Shoe Size Conversion Guide: US, UK, EU, and Centimeters
By Marcus Thompson · Published
Unlike converting centimeters to inches, there’s no single formula that converts a US shoe size to a UK or EU size — each sizing system was developed independently, uses a different starting point, and increments in different step sizes. If you’ve ever ordered shoes from a European retailer and received something that didn’t fit despite “converting” the size correctly, this is why.
Three systems, three different logics
- US sizing is based on “Brannock” measurements developed in the 1920s, with a separate scale for men’s and women’s sizes that are offset by about 1.5–2 sizes from each other for the same foot length.
- UK sizing uses a similar barleycorn-based system (each size step is 1/3 of an inch, or about 8.46 mm) but starts counting from a different baseline than the US scale.
- EU sizing (sometimes called “Paris points”) is based on the length of the shoe’s last in centimeters, multiplied by 1.5 and rounded — so EU sizes increase in steps of about 6.67mm of foot length per size, roughly two-thirds of a UK/US size step.
Because these systems don’t share a common unit or starting point, conversion tables are built from manufacturer size charts and measured foot-length correspondences — not derived mathematically. This is also why conversions can vary slightly between brands: a “EU 42” from one manufacturer may fit slightly differently than a “EU 42” from another, especially between European, US, and Asian brands.
Approximate size correspondences (adult, unisex foot length)
| Foot length (cm) | US Men’s | US Women’s | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.5 | 5.5 | 7 | 4.5 | 37.5 |
| 24.1 | 6 | 7.5 | 5 | 38 |
| 24.8 | 6.5 | 8 | 5.5 | 38.5 |
| 25.4 | 7 | 8.5 | 6 | 39–40 |
| 26.0 | 7.5 | 9 | 6.5 | 40 |
| 26.7 | 8 | 9.5 | 7 | 41 |
| 27.3 | 8.5 | 10 | 7.5 | 41–42 |
| 27.9 | 9 | 10.5 | 8 | 42–43 |
| 28.6 | 9.5 | 11 | 8.5 | 43 |
| 29.4 | 10 | 11.5 | 9 | 43–44 |
These are widely used reference values; always check the specific retailer’s size chart when buying from a brand you haven’t worn before, since small variations between brands are common — especially between US, European, and Asian manufacturers.
The most reliable approach: measure your foot length
Because the conversion tables are approximations, the most reliable way to find your size in an unfamiliar system is to measure your actual foot length in centimeters and match it to the brand’s size chart directly, rather than converting your “usual” size from one system to another.
How to measure:
- Stand on a piece of paper against a wall, with your heel touching the wall.
- Mark the point where your longest toe ends.
- Measure the distance from the wall to the mark in centimeters — this is your foot length.
- Measure both feet; use the larger measurement, since most people have one foot slightly larger than the other.
- Add a few millimeters of allowance for socks and natural foot movement when walking, especially for athletic shoes.
Once you have your foot length in centimeters, most shoe retailers’ size charts let you match directly to that measurement — which is far more reliable than converting “I’m a US 9” through two unrelated sizing systems and hoping the result lines up.
Why kids’ sizes reset
Children’s shoe sizes in the US and UK use a separate numbering scale that starts near 0 for infants and runs up to about 13 before transitioning to adult sizing (which typically restarts around size 1). This reset is why a child’s shoe size doesn’t follow the same scale as an adult’s — a kids’ size 13 is followed by an adult size 1, not size 14. EU sizing for children continues on the same centimeter-based logic as adult sizing, without a reset, which is one more reason centimeter foot length is the most consistent reference point across age groups and regions.
Practical takeaway
If you’re shopping from an overseas retailer:
- Measure your foot length in centimeters using the method above.
- Check the retailer’s specific size chart (not a generic conversion table) for that measurement.
- If the retailer doesn’t provide a size chart, use the table above as a starting estimate, but expect it to be approximate — and check the retailer’s return policy before ordering.
For a fuller reference with more size steps and a quick lookup tool, see our men’s, women’s, and kids’ shoe size charts.