International Shoe Size Systems Explained
Shoe sizing varies widely across countries, making international shopping tricky. The US uses separate size scales for men and women, the UK runs slightly smaller than US, the EU uses Paris Points, Japan uses centimeters, and Korea uses millimeters directly. This converter covers all five systems at once.
US Shoe Sizes
The US system uses separate scales for men and women. For the same foot length, women's sizes are approximately 1.5–2 numbers higher than men's. Children's sizes use a separate system and are not included here. Half sizes are common and indicate a 4.23mm difference in foot length.
UK Shoe Sizes
UK sizes run about 0.5–1 size smaller than US sizes. British brands like Clarks, Dr. Martens, and Church's label their shoes in UK sizing, so pay close attention when buying from UK retailers.
EU Shoe Sizes
European sizes use the Paris Point system: foot length in cm multiplied by 3/2. For example, a 26.5 cm foot gives EU 39.75, rounded to EU 40. EU sizes are unisex, used by brands like Nike and Adidas in their universal size charts.
Frequently Asked Questions
- My US men's size is 9. What EU size should I order?
- US men's 9 corresponds to EU 42–43. If the listing shows only EU 43, that should be your selection. When in doubt, check the brand's specific size chart and customer reviews.
- Why do conversion charts sometimes show a range like "40-41"?
- Shoe sizes don't convert perfectly between all systems. A range like "40-41" means the foot length falls between two EU sizes. Try the smaller if you have a narrow foot, or the larger for a wider foot.