Shoe Size Charts: US, UK, and EU Compared

You wear a US 9, but the box shipped from Europe says 42. Do those numbers really match? Not exactly, and that is the whole problem with shoe sizing. Every region built its own system, so a single number means different things in different places. The one measurement that never changes is the length of your foot in centimeters. Learn to read that, and any chart makes sense.

Why Shoe Sizes Are Not the Same Everywhere

Shoe sizing grew up separately in different countries. Each system chose its own starting point and its own step between sizes. That is why one number cannot travel cleanly across borders.

The US and UK systems both come from an old English method based on inches. They count in steps of one third of an inch, but they start from different points, so their numbers do not line up. Europe uses the Paris point instead, which steps by two thirds of a centimeter per size. Three different rulers give three different answers for the same foot.

So a “42” is not a bad number or a wrong one. It simply belongs to a different scale than a US or UK size. Treat each chart as a rough translation, not an exact rule.

The Most Reliable Method: Measure Your Foot

Numbers on a box vary by brand, but your foot length does not. Measuring it in centimeters gives you a fixed anchor that every chart can be read against.

The system built directly on this idea is called Mondopoint. It states the size as the foot length in millimeters, so a 270 means a 270 mm foot. Because it uses the foot itself, it is the clearest scale of the group. Here is a simple way to measure at home.

• Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall.
• Mark the paper at the tip of your longest toe.
• Measure the distance from the wall edge to that mark.
• Do both feet, in the evening, and use the longer one.

Convert inches to centimeters by multiplying by 2.54 if your ruler uses inches. For more on switching between the two systems, see our metric vs imperial conversion guide.

Here is a quick worked example. Say your longest foot measures 10.6 inches. Multiply by 2.54 to get about 27 cm. Find 27 cm in the men’s chart, and it lines up near a US 9. That is the power of the anchor: one measurement, read against any column.

Men’s Shoe Size Chart: US, UK, EU, CM

The chart below is a general reference for men’s sizing. Use your measured foot length in centimeters as the starting column, then read across. Numbers still shift by brand, so treat this as a guide.

Notice the anchor row: a US 9 is about a UK 8.5, roughly EU 42 to 43, and near a 27 cm foot. The EU column is a small range on purpose, because brands round it differently.

Women’s Shoe Size Chart: US, UK, EU, CM

Women’s sizing follows the same idea but starts from a different point. The offset between US and UK is larger for women than for men. Again, this is a general reference, not a promise for any one brand.

The anchor row here is a US 8: about a UK 6, roughly EU 38 to 39, near a 24 cm foot. If you fall between two rows, size up and check the fit.

How the Systems Differ

Once you know the pattern behind each scale, converting in your head gets easier. Here is what sets the three systems apart.

• US vs UK offset: a men’s US size is about one full UK size higher, and often near UK plus a half in practice.
• US vs UK for women: the gap is larger, with a women’s US size running about 2 to 2.5 above the UK number.
• EU is a different ruler: European sizes use the Paris point, stepping by 2/3 cm per size, so they do not divide evenly into US or UK steps.
• Rounding varies: because the steps differ, one US size can map to two EU numbers, which is why EU is shown as a range.
• Mondopoint is the exception: it is just your foot length in millimeters, with no offset to memorize.

These offsets let you convert both directions with rough math. Going from UK to US for men, add about one size, so a UK 9 is near a US 10. Going the other way, a men’s US 11 drops to about a UK 10.5. For EU, remember it is a separate ruler, so lean on the cm column rather than adding a fixed number.

Tips for Buying Shoes That Fit

Charts get you close, but fit is what matters. These habits help you land the right size the first time.

1. Measure both feet and use the longer one as your guide.
2. Shop later in the day, when feet are at their largest.
3. Always check the brand’s own size chart, since lasts differ.
4. Read recent reviews for “runs small” or “runs large” notes.
5. Leave about a thumb’s width of room ahead of your longest toe.
6. When you are between sizes, size up rather than squeezing in.

Treat every chart as a starting point. Your measured foot length plus the brand’s guide will beat any single number on a box.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shoe Sizes

Sources

This article is for general education only. The conversions here use standard, widely accepted factors; check exact values for scientific, medical, or legal use. Reviewed for accuracy by Prof. Dr. Khalil Mudassar, PhD. Last updated September 12, 2026.