Easy Shoe Size Conversion Charts » US | UK (2024)

The easiest way to convert your UK to US shoe size is to remember that the numerical correspondent of UK sizes is smaller than its US shoe size counterpart.
For men, simply add a half-size (.5) to your existing UK shoe size. For example, a UK shoe size 6 is a US 6.5 measuring 9 ⅔ inches.
For children shoes. To get your US shoe size, also add a size to your current UK shoe size to get the US size. For example, a size 1 in UK children’s shoes, will be a US 1.5 which is 3 ⅞ inches.
For women, to get the US size equivalent of your UK shoe size, add two (2) sizes up to your existing UK size. In this case, a UK women’s shoe size 4.5 is a US 6.5 or 9 ⅙ inches.
The UK standard is considered to be the oldest used shoe sizing metric in the world, dating back to as early as 1324 when it was made the standard English shoe measurement by King Edward II.
The British shoe size standard is based on the measurement of the ‘shoe last’ which is typically made of wood, but could also be from other materials. This shoe frame measures 13 to 17 mm more than the natural shoe size from heel to toe.
Under the UK standard, there is a distinction between adult and children’s shoe sizes. Men and women also have specified measurements. This is different from the Paris point-based system which has a uniform standard for children’s and adults’ shoes.
The UK shoe size standard only considers the length of the foot, but not the width. Shoes then tend to have different width measurements depending on the ‘shoe last’ used by the brand.
Each size in UK shoe sizing has an 8.46 mm (or one-third of an inch) difference. The half-sizes (4.23 mm) difference was per pair were introduced in 1880 to ensure better fit.
Generally, the UK’s shoe sizing standard is also used in Australia. Other countries such as the US, China, Japan, and even other European countries like France also uses their own shoe size standard.

The UK uses the Barleycorn system. The scale starts at 12 barleycorns, the smallest number, which is known as children’s size 0. After 13, the scale moves on to adult size 1, which is equivalent to 26 barleycorns. This system also calculates by means of a formula, which in this case uses the length of the “lasts”. Please note whether the foot was measured in centimetres or in inches.
Two formulas are available: one to calculate children’s sizes, and the other for adults.For purposes of calculation, the bar length is used in inches as a basis. Make sure you measure your feet in inches or centimetres. The system used in the UK differs from the US system as well as that of the EU (EURO). In this chart, you can find the correct correspondents to an English one. In contrast to the European shoe system, you will also find half numbers here.
Interesting fact: the average U.K. shoe length for men is 9 and 6 for women. On the other hand, the average shoe size for men in the U.S. is 10.5, and for women, it is 9. Only 40 years ago, our feet were smaller (by an average of two sizes!). The cause for this might be the growing obesity among our population. Consequently, and the feet compensate through spreading.
This chart will help you answer shoe size related questions like:
What is UK 8 in US sizes? (The answer is 8.5 in men and 10 in women)
What US shoe size is an EU 42? (The answer is 11 for women and 9.5 for men)
What length is a UK 7? (The answer is 24.8 centimetres for men and 25.4 centimetres for women)
To answer these questions, either use the above conversion chart (which helps you to convert, for example, a UK size into a US size) or the above shoe size calculation tool (which tells you how many inches or centimetres a shoe size is).
To find your shoe size, select the respective column with the size you already know (i.e. if you know that you are a size 8 in U.K. sizing, then pick the “UK” column), and look for the row with your corresponding number (in this example: 8). Then, move horizontally with your finger to the column which corresponds to the size scale you are looking for (i.e. “US”).
If you are looking up your foot length in centimetres to find your shoe size, please use the closest number in centimetres that is equal to or slightly longer than your foot.