How to Measure Your Foot for Shoes
Buying shoes from a brand or country you have never bought from before is one of the easiest ways to end up with a pair that does not fit. The single most reliable way to land your size is to measure the length of your foot in centimetres or inches, then convert that measurement into whichever sizing system the seller uses.
This guide walks through the measurement in three steps, then plugs the result straight into the converter so you can read off your size in every system at once.
Step-by-step measurement guide
- Place your foot on a piece of paper and trace the outline with a pen held vertically.
- Measure the longest point - from the back of the heel to the tip of the longest toe - in centimetres or inches.
- Enter the larger of your left and right measurements into the converter above to see your size in every system.
Practical tips
- Measure both feet - they are often slightly different.
- Measure in the evening - feet swell slightly throughout the day.
- Wear the socks you would normally wear with the shoe.
- Stand while measuring - the foot lengthens when bearing weight.
Convert your measurement
The converter below is pre-set to accept foot length in centimetres. Switch the input to inches or millimetres if that is what you measured.
| System | US / CA | UK | EU | AU | JP (cm) | KR (mm) | CN | MX | Foot (cm) | Foot (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Select a size above to see equivalents | ||||||||||
Sizes are approximate and may vary by brand. Check the manufacturer's size chart before buying.
Foot length reference table
Quick lookup if you already know your foot length in centimetres. Women's and men's tables shown separately because the same foot length maps to different US sizes for each.
Women's foot length to shoe size
| Foot (cm) | Foot (in) | US | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21.0 | 8.27 | 4 | 2 | 34 |
| 21.3 | 8.39 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 34-35 |
| 21.6 | 8.50 | 5 | 3 | 35 |
| 22.0 | 8.66 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 35-36 |
| 22.5 | 8.86 | 6 | 4 | 36 |
| 22.9 | 9.02 | 6.5 | 4.5 | 36-37 |
| 23.3 | 9.17 | 7 | 5 | 37 |
| 23.7 | 9.33 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 37-38 |
| 24.1 | 9.49 | 8 | 6 | 38 |
| 24.5 | 9.65 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 38-39 |
| 25.0 | 9.84 | 9 | 7 | 39 |
| 25.4 | 10.00 | 9.5 | 7.5 | 39-40 |
| 25.9 | 10.20 | 10 | 8 | 40 |
| 26.2 | 10.31 | 10.5 | 8.5 | 40-41 |
| 26.7 | 10.51 | 11 | 9 | 41 |
| 27.1 | 10.67 | 11.5 | 9.5 | 41-42 |
| 27.6 | 10.87 | 12 | 10 | 42 |
Men's foot length to shoe size
| Foot (cm) | Foot (in) | US | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.5 | 9.25 | 6 | 5.5 | 38-39 |
| 23.8 | 9.37 | 6.5 | 6 | 39 |
| 24.1 | 9.49 | 7 | 6.5 | 39-40 |
| 24.5 | 9.65 | 7.5 | 7 | 40 |
| 25.0 | 9.84 | 8 | 7.5 | 40-41 |
| 25.4 | 10.00 | 8.5 | 8 | 41 |
| 25.7 | 10.12 | 9 | 8.5 | 41-42 |
| 26.0 | 10.24 | 9.5 | 9 | 42 |
| 26.5 | 10.43 | 10 | 9.5 | 42-43 |
| 27.0 | 10.63 | 10.5 | 10 | 43 |
| 27.3 | 10.75 | 11 | 10.5 | 43-44 |
| 27.9 | 10.98 | 11.5 | 11 | 44 |
| 28.3 | 11.14 | 12 | 11.5 | 44-45 |
| 28.6 | 11.26 | 12.5 | 12 | 45 |
| 29.2 | 11.50 | 13 | 12.5 | 45-46 |
| 30.0 | 11.81 | 14 | 13.5 | 47 |
| 30.8 | 12.13 | 15 | 14.5 | 48 |
Frequently asked questions
Should I measure my foot in the morning or evening?
Measure in the evening. Feet swell slightly over the course of the day, so an evening measurement gives the size that will be comfortable when you are actually wearing the shoes.
What if my feet are different sizes?
Use the larger of the two measurements. Most people have one foot slightly bigger than the other, and shoes that fit the larger foot can be adjusted with insoles or lacing for the smaller one.
How do I convert foot length in inches to a shoe size?
Enter your inch measurement directly into the converter above - or multiply by 2.54 to get centimetres first, then look up that value in the reference table.
Sizes are approximate and may vary by brand. Check the manufacturer's size chart before buying.