How to Measure Your Foot Size Accurately at Home
Knowing your exact foot length and width — in centimetres — is the foundation of buying shoes that fit, especially online. You only need paper, a pen and a ruler, and the whole process takes a few minutes.
When and why to measure
Measure in the evening, when feet are at their largest, and re-measure every year or two since feet change with age and weight. Reliable measurements let you convert confidently between US, UK and EU sizes instead of guessing.
Measuring length
- Place a sheet of paper against a wall on a hard floor.
- Stand with your heel touching the wall, weight evenly distributed.
- Mark the tip of your longest toe (which isn't always the big toe).
- Measure from the wall edge to the mark in centimetres.
- Repeat for the other foot and use the larger value.
Measuring width
Wrap a tape measure around the widest part of your foot (across the ball), or mark the widest points on your tracing and measure between them. Compare this to a brand's width chart, or use our foot width calculator.
Using your measurements
Enter your foot length into a size converter to get US/UK/EU sizes, and check the width letter you need. When between sizes, choose the larger and confirm there's about a thumb's width at the toe.
Frequently asked questions
- What time of day should I measure my feet?
- In the evening, when feet are slightly swollen and at their largest, for the most reliable fit.
- Which foot should I size to?
- Always the larger foot, since most people have a small difference between left and right.
Sources & further reading
- Foot measurement, American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
- Shoe fitting, NHS
- Footwear, Mayo Clinic