Shoe Size Converter

How to use the shoe size converter

1. Fill in the fields — they start with a worked example.
2. Read the answer, and the arithmetic shown beneath it.
3. Copy the results, or adjust the inputs to compare scenarios.

About this tool

Every scale here describes the same thing — the length of a foot — and each does it differently. UK and US sizes both derive from the barleycorn, a third of an inch, but start counting from different points, which is why the US number is one and a half higher for women and one higher for men. EU sizes use the Paris point, two thirds of a centimetre, and measure the last rather than the foot.

That is why the centimetre column is the useful one. It is a measurement rather than a convention, and it is what manufacturers actually work from. Measure your foot standing, at the end of the day when it is at its largest, and compare that figure against the chart — it will tell you more than any conversion between two national scales.

The conversions here are the standard published relationships, and they are approximate by nature. Sizes are not standardised between manufacturers: half a size of variation between brands is ordinary, and athletic shoes commonly run smaller than dress shoes from the same maker. A conversion gets you to the right pair to try on rather than to a size you can order blind.

Width is the other half of fit and no scale here carries it. A shoe of the right length that is too narrow is the wrong shoe, and width fittings vary by country too, which is one more reason the tape measure beats the table.

Common uses

• Buying shoes from a site that lists sizes in another system.
• Converting a measured foot length into a size to try.
• Checking a US women's size against a UK one.

Frequently asked questions

What is a UK 8 in US sizes?

About a US 9 in men's and a US 10.5 in women's, roughly 27 cm of foot length. The men's and women's scales are offset by about 1.5 sizes.

Why do sizes differ between brands?

Because nothing standardises them. Half a size of variation is ordinary, and athletic shoes usually run smaller than dress shoes from the same maker.

How should I measure my foot?

Standing, at the end of the day when your feet are largest, heel to longest toe. That measurement in centimetres is more reliable than any conversion between scales.