ShoeSizeConversionGuide2026:UK,US&EUShoeSizesforWomen

Shoe shopping across borders sounds simple — until your size does not exist on the website in front of you. A UK 5 becomes a US 7 and an EU 38, French and Italian brands use numbers that look nothing like yours, and half the internet insists your “true size” is something else entirely. Get shoe size conversion wrong and the dream heels arrive pinching, slipping, or a full size too big — and international returns are rarely free.

This guide makes it simple. Below is the complete women’s shoe size conversion chart for UK, US and EU sizes with foot lengths in centimetres, the measuring method that actually works, the mistakes that cause most bad orders, and smart tips for buying shoes from international brands. Plus, our free converter does the whole thing for you in one click.

The Free Shoe Size Converter: What It Does

Our free Shoe Size Converter converts shoe sizes between US, UK, EU and International sizing — where “International” shows your foot-length reference in centimetres, the one measurement every sizing system is built on. It has separate Women’s and Men’s charts, because the same number means a different foot length on each chart, and this guide focuses on the women’s chart.

Like all the best tools, it works two ways. You can convert a shoe size you already know and see the matching sizes instantly, or you can measure your foot, enter the length in centimetres or inches, and get an estimated shoe size. It is free, needs no sign-up, and takes about ten seconds — far less time than posting a return parcel back overseas.

How to Use the Shoe Size Converter

Option 1: Convert a shoe size you already know

1. Open the Shoe Size Converter.
2. Choose the size chart: “Women’s” (or “Men’s” if you are buying for someone else).
3. Under “I have a size in”, pick the system on your shoe’s label — US, UK, EU or International (cm).
4. Select your shoe size and click “Convert size” — your matching sizes appear straight away.
5. Use the equivalent on the brand’s website, and click “Reset” whenever you want to convert another size.

Option 2: Find your size by foot length

1. Scroll to “Find my size by foot length” in the same tool.
2. Choose the Women’s chart and your measurement unit — centimetres or inches.
3. Enter your foot length (measure it the way described below, and use your longer foot).
4. Click “Find my shoe size” to see your estimated size across the systems.

How to Measure Your Foot Properly

Foot length is the foundation of every shoe size conversion, and the converter’s own method takes two minutes with a sheet of paper:

1. Place paper on the floor: put a sheet of paper against a wall on a hard, level surface.
2. Stand naturally: place your heel against the wall and stand with your full weight on the foot.
3. Mark your longest toe: mark the tip of your longest toe, then measure from the wall edge to the mark.
4. Measure both feet: feet can differ in length, so always use the longer measurement.
5. Measure later in the day: feet are slightly larger by evening, which gives you a more realistic fit check.
6. Consider width: foot length is only one part of fit — check whether the brand offers narrow, regular or wide widths.

Women’s Shoe Size Conversion Chart: UK, US, EU and Foot Length

These are the standard women’s shoe size equivalents for 2026. The centimetre column is your foot length — the same International (cm) reference the converter uses — and it is the column to trust most when a brand’s numbers look unfamiliar.

UK	US	EU	Foot length (cm)	Foot length (in)
2	4	34.5	21.6	8.5
3	5	35.5	22.4	8.8
3.5	5.5	36	22.9	9.0
4	6	37	23.3	9.2
4.5	6.5	37.5	23.7	9.3
5	7	38	24.1	9.5
5.5	7.5	38.5	24.5	9.6
6	8	39	24.9	9.8
6.5	8.5	40	25.4	10.0
7	9	40.5	25.7	10.1
7.5	9.5	41	26.0	10.2
8	10	42	26.4	10.4
9	11	43	27.3	10.7

The shortcuts: for women’s shoes, US is roughly UK + 2, and EU is roughly UK + 33. They are approximations — the half sizes are where the systems drift apart — which is why converting by foot length in centimetres is the gold standard. If you want the history of how these scales evolved, the shoe size reference on Wikipedia explains the UK, US, EU and Mondopoint systems in depth.

Common Shoe Size Conversion Mistakes

1. Ordering your UK number from a US or Canadian site

A UK 6 ordered as a US 6 arrives a full size and a half too small. Women’s US sizes run about 2 above UK sizes, and Canadian stores use the US scale — always convert first, especially for boots you plan to wear with thick socks, like the styles in our knee-high boots outfits guide.

2. Using the men’s chart (or letting the website do it)

Men’s and women’s charts are different: a women’s US 8 is not a men’s US 8. Some international sites default to men’s sizing on unisex styles like trainers. The converter keeps the charts separate — check you are on the Women’s chart before you convert, particularly for the looks in our white trainers outfits.

3. Measuring your foot sitting down, in the morning

Feet spread under your weight and swell slightly through the day. A morning, seated measurement can come up half a centimetre short — enough to push you into a size that pinches by 6pm. Stand, measure both feet in the evening, and use the longer one.

4. Forgetting that EU sizes are not a length

EU numbers are based on the length of the shoe’s last (the form the shoe is built on), not your foot — which is why EU conversions wobble by half a size between brands. When an EU brand gives a centimetre measurement, trust the centimetres over the number every time.

5. Ignoring shoe shape and width

Conversion gives you length, not shape. A pointed toe, a narrow last or a high heel changes how a size feels — pointed styles often need the half size up, while soft loafers can fit close. This is why our guide to how to choose wedding shoes always says to convert, then check the brand’s fit notes for that exact style: you will be standing in them all day.

Tips for Shopping International Shoe Brands

• Save your foot length in your phone notes — in centimetres and inches, for both feet. It is the one number that works on every shoe site in the world.
• Convert before you fall in love. Run your size through the converter before browsing a French, Italian or American collection, so you filter by the size that will actually fit — essential for limited styles like the boots in our ankle boots outfits guide.
• Between sizes? Follow the style. For heels and pointed shoes, the larger size with an insole usually beats a squeeze; for trainers and stretch-knit styles, the smaller size often settles in after a wear or two. The converter’s advice is the same as the brands’: check the fit advice for that shoe style.
• Think about socks and insoles. Your converted size assumes an average fit. Thick winter socks, orthotic insoles or gel pads all take up room — size with them in mind for boots and closed shoes.
• Try new arrivals in the evening, indoors. Walk on carpet first so the soles stay returnable, and judge the fit at the time of day your feet are largest.
• Check international returns before you buy. Even perfect conversion cannot predict a brand’s shape. A clear, affordable returns route matters more with overseas shoe orders than with almost anything else in your wardrobe.

Shoe Size Conversion FAQs

What is a UK size 5 in US and EU shoe sizes?

A women’s UK 5 converts to a US 7 and an EU 38, with a foot length of about 24.1 cm. The quick rules are US = UK + 2 and EU = UK + 33, but use the chart or converter for half sizes, where the systems drift.

Do Canadian shoe sizes match US sizes?

Yes. Canadian shoe sizes follow the US system for women, so a UK 6 shopping in Canada should order a US/Canadian 8 — and confirm with the foot-length column if the brand provides one.

How does the International (cm) size in the converter work?

US, UK and EU use different regional sizing scales. The International (cm) option in the tool displays the foot-length reference in centimetres that each size is based on; it is not a single universal brand size, but it is the most reliable way to compare across systems.

Should I measure my foot in the morning or the evening?

Measure later in the day, when your feet may be slightly larger. It helps you avoid choosing a size that feels fine in the morning and too tight by the evening.

Why can the same shoe size fit differently between brands?

Brands use different lasts (the form a shoe is built around), shapes, width allowances and size grading. Two pairs labelled with the same converted size can genuinely fit differently, which is why you should always check the specific product’s size chart when one is available.

What if my measurement falls between two sizes?

Use the brand’s guidance for that shoe style. Consider the intended use, the socks you will wear and the width on offer, and choose the option that gives your toes enough room — for most closed shoes and heels, that means the larger size.

Does the converter work for men’s shoes too?

Yes — the tool has a separate Men’s chart alongside the Women’s chart, covering the same US, UK, EU and International (cm) systems. Just make sure you select the right chart before converting, because the same number means a different foot length on each.

Is the Shoe Size Converter free?

Completely free, with no sign-up. Convert sizes or estimate your size from your foot length as often as you need, in centimetres or inches.

Convert Your Shoe Size Before You Order

Shoe size conversion stops being stressful the moment you work from your foot length instead of guessing between systems. Measure both feet once, save the numbers, and use the free Shoe Size Converter whenever an international brand catches your eye. The right size, first time — your feet (and your returns pile) will thank you.

Related: How to Choose Wedding Shoes · Knee-High Boots Outfits · Ankle Boots Outfits · Chelsea Boots Outfits · White Trainers Outfits

About Business Outstanders

Business Outstanders is a UK fashion guide for women — daily outfit ideas, wedding and bridal style, nail designs, hairstyles and free fashion tools — written by the Business Outstanders editorial team. We help women in the UK, US and Canada shop smarter and dress with confidence, one guide (and one perfectly converted shoe size) at a time.