how to convert shoe size

 

Begin with the following sentence: "If you're planning on buying shoes online, it's important to calculate your foot size before ordering."

Know that there are three types of shoe sizes: U.S. men's, U.S. women's, and European men’s and women’s sizes (also known as British or UK sizes). Unless you know for certain that the shoes you want to purchase are in one of these three categories, it's best to measure your feet first so that all measurements correspond accurately with the size you need.

Measure the length of your foot: place your foot on the floor and make sure that it is not curved. Place a ruler under your heel near the back end of your foot, then measure from the back to the tip of your longest toe. Some people also like to measure their calf muscle, but this is unnecessary if you already know roughly which size you need to order.

 

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Measure the width of your feet: place both feet on a flat surface with a ruler in between them. To find the width, measure from one heel straight across to the other heel (the widest part of both feet at that point).

To measure the length of your foot, one foot can be placed on a flat surface and the other one held against it so that both are at the same height.

Compare the two measurements, and order shoes based on which number is larger. This may also help you to discover that you need different sizes in different brands and styles of footwear. For example, some brands use U.S., European, or UK sizes but purchasers want to be sure to purchase shoes based on their own country’s shoe size system (U.S., European, Australian) or their own shoe type (dress, casual).

Once you know your country's average shoe size ,it is relatively easy to convert U.S. and European sizes.

 

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If you are shopping for U.S. sizes, add or subtract the appropriate number of half-sizes to the measurement you took for your longest toe (which corresponds with your U.S. shoe size). For example, a woman who measures her foot to be 11½ inches can fit into shoe sizes ranging from 4½ to 11½ comfortably (and many women wear shoes that overlap by another ½ size at least).

European sizes are also easy to convert using the above method if you have a 36mm ruler handy. The length of your foot in millimeters converts directly into European shoe size

For example, if a person measures her foot to be 25mm (1 inch is equal to 25.4 mm), she can wear European shoe sizes from 35 to 41. The measurement does not need to be exact; the number of millimeters will always give an accurate fit for European sizes.

If you are shopping for UK or Australian sizes, you'll first have to convert your measurement into centimeters (see instructions below). Once it's in centimeters, subtract 0.4cm from your number and finally convert that into UK or Australian shoe size. For example, if you have a foot measuring 26cm in length, convert it into centimeters by dividing the inch measurement by 2 and then multiplying that number by 0.39.