Shoe Size Converter - EU, US, UK Sizes and cm

Convert shoe sizes between EU, US, and UK systems plus foot length in centimeters, for men, women, and kids. Free and browser-based, with full conversion charts.

Category

Equivalent sizes (men)

US men

9

UK

8.5

EU

42.5

Foot length (cm)

26.4

Typical equivalents. Sizing varies by brand and last shape, often by up to half a size.

US menUKEUFoot length (cm)
65.538.524.0
6.563924.4
76.54024.8
7.5740.525.2
87.54125.6
8.584226.0
98.542.526.4
9.594326.8
109.54427.1
10.51044.527.5
1110.54527.9
11.51145.528.3
1211.54628.7
1312.547.529.5
1413.548.530.2

How Shoe Size Systems Differ

The three major sizing systems grew from different measuring traditions. UK and US sizes are based on barleycorns, an old English unit of a third of an inch (8.47 mm) per full size. EU (Paris point) sizes step by two-thirds of a centimeter (6.67 mm) per size, which is why EU sizes climb faster: a jump from EU 42 to 44 is about the same as US 8.5 to 10. US men's sizes run roughly half a size higher than UK for the same foot, and US women's sizes run about 1.5 higher than US men's on the same last, so a US men's 8 corresponds to about a US women's 9.5.

Foot length in centimeters is the only unambiguous measure, which is why Japan and China size shoes directly in cm and why running shoe brands print cm on the tongue label. To measure: stand on a sheet of paper in the socks you will wear, mark the heel and longest toe, and measure the distance. Do it in the evening (feet swell up to half a size during the day) and measure both feet, using the larger one. Add roughly 1 to 1.5 cm of toe room to your bare foot length when comparing with the charts here, which list typical insole-based equivalents.

Kids' sizing has its own quirk: US kids run from crib sizes through 13.5C, then restart at 1Y (youth) and continue to 7Y, which overlaps with adult sizing. A youth 6Y equals roughly a women's 7.5 and an EU 38.5, a popular money-saver for small-footed adults buying sneakers. Children's feet grow about half a size every three to four months under age four, and a thumb's width of growing room at the toe is the standard fitting advice.

Treat every chart, including this one, as a starting point rather than a guarantee: an EU 43 from one brand can fit like a 42.5 or 44 from another because each brand cuts its own lasts. When ordering online, check the brand's own cm table if it publishes one and compare it with your measured foot length. For related sizing math, ToolForte's Length Converter switches between cm and inches, and the Unit Converter covers the rest. All tools are free and run in your browser.

How the Shoe Size Converter Works

  1. 01Choose the category: men, women, or kids.
  2. 02Pick the size system you know: EU, US, UK, or foot length in cm.
  3. 03Select your size to see the equivalents in every system.
  4. 04Check the full chart, and remember brands can vary by half a size.

Understanding EU, US, and UK Shoe Sizes

UK and US sizes step by a third of an inch (a barleycorn) per full size, while EU sizes step by two-thirds of a centimeter (a Paris point), so the systems drift apart across the range. US men's sizes run about half a size above UK, and US women's sizes run about 1.5 above US men's for the same foot. Foot length in centimeters is the only unambiguous measure, which is why this converter includes it and why Japanese sizes use it directly. The chart follows standard retailer conversion tables.

When to Use This Tool

Use it when ordering shoes from a foreign webshop, interpreting a US or UK size on a secondhand listing, buying gifts, or checking whether a kids youth size fits a small-footed adult. Measure your foot in the evening, compare with the cm column, and always cross-check the specific brand's own size chart when one is available, since lasts differ between brands.

Common Use Cases

  • Order from a US or UK webshop with only your EU size
  • Convert a measured foot length in cm to a size in any system Length Converter - Meters, Feet & Miles
  • Find the kids youth size that matches a small adult size

Tips

  • Measure feet in the evening; they swell up to half a size during the day.
  • When between sizes, size up; you can compensate with insoles or thicker socks.
  • Always prefer the brand's own cm-based chart over a generic conversion when available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is EU size 42 in US sizes?
About a US men's 8.5 or a US women's 10, corresponding to a UK 8 and roughly a 26 cm foot. Treat it as a starting point: depending on the brand, an EU 42 can fit like anything from a US 8 to 9.
How do I measure my foot length correctly?
Stand on a sheet of paper in the socks you plan to wear, mark the back of your heel and the tip of your longest toe, and measure the distance in cm. Do it in the evening when feet are largest, measure both feet, and use the longer one.
Why do shoes from different brands fit differently at the same size?
Each brand shapes its own lasts (the foot forms shoes are built around), so length, width, and toe box vary even at identical labeled sizes. Half a size of variation between brands is normal, which is why conversion charts are guides rather than guarantees.
What is the difference between US men's and women's sizes?
On the same last, a US women's size is about 1.5 higher than the men's size: a men's 8 corresponds to a women's 9.5. Women's shoes are also typically built on narrower lasts, so the conversion works best for unisex styles like sneakers.
Can adults wear kids sizes?
Often, yes. US youth sizes run to 7Y, and a 6Y equals roughly a women's 7.5 or EU 38.5. Youth versions of popular sneakers are usually cheaper, though they can be slightly narrower and use simpler materials.

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