Understanding International Shoe Sizing

What is a shoe size?

A shoe size is an alphanumeric indication of the fitting size of a shoe for a person. While it mainly represents the length of the foot, some specialized systems also account for the width. Because there is no single global standard, shoppers often need to convert between US, UK, European, and Asian scales.

To get the most accurate conversion, you need an accurate starting measurement. Follow these steps to find your foot length in centimeters or inches:

1. Prepare: Tape a piece of plain paper to a hard floor.
2. Position: Stand with one foot on the paper and your heel touching the wall.
3. Mark: Mark the furthest point of your longest toe with a vertical pencil.
4. Measure: Use a ruler to measure from the heel edge to your mark.
5. Repeat: Measure both feet and use the larger measurement.

Follow these visual steps to get your exact measurement in millimeters or inches.

The Thumb Rule: There should be about a thumb's width of space between your longest toe and the front of the shoe.

Time of Day: Always measure your feet in the afternoon or evening; feet tend to swell throughout the day.

Brand Variation: Remember that "size 10" for a running shoe brand might fit differently than a "size 10" dress shoe. Always check brand-specific charts if available.