How to Measure Your Shoe Size (and Convert It Anywhere)
Measure your feet properly once and you will know your shoe size in US, UK, EU and centimetres for good. A step-by-step guide plus the conversion patterns that actually matter.
Shoe sizing is where international charts get genuinely confusing. A women's 8 in the United States is a 6 in the UK and a 38.5 in Europe, and that is before you factor in width, style and the brand's personality. The good news is wonderfully simple: your feet do not change when you cross a border. Measure them once, properly, and you will know your size in any system for good.
This guide shows you exactly how to measure, why foot length is the number that matters most, and the quick conversion patterns worth keeping in your head.
How to measure your feet in five steps
- Do it in the evening, because feet swell during the day and you want the larger size.
- Wear the socks you would normally wear with the shoes.
- Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall.
- Mark the tip of your longest toe, then measure from the wall to the mark in centimetres.
- Measure both feet and use the larger measurement, because most people have one slightly bigger foot.
Add roughly 0.5 cm to your longest-foot measurement for comfort before matching it to a chart. Your toes need space to splay as you walk, especially in closed styles.
Why foot length is the best guide
Country sizes are simply different labels for the same foot. The foot-length column is identical everywhere, so matching your centimetre measurement to a chart sidesteps conversion errors entirely. EU sizing is the closest to pure foot length, which is exactly why it tends to be the most consistent between brands.
| Foot (cm) | US (women) | UK (women) | EU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22.9 | 6 | 4 | 36 |
| 24.1 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 38 |
| 25.4 | 9 | 7 | 40 |
| 26.3 | 10 | 8 | 41 |
The conversion patterns worth memorising
- Women: UK is about US minus 2; EU is roughly US plus 30.
- Men: UK is about US minus 0.5; EU is roughly US plus 33.
- For the same foot, a women's US number is about 1.5 higher than the men's number.
Convert your size in a tap. Enter the size you know and see US, UK, EU and foot length side by side, for men and women.
Open the Shoe Size ConverterMind the width and the brand
Length is only half the story. Lasts and widths vary a lot between makers, so a size that is perfect in one brand can pinch in another. If you are between sizes, or the style runs narrow, size up and check the returns policy. You can pad a slightly loose shoe with an insole, but a shoe that is too short is simply too small, and no amount of breaking in will fix it.
There should be about a thumb's width between your longest toe and the end of the shoe, your heel should not slip as you walk, and the widest part of your foot should sit at the widest part of the shoe. If any of those fail, change the size before you fall for the style.
Buying shoes online with confidence
- Measure both feet in centimetres and note the larger figure.
- Match it to the brand's size chart, not just a generic conversion.
- Read reviews for "runs small", "runs narrow" or "half size up" notes.
- Order the size the measurement suggests, and keep the returns window in mind.
The bottom line
Forget memorising every country's numbers. Measure your foot in centimetres, keep that figure in your phone next to your clothing measurements, and let a conversion chart do the rest. One careful measurement tonight saves a lifetime of sizing guesswork, returns and shoes that never quite fit.
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure my shoe size at home?
Stand on paper with your heel against a wall, mark your longest toe, and measure the distance in centimetres. Do both feet, use the larger, add about 0.5 cm of room, then match it to a shoe-size chart.
What is a US women's 8 in EU?
A women's US 8 is about an EU 38.5 and a UK 6, with a foot length near 24.6 cm. Because EU sizing tracks foot length, it is often the most consistent across brands.
Should I size up or down in shoes?
If you are between sizes, it is usually safer to size up, especially for closed-toe or narrow styles. You can add an insole if a shoe runs slightly large, but you cannot stretch one that is too short.
Why do the same size shoes fit differently?
Lasts, the moulds shoes are built on, and widths vary a lot between brands, so a perfect size in one label can pinch in another. Match foot length first, then check reviews for width notes.