Shoe & Clothing Size Converter
Convert shoe sizes between US, UK and EU — or measure your foot in centimetres and let the chart do the rest, which is the only method that survives changing brands.
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Full size chart
The complete chart for whichever wearer you've selected above. Foot length is the column to trust.
Measure your foot, not your size
Shoe sizes are conventions, not measurements. A US 9 from one brand can fit like a US 9.5 from another, and the same brand often differs between a running shoe and a boot. There is one number that doesn't move: the length of your foot in centimetres.
Measuring it takes a minute:
- Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall, wearing the socks you'd wear with the shoes.
- Mark the paper at the tip of your longest toe — which isn't always the big toe.
- Measure from the wall to the mark in centimetres.
- Do both feet. They're rarely identical, and you size to the larger one.
Measure in the evening, when your feet are at their largest. A foot measured first thing in the morning can be half a size smaller than the same foot at 6pm, and shoes bought on the morning measurement will hurt by dinner.
The three systems, and why they disagree
- UK sizes are the oldest, based on barleycorns — a third of an inch. The scale starts at a child's size and counts up in thirds of an inch.
- US sizes use the same barleycorn step but start from a different zero, which is why a US men's size is roughly half a size above the UK equivalent.
- EU sizes use Paris points, two thirds of a centimetre, and measure the last — the mould the shoe is built on — rather than the foot. That's why EU sizes don't map cleanly onto either of the others, and why the conversion is always approximate.
Men's and women's scales differ again. In the US a women's size is usually about 1.5 above the men's size for the same foot; in the UK it's roughly 2. The chart above handles this for you — just pick the right wearer first.
When the chart won't save you
Width is the thing size charts ignore entirely, and it's the most common reason a correctly-sized shoe is uncomfortable. If shoes in your size always feel tight across the ball of the foot, you likely need a wide fitting rather than a longer shoe — going up a size gives you room in the wrong place and leaves your heel slipping.
Italian brands tend to run narrow. American brands often run wide. Running shoes are usually sized half a size large on purpose, because feet swell over distance. None of that is in any conversion table, which is why the honest answer to "what size am I?" is always "in which shoe?"
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure my foot properly?
Stand on paper with your heel to a wall, wearing normal socks, and mark the tip of your longest toe. Measure from wall to mark in centimetres. Do both feet and use the larger. Measure in the evening — feet swell through the day, and a morning measurement will give you shoes that pinch by dinner.
Why is my size different in every brand?
Because shoe sizes are conventions rather than measurements, and every brand builds on its own lasts. Italian brands tend to run narrow, American ones wide, and running shoes are often sized half a size large deliberately. This is exactly why the foot-length column is the one worth trusting.
What's the difference between US and UK shoe sizes?
Both use the same step size — a barleycorn, or a third of an inch — but they start counting from different points. For men, a US size is about half a size above the UK equivalent, so a UK 9 is roughly a US 9.5. For women the gap is larger, around two sizes.
How do EU sizes work?
EU sizes use Paris points, each two thirds of a centimetre, and they measure the last the shoe is built on rather than your foot. That's why EU sizes don't convert cleanly to US or UK ones and why every conversion chart, including this one, is an approximation.
Should I size up if shoes feel tight?
Not if the tightness is across the ball of your foot — that's a width problem, and a longer shoe just adds room where you don't need it and lets your heel slip. Look for a wide fitting instead. Size up only if your toes are hitting the end.
Are my numbers sent anywhere?
No. Everything is worked out inside your own browser. Nothing you type is uploaded, stored or shared, and there's no sign-up.
Related calculators
Please note: CalcuLane uses the internationally agreed definitions, which are exact for length, weight, temperature, volume, speed and data. Shoe sizing is a convention rather than a measurement and varies between brands, so treat those results as a starting point. Where precision genuinely matters, confirm against an authoritative source.