We examine how deformation of the Earth’s crust varies with depth beneath the surface. By looking in detail at exhumed rocks from three case studies in the USA, we identify three main deformation zones: 1, a brittle deformation zone (low temperatures mean rocks break along faults and fractures); 2, a localized deformation zone (warmer rocks deform along discrete zones that shear but do not break); and 3, a distributed deformation zone (hot rocks flow ductilely and no discrete shearing occurs).