Foot length in centimetres to a shoe size
Measure, then convert
Enter the foot length in centimetres rather than the label you normally wear. A measurement is portable between factories; a label is not.
—
| Foot length | EU | UK | US men |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22.0 cm | 35 | 2.5 | 3.5 |
| 23.0 cm | 36.5 | 4 | 5 |
| 24.0 cm | 38 | 5 | 6 |
| 25.0 cm | 39 | 6 | 7 |
| 26.0 cm | 40.5 | 7 | 8 |
| 27.0 cm | 42 | 8 | 9 |
| 28.0 cm | 43 | 9 | 10 |
| 29.0 cm | 44.5 | 10 | 11 |
| 30.0 cm | 45.5 | 11 | 12 |
Brand charts disagree. A 27.0 cm foot is an EU 42 on one chart and an EU 41.5 on another, so measure your foot rather than converting a size you already own. Open the size guide on the index
Why the label is the least reliable input
Four inputs into a footwear purchase, ordered by how much they can be trusted.
| Input | Reliability | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Your own foot length in centimetres | Highest | Measured once, against a wall, and reusable for every future purchase |
| The insole or outsole figure in a listing | High when present | A physical measurement of the actual item, which is why measurements matter more than labels |
| The manufacturer label on the item | Medium | Depends on the factory, the batch and whether the item is a licensed variant or an inspired one |
| The size you normally wear in another brand | Lowest | Two brands can both print a 42 and mean different feet, and this is the most common source of a wrong order |
The bottom row is used most often and trusted least deservedly. It is the one input that carries no independent information about the item you are buying.
How to measure a foot properly
Five steps. The first three are where the errors happen, and each one is worth about half a size.
- Measure at the end of the day
- Feet swell during the day, and the difference is roughly half a size.Where to look: Measure once in the evening and use that figure.
- Stand, do not sit
- Standing transfers weight and lengthens the foot by several millimetres.Where to look: A wall, a sheet of paper and a pencil.
- Measure both feet
- Most people differ between sides, and the purchase should fit the larger one.Where to look: Record the larger figure.
- Follow the longest toe, not the big toe
- For some feet the second toe is longer, and a measurement from the big toe undersizes the shoe.Where to look: Trace the outline rather than the toe.
- Add a thumb width for work boots or bulky socks
- Some categories are worn differently from what the label assumes.Where to look: The shoes index notes which ones.
Then convert. If the measurement lands between two rows, the tool says so and suggests the larger: a shoe that is slightly long can be worn, one that is short cannot.
Sizing questions
Four answers about converting a measurement.
Why is foot length better than my usual size?
Because it is the only input that describes your foot rather than a factory's label. Your usual size describes a different manufacturer's idea of a 42, which may differ by a full size from the item you are looking at.
What if my measurement falls between two rows?
Take the larger. A shoe with a little room can be worn with an insole or a thicker sock; one that is short will not stretch into comfort regardless of what the material claims.
Does this work for every category?
It is built for footwear. For garments, the equivalent figure is a flat measurement of something you already own that fits — chest, length, sleeve — compared against the measurements in the listing.
Should I trust a size chart in a listing?
Treat it as one input among several. A listing that gives a physical insole measurement is more useful than one that repeats a label, and a listing that gives neither is a reason to look at the QC checklist instead.
A size is a claim, a measurement is a fact
The shoe index records listings with measurements and source platform alongside the reference price, so the two can be compared before an order.