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Shoe Size Converter

A quick reference for buying shoes from international retailers.

US size (men's)

UK size: 8.5
EU size: 42.5
Foot length: 27 cm

What you entered

US size: 9

1
Match against the standard men's shoe size chart
US 9= UK 8.5 / EU 42.5 / 27 cm

Result

Converted size: UK 8.5 / EU 42.5

A US men's size 9 is roughly a UK 8.5, EU 42.5, with a foot length around 27 cm — brands vary, so this is a starting point for sizing, not a guarantee.

Men's shoe sizes across US, UK, EU and foot length

UK sizes run half a size below US. The centimetre column is the actual foot length, which is the only measurement that transfers reliably.

US	UK	EU	Foot length (cm)
7	6.5	40	25.1
8	7.5	41	26
9	8.5	42.5	27
10	9.5	44	28.3
11	10.5	45	29
12	11.5	46	30.2
13	12.5	47.5	31.4

The last column is the one to use. US and UK sizes are both based on a barleycorn - one third of an inch - which is why they run half a size apart, while EU sizes use the Paris point of two thirds of a centimetre, so the two systems do not align at clean intervals. Measure your foot in centimetres by standing on paper against a wall and marking the longest toe, then match that rather than converting a size you think you are. Width is a separate dimension that none of these systems capture, and women's sizing runs on a different scale again.

Foot length is the most reliable measurement

Size labels vary more between brands than actual foot-length measurements do — if you have your foot length in cm, that's a more reliable cross-brand reference point than converting a size number directly.

Women's sizing runs differently

This chart uses men's US sizing. Women's US shoe sizes typically run about 1.5 sizes larger than the equivalent men's size (a men's 8 is roughly a women's 9.5) — check the specific brand's conversion if buying women's shoes.

Frequently asked questions

I wear a US men's 10 — what size should I order from a European brand?

A US men's 10 is approximately an EU 43 and a UK 9. Foot length is about 28 cm. If you're between sizes, most shoe fitting guides recommend going up — a slightly loose shoe is more comfortable than a tight one.

How is this different from the Clothing Size Converter?

Shoe sizes are more standardized because they're based on measurable foot length (cm). Clothing sizes are more subjective and vary heavily by brand. This converter also includes a cm measurement as a cross-reference, which clothing sizing doesn't have.

My foot measures 27.5 cm — what US size is that?

A 27.5 cm foot length corresponds to approximately a US men's 9.5 (EU 43, UK 9). Measure your foot in the afternoon when it's slightly swollen from the day — morning measurements can lead to shoes that feel tight by evening.