👟 Shoe Size Converter
By ToolNimba Editorial Team · Updated 2026-06-19
Pick a gender, the size system you already know, and your size. The equivalents in the other systems appear here.
Sizing is not standardised between brands, so treat these as a starting point and check the maker's own chart where possible.
This shoe size converter translates a size between the US, UK and EU systems and the foot length in centimetres, for both men and women. Pick the system you already know, choose your size, and the equivalents appear instantly. It uses standard conversion charts, the same cross-references brands print on their own size guides, so you can shop confidently across US, British and European stores.
What is the Shoe Size Converter?
Shoe sizing systems grew up separately in different countries, which is why one foot can carry three different numbers. The US and UK systems both trace back to the barleycorn, a unit of one third of an inch, but their starting points differ, so a US men's size runs about half a size larger than the same UK number. The European (EU, or Paris point) system measures in two thirds of a centimetre and counts the length of the last (the shoe mould), not the foot, which is why EU numbers look so different and rise in larger jumps.
The one measurement that does not lie is foot length in centimetres. Every size system is ultimately an attempt to fit a foot of a given length, so converting to and from CM is the most reliable bridge between charts. Japanese (JP) sizing is essentially the same idea, the foot length in centimetres, which is why it travels well internationally. If you ever get conflicting numbers from two brands, measure your foot in centimetres and use that as the anchor.
Men's and women's charts are offset from each other, typically by about 1.5 sizes in US terms, so a women's US 8.5 is roughly a men's US 7. This matters when a style is only made in one gender's run, or for unisex and kids' shoes. The converter keeps the two genders on separate tables so you do not accidentally read across the wrong row.
When to use it
- Buying shoes from a US, UK or European retailer when your usual size is in a different system.
- Working out your EU size from a US size (or the reverse) before ordering online.
- Using a measured foot length in centimetres to find your size when a brand only lists CM.
- Comparing a men's and women's size run for a unisex sneaker so you order the right number.
How to use the Shoe Size Converter
- Choose whether you are converting a men's or women's size.
- Select the size system you already know (US, UK, EU or CM).
- Pick your size from the list.
- Read off the equivalents in the other systems, with your chosen system highlighted.
Formula & method
Worked examples
You wear a men's US 10 and want the European size for an online order.
- Select gender: Men.
- Select system: US, then size 10.
- Read the EU column on the same row.
- The chart shows men US 10 lines up with UK 9.5, EU 43 and roughly 27.3 cm of foot length.
Result: Men's US 10 = UK 9.5 = EU 43 = about 27.3 cm
You measured your foot at 23.5 cm and want a women's size.
- Select gender: Women.
- Select system: CM, then choose the 23.5 cm row.
- Read across to the other systems.
- A 23.5 cm foot maps to women US 7, UK 5 and EU 37.5 on a standard chart.
Result: 23.5 cm foot = women US 7 = UK 5 = EU 37.5
Men's shoe size conversion (US, UK, EU and foot length in cm)
| US | UK | EU | Foot length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6.5 | 40 | 25.0 |
| 8 | 7.5 | 41 | 25.7 |
| 9 | 8.5 | 42 | 26.7 |
| 10 | 9.5 | 43 | 27.3 |
| 11 | 10.5 | 44.5 | 28.3 |
| 12 | 11.5 | 45.5 | 29.4 |
| 13 | 12.5 | 47 | 30.5 |
Women's shoe size conversion (US, UK, EU and foot length in cm)
| US | UK | EU | Foot length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 35.5 | 22.0 |
| 6 | 4 | 36.5 | 22.9 |
| 7 | 5 | 37.5 | 23.5 |
| 8 | 6 | 38.5 | 24.1 |
| 9 | 7 | 40 | 25.1 |
| 10 | 8 | 41 | 25.9 |
| 11 | 9 | 42 | 26.7 |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Reading a men's size on the women's chart (or vice versa). Men's and women's runs are offset by roughly 1.5 US sizes, so a straight read-across gives the wrong number. Always set the gender first. For unisex shoes, decide which gender's run the listed size belongs to.
- Assuming every brand fits identically. These charts are the industry baseline, but real fit drifts by brand, shape (last) and even model. A converted size is a strong starting point, not a guarantee, so check the maker's own chart and reviews when you can.
- Measuring your foot at the wrong time of day. Feet swell over the day and during exercise. Measure in the afternoon or evening, standing, with the socks you plan to wear, so your centimetre figure reflects your true working size.
- Sizing to the smaller foot. Most people have one foot slightly larger than the other. Always size to the longer foot, then adjust fit with lacing or an insole, rather than squeezing the bigger foot into a tighter shoe.
Glossary
- US size
- The American sizing system, based on the barleycorn (one third of an inch). Men's and women's scales differ.
- UK size
- The British system, also barleycorn-based but offset from US, so a UK number is about half a size smaller than the same US number for men.
- EU size
- The European (Paris point) system, measured in units of two thirds of a centimetre and based on the length of the shoe last, not the foot.
- Foot length (cm)
- The straight length of the foot from heel to longest toe in centimetres. The most reliable anchor for converting between systems.
- Last
- The foot-shaped mould a shoe is built around. EU sizing counts the last length, which is why it differs from foot length.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert US shoe size to EU?
Use a standard chart rather than one formula. As a rough guide a men's US size plus about 33 gives the EU size (US 9 is around EU 42), and a women's US size plus about 30 to 31 gives the EU size. This converter looks up the exact charted value for you.
Is a UK shoe size the same as a US size?
No. For men a UK size runs about half a size smaller than the same US number, so US 9 is UK 8.5. For women the gap is larger, roughly two sizes, so women US 8 is UK 6. Select the right system in the tool to avoid confusion.
How do I measure my foot length for shoe size?
Stand on a sheet of paper, mark the back of your heel and the tip of your longest toe, then measure the distance in centimetres. Do both feet and use the larger. Enter that figure under the CM system to find your size.
Why do shoe sizes differ between brands?
Sizing is not legally standardised. Brands build shoes on different lasts and round measurements differently, so the same labelled size can fit half a size larger or smaller. Treat any conversion as a starting point and check the brand's own chart.
What is the difference between men's and women's shoe sizes?
The two scales are offset by roughly 1.5 US sizes. A women's US 8.5 is about a men's US 7. This matters for unisex and gender-specific styles, so set the gender in the converter before reading the equivalents.
Is EU shoe sizing the same for men and women?
EU sizing uses one continuous scale, but the actual shoes are still cut on men's or women's lasts, so the same EU number can differ in width and shape between a men's and a women's model. The number lines up; the fit may not.