👟 Shoe Size

Shoe Size Converter

Buying online from another country? Convert men's, women's and kids' shoe sizes between US, UK, EU and foot length in centimetres. Choose a category, enter the size and press Convert.

Written and reviewed by SM Arijul Islam · Last reviewed 20 October 2026 · Editorial standards · Report an error

About the shoe size converter

Shoe sizing is not standardised. Every country built its own system, and even within one country men's, women's and children's charts differ. The reliable common denominator is foot length in centimetres, so this converter works that out first and then maps it into the target system.

How to measure your foot

Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall
Mark the tip of your longest toe and measure the distance in centimetres
Measure both feet — always use the longer one
Add 0.5 cm of wiggle room for comfort, then convert

Brands differ. Running shoes often run half a size small, while dress shoes can run large, so treat the result as a starting point.

Approximate steps between sizes

US and UK adult sizes step about 0.847 cm (1/3 inch)
EU sizes step about 0.667 cm (2/3 cm)
UK men's sizes are normally 0.5 smaller than US men's
Women's US sizes are normally 1.5 larger than men's

How to convert shoe sizes

Shoe sizes are not one system but several. European sizes are built on the Paris point of roughly 6.67 mm of last length, UK sizes on barleycorns of about 8.47 mm, and US sizes on a similar scale offset by about one. Foot length in centimetres, following the Mondopoint approach, is the measurement all of these approximate. This converter maps between the common adult scales; it is a starting point, not a guarantee of fit.

Common shoe size searches

Everyday shoe-size queries people often type into this converter
Search-style query	What this page can answer	Note
EU 42 to US	about US men's 9	men's and women's charts differ
US 8 to EU	about EU 41	men's charting is common here
US 9 to EU	about EU 42.5	men's charting is common here
UK 8 to US	about US 8.5 to 9	depends on men's or women's scale
What is a size 42 in US shoes?	about US men's 9	EU 42 is a men's starting point in many charts
What is my shoe size in cm?	foot length in centimetres, using Mondopoint	measure the longer foot in the evening

Everyday uses

Buying shoes from an overseas shop
Comparing a favourite pair's label with a new brand
Children's growing feet
Sports and safety footwear sizing

Frequently asked questions

How should I measure my foot?

Stand on a sheet of paper, mark the heel and the longest toe, and measure the distance in centimetres. Measure in the evening, when feet are at their largest.

Is a US size the same as a UK size?

No. A US men's size is roughly one full size larger than the UK equivalent, and US women's sizing differs again.

Are EU sizes unisex?

European sizes are usually quoted the same on men's and women's labels, but lasts, widths and toe shapes still differ between them.

Why does the same size fit differently across brands?

Because lasts and materials vary between manufacturers, so the brand's own size chart always beats a generic conversion.

More worked examples

A men's US 9 is commonly charted as an EU 42.5, with a foot length of about 27 cm.
A women's US 8 is usually around an EU 39.
Mondopoint sizes, used on ski boots and some military footwear, are simply the foot length in millimetres.
A children's US 10 is often charted as an EU 27 or 28.

Men's sizes

Commonly charted men's shoe size equivalence between US and EU labels
US	EU
US 8	EU 41
US 9	EU 42.5
US 10	EU 44
US 11	EU 45
US 12	EU 46

Common mistakes to avoid

Assuming one chart fits every brand. Different lasts give a different fit at the same nominal size, so two brands can differ by a full size.
Using the adult chart for children's shoes. Children's scales run on separate ladders and change more often.
Measuring the shoe instead of the foot. Fit depends on your foot length and width, not the markings on an old pair.
Ignoring that men's and women's scales differ by about one and a half to two sizes, so a women's 8 is not a men's 8.

Further questions

Why do shoe sizes vary between brands?

There is no binding international standard for shoe lasts, and each brand builds its shoes around its own shape, which shifts what a given size means.

What is a Mondopoint size?

A system that simply records foot length in millimetres, used for ski boots and some military footwear because it is unambiguous.

Should I size up or down?

For running shoes, usually half a size up, because feet swell during exercise. For leather shoes that stretch, go true to size or slightly down.

EU to US shoe size and UK to US shoe size

Shoe sizing has no international standard, so the same foot is labelled differently in every system. As a rule of thumb, EU to US men is roughly EU − 33, and UK to US men is roughly UK + 1; women's US sizes sit about 1.5 higher than the equivalent men's size.

Men's EU, UK and US shoe size equivalents
EU	UK	US men
40	6.5	7.5
41	7	8
42	8	9
43	9	10
44	9.5	10.5
45	10.5	11.5

Kids shoe size by age

Children's sizes track foot length, not age, but the usual pattern is: 0–3 months EU 16 (9.5 cm), 6–12 months EU 19 (11.5 cm), 1–2 years EU 21 (13 cm), 2–3 years EU 24 (15 cm), 3–4 years EU 26 (16 cm) and 4–5 years EU 28 (17 cm). Always measure the foot — children grow about 1.5 cm a year, and half a size is only 3 mm.