Foot Length in Inches

Shoe size in inches

Convert your foot length in inches to shoe size. Find your US, UK, EU, and India size with our calculator and reference charts.

4" to 13" RangeMen, Women and KidsBarleycorn Sizing Math

Inches to shoe size calculator

Enter your foot length in inches to see your shoe size

Men's shoe size in inches

InchesCMUS MenUKEUIndia
9.4″24.0US 6UK 5.5EU 38.5India 5.5
9.6″24.5US 6.5UK 6EU 39India 6
9.8″25.0US 7UK 6.5EU 40India 6.5
10.0″25.5US 7.5UK 7EU 40.5India 7
10.2″26.0US 8UK 7.5EU 41India 7.5
10.4″26.5US 8.5UK 8EU 41.5India 8
10.6″27.0US 9UK 8.5EU 42India 8.5
10.8″27.5US 9.5UK 9EU 42.5India 9
11.0″28.0US 10UK 9.5EU 44India 9.5
11.2″28.5US 10.5UK 10EU 44.5India 10
11.4″29.0US 11UK 10.5EU 45India 10.5
11.6″29.5US 11.5UK 11EU 45.5India 11
11.8″30.0US 12UK 11.5EU 46India 11.5
12.2″31.0US 13UK 12.5EU 47India 12.5
12.6″32.0US 14UK 13.5EU 48India 13.5

Women's shoe size in inches

InchesCMUS WomenUKEUIndia
8.7″22.0US 5UK 3EU 35.5India 3
8.9″22.5US 5.5UK 3.5EU 36India 3.5
9.1″23.0US 6UK 4EU 36.5India 4
9.3″23.5US 6.5UK 4.5EU 37India 4.5
9.4″24.0US 7UK 5EU 37.5India 5
9.6″24.5US 7.5UK 5.5EU 38India 5.5
9.8″25.0US 8UK 6EU 38.5India 6
10.0″25.5US 8.5UK 6.5EU 39India 6.5
10.2″26.0US 9UK 7EU 40India 7
10.4″26.5US 9.5UK 7.5EU 40.5India 7.5
10.6″27.0US 10UK 8EU 41India 8
10.8″27.5US 10.5UK 8.5EU 42India 8.5
11.0″28.0US 11UK 9EU 42.5India 9

Kids' shoe size in inches

InchesCMUS KidsUK ChildEU KidsIndia
4.1″10.5US 2CUK 1.5CEU 17India 1.5C
4.5″11.5US 3CUK 2.5CEU 18India 2.5C
4.7″12US 4CUK 3.5CEU 19India 3.5C
5.1″13US 5CUK 4.5CEU 20India 4.5C
5.5″14US 6CUK 5.5CEU 22India 5.5C
5.7″14.5US 7CUK 6.5CEU 23India 6.5C
6.1″15.5US 8CUK 7.5CEU 25India 7.5C
6.3″16US 9CUK 8.5CEU 26India 8.5C
6.7″17US 10CUK 9.5CEU 27India 9.5C
6.9″17.5US 11CUK 10.5CEU 28India 10.5C
7.3″18.5US 12CUK 11.5CEU 30India 11.5C
7.7″19.5US 13CUK 12.5CEU 31India 12.5C
7.9″20US 1YUK 13.5CEU 32India 13.5C
8.3″21US 2YUK 1YEU 33India 1Y
8.7″22US 3YUK 2YEU 35India 2Y

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Imperial Footwear Guide

The history of shoe sizes in inches: the barleycorn standard

Shoe sizes step in 1/3-inch increments based on the English barleycorn system.

In 1324, King Edward II of England standardized the inch as the length of three dried barleycorn grains laid end to end. Shoemakers adopted one barleycorn, exactly one-third of an inch (approx. 8.46 millimeters), as the increment between adult shoe sizes.

Both United States and United Kingdom footwear scales remain anchored to this 1/3-inch increment. While shoeboxes display numbers like 8, 9, or 10, each step adds precisely one barleycorn in length to the lasting mold.

How half sizes work in inches

In the late 19th century, American footwear manufacturers introduced half sizes to accommodate subtle differences in foot length. A half shoe size is half a barleycorn: one-sixth of an inch (approx. 0.169 inches or 4.23 mm).

Four millimeters inside a structured shoe represents the difference between a natural walking stride and toe crowding. If you feel pressure against your longest toe when walking, moving up a half size provides that 1/6-inch of toe relief without making the heel cavity too wide.

Converting tape measure fractions to shoe sizes

Household tape measures divide inches into eighths or sixteenths rather than thirds and sixths. When measuring your foot, use these fractional inch ranges to find your shoe size:

  • A foot length of 8 7/8 to 9 inches (22.5 to 22.9 cm) fits US Women's 6 or US Men's 4.5.
  • A foot length of 9 1/4 to 9 3/8 inches (23.5 to 23.8 cm) fits US Women's 7 or US Men's 5.5.
  • A foot length of 9 5/8 to 9 3/4 inches (24.4 to 24.8 cm) fits US Women's 8 or US Men's 6.5.
  • A foot length of 9 7/8 to 10 inches (25.1 to 25.4 cm) fits US Women's 9 or US Men's 7.5 to 8.
  • A foot length of 10 1/4 to 10 3/8 inches (26.0 to 26.4 cm) fits US Women's 10 or US Men's 8.5 to 9.
  • A foot length of 10 5/8 to 10 3/4 inches (27.0 to 27.3 cm) fits US Men's 9.5 to 10.
  • A foot length of 11 inches (27.9 cm) fits US Men's 10.5 to 11.

When using a standard tape measure, round up to the nearest 1/8 inch mark if you fall between lines. Always leave 3/8 to 1/2 inch of toe allowance for walking comfort.

Why women's and men's sizes differ for the same inch measurement

A foot measuring 10 inches fits a US Men's 7.5 to 8, but an identical 10-inch foot requires a US Women's 9 to 9.5. This difference exists because the US women's scale was calibrated on an offset baseline.

Women's shoes built to standard B width are narrower through the arch and heel cup than men's standard D width shoes. If a woman with a 10-inch foot buys a Men's 8 for forefoot room, the shoe will slip at the heel. If a man with a 9.5-inch foot buys a Women's 8, the shoe will feel tight across the ball of the foot.

Kids' shoe sizing in inches and the size 13 reset

Children's shoe sizing resets mid-childhood. The American children's system begins with infant size 0C (approx. 3.25 inches) and progresses to children's size 13C (approx. 7.67 inches). Once a child outgrows 13C, the scale restarts at Youth 1Y (approx. 8.0 inches), which continues up to 7Y (approx. 9.75 inches). A youth size 7Y is identical in length to a Men's 7 or a Women's 8.5.

When measuring a child's foot in inches, add between 3/8 inch and 1/2 inch of space in front of the toes. This ensures the child has room for forward foot slide during walking, while allowing 3 to 4 months of growth before needing the next size.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Yes, historically and mathematically. Both US and UK shoe sizing originate from the English barleycorn system, where 1 size increment equals 1/3 of an inch (~8.46 mm). A half size equals 1/6 of an inch (~4.23 mm). While shoeboxes show whole numbers like 8 or 9.5, those numbers correspond to specific foot lengths measured in inches.
Yes. Like the US standard, UK shoe sizing is built on the historic English barleycorn system, where every full size is 1/3 of an inch (~8.46 mm). However, UK sizing uses a different starting point: men's UK sizes are 0.5 to 1 size smaller than US (US 9 = UK 8.5 for a 10.6-inch foot), and women's UK sizes are 2 sizes smaller (US Women's 8 = UK 6 for a 9.8-inch foot).
Every full shoe size in US and UK sizing represents exactly 1/3 of an inch (approx. 0.33 inches or 8.46 mm). Every half size represents 1/6 of an inch (approx. 0.17 inches or 4.23 mm).
Exactly 10 inches equals 25.4 cm. For men, a 10-inch foot fits a US Men's 7.5 to 8, UK 7, or EU 40.5 to 41. For women, 10 inches fits a US Women's 9 to 9.5, UK 7, or EU 40.5.
A US Men's size 9 shoe fits a foot length of approximately 10.6 inches (27.0 cm). A US Women's size 9 shoe fits a foot measuring approximately 10.2 inches (26.0 cm).
A US Men's size 6 fits a foot length of roughly 9.4 inches (24.0 cm). A US Women's size 6 fits a foot length of roughly 9.1 inches (23.0 cm). In UK sizing, a UK 6 fits an adult foot of about 9.8 inches (25.0 cm).
Place a sheet of paper on a hard floor against a wall. Stand with your bare heel touching the wall. Mark the tip of your longest toe with a pencil held straight. Measure the length with a ruler or measuring tape in inches, rounding up to the nearest 1/8 inch.
UK shoe sizes use the 1/3-inch increment as the US, but with a different baseline. For men, UK sizing is 0.5 to 1 size smaller (US Men's 9 = UK 8.5 for a 10.6-inch foot). For women, UK sizing is approximately 2 sizes smaller (US Women's 8 = UK 6 for a 9.8-inch foot).