Shoe Measurements

Shoe sizing starts with one honest measurement: the length of the foot from heel to toe. This page collects the reference charts converting that length in inches into United States shoe sizes — for women, an 8-inch foot is about a size 3 and a 10-inch foot about a size 9 — together with the ball-width measurements that distinguish a regular width (B for women) from a wide (D). The charts come with the warning every honest shoe guide carries: brands, designers and retailers are not bound to one exact standard, sizes are approximate references, and trying shoes on remains the only certain test of fit.

Pairs of women's and men's shoes arranged beside a foot measuring device and a ruler on a wooden floor, a small Apparel Search sign on the wall

Shoe designers, manufacturers, brands, and retailers all have a mind of their own. The industry is not required to use an exact standard. Below is a reference of approximate sizes for reference.

It is important to try on shoes to make sure they fit properly. Do NOT rely on the measurements we have listed below. This is simply for a point of reference.

Women's Shoe Size Chart

Women's Inch to Size Chart
Heel to toe length (in inches)	Size (USA)	Regular width (B) for this size	Wide width (D) for this size
8	= size 3	2 15/16	3 5/16
8 3/16	= size 3 1/2	3	3 3/8
8 5/16	= size 4	3 1/16	3 7/16
8 1/2	= size 4 1/2	3 2/16	3 1/2
8 11/16	= size 5	3 3/16	3 9/16
8 13/16	= size 5 1/2	3 4/16	3 5/8
9	= size 6	3 5/16	3 11/16
9 3/16	= size 6 1/2	3 6/16	3 3/4
9 5/16	= size 7	3 7/16	3 13/16
9 1/2	= size 7 1/2	3 8/16	3 7/8
9 11/16	= size 8	3 9/16	3 15/16
9 13/16	= size 8 1/2	3 10/16	4
10	= size 9	3 11/16	4 1/16
10 3/16	= size 9 1/2	3 12/16	4 1/8
10 5/16	= size 10	3 13/16	4 3/16
10 1/2	= size 10 1/2	3 14/16	4 1/4
10 11/16	= size 11	3 15/16	4 5/16
10 13/16	= size 11 1/2	4	4 3/8
11	= size 12	4 1/16	4 7/16
11 3/16	= size 12 1/2	4 2/16	4 1/2
11 5/16	= size 13	4 3/16	4 9/16
11 1/2	= size 13 1/2	4 4/16	4 5/8
11 11/16	= size 14	4 5/16	4 11/16

Men's Shoe Size Chart

Men's Inch to Size Chart
Heel to toe Length (in inches)	Size (USA)	Regular Width (D) for this Size	Wide Width (2E) for this Size
8 3/4	= size 3 1/2	3 8/16	3 15/16
8 15/16	= size 4	3 9/16	4
9 1/16	= size 4 1/2	3 10/16	4 1/16
9 1/4	= size 5	3 11/16	4 1/8
9 5/16	= size 6	3 8/16	3 7/8
9 1/2	= size 6 1/2	3 9/16	3 15/16
9 11/16	= size 7	3 10/16	4
9 13/16	= size 7 1/2	3 11/16	4 1/16
10	= size 8	3 12/16	4 1/8
10 3/16	= size 8 1/2	3 13/16	4 3/16
10 5/16	= size 9	3 14/16	4 1/4
10 1/2	= size 9 1/2	3 15/16	4 5/16
10 11/16	= size 10	4	4 3/8
10 13/16	= size 10 1/2	4 1/16	4 7/16
11	= size 11	4 2/16	4 1/2
11 3/16	= size 11 1/2	4 3/16	4 9/16
11 5/16	= size 12	4 4/16	4 5/8
11 1/2	= size 12 1/2	4 5/16	4 11/16
11 11/16	= size 13	4 6/16	4 3/4
11 13/16	= size 13 1/2	4 7/16	4 13/16
12	= size 14	4 8/16	4 7/8
12 3/16	= size 14 1/2	4 9/16	4 15/16
12 5/16	= size 15	4 10/16	5

Children's Shoe Size Chart

Inch to Size Chart: Girls & Boys (Girls & Boys are the same size)

Heel to toe Length (in inches)	Size (USA)	Regular Width (D) for this Size	Wide Width (2E) for this Size
5 3/8	= size 6 1/2	2 6/16	2 3/4
5 9/16	= size 7	2 7/16	2 13/16
5 3/4	= size 7 1/2	2 8/16	2 7/8
5 7/8	= size 8	2 8/16	2 15/16
6 1/16	= size 8 1/2	2 9/16	3
6 1/4	= size 9	2 10/16	3
6 3/8	= size 9 1/2	2 11/16	3 1/16
6 9/16	= size 10	2 12/16	3 1/8
6 3/4	= size 10 1/2	2 12/16	3 3/16
6 7/8	= size 11	2 13/16	3 1/4
7 1/16	= size 11 1/2	2 14/16	3 5/16
7 1/4	= size 12	2 15/16	3 3/8
7 3/8	= size 12 1/2	3	3 7/16
7 9/16	= size 13	3 1/16	3 1/2
7 3/4	= size 13 1/2	3 2/16	3 9/16
7 15/16	= size 1	3 3/16	3 5/8
8 1/16	= size 1 1/2	3 4/16	3 11/16
8 1/4	= size 2	3 5/16	3 3/4
8 3/8	= size 2 1/2	3 6/16	3 13/16
8 9/16	= size 3	3 7/16	3 7/8

Clothing Size Guides

Length Gets You to the Size, Width Decides the Fit

Most shoe discomfort blamed on size is really width. The charts on this page pair each length size with two width measurements — regular and wide at the ball of the foot — because a foot can be a textbook length and still need the wider last. Measure both feet, later in the day when they are at their largest, standing with weight on them, and fit to the larger foot. Sock thickness, arch height and toe shape all argue with the chart in individual cases, which is why the numbers are best treated as the address of the right shelf in the shoe store, not the verdict on the pair.

Why Shoe Sizes Refuse to Standardize

Shoe sizes grew up country by country and maker by maker, and no authority can force a single standard on the industry now — a size 8 from one brand can last measurably longer than another's. Lasts (the forms shoes are built on) also differ by design intent: a running shoe, a dress shoe and a boot in the same marked size are shaped for different feet at work. The practical response is the one this page supports: know your foot length in inches and centimeters, keep notes on the sizes that fit you brand by brand, and let those records — not the number printed on a new box — guide repeat purchases, especially online.

Shoppers measuring at home can pair these charts with how to measure foot width and the shoe size conversion chart, which adds UK, EU, Japanese and Korean sizes.

Common Questions

How do I measure my foot for shoe size?

Measure heel to toe in inches while standing, for both feet, and match the longer measurement to the size chart; measure later in the day when feet are at their largest.

What do the B and D letters mean in women's shoe widths?

On the women's chart, B is the regular width and D is the wide width for a given size, each with its own ball-of-foot measurement.

Why might my usual shoe size not fit in another brand?

Shoe designers, manufacturers and retailers are not required to follow one exact standard, so sizes vary between brands and styles — the charts are approximate references and trying shoes on is essential.