How Can I Tell My Shoe Size

How Do I Know If I Have Wide Or Narrow Feet

Ask anyone their shoe size and they can likely fire it off in a moments notice. How about the width of their feet? Wide feet and narrow feet are less talked about.

When finding proper footwear, its not just the length that matters. The width of our feet is just as critical. Typically foot width falls into three categories: wide, regular, and narrow. Some footwear brands offer wide or narrow versions of their products. In other cases, they may have a specific nomenclature to denote wide or narrow products. 10W, for example, is a wide size 10.

Its no wonder that shoe size is a more common categorization of our feet. After all, our shoes are measured in a way that allows us to seamlessly pick and choose footwear. Unlike clothing measured by XS, S, M, L, or XL, shoe size is measured numerically. Here in Canada, we share a system with the U.S., while the UK and Europe have their own measuring system that requires conversion calculations for equivalents.

The Brannock Device is the most popular tool for measurement. The device has both left and right heel cups and is rotated through 180 degrees to measure the second foot. This allows for a measurement in cm, which translates into a shoe size.

Next, we get into how to measure your feet, and how to accommodate both narrow and wide feet.

How Do I Measure My Feet

Grab a piece of paper, a pen, a ruler, a wall, a friend and the feet you want to measure then simply follow the steps below. The best time to measure your feet is in the evening since feet tend to swell throughout the day.

Step 1: Place a sheet of paper on the floor against a wall. Put your foot on the sheet of paper with your heel touching the wall. Stand up straight and balanced on both of your feet.

Step 2: Have a friend draw a line tracing your foot . You can do this yourself, but you risk a slightly less accurate measurement. Now, repeat step 1 and 2 with your other foot.

Step 3: Measure the maximum length of both of your feet. The length of the longer foot will be decisive for determining what shoe size you need.

Step 4: Measure the width of your feet parallel to the short edge of the sheet of paper. So do not measure the width diagonally from widest point to widest point, that will skew the result and make most feet seem ridiculously wide.

Why Should You Measure Your Feet

If simple curiosity cannot convince you to whip out a tape measure, consider this: having accurate foot measurements will help you buy shoes in the correct size for your feet. Since shoe sizes vary between manufacturers, your actual foot measurements are a more reliable indicator of your shoe size than the number of EU 39 shoes in your wardrobe. And buying shoes that actually fit will spare you the discomfort and potential injury of wearing shoes that do not fit.

Anywhere between 25% 75% of people wear the wrong size shoe for their feet . I will spare you the pictures available showcasing the array of conditions caused by incorrectly sizes shoes. Think hammer toes, bunions, corns, ingrown toenails, blisters, etc. But incorrectly sized shoes also increase the risk of pain and problems in your feet, ankles, legs and even your lower back. Poorly fitting shoes can also alter your gait and distort your posture leading to DISASTER .

A day dedicated to the practice, curiosity, avoiding the pain of shoes that dont fit: all good reasons to measure your feet.

You May Like: How To Get Shoe Raffles

How To Measure Your Feet At Home

Every brand is different, just like every foot. We recommend getting your feet measured regularly by a professional for both length and width. Here’s a good tool to use when you can’t make it to our store. If you have questions about the fit of a certain brand or style, contact your local Schuler Shoes.

Use the following method to determine your shoe size when ordering online.

Find Your Shoe Size & Width

Make sure you are looking in the proper column, either men’s or women’s, when determining your size. The standard width for women is B. The standard width for men is D. *Note: This chart is here to give you a general idea on sizing and widths. Tennis Warehouse is not responsible for mismeasurements or ordering the wrong size. We recommend that you order the size that you normally wear in other shoes.

Recommended Reading: Steel Toe Boots On Plane

Why Do Shoes Come In Different Widths

No two people have the same foot shape and size. Thats why youll find varying widths to allow a larger variety of people to wear a certain style of shoe.

Different shoe widths mean that the tread on the soles of shoes changes from size to size. For example, with wide fit shoes, the sole has a greater width and the toe box is deeper than a standard fit.

Standard/ Medium Narrow And Wide Shoe Size Chart

The fit of a shoe is determined by the length and width of the foot. Foot widths are divided into three specific categories: narrow, regular, and comprehensive. If your feet do not match the width of the shoe, you may experience discomfort.

This shoe size chart will show how to tell if you need wide shoes. It is the standard chart used in the United States and many parts of the world. Check to what size your foot is based on this chart. Suppose your shoe size is eight and your feet are 3.9 , which means your feet are wide. If you wear the wrong shoes for a long time, you may experience some foot-related problems.

However, many people still wear shoes of the wrong size these days. The reason is that people usually only focus on the length and often ignore the width of the feet. Only measuring the width of your foot will tell you how big or small your feet are. Another thing to note is that the sizes between countries can vary. For example, size 8 in the US might be equal to size 10 in Asia.

Besides, you can refer to the shoe width charts classified by men, women, and children below to find the correct answer quickly.

Also Check: How To Get Shoe Raffles

Tips On How To Tell If The Shoes Are Too Big

• Comfort

Buy shoes that feel comfortable once you put them on and when you walk with them around for a while. Make sure you have enough room to move your toes, but the footwear should not touch the sides of your feet. You should also not slide up and down on your heel if you are buying one. Your football needs to fit comfortably in the broader part of your shoes. Most shoes for women do not come with a comprehensive design at this point.

Bottom-Line

Comfort is the key to every shoe, and so you should always buy a shoe that you are comfortable in.

• Well Fitting

Your toes need to have enough room to wiggle when you buy closed shoes. When buying high heels, your toes should stay next to one another and not squeezed together. If buying dress shoes for men make sure, you get at least half an inch between the leather and the longest toe. A simple finger test can work.

To know if the shoe is bigger, stick a finger between the shoe heel and your foot heel. If the finger slides are leaving a huge space, to go for a smaller size. If the finger does not fit, go a size higher.

Bottom-line

How Do I Use My Foot Measurements To Determine My Shoe Size

Check your size in the chart below by choosing the shoe size with a maximum recommended foot size equal to or larger than your own maximum foot size.

This is our TOKAY size chart, obviously only useful for determining your TOKAY size. As mentioned previously, shoe sizes vary between manufacturers, so dont be swayed by the size your current cleats or shoes claim to be.

Recommended Reading: What Is Shoe Size 4e Mean

How Can I Measure My Shoe Size At Home

While you can certainly buy your own Brannock Device for your home, you dont need one to measure your shoe size accurately. In fact, all you need is:

• Two pieces of paper
• A pen or a pencil
• Some tape
• A ruler
• Someone to help you out, ideally

From there, you want to put on the socks you would typically wear with whatever shoe you are considering buying. For example, if you will be wearing just a pair of tights with some heels, put those on. If youre buying snow boots, grab your thickest wool socks for the measurement. It would help if you also waited until the end of the day to measure your shoe size so that your foot is at its widest point.

Once you have your supplies and have waited until the late afternoon or evening, you can get started. According to Dicks Sporting Goods, you should follow the steps below to measure your shoe size.

• Tape one piece of paper to the floor and then one to the wall, making sure that they dont slip so you get the most accurate results.
• Stand on the paper with your heel against a wall.
• Have someone trace the outline of your foot , holding the pencil upright and not at an angle so that you get the most accurate outline.
• Measure the length and the width in both centimeters and inches, just in case.
• Do both feet separately, since both of your feet can vary in size .

You can also just measure the length and width with a ruler or tape measure without outlining your foot, though it might be more of an estimation.

Why Do I Have Wide Feet

Remember, theres no one size fits all. Everyone has a unique foot size and shape, which can be attributed to a specific cause or be less known like genetics and ageing. A few causes of wide feet include:

• Genetics. Some people are born with wide feet. Alternatively, people with flat feet are prone to having wide feet.
• Age. As we age, our feet change. The ligaments and tendons loosen, and our feet tend to grow longer and wider as our arch collapses.
• Foot deformities. Foot conditions like bunions, calluses, and hammertoes can affect the shape and anatomy of your foot. As a result, your foot may widen.
• Improper footwear. Shoes make a difference. In fact, studies have shown 63-72% of people dont wear footwear that fits their foot properly. This no doubt can lead to foot deformities.
• Pregnancy. During pregnancy, a hormone named relaxin causes ligaments and joints to loosen around the feet. Like in ageing, the loosing of the tendons causes your feet to widen. This is especially true during the second and third trimesters.
• Swelling. Edema, a medical term for swelling, can cause your feet to widen. This can be a long-term condition or a short-term phenomenon depending on the cause.

Don’t Miss: How To Clean White Sneakers Nike

How Often To Measure Kids’ Feet

Did you know that children’s feet can grow half a size every 2 to 4 months? While this average varies depending on age, you should measure your kid’s feet every two months to ensure their shoes are fitting well.

Read our FAQ to learn all about how kids’ feet grow and the kind of shoes you need to support their healthy development.

How Do You Know A Shoe Fits

Want to ensure your shoe is a perfect fit? You should be able to fit at least one fingers width between the end of the shoe and your big toe when trying on shoes. The shoe should not touch the tip of your longest toe you dont want a super-snug fit to avoid blisters and uncomfortable rubbing. Its essential to check the back of your foot, too. There should be enough space back there to fit your finger as well.

Also Check: Can Hey Dudes Go In The Washer

Tips On Shopping For Infant Shoes

Everyone knows that children’s feet grow fast, but infant feet grow the fastest of all. In the first year of a child’s life their feet will grow to be almost half their adult shoe size. Other than taking your child to see a podiatrist if foot development seems to be abnormal, the best thing a parent can do for their infant’s foot health is to interfere as little as possible. Before a child has started walking, shoes are unnecessary. During the winter months your child can wear soft booties to stay warm, but all foot coverings should be as non-restricting as possible. After your toddler has begun to walk , you can introduce him or her to a sneaker with a flexible outsole with good traction. This should be worn outdoors only. Inside the house barefoot is still best for toddlers. Just be sure their play area is free of debris that might hurt their little feet. Remember to check your child’s feet for blisters and other signs that their shoes no longer fit. Toddler’s feet tend to grow a shoe size larger every three months or so. Feel free to buy shoes slightly larger than what your child needs. 1/2 an inch clearance at the toe provides some growing room.

How To Get Help Measuring

To get the most accurate measurement of your kids’ feet, your best option is to visit a Stride Ritelocation near you. Our Stride Rite Fit Experts have been trained to measure children’s feet accurately, even if they squirm or lose focus.

Our employees use a special measuring instrument called the Brannock Device, which guarantees the correct length and width.

Babies and toddlers can’t tell you if their shoes are uncomfortable. With the help of a Stride Rite employee, you can ensure their footwear is perfectly sized.

Also Check: How To Clean Hey Dude Shoes

Measure Your Feet Every Year

And right before looking for new shoes.

Life is dynamic and so are our bodies and feet. A multitude of factors can impact your foot dimensions over time:

• significantly increased or decreased physical activity
• developing foot conditions like bunions, arthritis, edema, hammertoes
• gaining weight
• pregnancy

It can be hard to acknowledge that you need to get a full size bigger but a well-fitting shoe is key to your comfort and health.

Insole Length Does Not Determine Shoe Size

We have measured the insole length of 20+ running shoes in our lab, all in mens US size 9.

The range goes from 271 to 287 mm . We observed that the insole can be longer or shorter depending on the shoes toebox shape.

So, if you dont have a chance to measure your feet, it is safer to reference the CM/CHN/JP/Mondo measurement listed on the shoe that fits you well.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Shoe Raffles

Nothing Beats A Fitting

While our measuring guide and conversation charts are useful sizing toolsespecially if you’re shopping for shoes onlinenothing beats trying on a pair in person . That’s because the type of footwear and its materials will affect its fit and feel. So go ahead and give them a test run, walk, trot, dancewhatever moves you.

How To Compare Your Foot Measurements To A Shoe Sizing Chart

Now, that I have measured my feet. I will use the measurements and compare it with the charts below. The length of my feet is 265 MM and that translates in to the European size 41.5, UK size 8.5 and US size 10.5. I used to think i had size 41 so its funny to see my feet are bigger than what i thought. Now, that I have showed you how to measure your feet. I wonder what size you have. Let me know in the comment section.

Also Check: How Many Miles Can You Put On Running Shoes

How To Tell If You Need Wide Shoes By Measuring Your Feet

Pinpointing the cause of broad feet is a crucial part of figuring out your footwear needs. Since some conditions, such as swelling, are more temporary than others, youll have a better idea of your long-term needs for wide shoes.

With that said, the best way to determine your correct size is by measuring your feet. Most people have never measured their feet and arent sure exactly where to begin, but Vionic has you covered. Heres the steps to follow:

1. Measure at Night

First off, the time of day is important. Youre probably aware that when you weigh yourself at night, youll usually be a pound or two heavier than in the morning. Similarly, your feet expand throughout the day, so expect yours to be ever so slightly larger in the evening. For this reason, we recommend waiting until night to get the best accuracy with your measurement.

2. Get Your Measuring Materials and Ground Your Feet

Grab a pen, a piece of paper, and a tape measure or measuring stick. If you tend to wear thick socks with shoes, we suggest putting some on before you measure your feet. Start by setting the paper on the floor.

3. Trace Your Feet

Standing on the paper, trace an outline around the perimeter of each foot. You can use this outline to measure and record the length and width of your feet. To get the width, measure between the broadest part of your foot. The length is measured from your longest toe down to the end of your heel.

4. Dont Forget Both Feet

5. Review Your Measurements