Advanced options
Conversions vary by brand, sometimes by a half size, so treat the chart as the standard mapping and check the brand's own guide (or the centimetre length) for a precise fit.
What The Shoe Size Converter Works Out
- UK, EU and US sizes: the standard mapping between the three systems for men's, women's and children's shoes. US men's sizes run about one higher than UK (a UK 9 is a US 10), US women's about two higher, and EU sizes use their own scale where a UK men's 9 is roughly a 43.
- Why they differ: UK sizes count in barleycorns (a third of an inch) from a fixed starting last, EU sizes in Paris points (two thirds of a centimetre), and the US simply starts its count one size earlier than Britain, so no conversion is exact and brands round differently.
- Kids' sizes: run from infant sizes up to a UK 13 and then restart at adult 1, which is why a child's 13 is followed by a 1 in the table.
- Foot length this size fits (advanced): the foot length a given UK size is cut for, worked out from the barleycorn scale (inside length) minus the toe room allowance you choose, 1.5 cm by default. This is the number to compare against a brand's own centimetre chart.
- Size suggested by your foot (advanced): stand on paper, mark heel and longest toe, measure in centimetres (ideally in the afternoon when feet are slightly larger) and enter it. The converter adds the toe allowance, converts to the nearest half size and shows the closest row in the chart.
- Toe room allowance (advanced): the gap between foot and shoe end. About 1 to 1.5 cm suits most shoes; use less for close-fitting dress shoes and climbing shoes, more for running shoes, boots and growing feet.
- Japan and Mondopoint (advanced): Japanese sizes and the Mondopoint system used for ski boots and military footwear are simply the foot length in centimetres or millimetres, which is why serious fitting trusts centimetres over size labels.
- Size to order from this brand (advanced): adjusts your size by half a step if a brand is known to run small or large. Sports brands in particular tend to run smaller than the chart suggests, and when between sizes it is safer to go up for trainers and boots and follow the brand's guidance for dress shoes.
- Buying online: trust centimetres over labels, check the returns policy, and remember the same "EU 43" can vary a few millimetres between makers because lasts are cut differently.