Shoe size conversion (US UK EU JP)
Lasts and fits vary between brands — use this chart as a starting point, not a fit guarantee.
| Foot cm (approx) | EU | UK | US M | US W | JP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22.5 | 35–36 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 22.5 |
| 23.5 | 37 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 23.5 |
| 24.5 | 38–39 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 24.5 |
| 25.0 | 39–40 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 25 |
| 26.0 | 41 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 26 |
| 27.0 | 42–43 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 27 |
| 28.0 | 44 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 28 |
| 29.0 | 45–46 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 29 |
| 30.0 | 47 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 30 |
Notes
- Mondopoint uses foot length in mm (common on ski boots).
- Kids’ scales differ again — not covered here.
Why US, UK, EU, and JP sizes disagree
There is no worldwide shoe standard, only historical conventions measured on different scales. The UK system counts length in barleycorns (one third of an inch) above a size-zero last; the US system uses the same unit but starts from a different zero point, so a US men's size runs one number above the equivalent UK size — UK 8 becomes US men's 9. EU sizes descend from French stitch-based patterns and map roughly to foot length times 1.5 plus 2, so EU 42–43 lands near UK 8 / US M 9. Japan is the outlier worth copying: JP sizes are simply foot length in centimeters, so JP 27 means a 27 cm foot.
How to measure your foot at home
Measure in the evening, when feet are at their longest, and stand while doing it — bearing weight lengthens the foot. Place a sheet of paper against a wall, stand on it with your heel touching the wall, mark the tip of your longest toe (not always the big toe), and measure the distance in centimeters. Repeat for both feet and size to the larger one. Then read the first column of the chart: a 27 cm foot corresponds to EU 42–43, UK 8, US men's 9, or JP 27. Add about half a centimeter of allowance if the measurement falls between rows, and favor width over length when a last is narrow.
Women's sizes and the men's-to-women's gap
US women's shoes are conventionally sized about one to one-and-a-half numbers above men's for the same foot: the chart pairs US women's 8 with US men's 7 at a 25–26 cm foot, around EU 39–41. That offset is a labeling convention, not anatomy — women's lasts are often narrower at the heel with a higher instep, which is why the same length can fit differently across the men's and women's wall. EU sizes are mostly unisex and absorb the difference, so EU 41 works for both. When converting, translate to foot length in centimeters first, then back out — chain-convert labels between US W and UK and errors compound fast.
Brand variance and how to use this chart
Treat every cross-system conversion as approximate, because EU sizes have no legally defined length: two brands' EU 42 lasts can differ by half a size or more. Athletic brands often run long or short relative to dress shoes, and some European makers size to the last rather than the foot. The reliable sequence is: measure your foot in centimeters, use this chart to find the matching row, then check the brand's own foot-length recommendation in millimeters if it publishes one — Mondopoint-style mm sizing, standard on ski boots, removes the guesswork. Kids' shoes follow separate scales entirely, so never convert children's sizes from this adult chart.
Frequently asked questions
- What is EU size 42 in US men’s?
- In this chart, EU 42–43 is about US men’s 9 (UK 8), which fits a foot roughly 27 cm long.
- What is US women’s size 8 in EU?
- US women’s 8 corresponds to about EU 41, or UK 7 — a foot length of around 26 cm.
- How do I measure my foot length in cm for shoe sizing?
- Stand on paper, mark heel and longest toe, and measure the distance; then match the centimeters to a row in the chart.
Japan uses foot length in centimeters as the shoe size — JP 27 means a 27 cm foot.