abutments when subjected to earthquake loading. Planar failure surface has been used in conjunction with modified pseudo-static approach to compute the seismic active earth pressures on an abutment. The proposed modified Mononobe-Okabe method considers the effects of strain localization in the backfill soil and associated post-peak reduction in the shear resistance from peak to residual values along a previously formed failure plane, phase difference in shear waves, and soil amplification along with the horizontal seismic accelerations. Four modes of stability viz. sliding, overturning, eccentricity, and bearing capacity of the foundation soil are considered in the analysis. The influence of various design parameters on the seismic stability of abutments is presented. The optimum values of base width of the abutment needed to maintain the stability are obtained against four modes of failure, based on the suggestions of Japan Road Association, Caltrans Bridge Design Specifications, and U.S Department of the Army. Copyright © A.S. Elnashai & N.N. Ambraseys.