Men’s vs
women’s sizes

The rule: add or subtract 1.5

US men’s and women’s sizes are two scales with the same step (a third of an inch per size) but different starting points. For the same foot, the women’s number is 1.5 higher. Here is one foot, 26.2 cm long, labelled both ways:

• Men’s to women’s: add 1.5. Men’s 9 → women’s 10.5.
• Women’s to men’s: subtract 1.5. Women’s 9.5 → men’s 8.

Conversion chart

UK and EU: no conversion

UK and EU sizes use one scale for everyone. A UK 7 is a UK 7 whether the shoe is sold as men’s or women’s, and the same goes for EU 40.5. If you know your EU or UK size, you can shop either department with it, and only the width changes.

How brands differ

Most size tables use 1.5, the common US scale; the older FIA standard, and many brands, use 1. Comparing each brand’s own men’s and women’s charts for the same foot lengths (23.5 to 26.5 cm):

The gap changes along the size range for Fila, ANTA, HOKA, KEEN, Liberty, Salomon, Timberland, UGG, Zara, Under Armour, Golden Goose: check the brand’s chart for your exact size.

For the exact brand-by-brand answer at your size:

• Women’s 4 → men’s
• Women’s 4.5 → men’s
• Women’s 5 → men’s
• Women’s 5.5 → men’s
• Women’s 6 → men’s
• Women’s 6.5 → men’s
• Women’s 7 → men’s
• Women’s 7.5 → men’s
• Women’s 8 → men’s
• Women’s 8.5 → men’s
• Women’s 9 → men’s
• Women’s 9.5 → men’s
• Women’s 10 → men’s
• Women’s 10.5 → men’s
• Women’s 11 → men’s
• Women’s 11.5 → men’s
• Women’s 12 → men’s
• Women’s 12.5 → men’s
• Women’s 13 → men’s
• Women’s 13.5 → men’s
• Women’s 14 → men’s
• Women’s 14.5 → men’s
• Women’s 15 → men’s
• Women’s 15.5 → men’s
• Men’s 2.5 → women’s
• Men’s 3 → women’s
• Men’s 3.5 → women’s
• Men’s 4 → women’s
• Men’s 4.5 → women’s
• Men’s 5 → women’s
• Men’s 5.5 → women’s
• Men’s 6 → women’s
• Men’s 6.5 → women’s
• Men’s 7 → women’s
• Men’s 7.5 → women’s
• Men’s 8 → women’s
• Men’s 8.5 → women’s
• Men’s 9 → women’s
• Men’s 9.5 → women’s
• Men’s 10 → women’s
• Men’s 10.5 → women’s
• Men’s 11 → women’s
• Men’s 11.5 → women’s
• Men’s 12 → women’s
• Men’s 12.5 → women’s
• Men’s 13 → women’s
• Men’s 13.5 → women’s
• Men’s 14 → women’s

Width: the hidden difference

Even at the converted size, men’s and women’s shoes aren’t the same shape. Women’s standard width is B; men’s is D, which counts as a wide fit in women’s sizes. Women’s shoes also tend to have a narrower heel.

• Women in men’s shoes get more width, which suits wider feet but can let the heel slip.
• Men in women’s shoes get a narrower fit, which suits narrow feet.

Foot width explained: how to measure it and what the letters mean.

Unisex and kids’ sizes

Unisex shoes

Unisex shoes (many sneakers, clogs and sandals) are usually labelled in men’s sizes, sometimes with both: “M8 / W9.5”. Read the men’s number and convert as above, or use the brand’s own chart, which may use a different gap.

Youth and grade-school (Y) sizes

Big kids’ sizes (1Y to 7Y) continue the men’s scale: the same number fits the same foot. So 7Y is men’s 7 and women’s 8.5, which is why women often buy grade-school sneakers.

• 1Y in adult sizes
• 1.5Y in adult sizes
• 2Y in adult sizes
• 2.5Y in adult sizes
• 3Y in adult sizes
• 3.5Y in adult sizes
• 4Y in adult sizes
• 4.5Y in adult sizes
• 5Y in adult sizes
• 5.5Y in adult sizes
• 6Y in adult sizes
• 6.5Y in adult sizes
• 7Y in adult sizes

Not every brand follows the standard step: big kid sizes in women’s and men’s, brand by brand.

Convert your size

Pick the size you know, then switch between men’s and women’s in the result to see both.

Questions