How To Accurately Measure Your Feet For Proper Shoe Size

Just follow these simple instructions and then use the conversion tables at the bottom of the page to accurately measure your feet for the proper shoe size. This whole process is easier if you have somebody else do the tracing. If you are on your feet all day then do the measurement at the end of the day, or after a long walk. Feet get a little bigger when you’re on them for a long time.

STEP ONE – Tape Two Pieces of Paper to the Floor

Clean white paper is the best. You need two pieces of paper. One for each foot. Tape the edges of the paper to the floor to prevent them, and you, from slipping.

STEP TWO – Step Onto the Paper With Your Socks On

Step onto the paper one foot at a time. Place most of your weight on the foot being measured. You do not have to stand on one foot. You should not be barefoot. Wear the same kind and thickness of socks that you will be wearing most often with the shoes you are measuring for.

STEP THREE – Trace the Outline of Each Foot

Keep the marker snug against the contour of your foot. Trace the entire outline of each foot. A magic marker works best.

STEP FOUR – Measure Your Foot Trace to 1/16th of an Inch

Measure both the longest section of your foot trace and the widest section. Get the accuracy to 1/16th of an inch. Do the same careful measurement for each foot. Write these numbers down. The largest numbers for both length and width are the ones you will use to convert to shoe size. If the longest length and widest width come from separate feet that’s OK. Use the biggest numbers you measured.

If you measured from the outside of the magic marker line then you should subtract the width of the line from your measurement. If you measured from the inside of the line you can use the measurement as is.

The Conversion Tables are in decimals so use this table first to convert your 1/16th inch measurements to their decimal equivalent before proceeding to STEP FIVE. For example, if your longest length is 7 9/16" you would use 7.56" in the shoe size table.

STEP FIVE – Use the Conversion Tables to Find Your Shoe Size

There are separate conversion tables for:

Inches to U.S. Women’s Shoe Sizes
Women’s Shoes Width Chart

Inches to U.S. Men’s Shoe Sizes
Men’s Shoes Width Chart

Children’s Inches to U.S. Shoe Sizes

Converting Women’s Shoe Size to Man’s Shoe Size

Generally, men’s shoes have bigger and wider toe boxes than comparably sized women’s shoes, making men’s shoes an attractive alternative for women walkers who need a little extra interior room. The rule of thumb is to subtract two sizes from the women’s shoe size to find the comparable man’s shoe size. For example a size 9 women’s shoe is comparable to a size 7 man’s shoe.

Unfortunately this is only a rule of thumb and not a hard and fast mathematical conversion. The good news is that endless.com has totally free returns and overnight shipping so you can make the adjustment and try again.

TABLE – Inches to U.S. Women’s Shoe Sizes

If your foot length is more or less than what is shown on the Table you can use this formula to find your shoe size from your
foot measurement: LENGTH x 3 – 21

TABLE – U.S. Women’s Shoe Size Widths
(In inches)

Use this table to find your shoe width only after you have found your shoe size from the previous table. All measurements are in decimal inches. For example, if your shoes size is 7 and your widest width measurement is 3.44 inches – you need an Average Width
shoe.

TABLE – Inches to U.S. Men’s Shoe Sizes

TABLE – Men’s Shoes Width Chart
(in Inches)

TABLE –
Children’s Inches to U.S. Shoe Sizes

Your foot type is the most important consideration when buying walking shoes and all other types of athletic shoes. Today’s athletic shoe technology is so sophisticated that you can buy comfort even if you never were able to find comfortable walking shoes before.