Shoe Size Converter
Convert a shoe size between US, UK, EU, and foot length in centimeters.
Reviewed by the ToolNestr Editorial Team — July 2026
How shoe size conversion works
Every shoe size system is a different way of labeling the same underlying measurement: the length of the last (the foot-shaped form a shoe is built on), which closely tracks actual foot length. US and UK sizing count up from a fixed reference point in roughly one-third-inch increments, while EU sizing uses the Paris point system, where one full size equals two-thirds of a centimeter of last length. Because the increments are different sizes, the same physical growth in foot length produces different-looking jumps across systems.
Men's and women's US sizing also do not share a scale — a women's US 8 and a men's US 8 are not the same foot length. The general accepted conversion is that a women's US size is about 1.5 sizes larger in number than the men's US size for the same physical foot, which is why unisex or "convert my men's size to women's" questions trip people up constantly.
Size relationships follow the standard Brannock-device / Paris-point conventions used across the footwear industry for US, UK, and EU (Continental) sizing.
Worked example
A shopper wears a men's US 9 and wants to order sneakers from a UK-based site.
Real-world context
Cross-border sneaker buying is the single biggest driver of shoe-size confusion, since limited-release drops are frequently only available through UK, EU, or Japanese retailers. A US 10.5 buyer who orders a "10.5" from a European site without checking the region assumption could end up half a size off in either direction depending on whether the site defaulted to US or EU numbering for that listing.
Gifting is the other common case — buying shoes for someone else means working from whatever size they told you, which may be in a system you don't normally use yourself. Converting first, then double-checking against the specific brand's chart (running shoe brands especially vary by up to half a size between models), avoids an awkward return.
Common misconceptions
"My US size is my EU size minus 32, just like clothing." No. Shoe sizing and clothing sizing use completely unrelated numbering systems; there is no shared offset between them, so a clothing-size mental shortcut will give a wrong shoe size.
"Half sizes convert evenly across every system." Not always. Some EU sizes only exist in whole numbers depending on the brand's last, so a US half size sometimes rounds to the nearest available EU whole size rather than mapping to its own EU half size.
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Frequently asked questions
Why do US and UK shoe sizes differ by only 1-2, not by 4 like clothing?
Shoe sizing uses a different base scale than clothing sizing. US men's sizes typically run about 1 full size larger than the equivalent UK number, and about 0.5-1 size larger than women's US-to-UK, unlike the roughly 4-point gap seen in dress sizing.
Do men's and women's shoe sizes convert the same way?
No. A women's US size is roughly 1.5-2 sizes larger than the equivalent men's US size for the same foot length, so always confirm which scale a size is listed in before converting.
Is EU shoe sizing based on centimeters?
EU (Paris point / Continental) sizing is based on the Paris point system, where each full size equals two-thirds of a centimeter of last length, not foot length directly, which is why EU sizes increase in smaller visual steps than US or UK.
How accurate is a size chart compared to measuring my foot?
A conversion chart gives a reliable starting point, but foot width, brand lasts, and material stretch all shift real-world fit — measuring foot length in centimeters and checking it against the brand's own chart is more reliable for a first purchase from a new brand.