Shoe Size Conversion

Enter a foot length in centimeters to get matching US, UK, and EU shoe sizes, using the standard men's and women's sizing offsets built into modern shoe charts.

Quick Facts

Reference anchor
26 cm foot = US Men's 8 = UK 7 = EU 41
Each extra whole US men's size is about 1 cm of foot length; UK runs 1 size lower, EU runs 33 sizes higher, and US women's runs 1.5 sizes higher.

Your Results

Calculated
US Size
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Men's or women's, per selection
UK Size
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Unisex UK scale
EU Size
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Paris point / Continental Europe
Foot Length
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Equivalent length in inches

Ready

Enter a foot length and press Convert to see US, UK, and EU sizes.

Understanding Shoe Size Conversion

Shoe sizes are simply a coded way of expressing foot length, but the code differs by country and by shoe category. This calculator converts a measured foot length into the three sizing scales most shoppers run into — US, UK, and EU — using the standard offsets that show up across modern shoe-brand size charts.

The formula

The starting point is a widely used reference anchor: a 26 cm foot corresponds to US Men's size 8, UK size 7, and EU size 41. From that anchor, each sizing scale moves at a fixed rate relative to foot length:

  • US Men's size = foot length (cm) − 18 — each whole size is about 1 cm of foot length.
  • US Women's size = US Men's size + 1.5 — women's US sizing runs about a size and a half above the equivalent men's number.
  • UK size = US Men's size − 1 — UK uses a single unisex scale, not separate men's and women's numbering.
  • EU size = US Men's size + 33 — the Paris point / Continental European scale.

Results are rounded to the nearest half size, since that is the finest increment most shoe lines actually stock. You can choose to round up instead if you prefer extra room.

How to measure your foot length

Stand on a sheet of paper against a wall, wearing the socks you'd wear with the shoe, later in the day when feet are at their largest. Mark the wall at your heel and at the tip of your longest toe, then measure the distance between the marks in centimeters. Measure both feet — they are rarely identical — and base the conversion on the longer one.

Reference points

  • 24 cm ≈ US Men's 6 / US Women's 7.5 / UK 5 / EU 39
  • 26 cm ≈ US Men's 8 / US Women's 9.5 / UK 7 / EU 41
  • 28 cm ≈ US Men's 10 / US Women's 11.5 / UK 9 / EU 43
  • 30 cm ≈ US Men's 12 / US Women's 13.5 / UK 11 / EU 45

Why exact matches aren't guaranteed

Shoe sizing isn't governed by one universal physical standard the way a kilogram or a meter is, so these formulas are widely used approximations rather than physics. Expect a result to land within about half a size of any specific brand's own chart, and defer to that brand's official size guide or an in-person fitting whenever one is available — especially for athletic shoes, boots, and children's footwear, which follow their own numbering conventions not covered here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is US shoe size calculated from foot length?
Using the common reference point of 26 cm equals US Men's size 8, each additional whole US men's size corresponds to about 1 cm of foot length, giving the formula US Men's size = foot length (cm) − 18. Women's US sizing runs about 1.5 sizes higher than men's for the same foot length.
How do UK and EU sizes relate to US sizes?
UK sizing uses one unisex scale that runs about 1 size below the US men's number for the same foot length (UK = US Men's − 1). EU, or Paris point, sizing runs about 33 sizes above the US men's number (EU = US Men's + 33). Both are approximations based on common reference charts, not an exact universal standard.
Why do shoe sizes vary between brands even at the same labeled size?
No single global authority enforces shoe sizing the way standards bodies enforce units like the kilogram. Each brand builds shoes around its own last, the foot-shaped mold used in construction, so a labeled size 9 can measure differently between brands. Treat a converted size as a starting point and check the specific brand's own chart when one is available.
Should I round up or down when I land between half sizes?
Most fitting guides recommend rounding up rather than down, since a shoe that is slightly too big is usually more comfortable and safer than one that is slightly too small. This calculator's "Round up" option applies that convention automatically.

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