How to Convert Shoe Sizes

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 15, 2021

Shoe sizes are measured differently all over the world, which can make buying shoes in a different country a bit stressful. Luckily, some simple adding and subtracting can help you find your correct size right in the store. If you have a little more time, you can even try looking up a conversion chart. Either way, you’ll be able to find your size with ease and ensure that your shoes fit you just right!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Calculating Women’s Sizes

1
Use your US size when buying Canadian shoes. US and Canadian shoe sizes are interchangeable in both men’s and women’s, so you won’t have to do a conversion to switch back and forth. This also means that you can use your Canadian size when doing conversions, since it’s the same as your US size.
- If you wear a US women’s size 8, for example, you’d wear a size 8 in Canadian women’s as well.
2
Convert from US women’s to men’s sizes by subtracting 1.5. Although exact sizes differ between shoe brands, US women’s shoes tend to be smaller than men’s by about 1.5 sizes. This means that if a women’s shoe has the same length and width as a men’s shoe, the women’s size will be 1.5 more than the men’s. You can subtract 1.5 from a women’s size to get the men’s equivalent, or add 1.5 sizes to a men’s size to convert to women’s.^{[1]
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- For example, if you wear a women’s 9, you’ll wear a 7.5 in men’s.
- If you wear a men’s 10, you’ll wear a women’s 11.5.
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3
Go from a women’s US size to an EU size by adding 30 or 30.5. EU shoe sizes don’t have half sizes, so if your US size is a whole number, you’ll add 30 to get your EU size. If your US size is a half size, you’ll add 30.5.^{[2]
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- For example, if your US women’s size is a 7.5, you’d add 30.5 to get your EU size of 38.
- If your US size is a 7, add 30 to get your EU size 37.
- To go from an EU women’s size to a US women’s size, subtract 30 and try on a shoe in that size. Then try on the same shoe in a half size smaller and choose whichever one feels best to you.
4
Go from a US women’s to a UK women’s size by subtracting 2. If you’re starting with a US women’s size, simply subtract 2 to get your size in UK women’s shoes. If you want to know your US women’s size, add 2 to your UK size.^{[3]
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- For example, if your US women’s size is a 6, you would be a 4 in UK sizes.
5
Get your Australian shoe size by subtracting 2.5 from your US size. If you’re buying women’s shoes from Australia, simply subtract 2.5 from your US women’s size. If you need to convert an Australian women’s size to American, add 2.5.^{[4]
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- For example, if you wear a US size 9, you would need an 11.5 in Australian shoes.
6
Add 16 to your US women’s size to get your Japanese size. Japanese sizes are actually measured in centimeters, but if you don’t want to measure your foot with a ruler, you can simply add 16 to your US women’s size. When converting from Japanese to US women’s sizes, subtract 16.^{[5]
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- For example, if you wear a size 8 in US women’s shoes, you’d wear a size 24 in Japanese women’s shoes.
7
Estimate your Asian women’s shoe size by adding 16.5 to your US size. Other Asian countries besides Japan use a slightly different measuring system. These sizes vary a bit more and the conversion might not be exact, but you can approximate your size by adding 16.5 to your US women’s shoe size.^{[6]
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- For example, if you wear a 10 in US women’s shoes, your Asian women’s shoe size would be around 26.5.
- This sizing method is used in China and Hong Kong, among other countries.
8
Combine conversions as necessary. Depending on what region your known shoe size is from, you may have to do a couple quick conversions to get to your desired size. Write out the calculations with a pencil and a slip of paper, or use a calculator for an even easier approach.
- For example, if your UK women’s shoe size is a 6 and you want to get your Australian size, you could add 2 to find your US size, an 8, then subtract 2.5 to get to your Australian size, a 5.5.
- If your EU shoe size is a 38 and you want to get your Japanese size, you would subtract 30 to get your US size, an 8, then add 16 to get your Japanese size, a 24.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Calculating Men’s Sizes

1
Use your US size when buying Canadian shoes. Good news: US and Canadian shoe sizes are interchangeable in both men’s and women’s, so no conversion is needed to switch back and forth. You can also use your Canadian size when doing conversions to other regions, since it’s the same as your US size.
- If you wear a US men’s size 10, for example, you’d wear a size 10 in Canadian men’s as well.
2
Convert from US men’s to women’s by adding 1.5. Although exact sizes differ between shoe brands, US men’s shoes are typically larger than women’s by about 1.5 sizes. This means that if a men’s shoe has the same length and width as a women’s shoe, the men’s size will be 1.5 less than the women’s. You can subtract 1.5 from a women’s size to get the men’s equivalent, or add 1.5 sizes to a men’s size to convert to women’s.^{[7]
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- For example, if you wear a men’s 10, you’ll wear a women’s 11.5.
- If you wear a women’s 9, you’ll wear a 7.5 in men’s.
3
Convert from a US men’s size to an EU size by adding 32.5 or 33. Since there are no half sizes in European shoes, you’ll have to convert a men’s shoe size differently depending on your US size. If you wear a half size in US shoes, add 32.5 to get your EU size. If you wear a whole size in US shoes, add 33.^{[8]
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- For example, if you’re an 11.5 in US men’s shoes, you’ll be a 34 in EU shoes.
- If you’re going from an EU men’s size to a US men’s size, subtract 33 and try on a shoe in that size. Then try on the same shoe in a half size smaller and choose whichever one feels best to you.
4
Get a men’s UK or Australian size by subtracting 0.5 from your US size. In men’s shoes, UK and Australian sizes are equivalent. You can subtract a half size from your US men’s size to get your size in UK and Australian shoes, or add a half size if you’re going the other way.^{[9]
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- For example, if you wear a 13 in US men’s shoes, you’d be a 12.5 in UK and Australian men’s shoes.
5
Find a Japanese men’s shoe size by adding 18.5 to your US size. Japanese sizes are measured in centimeters, but you can find yours without measuring your foot by simply adding 18.5 to your US size. To determine your US men’s shoe size from your Japanese size, subtract 18.5 instead.^{[10]
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- If you wear a size 9 in US men’s shoes, for example, you’d wear a 27.5 in Japanese men’s.
6
Estimate your Asian men’s shoe size by adding 17.5 to your US size. Asian shoe sizes, used in areas of the continent other than Japan, such as China and Hong Kong, vary more and are harder to exactly determine. You can approximate your Asian men’s shoe size by adding 17.5 to your US shoe size, but it’s best to try the shoes on beforehand to make sure that they fit.^{[11]
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- If you wear a US men’s size 8, for example, your Asian men’s size will be around a 25.5.
7
Combine conversions if you have to. A few quick conversions can help you find your shoe size no matter what region your known size is from. Simply convert your size to US size, then use the conversion rules to calculate your size in the desired region. You can use a calculator or write out the calculations on a piece of paper to keep track of them.
- For example, if your UK men’s shoe size is a 9.5 and you want to get your EU size, you could add 0.5 to find your US size, 10, then add 33 to get to your EU size, 43.
- If your EU size is a 46 and you want to estimate your Asian size, you would subtract 33 to get your US size,13, then add 17.5 to find your size in Asian men’s shoes, about 30.5.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Consulting a Size Conversion Chart

1
Use a size chart from your desired brand for the most accuracy. A shoe size conversion chart is a table that shows shoe sizes from multiple countries, arranged so that all equivalent sizes are right in line with each other. Some larger shoe brands have their own conversion charts, so you can know exactly what size will fit you best. To find one, go online and search for “shoe size conversion chart,” including the name brand you’re looking for.
- For example, your search could be, “shoe size conversion chart men’s Nikes.”
2
Consult a general conversion chart for convenient, close estimates. If your desired shoe brand doesn’t offer a sizing chart, look up a general one online. Search for “shoe size conversion chart” and click on one that contains both your current and desired region.
- For more precise results, you can include the names of both regions in your search. You could type, for example, “shoe size conversion chart women’s UK EU.”
3
Find your regular shoe size or foot length in the chart. First, make sure that you’re looking at the chart for the correct gender. Then, look through the columns to find the region of your known shoe size. Then, simply scroll down that column until you find your shoe size.^{[12]
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- For example, if you know that you’re a size 39 in EU women’s, find the EU column in the women’s chart, then look down the list until you find size 39.
4
Look at the size equivalents in the other columns. To find your new size, simply glance across the columns until you come to your desired region. The size listed there will be your size in that region.^{[13]
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- For example, if you know you’re an EU women’s size 39, follow that horizontal row across until you get to the UK column. The size you see there, 6, is your UK women’s shoe size.