About the Shoe Size Converter
Buying shoes from an overseas store or a brand that only lists European sizes? This shoe size converter translates adult sizes between US men’s, US women’s, UK and EU, and also works from your actual foot length in centimetres or inches, which is the most reliable starting point.
Enter a size in any system and you get the equivalent in all the others, rounded to the nearest half size, plus the foot length it corresponds to. It is useful for converting a women’s size to a men’s or unisex size, checking a European size against your usual US size, and measuring a child who has moved into adult sizes.
Every brand grades its lasts slightly differently, so treat the result as a starting point and check the brand’s own chart when you are between sizes. The model used here follows the standard definitions: US and UK sizes step by one-third of an inch, EU sizes (Paris points) step by two-thirds of a centimetre, and US women’s sizes run 1½ sizes above men’s.
How to use the shoe size converter
- 1Choose the sizing system you already know, or pick cm/inches to use a foot measurement.
- 2Enter the size (or the measured length).
- 3Read the equivalent US men’s, US women’s, UK and EU sizes.
- 4Compare with the brand’s chart if you are between sizes.
Formula and method
US and UK shoe sizes are measured in barleycorns — one-third of an inch — so every whole size adds a third of an inch of length. With foot length f in inches, US men’s = 3f − 23 (the Brannock scale), UK = one size smaller than US men’s, and US women’s = 1½ sizes larger than US men’s.
EU sizes are Paris points of two-thirds of a centimetre measured on the shoe last, which is longer than the foot; this converter adds a 1.2 cm allowance, which lines up with the charts of major athletic brands. All results are rounded to the nearest half size.
- f
- Foot length in inches (heel to longest toe)
Worked examples
US men’s 9
A US men’s 9 fits a foot about 27.1 cm long. That is a women’s 10.5, a UK 8 and an EU 42.5.
EU 38 to US
EU 38 corresponds to a foot of about 24.1 cm, which is a US women’s 7, a US men’s 5.5 and a UK 4.5.
UK 5 to US and EU
A UK 5 is a US men’s 6 and a US women’s 7.5, and it converts to EU 38.5.
Measured foot of 26.5 cm
A 26.5 cm foot works out to US men’s 8.3, which rounds to 8.5 — US women’s 10, UK 7.5 and EU 41.5.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert women’s shoe sizes to men’s?+
Subtract 1½ from a US women’s size to get the US men’s equivalent: a women’s 8.5 is a men’s 7. Some brands, especially for sneakers, use a difference of 1 instead, so check their chart.
How do UK shoe sizes compare to US?+
UK sizes are about one size smaller than US men’s and about 2 to 2½ sizes smaller than US women’s. A UK 8 is roughly a US men’s 9 and a US women’s 10.5.
How do I measure my foot for shoe size?+
Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall, mark the tip of your longest toe, and measure the distance in centimetres. Measure both feet in the evening and use the longer one.
Why are EU sizes different between brands?+
EU sizes are based on the length of the shoe last rather than the foot, and each brand chooses its own toe allowance and grading. That is why the same foot can be an EU 42 in one brand and 42.5 or 43 in another.
Does this work for kids’ shoes?+
This converter covers adult sizes. Children’s shoes use separate toddler, little-kid and big-kid (youth) scales, which restart at size 1, so use the brand’s kids chart and your child’s measured foot length.