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You may not know how to measure shoe size, but you definitely don t have to leave it up to the professionals. Remember that metal contraption you placed your foot on during childhood shoe-shopping trip at Nordstrom? That s the Brannock Device. Not everyone s going to have one lying around their house, nor should they. But that doesn t help when you re shopping online, can t try a pair on, and aren t totally sure what your best shoe size would be. There are a few hops and leaps from foot measurement to shoe size, but we’ll walk you through it—just grab a pencil and paper, and read on.
Measuring Your Foot
Big step, we know! We promise learning how to measure shoe size is more simple than it sounds. Start with a few tools on hand to ease the process: a piece of paper, pencil, and tape measure. And try measuring at the end of the day; our feet s exact measurements tend to fluctuate slightly throughout the day, and it s best to do it later, when they may be slightly bigger.
- Place (and tape, if you want to take this especially seriously) a sheet of blank paper on the floor. Make sure it doesn t slip or shift while you use it.
- Sit in a chair, or stand against a wall if you re able to, and put one foot on the paper. While standing, have a slight bend in your knees.
- Trace the outline of your foot on the paper with your pencil—nothing too formal, just a general outline. Better yet, have a friend trace it for you if you can.
- Fun fact! Feet tend to vary by half size or so, with the left foot usually being larger. We recommend you repeat these three steps on the other foot to confirm both measurements.
- With your outlines in front of you, mark the top of the big toe and the bottom of your heel.
- Measure the distance between these two points in centimeters. This is the length of your foot.
- Now, mark the two endpoints of the balls of your feet (they re the widest part of your feet, right below your toes). This is your width.
From Foot Measurement to U.S. Shoe Size
With measurements and a conversion chart in hand, match your numbers to the appropriate size. Most shoe size charts feature both inches and centimeters, but doing conversions in centimeters is a bit easier. If your feet are different sizes, use the length measurement of the larger foot when looking for your shoe size.
In terms of shoe width, stores often have varying options. Width measurements range from A to E for women: A is narrow, B is average, C/D is wide, and E is extra wide. For men, it’s C to E: C is narrow, D is average, and E is wide. If you’ve felt discomfort while trying on shoes in the past, check the width, as having wider feet can affect the shoe fit. There are also charts for width sizing, just in case.
Men s vs. Women s Shoe Sizing
If the shoe store you re looking to purchase from doesn t have unisex sizing, it s a safe bet that there will be differences between men s and women s sizing. Usually, men s shoes run 1-1.5 sizes bigger than women s. So if you have your eye on a pair of Chelsea boots from the men s department, snag a size 7 if you re an 8.5 in women s. Just make sure to double-check with that store s specific sizing chart before ordering.
Does the Type of Shoe Matter?
There s a particular type of frustration that comes from wearing a pair of new shoes that have your heel slipping up or won t stop giving you blisters. Foot health may not be glamorous, but it s important to keep in mind when hunting for your next pair of shoes. The perfect fit can be impacted by a number of factors like bunions, foot arch, and supportive insoles. Different shoes call for different criteria. Think of the kind of activity you ll be predominantly doing in this pair. Are you looking for running shoes to train for the next 5k? Opt for a snug fit. Need walking shoes for leisurely strolls with friends after work? Make sure there s a smidge of extra room by the toes. Sandals tend to be a little more forgiving if you get a half-size too small, but boots won t show as much mercy, especially if you plan on wearing thick socks.