Shoe Size Converter

About the Shoe Size Converter

A shoe size converter translates between US, UK, European (EU), Japanese (JP/cm), Mexican (MX), Korean (KR/mm), Brazilian, Australian, and Chinese sizing systems for men's, women's, and children's footwear. International shoe shopping — whether online or when travelling — requires accurate size conversion because the same physical foot measurement corresponds to completely different numbers in each country's system, and even within the same system, men's and women's sizes use different scales. Our free shoe size converter handles all the complexity: it distinguishes men's, women's, and kids' conversions (US men's and women's sizes differ for the same foot length); explains that sizes are approximations (not all brands follow the same last, so fit varies even at the "correct" size); and provides the most reliable foundation — conversion to actual foot length in centimetres and inches, which is the universal measurement that transcends all sizing systems.

How It Works

All shoe sizes ultimately reference foot length in centimetres (the Mondopoint standard). US men's to cm: foot length = (US size + 1.5) × 0.847 + 1.5 (approximate). EU to cm: foot length ≈ EU size × 0.667 (Stichmaß units, each = 2/3 cm). US women's sizes are approximately 1.5-2 sizes larger than men's for the same foot length. UK sizes are approximately 0.5-1 size smaller than US men's. Japanese sizes equal foot length in centimetres to the nearest 5mm. Example: US men's 10 ≈ UK 9.5 ≈ EU 43-44 ≈ JP 28.0 cm. US women's 10 ≈ US men's 8.5 ≈ UK 7.5 ≈ EU 41-42 ≈ JP 26.5 cm. Children's sizes: US kids go from infant (size 1, newborn) to size 13 kids, then restart at youth size 1 (equivalent to approximately adult size 1).

Tips & Best Practices

• ✓Measure both feet: human feet are often slightly different sizes. Always fit the larger foot. Measure standing up (feet are larger when weight-bearing) in the afternoon (feet swell throughout the day).
• ✓The 1 cm thumb rule: when standing, there should be about 1 cm (just over 3/8 inch) of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe — this is your "wiggle room" for comfort and growth allowance for children.
• ✓Width matters as much as length: most shoe size systems only standardise length. Width designations (B=narrow, D=medium, E=wide, EE/2E=extra-wide) are not standardised internationally — width is a significant fit factor ignored by most online size charts.
• ✓Brand variation: Nike tends to run small (size up half a size); Converse tends to run large (size down half a size); Dr. Martens runs large. Always check brand-specific fit guides for online purchases.
• ✓Children's growth: children's feet grow approximately 1-1.5 shoe sizes every 4-6 months under age 2, and about 1 size per year from age 3-10. Buying shoes with 1 cm growth room is appropriate; more than 1.5 cm creates tripping risk.
• ✓UK vs Australian: Australian women's sizes typically match US women's sizes; Australian men's sizes equal UK men's sizes. The UK and Australian systems differ from each other primarily in the women's category.
• ✓Korean sizing (KR): Korean shoe sizes are foot length in millimetres. 260 = 26.0 cm foot = EU approximately 41-42 = US men's approximately 8-9.
• ✓Mexican sizing: Mexican shoe sizes loosely follow a modified EU/Mondopoint system but are not identical to EU sizes — a Mexican size 27 is approximately EU 42, not 27 cm.

Who Uses This Calculator

Online shoppers purchasing shoes from international retailers. Travellers buying shoes while abroad. Gift buyers purchasing footwear without the recipient present. Parents ordering children's shoes from international brands. Athletes purchasing specialised footwear from foreign manufacturers. Fashion buyers importing footwear for resale. Anyone moving between countries and needing to understand local shoe sizing conventions.