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Shoe size

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World's largest pair of shoes, Riverbank Center, Philippines—5.29 metres (17.4 ft) long and 2.37 metres (7.75 ft) wide, equivalent to a French shoe size of 753
A soldier recruit measuring for shoe size during uniform issue at the Afghan National Army training site in Kabul, Afghanistan, 2002.

A shoe size is an indication of the fitting size of a shoe for a person.

There are a number of different shoe-size systems used worldwide. While all of them use a number to indicate the length of the shoe, they differ in exactly what they measure, what unit of measurement they use, and where the size 0 (or 1) is positioned. Some systems also indicate the shoe width, sometimes also as a number, but in many cases by one or more letters. Some regions use different shoe-size systems for different types of shoes (e.g. men's, women's, children's, sport, and safety shoes). This article sets out several complexities in the definition of shoe sizes. In practice, shoes should be tried on for size and fit before they are purchased.

Deriving the shoe size

Foot versus shoe and last

The length of a foot is commonly defined as (a) the distance between two parallel lines that are perpendicular to the foot and (b) in contact with the most prominent toe and the most prominent part of the heel. Foot length is measured with the subject standing barefoot and the weight of the body equally distributed between both feet.

The sizes of the left and right feet are often slightly different. In this case, both feet are measured, and purchasers of mass-produced shoes are advised to purchase a shoe size based on the larger foot, as most retailers do not sell pairs of shoes in non-matching sizes.

Each size of shoe is considered suitable for a small interval of foot lengths. The inner cavity of a shoe must typically be 15–20 mm longer than the foot, but this varies between different types of shoes.

A shoe-size system can refer to three characteristic lengths:

  • The median length of feet for which a shoe is suitable. For customers, this measure has the advantage of being directly related to their body measures. It applies equally to any type, form, or material of shoe. However, this measure is less popular with manufacturers,[citation needed] because it requires them to test carefully for each new shoe model, for which range of foot sizes it is recommendable. It puts on the manufacturer the burden of ensuring that the shoe will fit a foot of a given length.
  • The length of the inner cavity of the shoe. This measure has the advantage that it can be measured easily on the finished product. However, it will vary with manufacturing tolerances and only gives the customer very crude information about the range of foot sizes for which the shoe is suitable.
  • The length of the "last", the foot-shaped template over which the shoe is manufactured. This measure is the easiest one for the manufacturer to use, because it identifies only the tool used to produce the shoe. It makes no promise about manufacturing tolerances or for what size of foot the shoe is actually suitable. It leaves all responsibility and risk of choosing the correct size with the customer. Further, the last can be measured in several different ways resulting in different measurements.[1]

All these measures differ substantially from one another for the same shoe.

Length

Sizing systems also differ in what units of measurement they use. This also results in different increments between shoe sizes, because usually only "full" or "half" sizes are made.

The following length units are commonly used today to define shoe-size systems:

  • The Paris point equates to 23 centimetre (6.67 mm; 0.26 in). Whole sizes are incremented by 1 Paris point; this corresponds to 3.3 millimetres (0.13 in) between half sizes. This unit is commonly used in Continental Europe.
  • The barleycorn is an old English unit that equates to 13 inch (8.47 mm). This is the basis for current UK and US shoe sizes, with the largest shoe size taken as twelve inches (a size 12) i.e. 30.5 cm, and then counting backwards in barleycorn units, so a size 11 is 11.67 inches or 29.6 cm.
  • metric measurements in centimetres (cm) or millimetres (mm) are used in the international Mondopoint system, the Asian system, and USSR/Russian system.

Zero point

The sizing systems also place size 0 (or 1) at different locations:

  • Size 0 as a foot's length of 0. The shoe size is directly proportional to the length of the foot in the chosen unit of measurement. Sizes of children's, men's, and women's shoes, as well as sizes of different types of shoes, can be compared directly. This is used with the Mondopoint and the Asian system.
  • Size 0 as the length of the shoe's inner cavity of 0. The shoe size is then directly proportional to the inner length of the shoe. This is used with systems that also take the measurement from the shoe. While sizes of children's, men's and women's shoes can be compared directly, this is not necessarily true for different types of shoes that require a different amount of "wiggle room" in the toe box. This is used with the Continental European system.
  • Size 0 (or 1) can just be simply a shoe of a given length. Typically this will be the shortest length deemed practical; but this can be different for children's, teenagers', men's, and women's shoes - making it impossible to compare sizes. For example, a women's shoe at size 8 is a different length from a men's shoe at size 8 in the US system, but not the British.

Width

Some systems also include the width of a foot, but do so in a variety of ways:

  • Measured width in millimetres (mm). This is done with the Mondopoint system.
  • Measured width as a letter (or combination of letters), which is taken from a table (indexed to length and width) or just assigned on an ad-hoc basis: Examples are (each starting with the narrowest width):
    • A, B, C, D, E, EE, EEE, EEEE, F, G (typical North American system, with the unlettered norm being D for men and B for women)
    • 4A, 3A, 2A, A, B, C, D, E, 2E, 3E, 4E, 5E, 6E (variant North American)
    • C, D, E, F, G, H (common UK; "medium" is usually F, but varies by manufacturer—makers Edward Green and Crockett & Jones, among others, use E instead, but one maker's E is not necessarily the same size as another's).
    • N (narrow), M (medium) or R (regular), W (wide)

The width for which these sizes are suitable can vary significantly between manufacturers. The A–E width indicators used by most American, Canadian, and some British shoe manufacturers are typically based on the width of the foot, and common step sizes are 316 inch (4.8 mm).

Common sizing systems

Mondopoint

The International Standard is ISO 9407:1991, "Shoe sizes—Mondopoint system of sizing and marking",[2] which recommends a shoe-size system known as Mondopoint.

It is based on the mean foot length and width for which the shoe is suitable, measured in millimetres. A shoe size of 280/110 indicates a mean foot length of 280 millimetres (11.0 in) and width of 110 millimetres (4.3 in).

Because Mondopoint also takes the foot width into account, it allows for better fitting than most other systems. It is, therefore, used by NATO and other military services. Mondopoint is also used for ski boots.

United Kingdom and Ireland

Shoe size in the United Kingdom, Ireland, India, and South Africa is based on the length of the last used to make the shoes, measured in barleycorn (13 inch) starting from the smallest size deemed practical, which is called size zero. It is not formally standardised. Note that the last is typically longer than the foot heel to toe length by about 12 to 23 inch (13 to 17 mm).

A child's size zero is equivalent to 4 inches (a hand = 12 barleycorns = 10.16 cm), and the sizes go up to size 13+12 (measuring 25+12 barleycorns, or 8+12 inches (21.59 cm)). Thus, the calculation for a children's shoe size in the UK is:

equivalent to

An adult size one is then the next size up (26 barleycorns, or 8+23 in (22.01 cm)) and each size up continues the progression in barleycorns.[3] The calculation for an adult shoe size in the UK is thus:

equivalent to

Note: some manufacturers choose to use a constant other than 25, so sizes do vary in either direction e.g. A shoe marked as a European size 40 may also be marked as a UK: 6 by Jimmy Choo, Nike; a 6+12 by Adidas, Clarks, Dr Martens, Fred Perry, Karrimor, Monsoon, New Balance, Reebok, and Slazenger; a 7 by Converse, Gap, Pavers, and Timberland; and a 7+12 by Crocs. Some retailers mark a larger size on women's European compatible which can cause confusion with the UK unisex sizes. A size 8 should be a European 42 in both male and female shoes, but this is often marked as a 9 for women.

Australia/New Zealand

For men and children's footwear the UK system is followed.[citation needed] Women's footwear has a slightly different sizing that is unique. It is in between the UK and US's sizings.[citation needed]

United States and Canada

In North America, there are different systems that are used concurrently. The size indications are usually similar but not exactly equivalent especially with athletic shoes at extreme sizes. The most common is the customary, described in more detail below, which for men's shoes is one size shorter than the UK equivalent, making a men's 13 in the US or Canada the same size as a men's 12 in the UK.

Customary

The traditional system is similar to English sizes but start counting at one rather than zero, so equivalent sizes are one greater. So the calculation for a male shoe size in the USA or Canada is:

Women's sizes are almost always determined with the "common" scale, in which women's sizes are equal to men's sizes plus 1.5 (for example, a men's 10.5 is a women's 12). In other words:

In the less popular scale, known as the "standard" or "FIA" (Footwear Industries of America) scale, women's sizes are men's sizes plus 1 (so a men's 10.5 is a women's 11.5).

Children's

Children's sizes are equal to men's sizes plus 12+13. Children’s sizes do not differ by gender even though adults’ do.

Children's shoe stores in the United States and Canada use a sizing scheme which ends at 13, after which the adult range starts at 1:

U.S. shoe sizes
Size Last length
Children's Women's Men's Inches Millimetres
(appr.)
Common FIA
5 559 141
6 589 150
7 629 158
8 659 167
9 689 175
10 729 183
11 759 192
1 756 199
12 789 200
1 8 203
2 816 207
13 829 209
2 1 813 212
3 812 216
3 2 823 220
4 856 224
4 3 9 229
5 916 233
5 4 913 237
6 912 241
6 5 923 246
7 956 250
7 6 10 254
8 7 1013 262

Alternatively, a scale running from K4 to K13 and then 1 to 7 is in use.[4] K4 to K9 are toddler sizes, K10 to 3 are pre-school and 1 to 7 are grade school sizes.

Brannock Device

Drawing of a Brannock Device (from U.S. Patent 1,725,334)

A slightly different sizing method is based on the Brannock Device, a measuring instrument invented by Charles F. Brannock in 1925 and now found in many shoe stores. The formula used by the Brannock device assumes a foot length 23 in (1.7 cm) less than the length of the last; thus, men's size 1 is equivalent to a foot's length of 7+23 in (19.47 cm).[5] Women's sizes are one size up.

[6]
[6]

The device also measures the length of the arch, or the distance between the heel and the ball (metatarsal head) of the foot. For this measurement, the device has a shorter scale at the instep of the foot with an indicator that slides into position. If this scale indicates a larger size, it is taken in place of the foot's length to ensure proper fitting.[7]

For children's sizes, additional wiggle room is added to allow for growth.[7]

The device also measures the width of the foot and assigns it designations of AAA, AA, A, B, C, D, E, EE, or EEE. The widths are 3/16 in apart and differ by shoe length.[5]

Foot Scanner

Some shoe stores use optical devices to precisely measure the length and width of both feet and recommend the appropriate shoe model and size. [1]

Europe

The Continental European system is used in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany[8], Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain[9], Sweden, Switzerland, and most other continental European countries. It is also used in Middle Eastern countries (such as Iran), Brazil—which uses the same method but subtracts 2 from the final result—[citation needed] and, commonly, Hong Kong. The system is sometimes described as Stich size (from Pariser Stich, a German for Paris point), or Stichmass size (from Stichmaß, a micrometer tool for internal measurements).

In this system, the shoe size is the length of the last, expressed in Paris points, for both sexes and for adults and children alike. Because a Paris point is 23 of a centimetre, the formula is as follows:

To compute the size based on actual foot length, one must first add a length of about 1.5 to 2 cm. For instance, for a shoe having an external length 1.5 cm longer than the foot:

This gives the relationships:

European size = 1.27 × UK size + 31.75

UK size = European size / 1.27 - 25 = 0.7874 × European size - 25

Asia

The Asian system is based on metric measurements and standardised as JIS S 5037:1998, CNS 4800, S 1093, or KS M 6681. Foot length and girth are taken into account.[10]

The foot length is indicated in centimetres; an increment of 5 mm is used. This system was also used in the GDR. [citation needed]

The length is followed by designators for girth (A, B, C, D, E, EE, EEE, EEEE, F, G), which is taken from a table indexed to girth and length. There are different tables for men's, women's, and children's (less than 12 years of age) shoes. The tables also include the width as supplemental indications. Not all designators are used for all genders and in all countries. For example, the largest girth for women in China is EEEE, whereas in Japan, it is F.

Mexico

Shoes are sized either according to the foot length they are intended to fit, in cm, or alternatively to another variation of the barleycorn system, with sizes calculated approximately as:

USSR (Russia/CIS)

Historically the USSR used the European (Paris point) system but an alternative metric system (GOST 3927–64) was devised, with shoe sizes based on foot length measurements, increasing in 12 cm (5.0 mm) rather than the 23 cm (6.7 mm) intervals found in the European scheme. This system has been refined by later GOST 3927-75 and GOST 3927-88, which added 34 cm (7.5 mm) intervals.

The most current definition is offered in the following standards:

  • GOST 24382-80. Sizes of Sport Shoes.
  • GOST 11373-88. Shoe Sizes.

Standard metric foot sizes can be converted to the nearest Paris point (23 cm) sizes using approximate conversion tables; shoes can be marked with both foot length in mm, as for Pointe ballet shoe sizes, and/or last length in European Paris point sizes (although such converted 'Stichmass' sizes typically come ½ to 1 size smaller than comparable European-made adult footwear, and up to 1½ size smaller for children's footwear).

Infant sizes start at 16 (95 mm) and pre-school kids at 23 (140 mm); schoolchildren sizes span 32 (202.5 mm) to 40 (255 mm) for girls and 32 to 44 (285 mm) for boys. Adult sizes span 33 (210 mm) to 44 for women and 38 (245 mm) to 48 (310 mm) for men.

GOST 11373-88 Shoe Sizes (5 mm and 7.5 mm steps) Children's
Foot Length (mm) 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200
172.5 180 187.5 195
Stich size 16 16½ 17 18 19 19½ 20 21 22 22½ 23 24 25 25½ 26 27 27½ 28 28½ 29 29½ 30 31 31½
Adults'
Foot Length (mm) 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 300 305 310
202.5 210 217.5 225 232.5 240 247.5 255 262.5 270 277.5 285 292.5 300 307.5
Stich size 32 33 34 34½ 35 36 36½ 37 37½ 38 38½ 39 40 40½ 41 42 43 43½ 44 45 45½ 46 46½ 47 47½ 48

ISO 19407

ISO/TS 19407:2015 Footwear - Sizing - Conversion of sizing systems is a technical specification from International Standards Organisation. The standard includes conversion tables for Mondopoint and USSR/Chinese/Japanese/Korean systems using length steps of 5 mm and 7.5 mm, European Paris point system, and UK 1/3 inch system. Shoe size definitions are based on actual foot (insole) length in millimeters; typical last length ranges are also included. The standard has been adopted as Russian GOST R 57425-2017. A companion specification ISO/TS 19408:2015 Footwear - Sizing - Vocabulary and terminology gives background information on shoe sizes.

The UK and European adult shoe sizes are calculated from typical last length, converted from foot length by adding an allowance of two shoe sizes in each respective system:

where is foot length in mm.

Adults' shoe sizes
Foot length Mondopoint, China, Japan EUR UK Typical last length range
mm 5.0 mm 7.5 mm 6.67 mm 8.47 mm mm
210.0 210
211.7 2 219 231
213.4 34 220 232
215.0 215 222 234
215.9 2.5 223 237
216.8 34.5 224 236
217.5 217.5 225 237
220.1 220 35 227 239
220.2 220 3 227 239
223.4 35.5 230 242
224.4 3.5 231 243
225.0 225 225 232 244
226.8 36 234 246
228.7 4 236 248
230.1 230 36.5 237 249
232.5 232.5 240 252
232.9 4.5 240 252
233.5 37 240 252
235.0 235 242 254
236.8 37.5 244 256
237.1 5 244 256
240.1 240 240 38 247 259
241.4 5.5 248 260
243.5 38.5 250 262
245.0 245 252 264
245.6 6 253 264
246.8 39 254 266
247.5 247.5 255 267
249.8 250 6.5 257 269
250.1 250 39.5 257 269
253.5 40 260 272
254.1 7 261 273
255.0 255 255 262 274
256.8 40.5 264 276
258.3 7.5 265 276
260.1 260 41 267 279
262.5 262.5 8 270 282
263.5 41.5 270 282
265.0 265 272 284
266.8 42 8.5 274 286
270.1 270 270 42.5 277 289
273.5 43 280 292
275.2 275 9.5 282 294
276.8 43.5 284 296
277.5 277.5 285 297
279.5 10 286 298
280.1 280 44 287 299
283.5 44.5 290 302
283.7 10.5 291 303
285.0 285 285 292 304
286.8 45 294 306
287.9 11 295 307
290.1 290 45.5 297 309
292.2 292.5 11.5 299 311
293.5 46 300 312
295.0 295 302 314
296.4 12 303 315
296.8 46.5 304 316
300.2 300 300 47 307 319
300.6 12.5 308 320
303.5 47.5 310 322
304.9 305 13 312 324
306.8 48 314 326
307.5 307.5 315 327
309.1 13.5 316 328
310.2 310 48.5 317 329
313.4 14 320 332
313.5 49 320 332
315.0 315 315 322 334
316.8 49.5 324 336
317.6 14.5 325 337
320.2 320 50 327 339
321.8 15 329 341

Children sizes are converted from foot length by adding a 5-8% allowance at the toes.

Children's shoe sizes
Foot length, mm Mondopoint EUR UK US Typical last length range, mm
120 120 19.5 3.5 4 130 136
123 125 20 4 4.5 133 139
127 20.5 4.5 5 137 143
130 130 21 5 5.5 140 146
133 21.5 5.5 6 143 149
135 135 22 147 153
138 140 22.5 6 6.5 150 156
142 23 6.5 153 156
146 145 23.5 7 7.5 157 165
148 24 160 166
150 150 24.5 7.5 8 163 169
154 155 25 8 8.5 167 173
157 25.5 8.5 9 170 176
160 160 26 9 9.5 173 179
164 26.5 177 183
166 165 27 9.5 10 180 186
169 170 27.5 10 10.5 183 189
173 28 10.5 11 187 193
176 175 28.5 11 11.5 190 196
179 180 29 11.5 12 193 199
182 29.5 197 203
185 185 30 12 12.5 200 206
188 30.5 12.5 13 203 209
192 190 31 13 13.5 207 213
195 195 31.5 13.5 1 210 216
198 32 213 219
200 200 32.5 1 1.5 217 223
204 205 33 1.5 2 220 226
207 33.5 223 229
210 210 34 2 2.5 227 233
213 34.5 2.5 3 230 236
217 215 35 3 3.5 233 239
220 220 35.5 3.5 4 237 243
224 36 240 246
226 225 36.5 4 4.5 243 249
230 230 37 4.5 5 247 253
232 37.5 250 256
236 235 38 5 253 259


The standard also includes quick conversion tables for adult shoe sizes; they provide matching sizes for shoes marked in Mondopoint, UK and US systems. Converted values are rounded to a larger shoe size to increase comfort.

Mondopoint conversion
Mondo EUR UK US men US women
215 34 2.5 3.5 4.5
220 35 3 4 5
225 35.5 3.5 4.5 5.5
230 36.5 4 5 6
235 37 4.5 5.5 6.5
240 38 5.5 6.5 7.5
245 38.5 6 7 8
250 39.5 6.5 7.5 8.5
255 40 7 8 9
260 41 7.5 8.5 9.5
265 41.5 8.5 9.5 10.5
270 42.5 9 10 11
275 43 9.5 10.5 11.5
280 44 10 11 12
285 44.5 10.5 11.5 12.5
290 45.5 11 12 13
295 46 12 13 14
300 47 12.5 13.5 14.5
305 47.5 13 14 15
310 48.5 13.5 14.5 15.5
315 49 14 15 16
320 50 15 16 17
European shoe size conversion
EUR Mondo UK US men US women
34 215 2 3 4
34.5 215 2.5 3.5 4.5
35 220 3 4 5
35.5 225 3.5 4.5 5.5
36 225 4 5 6
36.5 230 4 5 6
37 235 4.5 5.5 6.5
37.5 235 5 6 7
38 240 5.5 6.5 7.5
38.5 245 5.5 6.5 7.5
39 245 6 7 8
39.5 250 6.5 7.5 8.5
40 255 7 8 9
40.5 255 7.5 8.5 9.5
41 260 7.5 8.5 9.5
41.5 265 8 9 10
42 265 8.5 9.5 10.5
42.5 270 9 10 11
43 275 9.5 10.5 11.5
43.5 275 9.5 10.5 11.5
44 280 10 11 12
44.5 285 10.5 11.5 12.5
45 285 11 12 13
45.5 290 11.5 12.5 13.5
46 295 11.5 12.5 13.5
46.5 295 12 13 14
47 300 12.5 13.5 14.5
47.5 305 13 14 15
48 305 13 14 15
48.5 310 13.5 14.5 15.5
49 315 14 15 16
49.5 315 14.5 15.5 16.5
50 320 15 16 17
United Kingdom shoe size conversion
UK Mondo EUR US men US women
2 210 34 3 4
2.5 215 34.5 3.5 4.5
3 220 35 4 5
3.5 225 35.5 4.5 5.5
4 230 36.5 5 6
4.5 235 37 5.5 6.5
5 235 37.5 6 7
5.5 240 38 6.5 7.5
6 245 39 7 8
6.5 250 39.5 7.5 8.5
7 255 40 8 9
7.5 260 40.5 8.5 9.5
8 260 41.5 9 10
8.5 265 41.5 9.5 10.5
9 270 42.5 10 11
9.5 275 43.5 10.5 11.5
10 280 44 11 12
10.5 285 44.5 11.5 12.5
11 290 45.5 12 13
11.5 290 46 12.5 13.5
12 295 46.5 13 14
12.5 300 47 13.5 14.5
13 305 47.5 14 15
13.5 310 48.5 14.5 15.5
14 315 49 15 16
14.5 320 49.5 15.5 16.5
15 320 50 16 17

Difficulties in shoe size comparison

Differences between various shoe size tables, makers' tables or other tables found on the Web are usually due to the following factors:

  • The systems are not fully standardised. Differences between shoes from different makers, which are due to different methods of measuring the shoes, different manufacturing processes, or different allowances[1] are sometimes related to different countries. A "German" size may then differ from a "French" size, although both countries use the Continental European system.
  • Different widths may have the result that for wide feet, a shoe multiple sizes larger (and actually too long) may be required. This may also result in different size indications, especially if different typical widths are attributed to different sizing systems or countries.
  • Some tables for children take future growth into account. The shoe size is then larger than what would correspond to the actual length of the foot.[7]
  • An indication in centimetres or inches can mean the length of the foot or the length of the shoe's inner cavity. This relation is not constant but varies due to different amounts of wiggle room required for different sizes of shoes.
  • There are several U.S. systems, which differ substantially for sizes far above or below medium sizes.

Further, some tables available on the Web simply contain errors. For example, the wiggle room or different zero point is not taken into account, or tables based on different U.S. systems (traditional and athletic) are simply combined although they are incompatible.

Please note that the following tables indicate theoretical sizes calculated from the standards and information given above.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Andersson, Bendt. "Recommendations to suppliers and manufacturers of orthopedic footwear concerning sizes of shoes and lasts" (PDF) (in Swedish). Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  2. ^ International Standard ISO 9407:1991, Shoe sizes—Mondopoint system of sizing and marking
  3. ^ Cairns, Warwick. About the Size of It. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-230-01628-6.
  4. ^ ASICS Oceania Pty Lyd., Asics Shoe Sizes, stating "Shoe sizes on product details pages are in US shoe size"; accessed 16 January 2017
  5. ^ a b Brannock Device Co. "History". Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  6. ^ a b Brannock Device Co. "Size Conversion Chart". Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  7. ^ a b c Brannock Device Co. "Instructions". Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  8. ^ German Standard DIN 66074:1975, Shoe sizes
  9. ^ Spanish Standard UNE 59850:1998, Shoes: Size designation
  10. ^ Template:Ja icon Rakuten.co.jp