Convert shoe sizes between UK, EU and US for women, men and children.
| UK | EU | US | Foot (cm) |
|---|
Based on common UK retailer charts. Foot length is an estimate from the UK sizing scale and is shown to help you compare with brand charts.
Buying shoes from a European brand or holidaying abroad? This UK to EU shoe size converter shows your matching EU size for women's, men's and kids' shoes, including half sizes, plus the US size and an approximate foot length. The UK and EU systems measure in completely different units, as this overview of shoe size systems explains, which is why simple conversions often feel slightly off. Switch the direction to convert EU to UK in a click.
How Do UK and EU Shoe Sizes Work?
UK sizes go up in steps of a third of an inch, about 8.5 mm. For adults, the size equals three times the length of the shoe last in inches minus 25. EU sizes use the Paris point of two thirds of a centimetre, about 6.7 mm, so the EU size is roughly one and a half times the last length in centimetres.
Because the steps differ, there is no perfect formula. As a rule of thumb, add 33 to a women's UK size and 34 to a men's UK size to get the EU size. A women's UK 5 is an EU 38 and a men's UK 9 is an EU 43.
How to Use the UK to EU Shoe Size Converter
Step 1: Choose the Shoe Type
Select women's, men's or kids' shoes. Each uses its own chart, and children's sizes restart after size 13 at junior sizes 1 and 2.
Step 2: Pick the Direction
Choose UK to EU if you know your UK size, or EU to UK if you are reading a European label or website.
Step 3: Select Your Size
Pick your size from the list. Adult sizes include half sizes, so you can find an exact match for most shoes.
Step 4: Read Your Result
Your converted size appears in large text, with the UK, EU and US sizes and an approximate foot length. Shopping for an outfit too? The EU to UK dress size converter and the ring size converter work the same way for clothes and jewellery. The table shows the two sizes either side in case you are between sizes.
UK to EU Shoe Size Chart
| Women's UK | Women's EU | Men's UK | Men's EU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 36 | 6 | 40 |
| 4 | 37 | 7 | 41 |
| 5 | 38 | 8 | 42 |
| 6 | 39 | 9 | 43 |
| 7 | 40 | 10 | 44 |
| 8 | 41/42 | 11 | 45 |
| 9 | 43 | 12 | 46/47 |
- Measure your feet in the evening, when they are slightly larger.
- Stand on paper, mark your heel and longest toe, and measure the gap in centimetres.
- If your feet are different lengths, buy for the longer foot.
- Trainers and running shoes often run small, so many people go up half a size.
The UK system dates back to the medieval barleycorn, a third of an inch, which is still the gap between one UK shoe size and the next.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UK 5 in EU shoe size?
A women's UK 5 is an EU 38. A men's UK 5 is usually an EU 39.
What is EU 42 in UK shoe size?
EU 42 is a men's UK 8, or a women's UK 8 in brands that size generously.
Are men's and women's UK shoe sizes the same?
The UK scale is the same, but brands map them to EU sizes slightly differently. Women's sizes are usually UK plus 33 and men's UK plus 34.
How do I convert UK to US shoe sizes?
Add 2 for women's shoes and 1 for men's shoes. A women's UK 5 is a US 7 and a men's UK 9 is a US 10.
Why do EU sizes have no exact UK match?
UK sizes step by a third of an inch and EU sizes by two thirds of a centimetre, so the two scales never line up perfectly.
Should I size up when buying shoes from Europe?
Not automatically. Check the brand's chart against your foot length, and size up only if you are between sizes or have wide feet.