Shoe Size Converter — US, UK, EU, JP and foot length
Convert shoe sizes between US, UK, EU and Japanese sizing, or work them out from your foot length in centimetres, millimetres or inches.
Foot length is the most reliable number to convert from — measure heel to longest toe while standing, late in the day, and buy for the larger foot. Lasts differ between brands, so check the maker's own chart before ordering.
About the Shoe Size Converter
Shoe sizing is four unrelated systems wearing similar numbers. US and UK sizes both count in units of a third of an inch but start from different points, which is why a UK size is roughly one less than the US size for men and about two less for women. European sizing uses the Paris point — two thirds of a centimetre — so its numbers run much higher, in the 35 to 47 range. Japanese sizing skips the arithmetic entirely and simply prints the foot length in centimetres, which makes it the most useful number to know when buying from overseas.
That difference in starting point is also why men's and women's scales do not line up: a women's US 9 and a men's US 9 are not the same shoe. This converter keeps them separate, so pick the scale printed on the shoes you are buying. If you are converting between a men's and a women's US size, the usual rule is that a women's size is about 1.5 sizes larger than the equivalent men's — a women's 9 is roughly a men's 7.5.
The most reliable way to buy shoes online is to ignore the size number and match your foot length. Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall, mark the tip of your longest toe, and measure from the wall to the mark. Do it late in the day, when your feet are at their largest, and measure both feet — they are rarely identical, and you should buy for the longer one. Add 5 to 10 mm of toe room and look that length up in the chart below. Everything is calculated in your browser.
How to use it
- Choose the men's or women's scale — the two are not interchangeable.
- Pick the system you already know: US, UK, EU, JP or a measured foot length.
- Select your size or length and read the equivalents in every other system.
- Not sure of your size? Measure your foot from heel to longest toe, add 5–10 mm of toe room, and look that number up as a foot length instead.
- Cross-check the result against the brand's own size chart — running shoes, boots and dress shoes from the same maker often differ by half a size.
Frequently asked questions
What is a US size 9 in UK sizing?
For men, a US 9 is a UK 8.5, a EU 42.5 and a Japanese 27 cm. For women, a US 9 is a UK 6.5, a EU 40.5 and a Japanese 26 cm. UK sizes run about half a size below US men's sizes and about two and a half sizes below US women's sizes.
How do I measure my foot length correctly?
Put a sheet of paper against a wall, stand on it with your heel touching the wall, and mark the paper at the tip of your longest toe — which is not always the big toe. Measure from the wall edge to the mark. Do this in the late afternoon while standing, with the socks you intend to wear, and measure both feet, since most people have one foot slightly larger than the other.
Are men's and women's shoe sizes the same?
No. The same number means a different length on each scale. A women's US size is roughly 1.5 sizes larger than the men's size for the same foot, so a women's 8.5 is about a men's 7. Women's lasts are also usually narrower through the heel, so a straight number conversion will not always feel right.
What does the Japanese shoe size mean?
It is simply the foot length in centimetres. A Japanese 26 means the shoe is built for a 26 cm foot. Because it states the measurement directly rather than encoding it, it is the easiest system to convert into and the safest number to give a seller.
How much toe room should I leave?
About 5 to 10 mm beyond your longest toe for everyday shoes, and closer to 10 to 15 mm for running shoes, where the foot slides forward on impact. If your measured foot length falls between two sizes, size up rather than down.
Why does the same size fit differently in different brands?
Every brand builds shoes on its own last, so the internal length and the width for a given size vary. Italian dress brands tend to run small, athletic brands vary between models, and EU conversions in particular are rounded differently from maker to maker. Use this chart to get to the right starting size, then check the brand's own measurements.