Shoe sizes: size conversion guide
The current numbering of shoe sizes was introduced between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century as machining developed to produce large quantities of footwear of different sizes in a short time.
The first industry that produced quality shoes of pre-established and always identical sizes and with mechanized processes was, in 1892, the English Mansfield Shoe company .
In the continental system the measurement is expressed in French points , each equal to 6.6 millimetres, while in the Anglo-Saxon system the English point is used, corresponding to 8.4 millimetres.
To help you find your way around the different shoe measurement units adopted by various Italian and foreign manufacturers, we provide you with the size conversion tables, where you can easily find the size corresponding to your shoe size.
UK, USA and European measurements: the different systems compared
The shoe can be measured in various ways:
- European size : it is equivalent to 2/3 of a centimeter
- English size: this size uses the same scale as the previous ones, with different sizes for men and women, where the men's size is half a size larger and coincides with the American men's size.
- American and Canadian size : a scale that is not proportional to the European one is used and men's sizes are one and a half sizes smaller than women's.
Which shoe size to choose?
It is not at all uncommon, when you try on shoes in the store (especially if they are sneakers), to read the US or UK size on the package, depending on the brand.
How to understand if it is the right size for our foot?
Very often, on the packaging itself or on the internal label of the shoe we find the corresponding European size. However, if we have difficulty finding this information, simply consult the conversion tables or ask our store staff for information.
Shoe size conversion tables
In each table we find the Italian, English and American sizes and the corresponding measurement in mm.
To know the exact length of the foot , simply measure the distance between the heel and the longest toe.
One piece of advice we give you is to measure both feet, in fact it is not uncommon for one foot to be slightly larger than the other.
Tables
| Women's Shoe Sizes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITALY - IT | 36 | 36.5 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 |
| UNITED KINGDOM - UK | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 9 |
| UNITED STATES - US | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 12 |
| Men's Shoe Sizes | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITALY - IT | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 47 |
| UNITED KINGDOM - UK | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 |
| UNITED STATES - US | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 |
| Children's Shoe Sizes | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ITALY - IT | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18.5 | 19.5 | 21 | 22 | 23.5 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27.5 | 28 | 28.5 | 29.5 | 30 | 31 | 31.5 |
| UNITED KINGDOM - UK | 0 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 |
| UNITED STATES - US | 0C | 1C | 2C | 3C | 4C | 5C | 6C | 7C | 8C | 9C | 10C | 10.5C | 11C | 11.5C | 12C | 12.5C | 13 | 13.5C |