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How to Convert Shoe Sizes
A US men’s size 10 equals a UK 9.5, an EU 44, and approximately 28 cm in foot length. Those four numbers all describe the same shoe, but each system uses a different origin point and a different unit of measurement. Once you know how each scale works, converting between them is straightforward arithmetic.
The four sizing systems
Four systems dominate global shoe sizing. Each one measures the foot (or the shoe’s interior) differently.
US sizing (Brannock) is based on the Brannock Device, introduced in 1927. The scale starts at a baseline foot length and increases by 1/3 of an inch per full size. Men’s and women’s sizes use different starting points, which is why a women’s US 9 is not the same as a men’s US 9.
UK sizing (barleycorn) is one of the oldest systems still in use. It measures shoe length in barleycorns, a traditional British unit equal to 1/3 of an inch. UK sizes start from a different zero point than US sizes, but the increment per size is the same 1/3 inch.
EU sizing (Paris point) uses the Paris point as its unit, equal to 2/3 of a centimeter (6.667 mm). EU sizes apply to both men and women with no offset, meaning an EU 42 is the same physical length regardless of gender.
CM / Mondopoint measures the foot in centimeters from heel to longest toe. Japan, Korea, and many athletic brands use this system. It is the most direct, since it is simply the length of your foot in metric units. The shoe size converter handles all four systems and accounts for the men’s/women’s offset automatically.
Men’s size conversion table
These are approximate equivalents for standard-width men’s shoes. Half sizes exist in US and UK systems but not in EU or CM.
| US men’s | UK | EU | CM (foot length) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6.5 | 40 | 25 |
| 8 | 7.5 | 41 | 26 |
| 9 | 8.5 | 42.5 | 27 |
| 10 | 9.5 | 44 | 28 |
| 11 | 10.5 | 45 | 29 |
| 12 | 11.5 | 46 | 30 |
Each full US/UK size corresponds to roughly 1 cm in foot length. Moving from a US men’s 10 to a US men’s 11 adds about 1 cm, from 28 cm to 29 cm.
Women’s size conversion table
Women’s US sizes run about 1.5 sizes higher than men’s for the same foot length. A 25 cm foot is a men’s US 7 but a women’s US 8.5.
| US women’s | UK | EU | CM (foot length) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 3.5 | 36.5 | 23 |
| 7 | 4.5 | 37.5 | 24 |
| 8 | 5.5 | 39 | 25 |
| 9 | 6.5 | 40 | 26 |
| 10 | 7.5 | 41 | 27 |
| 11 | 8.5 | 42.5 | 28 |
EU sizes do not change between men’s and women’s charts. An EU 40 is an EU 40 on any shoe. The same applies to CM measurements, since centimeters are just a physical length.
Men’s vs. women’s sizing
In the US and UK systems, women’s sizes are offset from men’s sizes by approximately 1.5 sizes. To convert a men’s US size to a women’s US size, add 1.5. To go the other direction, subtract 1.5.
A men’s US 8 is the same length as a women’s US 9.5. A women’s US 7 corresponds to a men’s US 5.5. This offset matters when shopping for unisex shoes or buying from brands that list only one gendered scale.
The UK offset is similar but slightly smaller, roughly 1 size difference rather than 1.5. A men’s UK 7 is close to a women’s UK 8.
EU and CM sizes have no gender offset at all. A foot that measures 26 cm is always 26 cm, and an EU 40 is always an EU 40, whether the shoe is marketed to men or women.
How to measure your foot at home
Shoe size charts are only useful if you know your actual foot length. Here is a reliable method.
Place a sheet of paper on a hard floor against a wall. Stand on the paper with your heel touching the wall. Make sure you are wearing the type of socks you would normally wear with the shoes you are buying. Mark the tip of your longest toe with a pen or pencil. Step off the paper and measure from the edge that was against the wall to the mark.
That measurement in centimeters is your Mondopoint size. You can look it up directly in the tables above or enter it into the shoe size converter to get your US, UK, and EU sizes.
A few practical tips: measure both feet, because most people have one foot slightly longer than the other. Use the longer measurement. Measure in the afternoon or evening, since feet swell slightly during the day. If the measurement falls between two sizes, go with the larger one.
This same measure-and-compare approach applies to other body measurements. The ring size calculator works similarly, converting a finger circumference in millimeters to standard ring sizes across different national scales.
Why sizes vary between brands
Even with accurate foot measurements, a size 10 from one brand might fit differently than a size 10 from another. There are two main reasons.
The first is last shape. A last is the solid form around which a shoe is built. Lasts vary in width, arch height, toe box shape, and heel curve. Two shoes labeled EU 44 can have the same interior length but very different interior volumes. A narrow Italian dress shoe and a wide American running shoe might both be EU 44, but one will feel tight and the other roomy.
The second reason is manufacturing tolerance. Shoe sizing standards define the length, but they do not dictate exactly how much extra room (called “toe allowance”) a manufacturer adds beyond the foot measurement. Some brands add 10 mm of space in front of the toes; others add 15 mm. That 5 mm difference is enough to change how a shoe feels on your foot.
Width also plays a role. US shoes come in standard widths labeled with letters: B is standard for women, D is standard for men. Wider options (E, EE, 4E) and narrower options (AA, A) exist but are less common. EU sizing does not have a standardized width system, though some brands use their own width markings.
Because of these variations, the conversion tables above are best treated as starting points rather than exact answers. When buying shoes online, check the brand’s own size chart and compare it against your foot measurement in centimeters. The CM measurement is the most universal and least ambiguous way to find the right size. For other unit conversions, the length converter can translate between inches, centimeters, and millimeters if a brand provides measurements in a different unit than what you measured.