What You Need

  • A piece of A4 paper (or two sheets if your feet are large)
  • A pencil or pen
  • A ruler or tape measure
  • Thin socks (wear what you normally wear with the shoes you are buying)
  1. 1

    Trace your foot

    Place the paper on a hard flat floor. Stand on it with your full weight on the foot (not sitting — your foot spreads more when standing). Holding the pencil vertically, trace all the way around your foot, keeping the pencil as straight as possible.

  2. 2

    Measure heel to longest toe

    Draw a straight line from the very back of the heel trace to the tip of the longest toe. Measure this length in millimetres. This is your foot length.

  3. 3

    Measure both feet

    Repeat for the other foot. Most people have feet of slightly different lengths. Always use the measurement from the larger foot.

  4. 4

    Convert to shoe size

    Use the measurement to find your size using the chart below. Round up if you are between sizes — shoes that are slightly too big are far better than shoes that are slightly too small.

Size Conversion Chart

  • 220–226mm → AU/UK 3 / US Women's 5 / EU 35–36
  • 227–233mm → AU/UK 4 / US Women's 6 / EU 37
  • 234–240mm → AU/UK 5 / US Women's 7 / EU 38
  • 241–247mm → AU/UK 6 / US Women's 8 / EU 39
  • 248–254mm → AU/UK 7 / US Women's 9 / EU 40–41
  • 255–261mm → AU/UK 8 / US Men's 9 / EU 42
  • 262–268mm → AU/UK 9 / US Men's 10 / EU 43
  • 269–275mm → AU/UK 10 / US Men's 11 / EU 44–45
  • 276–282mm → AU/UK 11 / US Men's 12 / EU 46
When ordering onlineDifferent brands fit differently — always check the brand's specific size chart if available. Read reviews mentioning fit (runs small, runs large, true to size). If between sizes and buying leather shoes, go up — leather stretches. For running shoes, go up half a size to allow for foot swell during exercise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shoe sizes are not standardised globally — a UK 7, US 9 and EU 41 are all approximately the same but brands interpret sizing differently. Always measure in millimetres/centimetres and check the specific brand's size chart rather than assuming your usual number.
Always buy for the larger foot. A shoe that is slightly loose on the smaller foot is manageable (an insole can help). A shoe that is too small on the larger foot causes blisters, bunions and pain.