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Shoe Size Converter

Foot length is the base: Chinese size equals millimetres (26.0 cm gives 260), EU equals 1.5 x cm + 2, UK equals 3 x inches - 23, US men equals UK + 1 and US women equals US men + 1.5, all rounded to half sizes.

Buying abroad means a US size, an agent quotes a European size, domestic brands print millimetres — the same foot corresponds to a scattered set of numbers, and shoe sizing is where online purchases go wrong most often. Everything here is based on foot length: measure your foot and every system converts, with the half-size rounding rule stated and a full 22 to 30 cm chart below — more dependable than assuming the size you normally wear.

Foot length is the base because lasts differ between brands, and the same nominal size can vary by more than 5 mm in internal length. Measure your foot in the afternoon while standing, when it is at its largest, and convert from that figure. The full chart covers 22 to 30 cm; a wide foot or a high instep is usually better served by going up half a size.

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How to use

  1. Measure your foot length while standing, in the afternoon.
  2. Select the system you are converting from and enter the value.
  3. Read the equivalents, including the rounded half-size.
  4. Check the 22–30 cm chart, and go up half a size for a wide foot.

How it works

Why foot length is the basis

Shoe sizes worldwide are the same thing on different scales: foot length. Chinese sizes equal foot length in millimeters (260); EU sizes use the Paris point (2/3 cm each); UK/US sizes use inches with a historical offset. So the tool first reduces your input to foot length (cm), then derives all other sizes from it — one conversion path regardless of the pair, avoiding double-rounding from converting via an intermediate system.

Rounding rules per system

Sizes other than foot length round to the half size: EU, UK and US round to 0.5, Chinese sizes round to whole millimeters. That rounding is the direct cause of the +/-0.5 size difference you see, and the fundamental reason this conversion can't be "absolutely exact" — sizes themselves are discrete.

Where half-size differences come from

The same foot may map to different sizes across brands: last width, toe-box shape, insoles and sock thickness all matter; the industry accepts a half-size difference between adjacent sizes for one foot length. This tool's job is "putting different size charts on one ruler." For the final order, check the specific brand's chart and favor its foot-length column.

Code example

JavaScript Four size systems derived from foot length 

function shoeSizes(footCm) {
  const half = (n) => Math.round(n * 2) / 2;
  return {
    cn: Math.round(footCm * 10),              // CN size = millimetres
    eu: half(1.5 * footCm + 2),               // EU size
    uk: half(3 * (footCm / 2.54) - 23),       // UK size
    usM: half(3 * (footCm / 2.54) - 23 + 1),  // US men
    usW: half(3 * (footCm / 2.54) - 23 + 2.5) // US women
  };
}

shoeSizes(26.0);   // { cn: 260, eu: 41, uk: 7.5, usM: 8.5, usW: 10 }

Python The same formulas in Python 

def shoe_sizes(foot_cm):
    half = lambda n: round(n * 2) / 2
    inch = foot_cm / 2.54
    return {"cn": round(foot_cm * 10), "eu": half(1.5 * foot_cm + 2),
            "uk": half(3 * inch - 23), "usM": half(3 * inch - 22)}

shoe_sizes(26.0)   # cn 260 / eu 41 / uk 7.5 / usM 8.5

FAQ

Why is my foot-length size half a size off the brand chart?

Because brand charts fine-tune beyond the formula for last width, shoe shape and target population, and a half-size float is common. This tool gives theoretical values from the international formula, useful for putting different countries' charts on one ruler; trust the brand's own chart before ordering.

Is Chinese size 41 the same as EU 41?

No. EU 41 is about 26 cm foot length, corresponding to Chinese size 260; "Chinese 41" is the old national-standard system, not the same scale as the new (260) code. This tool outputs the millimeter-based new Chinese size — if you're used to the old code, compare by foot length in centimeters.

Can it handle children's sizes?

Yes, it supports 16-36 cm foot length, covering the common range from toddlers to adults. Children's feet change quickly — re-measure every 3-6 months and leave 0.5-1 cm of growth room.

Why do US men's and women's sizes differ by 1.5?

US sizes derive from UK sizes with an offset, and women's offset is 1.5 more than men's — a historical legacy, not a conversion error. So for the same foot length, US women's is always 1.5 larger than men's; check whether a product is men's or women's when buying.

How do I measure foot length accurately?

Measure in the afternoon or evening (feet swell slightly after standing and walking), stand against a wall with heel touching it, and measure the perpendicular distance from the longest toe to the heel; measure both feet and take the larger. Divide millimeters by 10 for the tool's centimeter input, e.g. 263 mm as 26.3.

Should I round a half size up or down?

By use: for everyday commuting, true size or a half up; for sports shoes (especially running and ball games) leave 0.5 cm to prevent toe-stubbing and black toenails; leather shoes and boots shouldn't run large or the heel slips. The formula gives the size for your foot length — add margin per your shoe-type preference.

Why is there no clothing size conversion?

Because clothing lacks a unified international standard: the same M can differ in chest, waist and length across countries and brands, and fit (slim/loose) matters far more than numeric conversion. Rather than a misleading number, we do only shoe sizes with a formula basis. For clothing, rely on the brand chart's measured dimensions.

Can I enter foot length in inches?

Yes. Pick "inch" as the unit, e.g. 10.24. Internally it's normalized to centimeters, so whether you enter cm, mm or inches, the resulting country sizes are identical.