Shoe Size Converter

Conversion charts handle this best. Quick guide: US men's to UK = US − 0.5. US men's to EU = US + 33. US men's to JP (cm) = roughly US + 17 = cm. So US men's 9 ≈ UK 8.5, EU 42, JP 27 cm. For women: US 8 ≈ UK 5.5, EU 38–39, JP 24 cm. The systems use different references — US/UK measure the last (shoe interior length); EU uses Paris points (2/3 cm units); JP uses foot length in cm directly (Mondopoint). Always double-check the brand's chart, since brand variation often outweighs the system difference.

Foot length to size depends on the system. EU and JP (Mondopoint) use cm directly. US sizes correspond roughly to length plus a small allowance. Quick reference for foot length to US men's: 25 cm = US 7, 26 cm = US 8, 27 cm = US 9, 28 cm = US 10, 29 cm = US 11, 30 cm = US 12. For women, US 7 = 24 cm, US 8 = 24.5 cm, US 9 = 25.5 cm. Add 0.5–1 cm to your measured foot length for the shoe size — shoes need a thumb's width of room beyond the longest toe.

Different lasts (the foot-shaped form shoes are built around) and target markets. A US 9 in Nike, Adidas, and New Balance can fit very differently — half a size or more apart. European brands often run smaller; American athletic brands tend to run true to size or slightly large. Asian brands frequently run small for Western feet. Performance running shoes vary even within a brand depending on model. The only reliable approach: measure your foot in cm and check the brand's specific size chart. Read user reviews for fit notes ('runs half size small'). Online buying without trying on requires research.

Yes, always. Most people have one foot slightly longer than the other (often by 5–10 mm), and feet change shape over years. Measure both feet on a flat surface, mark the longest toe, measure to the heel. Use the larger measurement for shoe sizing. Measure standing (your foot lengthens slightly when bearing weight) and at the end of the day when feet are most swollen. Measure 2–3 times for consistency. Width also matters — measure the widest part of the foot. Wide feet need wider sizes (D, E, EE) rather than going up in length, which adds heel slip.

Mondopoint is the international standard shoe sizing system based directly on foot length and width in millimetres. A Mondopoint 270/100 means a 270 mm long foot with a 100 mm wide foot. It's the system used in many sports — ski boots, climbing shoes, military boots — because it gives a precise fit specification. Mondopoint avoids the regional differences of US, UK, and EU sizing. The downside: most consumer shoe shopping doesn't use it, so it's mainly seen in technical or performance footwear. Knowing your Mondopoint number makes converting between systems straightforward, since it's based on actual measurement.

Add about 1.5 sizes to convert men's to women's US sizes. So men's US 8 ≈ women's US 9.5; men's US 10 ≈ women's US 11.5. The reverse: subtract 1.5 from women's to get men's. The shoes are fundamentally the same length but labeled differently for traditional marketing reasons. Some athletic brands now offer unisex sizing or size their shoes in cm to avoid confusion. Width may differ slightly — women's shoes are often built on narrower lasts. For runners switching between brands or buying online, knowing the men's-women's offset helps avoid sizing mistakes.