Buzz
There might be occasions when you end up wearing shoes that are either too tight or too loose. Such situations are not only inconvenient but can also pose a risk of injury. Especially when buying shoes, knowing your exact shoe size is essential. Determining your shoe size before shopping can save you time and prevent the hassle of purchasing ill-fitting shoes and going through the trouble of returns. Simply follow the steps below to determine your shoe size!
Steps
Measure Your Foot at Home
Place a sheet of paper on the floor. You will be tracing the outline of your foot to measure its size, so avoid doing this on a carpet or any other surface that is difficult to draw on.
Firmly place your foot on the paper. Slightly bend your knee and position your lower leg slightly forward relative to your ankle. Try to align your foot perpendicular to any edge of the paper. You can stand, sit on a chair, or lean forward.
Trace the outline of your foot. You can wear socks while tracing if you plan to wear shoes with socks, but avoid wearing shoes during this step.
Mark the length and width of your foot on the paper. Using these marks, draw straight lines connecting the edges of the traced foot outline.
Measure the length of your foot. Use a tape measure or ruler to measure the distance from the tip of your longest toe to the back of your heel. Record this measurement. This measurement is crucial for determining your shoe size.
Measure the width of your foot. Measure the distance between the left and right lines, then record this measurement. Since many shoes come in different widths, this measurement will help you decide which shoe width to choose.
Subtract 3/16 inch (approximately 0.5 cm) from your measurements. This accounts for minor discrepancies between the pencil outline and the actual size of your foot.
Use the length and width measurements to determine your shoe size on a shoe size chart. Men's and women's shoe sizes differ, and shoe sizes also vary across different countries.
Reading the Measurement Results
For women, compare your foot length measurement to the women's shoe size chart. Below is the US shoe size chart for women.
- Size 4 = 8 3/16" or approximately 20.8 centimeters (8.2 in) (foot length)
- Size 4.5 = 8 5/16" or approximately 21.3 centimeters (8.4 in)
- Size 5 = 8 11/16" or approximately 21.6 centimeters (8.5 in)
- Size 5.5 = 8 13/16" or approximately 22.2 centimeters (8.7 in)
- Size 6 = 9" or approximately 22.5 centimeters (8.9 in)
- Size 6.5 = 9 3/16" or approximately 23 centimeters (9.1 in)
- Size 7 = 9 5/16" or approximately 2 centimeters (9.3 in)
- Size 7.5 = 9 1/2" or approximately 23.8 centimeters (9.4 in)
- Size 8 = 9 11/16" or approximately 24.1 centimeters (9.5 in)
- Size 8.5 = 9 13/16" or approximately 24.6 centimeters (9.7 in)
- Size 9 = 10" or approximately 25.1 centimeters (9.9 in)
- Size 9.5 = 10 3/16" or approximately 25.4 centimeters (10.0 in)
- Size 10 = 10 5/16" or approximately 25.9 centimeters (10.2 in)
- Size 10.5 = 10 1/2" or approximately 26.2 centimeters (10.3 in)
- Size 11 = 10 11/16" or approximately 26.7 centimeters (10.5 in)
- Size 11.5 = 10 13/16" or approximately 27.1 centimeters (10.7 in)
- Size 12 = 11" or approximately 27.6 centimeters (10.9 in)
For men, compare your foot length measurement to the men's shoe size chart. Below is the US shoe size chart for men.
- Size 6 = 9 1/4" or approximately 23.8 centimeters (9.4 in) (foot length)
- Size 6.5 = 9 1/2" or approximately 24.1 centimeters (9.5 in)
- Size 7 = 9 5/8" or approximately 24.4 centimeters (9.6 in)
- Size 7.5 = 9 3/4" or approximately 24.8 centimeters (9.8 in)
- Size 8 = 9 15/16" or approximately 25.4 centimeters (10.0 in)
- Size 8.5 = 10 1/8" or approximately 25.7 centimeters (10.1 in)
- Size 9 = 10 1/4" or approximately 26 centimeters (10.2 in)
- Size 9.5 = 10 7/16" or approximately 26.7 centimeters (10.5 in)
- Size 10 = 10 9/16" or approximately 27 centimeters (10.6 in)
- Size 10.5 = 10 3/4" or approximately 27.3 centimeters (10.7 in)
- Size 11 = 10 15/16" or approximately 27.9 centimeters (11.0 in)
- Size 11.5 = 11 1/8" or approximately 28.3 centimeters (11.1 in)
- Size 12 = 11 1/4" or approximately 28.6 centimeters (11.3 in)
- Size 13 = 11 9/16" or approximately 29.4 centimeters (11.6 in)
- Size 14 = 11 7/8" or approximately 30.2 centimeters (11.9 in)
- Size 15 = 12 3/16" or approximately 31 centimeters (12.2 in)
- Size 16 = 12 1/2" or approximately 31.8 centimeters (12.5 in)
Consider the width of your foot. Many shoe brands categorize widths as AA, A, B, C, D, E, EE, and EEEE. B is the standard width for women, while D is the standard for men. A and below are narrow widths, and E and above are wide or extra-wide (Refer to the chart below).
Consult the manufacturer or shoe store if you have precise measurements.
| Kích cỡ | AA | A | B | C | D | E | EE | EEE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2.8/71 | 2.9/74 | 3.1/79 | 3.3/84 | 3.5/89 | 3.7/94 | 3.9/99 | 4.1/104 |
| 6½ | 2.8/71 | 3.0/76 | 3.2/81 | 3.4/86 | 3.6/91 | 3.8/97 | 3.9/99 | 4.1/104 |
| 7 | 2.9/74 | 3.1/79 | 3.3/84 | 3.4/86 | 3.6/91 | 3.8/97 | 4.0/102 | 4.2/107 |
| 7½ | 2.9/74 | 3.1/79 | 3.3/84 | 3.5/89 | 3.7/94 | 3.9/99 | 4.1/104 | 4.3/109 |
| 8 | 3.0/76 | 3.2/81 | 3.4/86 | 3.6/91 | 3.8/97 | 3.9/99 | 4.1/104 | 4.3/109 |
| 8½ | 3.1/79 | 3.3/84 | 3.4/86 | 3.6/91 | 3.8/97 | 4.0/102 | 4.2/107 | 4.4/112 |
| 9 | 3.1/79 | 3.3/84 | 3.5/89 | 3.7/94 | 3.9/99 | 4.1/104 | 4.3/109 | 4.4/112 |
| 9½ | 3.2/81 | 3.4/86 | 3.6/91 | 3.8/97 | 3.9/99 | 4.1/104 | 4.3/109 | 4.5/114 |
| 10 | 3.3/84 | 3.4/86 | 3.6/91 | 3.8/97 | 4.0/102 | 4.2/107 | 4.4/112 | 4.6/117 |
| 10½ | 3.3/84 | 3.5/89 | 3.7/94 | 3.9/99 | 4.1/104 | 4.3/109 | 4.4/112 | 4.6/117 |
| 11 | 3.4/86 | 3.6/91 | 3.8/97 | 3.9/99 | 4.1/104 | 4.3/109 | 4.5/114 | 4.7/119 |
| 11½ | 3.4/86 | 3.6/91 | 3.8/97 | 4.0/102 | 4.2/107 | 4.4/112 | 4.6/117 | 4.8/122 |
| 12 | 3.5/89 | 3.7/94 | 3.9/99 | 4.1/104 | 4.3/109 | 4.4/112 | 4.6/117 | 4.8/122 |
| 12½ | 3.6/91 | 3.8/97 | 3.9/99 | 4.1/104 | 4.3/109 | 4.5/114 | 4.7/119 | 4.9/124 |
| 13 | 3.6/91 | 3.8/97 | 4.0/102 | 4.2/107 | 4.4/112 | 4.6/117 | 4.8/122 | 4.9/124 |
| 13½ | 3.7/94 | 3.9/99 | 4.1/104 | 4.3/109 | 4.4/112 | 4.6/117 | 4.8/122 | 5.0/127 |
Tips
- If possible, try on shoes before purchasing them.
- Each shoe brand may have slight variations in sizing, so you might need to go up or down a size.
