British Imperial to American Footwear Conversion
UK to US Shoe Size Converter
Convert British (UK) shoe sizes to American (US) sizes instantly. Calculate your exact US fit across men's, women's, and children's shoes, boots, and sneakers with our interactive calculator and conversion charts.
Convert British (UK) to American (US) Size
Select your gender and UK size to calculate your corresponding US shoe size, EU size, and anatomical footbed length.
Popular UK to US Shoe Size Benchmarks
Quick reference for the most widely searched adult sizes in British footwear converting to US sizing.
Complete UK to US Shoe Size Conversion Charts
Comprehensive UK to US size chart spanning men's, women's, and kids' footwear with European and centimetre metrics.
Men's UK to US Shoe Size Chart
| UK Size | US Men Size | EU Size | Foot Length (CM) | Inches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK 5.5 | US 6 | EU 38.5 | 24 cm | 9.4″ |
| UK 6 | US 6.5 | EU 39 | 24.5 cm | 9.6″ |
| UK 6.5 | US 7 | EU 40 | 25 cm | 9.8″ |
| UK 7 | US 7.5 | EU 40.5 | 25.5 cm | 10″ |
| UK 7.5 | US 8 | EU 41 | 26 cm | 10.2″ |
| UK 8 | US 8.5 | EU 41.5 | 26.5 cm | 10.4″ |
| UK 8.5 | US 9 | EU 42 | 27 cm | 10.6″ |
| UK 9 | US 9.5 | EU 42.5 | 27.5 cm | 10.8″ |
| UK 9.5 | US 10 | EU 44 | 28 cm | 11″ |
| UK 10 | US 10.5 | EU 44.5 | 28.5 cm | 11.2″ |
| UK 10.5 | US 11 | EU 45 | 29 cm | 11.4″ |
| UK 11 | US 11.5 | EU 45.5 | 29.5 cm | 11.6″ |
| UK 11.5 | US 12 | EU 46 | 30 cm | 11.8″ |
| UK 12.5 | US 13 | EU 47 | 31 cm | 12.2″ |
| UK 13.5 | US 14 | EU 48 | 32 cm | 12.6″ |
UK to US shoe size guide: conversion rules and brand fits
British and American footwear sizing share the imperial barleycorn system. Because both scales use the same incremental step of one-third of an inch, conversions follow fixed numerical offsets between British and American lasts.
1. Geometry of the British barleycorn scale
Shoe sizing in the United Kingdom and North America traces to the 1324 statute establishing the barleycorn (one-third of an inch, or 8.46 millimeters) as a unit of measurement. A full size step equals 1/3 inch (8.46 mm), while a half size step equals 1/6 inch (4.23 mm). For historical background and formulas, consult our guide on shoe sizes in inches and barleycorn measurements.
2. Men's conversion: adding 0.5 to your British size
For men's footwear, calculate your American size by adding 0.5 to your British size. Standard benchmarks include:
- UK 6 = US Men's 6.5 (24.5 cm)
- UK 7 = US Men's 7.5 (25.5 cm)
- UK 8 = US Men's 8.5 (26.5 cm)
- UK 8.5 = US Men's 9.0 (27.0 cm)
- UK 9 = US Men's 9.5 (27.5 cm)
- UK 9.5 = US Men's 10.0 (28.0 cm)
- UK 10 = US Men's 10.5 (28.5 cm)
- UK 11 = US Men's 11.5 (29.5 cm)
- UK 12 = US Men's 12.5 (30.5 cm)
Sneaker manufacturers such as Nike, New Balance, and Asics apply this half-size rule to their men's conversion tables.
3. Women's conversion: adding 2 sizes
In women's footwear, the offset between the two scales is two full sizes:
- UK 3 = US Women's 5.0 (22.0 cm)
- UK 4 = US Women's 6.0 (23.0 cm)
- UK 5 = US Women's 7.0 (24.0 cm)
- UK 6 = US Women's 8.0 (25.0 cm)
- UK 7 = US Women's 9.0 (26.0 cm)
- UK 8 = US Women's 10.0 (27.0 cm)
4. Boot and heritage sizing: Dr. Martens, Clarks, and Chelsea boots
Classic British bootmakers frequently manufacture in whole UK sizes without half sizes:
- Dr. Martens (AirWair): boots are sized in whole UK numbers. Buyers wearing US Men's 9.5 typically choose UK 9.
- Clarks Originals: Desert Boots and Wallabees use UK lasts with generous forefoot volume. A US Men's 10 corresponds to a UK 9.5.
- Goodyear-welted shoes: makers such as Loake and Church's use standard F width fitting, equivalent to American D. For wider feet, look for G or H fittings.
5. Centimeter and Mondopoint measurements
Footwear boxes print the Japanese (JP) or Mondopoint metric measurement in centimeters. A 27.0 cm footbed is identical whether marked as UK 8.5 or US 9.0. See our guide on shoe sizing by foot length to determine your exact foot measurements.
6. Checklist for British footwear buyers
When ordering British shoes or boots from international retailers, check these points:
- Verify whether the retailer lists native UK sizes or pre-converted US numbers.
- Account for sock thickness when selecting leather boots.
- Note width letter conventions: British F denotes medium width, while American medium is D.
- Consult the gender-specific conversion table to apply the correct size offset.
Frequently asked questions
Clear, expert answers to the most common questions about converting UK shoe sizes to US sizes.
What is the shoe size conversion from UK to US?
To convert UK shoe size to US, add 0.5 to British men's sizes (US = UK + 0.5; for example, UK 8.5 Men = US 9). For British women's sizes, add 2 full sizes (US = UK + 2; for example, UK 6 Women = US 8). For children's footwear, US sizes are typically 0.5 to 1 size larger than UK.
What is the US shoe size equivalent to a UK women's size?
The American women's equivalent is 2 sizes larger than the British UK size. A UK Women's size 5 corresponds to a US Women's 7 (24.0 cm), UK Women's 6 equals US Women's 8 (25.0 cm), and UK Women's 7 translates to US Women's 9 (26.0 cm).
How does UK shoe sizing compare to US for men's dress shoes and boots?
British formal footwear and boots (such as Dr. Martens, Clarks, Loake, Church's, and Tricker's) use UK sizing. In addition to adding 0.5 in length for US men's sizing, consider width fittings: standard British F fitting corresponds to American D (medium), while British G is a wide fitting equivalent to American E or EE.
How do I convert UK kids' shoe sizes to US sizing?
In children's footwear, British sizes run 0.5 to 1 size smaller than US sizes through toddler and little kid stages (such as UK 7.5C = US 8C). When transitioning into youth sizes, British 13.5C converts into US 1Y, and UK 1Y corresponds to US 2Y.
How can I measure my foot at home to confirm my exact US and UK size?
Measure the distance in centimeters from the wall to the tip of your longest toe. Add 0.5 cm of movement allowance, then reference our conversion table to find your UK and US sizes.