How do I convert US shoe sizes to European (EU) sizes?

For men's shoes, add approximately 33 to the US size to get the EU size — for example, US Men's 9 equals EU 42. For women's shoes, add approximately 31 — US Women's 9 equals EU 40. However, these are approximations: different brands apply slightly different lasts, so always check the specific brand's size chart. Use our converter above to see all international equivalents simultaneously.

Why do shoe sizes differ so much between countries?

Shoe sizes evolved independently in different regions over centuries, each based on different measurement conventions. European sizes use the Paris Point (⅔ of a centimetre), making EU 40 equal to a foot length of about 25.8 cm. US sizes use a different last-length formula with separate scales for men and women, where a women's size is 1.5 sizes larger than a men's size for the same foot. Japanese sizes are the most intuitive — they directly measure foot length in centimetres. No international standard has ever successfully unified all systems.

Shoe Sizes Conversions

👟Shoe Sizes - Converter ✓ All Major Standards

Your Size All equivalents shown below

All Equivalents — —

Popular Comparisons

	EU	US (M)	US (W)	UK	cm
EU 36	36	4	5.5	3.5	22.5
EU 38	38	6	7.5	5.5	24
EU 40	40	7.5	9	7	25.5
EU 42	42	9	10.5	8.5	27
EU 44	44	10.5	12	10	28.5

Shoe Sizes

Shoe sizing systems vary significantly across countries and lack a single international standard, making conversion a practical necessity for travellers, online shoppers, and the global footwear industry. The principal systems in use today are the European (EU) system, the US system (with separate scales for men and women), the UK system, the Japanese system (measured in centimetres of foot length), and the Brazilian system — each derived from different historical measurement conventions.

The European system is based on the Paris Point, a unit equal to two-thirds of a centimetre (6.67 mm). EU shoe sizes are calculated by dividing the last length — the internal length of the shoe — in Paris Points, resulting in sizes typically ranging from 35 to 48 for adults. The US system uses a different last-length formula, with separate number sequences for men and women: a US Women's size 9 corresponds to a US Men's 7.5, a difference of 1.5 sizes for the same foot length. The UK system follows yet another scale, generally running 0.5 to 1 size below US Men's.

The Japanese system is the most intuitive from a scientific standpoint: sizes are expressed directly in centimetres of foot length, measured to the nearest 0.5 cm. This makes conversion straightforward — a foot measuring 26 cm corresponds to a JP 26, EU 40–41, US Men's 8, or UK 7.5. Despite efforts toward standardisation, the global footwear industry continues to use all these systems simultaneously, and a working knowledge of their relationships remains essential for anyone involved in fashion, sports science, ergonomics, or international retail.

Shoe Sizes conversions

List of Shoe Sizes conversions
‣ US Men's (US M) to European (EU) (EU)
‣ US Women's (US W) to European (EU) (EU)
‣ UK (UK) to European (EU) (EU)
‣ Japan (cm) (cm) to European (EU) (EU)
‣ Brazil (BR) to European (EU) (EU)
‣ Australia / NZ (AU) to European (EU) (EU)