How do I convert a UK shoe size to US?

For men, the US size is roughly half a size larger than the UK size, so a UK 9 is about a US 9.5. For women the gap is larger, around two sizes, so a UK 5 is about a US 7. The chart uses the standard published conversions for each category.

Is measuring foot length more reliable than converting sizes?

Yes. Shoe size scales differ between brands and regions, but your foot length in centimetres is a fixed physical measurement. Measuring your longest foot while standing and matching it to the centimetre column gives the most reliable fit across any brand.

How are EU shoe sizes calculated?

EU sizes use the Paris point system, where each full size is two-thirds of a centimetre of last length. That is why EU numbers climb faster than UK or US numbers, and why EU sizes are roughly 33 to 34 for a small adult foot and 46 to 48 for a large one.

Why do men's and women's sizes differ for the same foot?

The US and UK systems offset women's numbering from men's. In the US a women's size is about 1.5 sizes higher than the men's size for the same foot length, while EU sizes are unisex and based purely on foot length, so they line up more directly.

What should I do if I am between two sizes?

Size up rather than down, especially for sports and walking shoes where feet swell during use. If one foot is larger, fit to the larger foot. Trying the shoe on late in the day, when feet are at their largest, gives the most realistic fit.

Shoe Size Conversion Chart

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Buying shoes across borders means juggling at least three numbering systems plus a physical foot length. This chart converts between UK, US, and EU sizes for men, women, and children, all anchored to foot length in centimetres so you can fit any brand reliably.

How it works

The honest anchor is foot length, not the size number. EU sizes use the Paris point, where each full size equals two-thirds of a centimetre of last (internal) length — so EU numbers rise about 1.5 per centimetre of foot. UK sizes are built on the barleycorn (one-third of an inch) and US sizes offset from UK by a fixed amount that differs by category: roughly +0.5 for men and +1.5 to +2 for women.

Because these scales were never designed to align perfectly, the tool uses curated standard conversion rows rather than a single live formula. Enter a UK, US, or EU size for an exact lookup, or enter a measured foot length in centimetres and the tool snaps to the nearest row.

Example and notes

A men’s foot of about 27.3 cm corresponds to a UK 9, US 9.5, and EU 43. The same 27.3 cm in the women’s table maps to different numbers because women’s UK and US scales are offset — which is exactly why EU (unisex, length-based) sizing is the cleanest to translate between genders.

Measure your foot in the evening when it is largest, stand with weight on it, and record the longest point heel-to-toe. When you fall between two sizes, size up: a slightly roomy shoe with an insole beats a tight one, and feet swell during wear. Treat all conversions as a starting point — real fit still varies by brand, last shape, and width.