What the brands say
| Brand | Same as your shoe size? | Between sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Nike | “Nike soccer cleats generally fit true to regular shoe size.” | “If the measurement is between sizes, we recommend sizing up.” |
| adidas | Its soccer chart prints the same sizes as its shoe chart; “soccer cleats should fit more tightly, yet comfortably, around the whole foot.” | — |
| Under Armour | “Your football cleat size should generally match your shoe size.” | “If you’re between sizes, size up.” |
| PUMA | “PUMA football boots are sized in line with conventional standards.” | — |
Under Armour is writing about American football cleats; Nike and adidas about soccer cleats; PUMA (on its Australian site) about AFL and football boots. We found no separate cleat chart on Under Armour’s or PUMA’s size guides.
Cleat charts vs shoe charts
Nike and adidas publish their own soccer cleat charts. Set against each brand’s shoe chart, size by US size:
| Chart | Sizes | Same foot length | Same UK | Same EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike | 38 | 37 of 38 | 38 of 38 | 38 of 38 |
| adidas men’s | 28 | 28 of 28 | 28 of 28 | 28 of 28 |
| adidas women’s | 22 | 22 of 22 | 22 of 22 | 22 of 22 |
The one Nike difference: at US 16 the cleat chart prints a foot of 32.3 cm and the shoe chart 32.2 cm.
Sizing down
- Nike: “Elite players sometimes size down half a size for a more sensitive touch on the ball. Recreational and amateur players typically do not need to size down.” For its contoured Mercurial cleats, Nike recommends your usual size, or “if you typically prefer a more democratic fit, we recommend sizing up a half size.”
- PUMA: regular shoe size “is typically the best option for casual players”; “some may prefer to try a slightly smaller fit … A boot that is a half or full size smaller can be beneficial for having better feedback and control.”
- Under Armour: “Your football cleats should be snug, but not tight, with a sock-like fit.”
Kids: Nike says “you may want to consider a slightly roomier fit to accommodate growing feet.”
Find your size
Type your foot length for your size in every system and on each brand’s chart, then buy cleats in the same size.
Questions
Do cleats run small?
Not on the brands’ charts: Nike’s and adidas’s cleat charts print the same sizes as their shoe charts, and Nike, Under Armour and PUMA say your shoe size is generally the one to buy. Cleats are made to fit snugly (adidas: “more tightly, yet comfortably”), so they can feel smaller.
Should I size up or down in cleats?
Your shoe size, and up if you’re between sizes (Nike, Under Armour). Some elite players size down half a size for touch (Nike); PUMA says some players prefer a half or full size smaller.
Are soccer cleats and football cleats sized the same?
Both start from your shoe size by the brands’ own words: Nike for soccer, PUMA for AFL and football boots, Under Armour for American football.