About the US to EU Shoe Size Converter
This tool converts a US shoe size into its EU (Paris point) equivalent, along with the matching UK size and the underlying foot length in centimeters and inches. Rather than relying on a single memorized offset, it works the way real shoe sizing systems are built: from foot length.
The formula, step by step
- US size to foot length: under the Brannock device standard used across the US footwear industry, each full US Men's size equals 1/3 inch (about 8.5mm) of foot length. Foot length (inches) = (US Men's size equivalent + 22) / 3. Women's US sizes run 1.5 sizes higher than Men's for the same foot length, so a Women's size is first converted to its Men's equivalent by subtracting 1.5.
- Foot length to EU size: EU (Paris point) sizes step by 2/3 cm (about 6.7mm) per size. This calculator adds a standard 2cm comfort allowance to the raw foot length before converting, matching how most mainstream size charts are built: EU size = 1.5 × (foot length in cm + 2).
- UK size: UK sizing uses the same 1/3-inch step as US sizing but a different starting point. The widely used shortcut is UK size = US Men's size − 0.5, or UK size = US Women's size − 2.5.
How to get the best results
- Enter the size exactly as printed inside your shoe or on a size chart, and pick the matching Men's or Women's category
- If you know your foot length directly (from tracing your foot and measuring heel to longest toe), you can back-check the result: EU size should be about 1.5 times foot length in cm, plus 3
- Choose "nearest whole size" if the brand you're buying from only stocks whole EU sizes; otherwise "nearest half size" is more precise
Practical context
No US-to-EU shoe size conversion is exact, because every brand builds shoes on its own last (mold) and there is no single global sizing authority. This calculator applies the standard, industry-recognized foot-length formula, which lines up closely with most mainstream brand charts — but treat the result as a strong starting point, not a guarantee, especially near a half-size boundary. When in doubt, size up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a US shoe size converted to an EU size?
The calculator first converts your US size to a foot length using the Brannock device standard, where each US full size equals 1/3 inch (about 8.5mm). It then converts that foot length to Paris points — the unit EU sizes are built on, where each EU size equals 2/3 cm (about 6.7mm) — after adding a standard 2cm comfort allowance, then rounds to the nearest available EU size.
Why do EU size charts differ between shoe brands?
There is no single global authority that fixes the US-to-EU relationship, so each brand builds its shoes on its own last and publishes its own chart. This calculator uses the standard foot-length formula, which lines up closely with most mainstream charts, but any individual brand can run up to a half size higher or lower.
How is the UK size calculated?
UK sizing follows the common shoe-industry convention of US Men's size minus 0.5, or US Women's size minus 2.5. Both US and UK sizes step by 1/3 inch per size — they are simply anchored at different starting points.
Should I round my EU size up or down?
When your calculated size falls between two available shoe sizes, sizing up is usually the safer choice, since a slightly roomy shoe is more comfortable than a tight one. Fit also varies by shoe style and width, so treat the converted size as a strong starting point rather than a guarantee.