Shopping for shoes that fit you perfectly can be such a harrowing experience, especially when you are about to invest a lot of money. For starters, measuring your feet size is a foolproof way to arrive at the exact shoe size. Even though the sizing differs with brands and the measuring unit of the country you are based out of, big names are pretty standard and have set conversion charts. Plus, it is not even that complicated and takes less than a couple of minutes to measure your foot correctly. If you have always been confused about finding the right size, your struggle ends here. Scroll down to learn how to measure shoe size of your feet correctly.
In This Article
How To Measure Shoe Size
You Will Need
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Paper – 2 big pieces
- Pencil or a marker
- Chair to sit on while taking the measurement
Related: Shoe Size Calculator
How To Measure
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- The easiest and the most accurate way to do it is to first stick the paper to the floor with a tape so that it does not move.
- Sit on the chair and place one foot on the paper.
- Place the pencil/marker perpendicular to the paper and not at an angle, because then you might end up taking the outline from under the foot and not realize it.
- Now, trace the outline of your feet, one foot at a time. There will be some difference between the width and length of both feet.
- Now, make a note of the length by measuring from the tip of the heel to your longest toe – remember the big toe is always not the longest.
- Do the same with the width, measure the broadest part of your foot.
- Make a note of these numbers. And, use the larger number among the two.
- You then need to subtract ‘3/16’ from the number; you need to do this to make up for any difference between the line and the physical shoe.
- That will finally become your shoe measurement.
- You will now have to convert this according to your country’s measurement units. See the conversion charts below.
P.S – If you are measuring your feet for shoes, then wear socks, because you will be wearing them with your shoes.
Related: How To Match Your Shoes With The Dress – Tips Every Girl Should Know
Shoe Size Chart – Women
| Cms | Inches | UK Sizes | US Sizes | EU Sizes | India Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20.8 | 8.1875” | 2 | 4 | 35 | 2 |
| 21.3 | 8.375” | 2.5 | 4.5 | 35 | 2.5 |
| 21.6 | 8.5” | 3 | 5 | 35-36 | 3 |
| 22.2 | 8.75” | 3.5 | 5.5 | 36 | 3.5 |
| 22.5 | 8.875” | 4 | 6 | 36-37 | 4 |
| 23 | 9.0625” | 4.5 | 6.5 | 37 | 4.5 |
| 23.5 | 9.25” | 5 | 7 | 37-38 | 5 |
| 23.8 | 9.375” | 5.5 | 7.5 | 38 | 5.5 |
| 24.1 | 9.5” | 6 | 8 | 38-39 | 6 |
| 24.6 | 9.6875” | 6.5 | 8.5 | 39 | 6.5 |
| 25.1 | 9.875” | 7 | 9 | 39-40 | 7 |
| 25.4 | 10” | 7.5 | 9.5 | 40 | 7.5 |
| 25.9 | 10.1875” | 8 | 10 | 40-41 | 8 |
| 26.2 | 10.3125” | 8.5 | 10.5 | 41 | 8.5 |
| 26.7 | 10.5” | 9 | 11 | 41-42 | 9 |
| 27.1 | 10.6875” | 9.5 | 11.5 | 42-43 | 9.5 |
| 27.6 | 10.875” | 10 | 12 | 42-43 | 10 |
Shoe Size Chart – Men
| Cms | Inches | UK Sizes | US Sizes | EU Sizes | India Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.5 | 9.25” | 5.5 | 6 | 39 | 5.5 |
| 24.1 | 9.5” | 6 | 6.5 | 39 | 6 |
| 24.4 | 9.625” | 6.5 | 7 | 40 | 6.5 |
| 24.8 | 9.75” | 7 | 7.5 | 40-41 | 7 |
| 25.4 | 9.9375” | 7.5 | 8 | 41 | 7.5 |
| 25.7 | 10.125” | 8 | 8.5 | 41-42 | 8 |
| 26 | 10.25” | 8.5 | 9 | 42 | 8.5 |
| 26.7 | 10.4375” | 9 | 9.5 | 42-43 | 9 |
| 27 | 10.5625” | 9.5 | 10 | 43 | 9.5 |
| 27.3 | 10.75” | 10 | 10.5 | 43-44 | 10 |
| 27.9 | 10.9375” | 10.5 | 11 | 44 | 10.5 |
| 28.3 | 11.125” | 11 | 11.5 | 44-45 | 11 |
| 28.6 | 11.25” | 11.5 | 12 | 45 | 11.5 |
| 29.4 | 11.5625” | 12.5 | 13 | 46 | 12.5 |
| 30.2 | 11.875” | 13.5 | 14 | 47 | 13.5 |
| 31 | 12.1785” | 14.5 | 15 | 48 | 14.5 |
| 31.8 | 12.5” | 15.5 | 16 | 49 | 15.5 |
Personal Stylist Paola Farina suggests, “If in doubt, it is best to contact the shop or the customer service of the brand to understand how the different models fit. For example, a 38 EU for a sneaker is completely different from a size 38 for a sandal. The model also makes a difference. A round point offers more space to the foot, and a pointed shoe perhaps must be purchased in a bigger size.”
It is really important to know your shoe size because wearing the wrong size can negatively affect your foot health and posture. You may even hurt your feet or irritate the skin if your shoes do not fit right. So, you must be sure about your shoe size, especially if you wish to purchase footwear online, as you will not be able to try them on before buying. But, with this article, you do not have to think about how to measure shoe size. Instead, try our step-by-step method and buy a perfectly-fitted pair of shoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common women’s shoe size?
In the US, the average shoe size of a woman is anywhere between 7-9; while in the UK, it is 6.5-7. For men, it is somewhere between 9-12 in the US, and between 7-8 in the UK.
Is there a ratio of shoe size to height?
Feet are the base of your body and balance your body weight, and that’s why there is an apparent correlation between your feet and your height. There are some studies that discuss these in depth. However, it is always an estimation and not a hard and fast rule. According to the findings, for every 6.6 inches of your height, you will add 1 inch of foot length.
Are sandal sizes the same as your regular shoe size?
There is usually a slight difference in the size, especially with different brands. Shoe manufacturing companies deal with the making of shoes with high precision because it affects the performance and the experience of a customer. With sandals, companies are less wary about the approximation and trends keep changing very often. So, unless it is an expensive brand, you can’t always be sure of your size – there will invariably be a minute difference in width and fit.
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- Reviewer
- Author
Pratima Ati
Pratima Ati is a postgraduate in International Business from Staffordshire University. After working in Marketing and Business Development for a… more
Paola Farina
(Personal Stylist)Paola Farina is a personal and event stylist and a certified image consultant who collaborates with individuals and companies. After… more
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