Anyone who has ordered shoes from a website in another country knows the feeling. The listing says 42, you wear a 9, and you have no idea whether those two numbers describe the same foot. The calculator above is there to settle that. It converts between US, UK, EU, Australian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Mexican, Brazilian and Russian shoe sizes for men, women and kids, and it does it from your actual foot length rather than by guessing from a lookup list.

Below it you will find full shoe size charts, an explanation of how each system works, answers to the questions people type into search engines every day, and a plain guide to measuring your foot properly. Skim the contents list or read it through, whichever suits you.

What this shoe size converter does

This is a free shoe size converter and shoe size calculator in one. You give it a size you already know, in any of eleven formats, and it returns the equivalent in nine other systems at the same moment. There is nothing to download and no sign-up, and it works on a phone as well as a laptop.

• Shoe size conversion for men, women and kids with separate scales for each, because the three do not line up with one another.
• US, UK, EU, AU, NZ, JP, CN, KR, MX, BR and RU sizes in one view, including the India, Pakistan and Ireland UK-style sizes.
• Foot length in cm, mm and inches, so you can type in a measurement instead of a size.
• A live shoe animation that grows and shrinks on a ruler as the size changes, which makes the numbers easier to picture.
• A built-in size chart and measuring guide, plus one-tap copy for sharing results.

How to use this calculator

The tool looks busy at first glance, but there is one idea behind all of it: tell it a size, and it fills in the rest. This section walks through each control in the order you will probably meet them.

1. Pick Men, Women or Kids

Start with the three tabs at the top. The choice matters because the scales are not identical. A women’s US size sits one step above the same foot in men’s sizing, and children’s sizes use their own numbering with Child and Youth ranges. Choosing the right tab first is the single biggest thing you can do for an accurate answer.

2. Choose the size you already know

The “Size you know” list is where you say what kind of number you are holding. The options are:

• US & Canada
• UK, Ireland, India, Pakistan
• Europe (EU)
• Australia & New Zealand
• Japan (cm)
• China, Korea, Mondopoint (mm)
• Mexico (cm)
• Brazil
• Russia & CIS
• My foot length in cm
• My foot length in inches

If you only know a shoe label from an old pair, pick its system. If you have a ruler instead, choose one of the two foot length options. Either way you get the same nine results.

3. Child or Youth (kids only)

On the Kids tab, US and UK sizes show a Child and Youth toggle. Both scales run up to 13½ as child sizes and then restart at 1 as youth sizes, so a “size 2” could mean two very different shoes. The toggle removes that ambiguity. Europe, Japan and the other systems do not restart, so the toggle only appears when it is needed.

4. Enter the size

You have several ways to set the number, so use whichever is quickest:

• The minus and plus buttons move one step at a time. Hold a button down and it keeps going; the up and down arrow keys do the same on a keyboard.
• Type directly into the box. Decimal commas work, so 42,5 is read as 42.5.
• Drag the foot length slider and watch every system update as the size changes.

5. Read the results

Nine cards show the result: US, UK (also India, Pakistan and Ireland), EU, AU and NZ, Japan, China and Korea, Mexico, Brazil and Russia. Each card gives the rounded size, plus the exact calculated value when it differs. Some feet land halfway between two sizes, and in that case you will see “or” followed by the neighbouring size so you can decide which way to go. On the women’s and men’s cards you also get a shortcut line such as “women’s 12”, which shows the same foot on the other scale.

6. Tap any card to switch

Each result card is also a button. Tap the EU card and the converter treats EU as the size you know, so you can work backwards without touching the list. It is handy when a shop shows its sizes in one system and your reviews or charts use another.

7. Watch the shoe

The animated shoe is more than decoration. It stands on a ruler marked in centimetres and inches and stretches to the foot length you have chosen, with a dimension line that shows the measurement and a faint size number behind it. Tap the shoe and it takes a small step. Four colour dots change the shoe’s colour, and the Foot view toggle shows an x-ray style outline of the foot inside, which makes the toe room easier to judge.

8. The foot length readout

Under the shoe, the tool shows the foot length behind your size in centimetres, inches and millimetres. This is the real hub of the whole converter, since every other number is derived from it. If you want to buy shoes from a brand that lists Mondopoint or centimetres, this is the figure to copy.

9. How to measure

The How to measure button opens a four-step guide inside the tool, including a note on width letters, and a shortcut called “Enter my foot length” that sends your measurement straight to the converter. It opens inside the tool itself, so you do not lose your place on the page.

10. Size chart

The Size chart button opens a full table for the group you are on: cm, inches, US, UK, EU, AU, JP, BR and RU in one place. Your current size is highlighted, and tapping any row loads it into the converter.

11. Copy and Copy all sizes

Two copy buttons put the result on your clipboard. One copies the size you are looking at, and the other copies every system in one block, which is useful when you are messaging a friend or a seller and want to be clear about which number you mean.

12. Settings

The settings panel has two switches. The first sets the US women’s scale to Standard (men’s plus 1) or Athletic (men’s plus 1.5). The second decides whether EU, Brazil and Russia sizes show half steps or whole numbers only, which matches shops that never sell half EU sizes. The panel also lists the formulas and sources the converter uses.

13. It remembers your choices

Your last settings are saved in your own browser, so if you come back tomorrow the converter opens on the same tab, size and colour. Nothing is sent to a server and you can clear it by wiping site data. Every button also scrolls the tool back into view, so you never get lost on a small screen.

How the conversions are worked out

Most online converters are a table copied from somewhere else. This one calculates, and the starting point is always your foot length. From there each system has a simple rule:

• US men: 3 × foot length in inches − 22. US women: 3 × inches − 21 (or − 20.5 for the athletic setting).
• UK: 3 × inches − 23. Australia and New Zealand follow the UK scale for men and children and the US scale for women.
• EU: 1.5 × centimetres + 2. Brazil is the same without the +2, and Russia uses +1.5.
• Japan and Mexico: the foot length in centimetres. China and Korea: the foot length in millimetres (Mondopoint).
• Kids: the UK child scale starts from 3 × inches − 10, and the US scale sits half a size above it.

These rules come from the standards the industry actually refers to: the international conversion guidance ISO/TS 19407, the Mondopoint system of ISO 9407, Japan’s JIS S 5037 foot-length sizes, the old Russian GOST size table, and the Brannock device that most US shops use to measure a foot. Where those documents leave room for judgement, such as which way a half step rounds, the converter picks the usual convention and shows the neighbouring size beside it.

The chart below shows what that looks like. Between a 23 cm and a 29 cm foot, every scale climbs in a straight line. They run parallel in the US and UK because both use the same barleycorn step; the EU line is steeper because Paris points are smaller than barleycorns.

Men’s shoe size chart (US, UK, EU, cm)

Here is the men’s shoe size chart generated by the same converter. Find your size in the US column and read across. JP is Japan’s size in centimetres, and the last column is the foot length in centimetres.

Sizes are rounded to the nearest half. Brands differ, so treat any chart as a starting point.

Women’s shoe size chart (US, UK, EU, cm)

The women’s chart uses the standard rule, where a women’s US size is the men’s size plus one. Notice that the UK, EU and foot length columns are the same shape as the men’s table, just shifted along, because it is the same foot underneath.

Men’s to women’s sizes (and back)

This is one of the most common questions online: how do you convert men to women shoe size, and the other way round? The short rule is that you add one to go from men’s to women’s US, or take one off to go back. So a men’s 8 is a women’s 9, and a women’s 10 is a men’s 9.

Some athletic brands add one and a half instead, so their men’s 8 is a women’s 9½. That is why the table has an extra column. If you are shopping from a sports brand, check which rule their chart uses, or set it in the converter’s Settings.

Men = US men, Women = standard women’s US, Athletic = men + 1.5.

US to EU and EU to US shoe size

For anyone searching “EU to US shoe size”, the table below starts from the European number and shows the US men’s and women’s equivalents, the UK size and the foot length. Read it from the EU column for EU to US, or find your US size in the other columns for US to EU.

There is no single number to subtract: the gap between an EU size and the matching US men’s size is about 31 at the small end and 34 at the large end, so use the table when it matters.

US to UK and UK to US shoe size

UK sizes in men’s shoes are one smaller than US. Women’s US sizes are two above UK. If you only remember one rule from this page, remember that. The table starts from the UK number for people searching “UK to US” or “UK to EU shoe size”.

Kids, toddler and baby shoe sizes

Children’s shoes are where most sizing mistakes happen, because feet grow quickly and children cannot always tell you if a shoe hurts. Charts that match shoe sizes to ages are only loose guides, since children of the same age have feet of quite different lengths. A measurement is far more reliable.

The table below is built from foot length. It covers toddler, little kid and big kid sizes and works the same for boys and girls, because children’s sizing is not split by gender. In the US and UK columns, a letter Y marks the move from child sizes into youth sizes, which restart at 1.

cm = foot length. Y = youth size. Add about 1 cm of growing room when you buy.

When you are buying for a baby, keep in mind that first shoes are usually bought for protection, not for support, so a little extra room matters more than a perfect match. Check the length every few months, and again whenever a favourite pair starts getting scuffed at the toe.

Shoe size in cm, mm and inches

If you are asking “what is my shoe size in cm” or “what size shoe is 26 cm”, you are really asking for foot length to shoe size. Measure the foot, then look it up below. The Inch column helps if your measuring tape only shows inches. If you are also converting other body measurements between feet, inches and centimetres, the height converter handles those.

US M = men’s, US W = women’s. Foot lengths halfway between two sizes can go either way.

People also search for specific lengths. A 10 inch foot is a men’s US 8 and a women’s US 9. A 27 cm foot is a men’s 10 or a women’s 11. The second table lists common inch measurements.

Mondopoint, the system behind many centimetre and millimetre sizes, works the same way: the number is your foot length in millimetres, so a 265 shoe suits a foot about 26.5 cm long. It is common on ski boots, military boots and work footwear, and widely used in China and Korea.

Shoe sizes by country

Here is who uses what. The last column shows what a US men’s 9 becomes in each place, so you can see how different the numbers look for the same foot.

A few notes. Canada follows the US scale, though some Canadian shops list EU sizes too. India, Pakistan, Ireland and South Africa all use UK sizing. Australia and New Zealand use the UK scale for men and children, and the US scale for women. Japan sizes in centimetres in half-centimetre steps. China and Korea use millimetres in 5 mm steps. Brazil’s numbers sit two below European ones, and Russia’s a half size below.

Nike, Adidas and other brands

Brand sizing is where the convenient numbers fall apart. A converter can tell you what size your foot is on each scale, but it cannot know how a particular company cuts its shoes. The notes below are general patterns, not guarantees, so always check the brand’s own chart for the exact model.

• Nike and Jordan: sizes are listed in men’s, women’s and kids’ versions. Nike’s charts typically pair a men’s size with a women’s size 1.5 higher, so try the athletic setting.
• Adidas and Puma: both list European and UK sizes alongside US sizes, which makes conversion easy; sizes can vary between ranges, so compare before buying.
• New Balance and ASICS: offer width options, so a snug fit in standard width might be comfortable in wide. Many runners also buy half a size larger for long distances.
• Hoka: fit varies between models, so read recent reviews for the exact one you want.
• Converse and Vans: Converse classics are often described as running large, so many people go down a size; Vans follow standard US sizing.
• Birkenstock and UGG: Birkenstock sells in European sizes, usually in regular and narrow widths. UGG’s men’s and women’s ranges are sized differently, so check their own chart.
• Dr. Martens and Clarks: both use UK sizing. Dr. Martens come in whole sizes only, so half-size wearers must choose, and Clarks offer width fittings.
• Crocs: sold as unisex pairs (for example M7 / W9), so use the size pair that matches your gender.

Sport and specialty footwear

Specialist shoes often follow different fit rules from everyday ones, and the converter’s foot length is usually your best starting point.

• Ski boots: sold in Mondopoint, which is your foot length in centimetres. The shell is chosen to fit tightly, so get it fitted in a shop.
• Running shoes: a thumb’s width of room beyond your longest toe is common; many runners take half a size up from their casual size.
• Football boots and cleats: usually fit closer than trainers, particularly for leather. Many players want a snug fit with little movement.
• Cycling shoes: typically sold in European sizes, with a firm fit and little stretch, so half sizes matter.
• Climbing shoes: designed to fit tight, and often a size or two smaller than street shoes. Climbing brands each have their own size guides.
• Ballet and pointe shoes: fitted by a specialist. Do not buy pointe shoes from a conversion chart.

How to measure your foot at home

Measuring takes two minutes and removes most of the guesswork. Do it in the evening, when feet are at their largest, and wear the socks you would normally wear with the shoes.

• Tape a sheet of paper to a hard floor with one edge against a wall.
• Stand on the paper with your heel against the wall and your weight evenly on both feet.
• Mark the tip of your longest toe. It is not always the big toe.
• Measure from the wall to the mark with a ruler, in centimetres or millimetres.
• Repeat for the other foot and use the longer measurement.

Enter that figure under “My foot length in cm” in the calculator and take the size it gives you. For shoes you want to wear with real comfort, add roughly a thumb’s width of room between your longest toe and the end of the shoe, which is about 1 cm.

Between sizes, width and left versus right

Plenty of people fall between two sizes, and the converter’s “or” line exists for that reason. A few rules of thumb help you decide.

• Go up if you wear thick socks, have wide feet, or the shoe has little stretch.
• Go down if the shoe is made of soft knit or leather that stretches, or your heel slips in the larger size.
• Check both feet. Most people have one foot slightly larger, and the shoe has to fit that side.
• Think about the day. Feet swell by evening, and after exercise, so try shoes on later in the day if you can.

Remember, too, that your size can change over time. Pregnancy, weight changes and age can all alter foot length and width, so re-measure now and then instead of trusting the number you have worn for ten years.

Why shoe sizes differ

The mess exists because nobody planned it. English-speaking countries use the barleycorn, a third of an inch, a unit with medieval origins that is often traced to a decree in 1324. The UK and US start counting from different places, which is why the same foot is a smaller number in the UK. Continental Europe uses the Paris point, two thirds of a centimetre, which makes each size step smaller. Japan, Mexico, China and Korea skip the shoe-specific unit and simply quote foot length. And Mondopoint, standardised as ISO 9407, does the same for boots and sport shoes.

The bar chart shows how large each half step is in millimetres. It explains why European and Brazilian sizes look so much more finely graded, and why a half size in a US shoe is a bigger jump than a half size in EU.

Sizing in general has this problem. Bras, for example, change with country in much the same way, which is why our bra size calculator works with several systems too. The best-known fix for guessing was the Brannock device, invented by Charles Brannock in the 1920s, which measures heel-to-toe length and width and is still found in many shoe shops. The standardised conversion guidance came much later, and brands still interpret it freely.

Frequently asked questions

Tap a question to see the answer.

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