Shoe Size Conversion Chart

The Wall Method

1. Place a piece of paper on a hard floor against a wall
2. Stand on the paper with your heel against the wall (use the longer foot, both feet are rarely identical)
3. Mark the tip of your longest toe on the paper
4. Measure from the edge of the paper (heel) to the mark in centimeters or inches
5. Repeat for the other foot
6. Use the longer measurement as your foot length

Measure at the end of the day. Feet swell during the day and a shoe sized in the morning may feel tight by evening.

Measuring Width

Wrap a soft tape measure around the widest part of your foot (the ball, just behind the toes). Compare to brand width charts. Most charts list both foot length and ball-of-foot circumference for each width letter.

Brunnock Device (the Foot Scale at Shoe Stores)

The metal device with sliding parts at shoe stores is called a Brannock device. It measures heel-to-toe length, arch length (heel-to-ball), and width simultaneously. Arch length is often more important than overall length for shoes with structured arch support. Many people have an arch length that's a half size larger than their overall length.

When in Doubt

Go up rather than down. A shoe that's too tight stretches less than people think and can cause blisters, bunions, and long-term foot damage. A slightly loose shoe can be fixed with insoles, thicker socks, or heel grips.

Why Sizing Systems Differ

The three major shoe sizing systems evolved independently in different parts of the world:

• US/Canada: Based on 1/3 inch increments, with separate scales for men, women, and children. Origins date to the 1880s American shoe industry.
• UK: Based on barleycorn (1/3 inch) increments starting at size 1 = 4 inches. Older than the US system; the US system is essentially the UK system with different starting points.
• EU (Paris point): Based on 2/3 cm (6.667 mm) increments. Unisex. Used across continental Europe, Latin America (with variations), and many other regions.
• JP/Mondopoint: Foot length in centimeters directly. The most precise system. Used in Japan, Korea, and for military and sports applications worldwide.

Brand Variations (Important)

Two shoes labeled the same size from different brands can differ by 5 to 10 mm. General notes:

• Nike, Adidas, Asics: Generally true to size; Nike sometimes runs half size large
• New Balance: Runs wide. Comes in multiple official width options (B, D, 2E, 4E)
• Brooks, Hoka: Generally true to size; Hoka runs narrow in some models
• Converse Chuck Taylor: Runs 1/2 to 1 full size large
• Vans: Runs slightly large; some models true to size
• Italian luxury (Gucci, Prada, Bottega): Often runs small; size up 0.5 to 1
• Boots and dress shoes (Allen Edmonds, Red Wing): Often runs 0.5 to 1 size large because they use Brannock arch-length sizing

How Foot Size Changes with Age

Adult feet are not fixed. They tend to gradually lengthen and widen over decades as ligaments lose elasticity, particularly after age 40. Pregnancy can permanently increase shoe size by half to one full size. Significant weight gain or loss also changes foot width. Don't assume your shoe size is the same as it was 10 years ago. Re-measure if shoes feel different from how they used to fit.

Replacing Running Shoes

Most running shoes lose meaningful midsole cushioning at 300 to 500 miles, regardless of upper condition. For someone running 20 miles per week, that's roughly every 4 to 6 months. Signs to replace:

• Visible compression or wrinkles in the midsole foam
• Worn-out outsole tread, especially under the heel and ball
• New aches in feet, ankles, knees, hips, or lower back
• Shoe feels “dead” or less bouncy than it used to
• Calendar age over 1 year, even with low mileage (foam degrades on the shelf too)