US to UK Shoe Size Converter

How to convert US shoe sizes to UK sizes

The US and UK both measure shoes in barleycorns, an old English unit of one third of an inch, about 8.47 mm. Each full size is one barleycorn longer than the last and each half size is a sixth of an inch, so the two scales move in lockstep. What differs is the starting point: the UK scale begins its adult sizes at a different zero, which leaves US men's sizes a fixed half size above UK sizes for the same foot. Because the steps are identical, the conversion is a simple subtraction rather than a ratio. The US to EU shoe size converter covers the European label, and the rest of Panglify's size converters are listed in one place.

Step by step

1. Choose Men or Women in the converter, because US men's and women's sizes are on different scales.
2. Pick your US size from the list.
3. Read the UK size: half a size smaller for men, two sizes smaller for women.
4. Check the foot length shown with the result against your own measurement if you are between sizes.

Worked example: a US men's 10 is a UK 9.5, for a foot of about 28 cm. A US women's 10 is the same foot as a men's 8.5, so it converts to a UK 8. The UK does not split sizes by gender, which is why a UK 8 can be a men's 8.5 or a women's 10 in US terms.

Sizes vary by brand. Manufacturers build shoes on their own lasts and publish their own charts, so the conversions here are approximate and can be off by up to half a size. When a brand's size guide is available, it should win over any general chart, including this one.

Buying shoes from UK and US retailers

• Check the price in dollars. UK retailers charge in pounds sterling; the USD to GBP converter shows the day's reference rate, and your card may add a fee on top.
• UK shops use one scale for everyone. A UK 7 means the same length for men and women, so a US woman shopping in the UK subtracts 2 and a US man subtracts 0.5.
• Sneakers often list several systems. Many sportswear boxes print US men's, US women's, UK, EU and centimeters. The centimeter figure is usually the most reliable way to compare two brands.
• Unisex sizing follows men's sizes. When a unisex shoe is labeled only in US sizes, it is almost always the men's scale. Women add 1.5 to find their usual size in that label, or read the UK number directly.
• Width is labeled differently. US brands use letters such as D for a standard men's width and B for women's, while UK brands use their own fitting letters, so compare widths using each brand's chart rather than assuming the letters match.
• Boots and dress shoes run differently. Formal shoes and walking boots are often cut longer or shorter than trainers from the same maker. Check reviews and the brand's own advice on whether to size up or down.

Common US to UK conversion mistakes

• Using the men's offset for women's shoes. Subtracting only half a size from a US women's size leaves you 1.5 sizes too big in UK terms.
• Assuming the numbers are identical. A UK 9 and a US 9 are different lengths: the UK 9 matches a US men's 9.5.
• Mixing up children's sizes. Children's shoes use separate scales that restart at adult sizes, so the adult offsets on this page do not apply to kids' footwear.
• Ignoring foot length. If you measure your foot in centimeters, you can match it to any chart and skip conversions entirely. Measure late in the day, standing, heel against a wall, and use the longer foot.

The same measure-first approach works for jewelry: the ring size converter matches US, UK and EU ring sizes to inner diameter in millimeters.