How do I convert my shoe size between US, UK and EU?

Why simple offset rules fail

The three systems use different base points and different increments, EU sizes step in Paris points of two thirds of a centimeter while US and UK sizes step in barleycorns of a third of an inch, so no single subtract-a-number rule holds across the whole range. On top of that, the same physical shoe carries different numbers for men and women in the US system. Centimeter foot length is the one measurement all charts agree on.

Measure your foot properly

Stand on a sheet of paper in the socks you would wear, mark the heel and the tip of the longest toe, and measure the distance. Feet swell during the day, so measure in the evening and use the larger foot. With the centimeter figure, a converter returns your size in every regional system at once.

Brands still vary

Conversion charts get you to the right neighborhood, but lasts differ between brands and even between models. When a brand publishes its own centimeter-based chart, trust it over the generic table.

Step by step

1. Measure your foot. Stand on paper, mark heel to longest toe, measure in centimeters.
2. Enter the length or a known size. Type the centimeters, or a size you already know in any system.
3. Read every system. The converter shows the matching US, UK and EU sizes for men and women.