The Complete Global Size Chart Guide

Ordering shoes or clothing across borders means facing a patchwork of size systems: US, UK, EU, Japan, and others, each with different numbers and letters for the same body or foot. This guide is the most comprehensive resource on the site. It covers how size systems came to be, how they differ by region and category, how width and measurement fit in, why brands vary, how kids sizing works, what printable charts are for, and how to use conversion tools. For the authority anchor on why systems differ (history, Mondopoint, EU≠UK≠US, standardization limits), see our International Sizing System. For how width affects fit (length vs width, when shoes feel tight on the sides), see our Understanding Shoe Width guide. Use the sections below to understand the landscape; use our Shoe Size Guides, Clothing Size Guides, Brand Sizing Guides, and Measurement Guides hubs for direct links to converters, tools, and printables.

History of size systems

Modern sizing did not start from a single global standard. In the UK, one story has it that King Edward II decreed the inch to be the length of three barleycorns, and UK shoe sizes later used barleycorn steps—so a size was literally “so many barleycorns” of length. In reality, sizing evolved regionally. The US developed its own numeric scales for men’s, women’s, and children’s shoes, with different zero points and step sizes. Continental Europe adopted the Paris point (often said to be ⅔ of a centimeter per size), which produced the EU numbering we see today. Japan and China developed or adopted cm-based or EU-like systems. Clothing sizing grew out of tailoring and ready-to-wear in each market: chest, waist, and hip measurements were translated into letters (S, M, L) or numbers (34, 36, 38) with no international agreement.

The result is that a “9” or “42” or “M” means something different depending on country and category. Conversion charts and tools exist precisely because of this history—they map between systems using agreed reference lengths or measurements. Industry bodies and standards organizations have tried to harmonize sizing (e.g. ISO for shoe length in cm), but legacy labels remain in daily use. Understanding that there was never one world standard helps explain why conversion is essential and why a single “true” size number does not exist across regions. When you shop across borders, treating your “home” size as fixed and looking up the equivalent in the target system is the practical approach.

EU vs US vs UK vs JP explained

US shoe sizes use separate scales for men, women, and kids. Men’s sizes typically run from about 6 to 14 (or higher) in whole and half sizes; women’s run about 1.5–2 numbers higher for the same foot length (e.g. the same length might be US 9 men’s or US 10.5 women’s). Kids have their own progression (e.g. 1C–13C, then 1Y–7Y) before overlapping with adult. UK sizes are usually about one size down from US men’s (e.g. US 9 ≈ UK 8). UK women’s and kids’ scales also differ from US. EU (Paris point) sizes use a formula tied to foot length in cm and produce numbers in the mid-30s to mid-40s for adults—so EU 42 is roughly a US men’s 9. EU does not use separate men’s/women’s numbers in the same way; the same EU size might be used for a given length. Japan often uses cm-based sizing (e.g. 24, 25, 26 cm) or a scale that aligns loosely with EU. China may use EU-like numbers or local standards. Because the scales have different starting points and step sizes, you cannot assume “US 9 = UK 9 = EU 9.” Use our shoe size converter or CM to US shoe size tool and always select the correct gender and region. For detailed breakdowns, see our Shoe Size Guides and articles on why EU and US differ and how UK sizes differ.

Shoe vs clothing sizing differences

Shoe sizing is driven primarily by foot length (and in some markets, width). One number or code per foot gives you a size. Clothing sizing is driven by body measurements: chest, waist, hips, and often inseam or sleeve length. A single garment may be described by several measurements, and the same “M” or “38” can correspond to different chest/waist/hip ranges in the US, UK, or EU. Shoe systems are more numeric and consistent within a region (e.g. US men’s 7, 7.5, 8); clothing often mixes letters (XS–XXL) and numbers (e.g. 32, 34 for pants) and the mapping between letter and measurement varies by brand. Another key difference: shoe conversion is often “one number in, one number out” (e.g. 26 cm → US 9), whereas clothing conversion may depend on garment type—tops, pants, dresses, and outerwear can have different size progressions. Our clothing size converter and shoe size converter handle each category; the Measurement Assistant does both foot and body measurements in one place. For more on clothing, see Clothing Size Guides and how clothing sizes differ globally.

Width systems globally

Length is only half the story for shoes. Width—narrow, standard, wide—is expressed differently around the world. In the US, men’s standard width is usually “D” and women’s “B,” with “2E” or “EE” for wide and “B” or “C” for narrow in men’s. UK and EU sometimes use letters or terms like “narrow” and “wide” without a single universal code. Not every brand offers multiple widths; athletic and work brands (e.g. New Balance, ASICS) often do. If your feet are wide or narrow, using length alone can leave you in the wrong fit.

Measure the circumference around the widest part of your foot (the ball) and use our foot width calculator with your length to see if you fall into narrow, standard, or wide—and which US width letter that implies. Then filter by width when shopping. Our Foot Width Guide explains where and how to measure; Understanding Shoe Width covers why size alone isn't enough and when length is right but the shoe still feels wrong. In many countries, width is not printed on the box; the shoe is assumed “standard.” If you have had consistent fit issues (pinching, slipping, or needing to size up for room), width is often the cause. Clothing width is usually baked into the cut (slim, regular, relaxed) rather than a separate width code, though some brands offer “wide” or “narrow” in specific categories such as shoes or pants.

Measurement-based sizing

The most reliable input for conversion is a physical measurement: foot length in cm for shoes, chest/waist/hips in cm (or inches) for clothing. Size numbers (US 9, EU 42) are derived from such measurements; if you don’t know your current size in a given region, or the brand only publishes cm, measuring gives you a universal starting point. For feet, measure from heel to longest toe on both feet and use the larger value; do it in the evening when feet are slightly larger. For clothing, use a soft tape and keep it horizontal and snug but not tight. Our How to Measure Your Feet and How to Measure in CM guides, plus the printable foot measuring sheet and printable cm ruler, support accurate measurement. Once you have a length or body measurement, plug it into our foot measurement calculator, kids growth size calculator, or Measurement Assistant to get US, UK, EU, and other sizes. The Measurement Guides hub ties together all measurement-based resources.

Brand sizing variability

Even with an accurate conversion, brands differ. One brand’s US 9 might fit like another’s 9.5. This is because brands use different lasts (shoe molds), fit models, and grading. Some run small (e.g. many athletic or Asian-market brands); some run large. Our Brand Sizing Guides hub and individual pages (e.g. Nike, Adidas, Zara, H&M) describe fit tendencies. Articles on brands that run small and brands that run large summarize common patterns. Best practice: get your baseline size from a converter or measurement tool, then check the brand’s official size chart for the product. If the brand runs small, consider sizing up; if it runs large, you may size down. When in doubt, order two sizes if returns are easy. See also our Brand Sizing Guide for how to use brand charts with conversion.

Kids sizing complexities

Kids shoe and clothing sizing adds another layer. Kids shoe scales are separate from adult: US uses small numbers (e.g. 10C, 11C) then “youth” (1Y–7Y) before overlapping with adult. EU and UK have kids progressions too. The same foot length in cm maps to different “kids” sizes than “adult” sizes. Children’s feet grow quickly, so re-measuring every few months is important. Use our kids growth size calculator and kids printable shoe size guide; leave a little room for growth but not so much that the shoe slips. A thumb’s width of space at the toe is a common rule of thumb.

Kids clothing may use age (e.g. 4Y, 8Y), height (e.g. 110, 120 cm), or EU-style numbers. Conversion between regions is again approximate, and growth spurts mean that age-based sizes can be off. When possible, use actual measurements (height, chest, waist) against the brand’s size chart. The Shoe Size Guides and Printable Size Charts hubs link to kids-specific tools and printables.

Printable charts explained

Printable size charts and measuring aids let you work offline or keep a reference at home. We offer a foot measuring sheet (instructions plus space to mark and measure), a printable cm ruler (print at 100% scale for accuracy), a EU/US shoe size reference chart, a kids shoe size guide, and a clothing measurement chart. Print or save as PDF and use with our converters: measure with the sheet or ruler, then enter the value into the shoe or clothing converter. The Printable Size Charts and Printable Size Guides hubs list all of these. Printable charts are especially useful for at-home measuring and for sharing with family or a fitter.

Conversion tools overview

This site provides several ways to convert. The main Shoe Size Converter and Clothing Size Converter accept a size or measurement and return equivalents in US, UK, EU, and (where applicable) Japan or China. Dedicated pages like CM to US Shoe Size, US to EU Size, and UK to US Size focus on one conversion pair. The Programmatic Index lists all single-size conversion pages (e.g. EU 42 to US, US 9 to UK, 26 cm to US)—hundreds of pages for direct linking and crawlability.

Interactive tools include the Foot Measurement Calculator, Kids Growth & Shoe Size Calculator, Foot Width Calculator, and Measurement Assistant (foot and clothing in one). All tools are free and work in the browser on desktop and mobile. The Measurement Tools hub and the four authority hubs (Shoe Size Guides, Clothing Size Guides, Brand Sizing Guides, Measurement Guides) organize these by theme so you can jump to the right converter, tool, or printable.

Resources: hubs, converters, and tools

Use these links to go straight to the right part of the site.

Authority hubs: Shoe Size Guides · Clothing Size Guides · Brand Sizing Guides · Measurement Guides

Authority anchor: International Sizing System (history, Mondopoint, EU≠UK≠US, width vs length, measurement best practices)

Converters: Shoe Size Converter · Clothing Size Converter · CM to US Shoe Size · US to EU Size · UK to US Size

Programmatic index: Programmatic Index (all conversion pages)

Region sizing systems: EU Shoe Sizing System · US Shoe Sizing System · UK Shoe Sizing System · Japan Shoe Sizing System

Tools: Foot Measurement Calculator · Kids Growth & Shoe Size Calculator · Foot Width Calculator · Measurement Assistant · Measurement Tools

Brand comparisons & authority: Why Shoe Sizes Vary by Brand · Nike vs Adidas Sizing · Zara vs H&M Sizing

Width & fit: Understanding Shoe Width · Shoe Width Guide · Wide vs Regular Shoes · How to Measure Foot Width · Foot Width Guide · Foot Width Calculator · Shoe Fit Guide

Printables: Printable Size Charts · Printable Size Guides

Frequently Asked Questions