Shoe Size Conversion
Convert a shoe or foot size between US, UK, EU, and Japan sizing, or from a foot-length measurement, for men, women, and kids. Because no global standard exists, the converter first estimates foot length and then applies each region’s formula — use it as a reliable starting point.
How shoe sizing works
Every shoe size is ultimately a stand-in for foot length, but each region measures it differently. The US and UK count in barleycorns — thirds of an inch — so their sizes rise by half-steps and use an offset that differs by a size and a half between the two. Europe uses the Paris point, roughly two-thirds of a centimeter, giving whole-number sizes. Japan and the Mondopoint system simply state the foot length in centimeters. Convert by translating your known size back to a foot length, then forward into the target system.
How it’s calculated
The tool converts your input to foot length in inches (L), then applies standard formulas. US: women ≈ 3L − 21, men ≈ 3L − 22; UK ≈ 3L − 23; EU = 1.5 × Lcm + 2; Japan/CM = Lcm. Kids use big-kid offsets (US ≈ 3L − 22.75, UK ≈ 3L − 23.75). If you enter a size, it inverts the matching formula to recover foot length first. US and UK round to the nearest half size; EU to the nearest whole size.
These are best-fit approximations; brands differ because they use different lasts and rounding. Where possible, measure your foot and size to the larger foot.
Adult size chart (approx.)
| US M | US W | UK | EU | Foot (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 8.5 | 6 | 40 | 24.6 |
| 8 | 9.5 | 7 | 41 | 25.4 |
| 9 | 10.5 | 8 | 42–43 | 26.2 |
| 10 | 11.5 | 9 | 43–44 | 27.1 |
| 11 | 12.5 | 10 | 44–45 | 27.9 |
| 12 | 13.5 | 11 | 45–46 | 28.8 |
Approximate; women’s US runs about 1.5 sizes above men’s for the same foot length.
Worked example
A man’s foot measures 10.5 in (26.7 cm) long. US men’s size = 3 × 10.5 − 22 = 9.5; UK = 3 × 10.5 − 23 = 8.5; EU = 1.5 × 26.7 + 2 ≈ 42; and in Japan/CM that is about 26.5–27 cm. The equivalent women’s US size for the same foot would be about 11.
Common mistakes
- Assuming men’s and women’s US numbers match — women’s runs about 1.5 sizes higher.
- Measuring the foot in the morning; feet swell and are largest later in the day.
- Sizing to the smaller foot instead of the larger one.
- Expecting a perfect match across brands, which use different lasts.
Where it is used
- Buying shoes from overseas retailers with foreign sizing.
- Converting a kid’s size across US, UK, and EU labels.
- Translating a foot measurement into a shoe size to order online.
- Comparing sizes between brands using foot length as the anchor.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert US shoe size to EU?
There is no single exact conversion because systems differ, but EU size is roughly 1.5 × foot length in cm + 2. As a rule of thumb, most converters — including this one — work by first estimating foot length from your US size, then applying the EU formula, which is why the numbers do not line up evenly.
How do I measure my foot length?
Stand on a piece of paper with your heel against a wall, mark the tip of your longest toe, and measure the distance in centimeters or inches. Measure both feet later in the day when they are largest, and size to the larger foot.
Are men’s and women’s shoe sizes the same?
No. In US sizing, a women’s size is about 1.5 sizes higher than the men’s size for the same foot length, so a women’s 9 is roughly a men’s 7.5. UK and EU also differ by system. This converter accounts for the men/women offset.
Why is shoe sizing so inconsistent?
Shoemaking predates mass production, so regions developed their own measurement traditions that never fully standardized. On top of that, brands use different lasts, so the same labeled size can fit differently. Foot length is the most reliable common reference.
What is the EU shoe size formula?
EU sizes use the Paris point: about 1.5 × foot length in centimeters + 2, in whole-number steps. US and UK sizes are based on foot length in inches (roughly 3 × length minus a constant), which is why the systems do not line up evenly.