International shoe size converter
Shopping for shoes from another country? This converter lines up US Men, US Women, UK, EU and foot length in centimetres so you can find your size in any system. It is for international online shoppers translating a size from one region’s labelling to another’s.
How it works
The tool uses a fixed adult conversion chart anchored to foot length in centimetres (mondopoint). You choose the system you already know and enter your size; it finds the chart row whose value is closest to your input and reads the matching size in every other system. Because the chart is length-based, the cm column is the most reliable reference when systems disagree.
US women’s sizes run about 1.5 sizes larger than US men’s for the same foot, so a US Men 9 sits alongside a US Women 10.5 on the same row.
Example
A US Men’s 9 lines up as follows:
| System | Size |
|---|---|
| US Men | 9 |
| US Women | 10.5 |
| UK | 8.5 |
| EU | 42.5 |
| Foot length | 27.0 cm |
Why the systems differ
Shoe sizing developed independently in different countries over centuries, with no international agreement until recently. The EU system (also called the Paris Point system) is based on adding two-thirds of the foot length in centimetres, giving the characteristic non-round EU numbers. The UK and US systems both grew from the barleycorn — an old unit equal to one third of an inch — with the UK scale starting from different zero-point conventions than the US scale. The result is that the same physical foot length maps to different numbers in each system, and the gaps are not consistent across the size range.
EU sizing is the same for men and women because it is purely length-based. US and UK sizes diverge by gender because their historical conventions included last width as a factor in setting the zero point.
How to measure your foot at home
The most reliable reference is foot length in centimetres:
- Place a sheet of paper on a hard floor against a wall.
- Stand on the paper with your heel touching the wall.
- Mark the tip of your longest toe with a pencil.
- Measure the distance from the wall to the mark in centimetres.
Match this measurement to the cm column in the converter. Foot length changes slightly depending on whether you measure in the morning (slightly smaller) or after standing for a few hours (slightly larger due to swelling). Measure in the afternoon for the most practical fit.
Brand variation and why conversion charts are a starting point
Even within one size system, brands differ substantially because shoe construction involves a physical form called a last, and lasts vary by brand, style, and country of manufacture. A European-made trainer and a Korean-made trainer both labelled EU 43 may fit noticeably differently. Use this tool to arrive at the right region to shop in; read reviews about whether a brand runs large, small, or narrow before ordering.
If you are between sizes, size up for boots and shoes with thick socks, and size to fit your foot length exactly for trainers and athletic footwear.
Sizing varies by brand and last shape, so measuring your foot length and matching the cm column is the most reliable approach. Everything runs in your browser — no measurements ever leave your device.