How to measure your shoe size
Sizes drift between brands, but your foot length does not. Trace, measure and convert in four steps to get your true size in any country.
The most reliable way to buy shoes, especially online or abroad, is to measure your foot in centimetres and convert. Sizes drift between brands, but your foot length does not.
Measure both feet in the afternoon, when they are at their largest, and use the longer foot. Wear the socks you plan to wear with the shoes.
- Trace your foot. Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall and your weight on the foot. Mark the tip of your longest toe and the back of your heel.
- Measure the length. Measure the distance between the two marks in centimetres. This is your foot length. Do the same for the other foot and keep the larger number.
- Add a little room. Add about half a centimetre for wiggle room, or a full centimetre for winter boots and running shoes where you want extra space.
- Read your size. Find your foot length in the chart and read across to US, UK or EU. If you are between sizes, choose the larger one.
Keep a foot ruler handy by printing the printable shoe chart, which includes a true-scale ruler for measuring at home.
Foot length to shoe size
| US Men | US Women | UK | EU | Foot length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 5 | 3 | 35.5 | 22.1 |
| 4 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 36 | 22.5 |
| 4.5 | 6 | 4 | 37 | 22.9 |
| 5 | 6.5 | 4.5 | 37.5 | 23.3 |
| 5.5 | 7 | 5 | 38 | 23.7 |
| 6 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 38.5 | 24.1 |
| 6.5 | 8 | 6 | 39 | 24.5 |
| 7 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 40 | 25 |
| 7.5 | 9 | 7 | 40.5 | 25.4 |
| 8 | 9.5 | 7.5 | 41 | 25.8 |
| 8.5 | 10 | 8 | 42 | 26.2 |
| 9 | 10.5 | 8.5 | 42.5 | 26.7 |
| 9.5 | 11 | 9 | 43 | 27.1 |
| 10 | 11.5 | 9.5 | 44 | 27.5 |
| 10.5 | 12 | 10 | 44.5 | 27.9 |
| 11 | 12.5 | 10.5 | 45 | 28.3 |
| 11.5 | 13 | 11 | 45.5 | 28.8 |
| 12 | 13.5 | 11.5 | 46 | 29.2 |
| 12.5 | 14 | 12 | 47 | 29.6 |
| 13 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 47.5 | 30 |
| 14 | 15.5 | 13.5 | 48.5 | 30.8 |
| 15 | 16.5 | 14.5 | 49.5 | 31.7 |
Measuring questions
How do I measure my shoe size at home?
Trace your foot on paper with your heel against a wall, measure from heel to longest toe in centimetres, then match that length to the chart. Measure in the afternoon and use the larger foot.
How much room should a shoe have?
Leave about half a centimetre to a centimetre between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Too little room causes pressure on the toes, too much lets the foot slide.
Last reviewed and updated on July 2, 2026. Conversion tables are checked against published international sizing standards.