Conversions are approximate and vary by brand and style. For the best fit, measure your foot and check the maker's chart.
Why shoe sizes don't match between countries
There is no single global shoe size standard. The US, UK, Europe, Japan, China and other regions each built
their own numbering system, often centuries apart and on different base units — the US system is rooted in a
14th-century English unit called the barleycorn, while the European "Paris point" system counts in
two-thirds of a centimetre. None of these scales start from zero foot length, and none of them convert to
one another with a simple formula, which is why a size that fits in one country can be a size and a half off
in another. This converter maps every size back to physical foot length in centimetres and inches so it can
translate reliably between any two systems, rather than relying on rough rule-of-thumb offsets.
How to measure your foot at home
Stand on a sheet of paper against a wall, in the socks you'd normally wear with the shoe, and trace the
outline of your foot. Measure the longest straight-line distance from heel to the tip of your longest toe in
centimetres. Do this for both feet at the end of the day, when feet are at their largest, and use the bigger
measurement. Enter that number into the converter above using the "Centimetres" system to get your size in
any country's scale. See the full step-by-step measuring guide for width
measurement and tips on borderline sizes.
Frequently asked questions
Is a shoe size converter accurate?
It's accurate for the official size-to-foot-length mapping published by each sizing system, which is
what this tool converts between. Actual fit still varies by brand, last shape and shoe style, so treat
the result as a reliable starting point and check the size chart of the specific shoe where possible.
Why do my US and UK shoe sizes differ by more than one number?
Because the two systems use different base units and different starting points. Men's US sizes run
roughly one whole size above UK sizes, and women's US sizes run roughly two sizes above UK — see the
US & Canada guide and UK guide for the
exact relationship.
Do kids' and adults' sizes use the same scale?
No. Most systems use a separate infant/toddler/youth scale that only merges into the adult scale
around US size 7 (roughly age 12). Always convert children's sizes using a children's size chart
rather than the adult scale.
What if my size falls between two numbers?
Round up to the next half or whole size rather than down — a slightly loose shoe is more comfortable
and better for foot health than a tight one. If a brand doesn't offer half sizes, size up.
Does shoe width matter as well as length?
Yes — two feet with the same length can need different width fittings (commonly labelled B/D/E/EE in
the US/UK system). Length conversion gets you the right size number; width still needs to be checked
against the specific brand's fit guide if you're between widths.