International Shoe Size Converter

Shoe sizing varies significantly between countries and even between brands. Understanding how to convert between sizing systems ensures you order the right fit when shopping internationally or for imported footwear.

The main sizing systems:

1. US sizing: Separate scales for men and women. Women’s sizes run approximately 1.5 sizes higher than men’s for the same foot length. US sizes are based on the length of the last (the internal form) in barleycorns (⅓ inch) using the Brannock formula.

2. UK sizing: Similar to US men’s sizing but approximately 0.5 sizes smaller. Women’s UK sizes are about 2 sizes below US women’s.

3. EU (European) sizing: Based on the Paris Point system (⅔ of a centimeter, ≈ 6.67mm). EU sizes are the same for men and women for the same foot length, which avoids the gender split confusion.

4. CM (Japanese) sizing: Based directly on the foot length in centimeters, measured from heel to toe. This is the most intuitive system, measure your foot in cm and you have your size.

5. Mondopoint: Used by the military and for ski boots. Also based on foot length in mm.

The relationships this page uses

Across the range most adults fall in, each whole US size is one centimetre of foot. The EU scale counts Paris points, two thirds of a centimetre each, along the inside of the shoe, which runs about 1.33 cm longer than the foot:

Foot length (cm) = US men + 18
UK = US men − 0.5
EU = (foot cm + 1.33) × 1.5
US women = US men + 1.5

So a 27 cm foot is a US men’s 9, a UK 8.5, an EU 42.5, and a US women’s 10.5. Work in either direction from any one of them.

Because the EU number climbs 1.5 points for every US size, the “add 33” shortcut printed on many charts only holds near a men’s 9 and is a full size out at either end of the adult range. The shoe size calculator and the shoe size converter use the same four lines, so the three pages give the same answer.

Note the EU column is the honest one to shop by. It is the same number for everyone, so it sidesteps the men’s-and-women’s split that causes most of the confusion when a size chart does not say which it means.

Foot measurement guide:

For the most accurate fit:

1. Stand on paper and trace around your foot
2. Measure from heel to longest toe
3. Add 0.5–1 cm for comfort allowance (thumb width of space in front of longest toe)
4. Use the longer foot if they differ in size

Half sizes:

US and UK systems have half sizes; many EU makers do not. The panel rounds every scale to the nearest half size, so if it lands on an EU half and the brand only makes whole sizes, round up for comfort.

Width fittings (US/UK):

Narrow = A, AA / Standard = B (women), D (men) / Wide = E / Extra wide = EE, 2E, 4E

Most international sizing ignores width entirely, so it has to be judged per brand. If shoes in your size pinch across the ball of your foot, the answer is a wider fitting rather than a longer shoe, and going up a size to gain width leaves you with a heel that slips.