Shoe Size Converter: US to EU

Convert shoe sizes between US and EU instantly. Quick reference charts for men's, women's, and kids' sizes with foot length in cm and inches.

Convert from

Size

US 9 = EU 42.5

Foot length (cm)

27.5 cm

Foot length (in)

10.8 in

Shoe sizes can vary between brands and models. These conversions are based on standard sizing charts. We recommend checking the specific brand's size chart when possible.

How to measure your foot

Place a piece of paper on a hard floor against a wall.
Stand on the paper with your heel against the wall.
Mark the longest point of your foot (usually the big toe or second toe).
Measure the distance from the wall to the mark in centimeters.
Measure both feet and use the larger measurement.

Measure your feet at the end of the day when they are at their largest.

Men's US to EU Shoe Size Chart

US Size	EU Size	Foot (cm)	Foot (in)
3.5	35.5	22.0	8.7
4	36	22.5	8.9
4.5	36.5	23.0	9.1
5	37.5	23.5	9.3
5.5	38	24.0	9.4
6	38.5	24.5	9.6
6.5	39	25.0	9.8
7	40	25.5	10.0
7.5	40.5	26.0	10.2
8	41	26.5	10.4
8.5	42	27.0	10.6
9	42.5	27.5	10.8
9.5	43	28.0	11.0
10	44	28.5	11.2
10.5	44.5	29.0	11.4
11	45	29.5	11.6
11.5	45.5	30.0	11.8
12	46	30.5	12.0
13	47	31.0	12.2
14	48.5	31.5	12.4
15	49.5	32.0	12.6

Need to convert between more sizing systems?

Universal shoe size converter

Need US to UK conversion instead?

US ↔ UK shoe size converter

Need EU to UK conversion instead?

EU ↔ UK shoe size converter

Shoe Size Converter Shoe Size Converter: US to UK

US to EU shoe size converter. American to European shoe size conversion for men, women, and kids.

A US to EU shoe size converter translates between the American Brannock system and the European Paris Point system using foot length as the universal bridge. It accounts for the gender-specific US scales, where men's and women's offsets to EU differ, and uses manufacturer-grade lookup tables for precision.

What Is a US to EU Shoe Size Converter?

A US to EU shoe size converter is a tool that translates shoe sizes between the American (Brannock) system and the European (Paris Point) system. A US men's 9 equals an EU 42.5, a US men's 10 equals an EU 44, and a US women's 8 equals an EU 39 — but these conversions are not always intuitive because the two systems use completely different units and logic.

The US system, based on the Brannock Device invented in 1927, measures foot length in barleycorns (one-third of an inch) and uses separate scales for men, women, and children. The European system uses Paris points, where each size increment equals two-thirds of a centimeter (6.67 mm), and is fully unisex — the same EU number applies to both men and women.

This fundamental difference is why converting between US and EU sizes causes so much confusion. An EU 42 means one thing regardless of gender, but the equivalent US size depends entirely on whether you are shopping for men's shoes (US 9) or women's shoes (US 10.5). Our converter handles this bidirectionally: enter a US size and get the EU equivalent, or enter an EU size and see the corresponding US size for men, women, or kids.

How to Convert US Shoe Size to European (and Back)

Converting between US and EU shoe sizes requires knowing the gender category (men, women, or kids) because the US system uses different scales for each, while the EU system is unisex.

To convert US to EU shoe size:

1. For men's shoes, add approximately 33 to your US size. US men's 10 + 33 = EU 43 (actual: EU 44, since the offset varies slightly across the range).

2. For women's shoes, add approximately 31 to your US size. US women's 8 + 31 = EU 39.

3. For kids' shoes, add approximately 16.5 to the US youth size. US kids' 3Y + 16.5 = EU 35 (approximately).

To convert EU to US shoe size:

1. For men, subtract approximately 33 from the EU size. EU 44 - 33 = US men's 11 (approximately).

2. For women, subtract approximately 31 from the EU size. EU 39 - 31 = US women's 8.

These quick-add rules provide a good approximation, but they can be off by half a size at the edges of the range. For precise results, the most reliable method is to measure your foot length in centimeters and use that as the bridge between systems. Our converter above uses manufacturer-grade lookup tables rather than rough formulas, ensuring accuracy across the full size range for men, women, and kids.

US to EU Shoe Size Conversion Formula

EU = \frac{3}{2} \times L_{cm} + 2

$EU$ = European shoe size in Paris points
$L_{cm}$ = Foot length in centimeters

The European system calculates size by multiplying foot length in centimeters by 1.5 (converting to Paris points) and adding a constant of 2 for toe room. On the US side, the formulas differ by gender:

US_{men} = 3 \times L_{in} - 22

US_{women} = 3 \times L_{in} - 21

Where $L_in$ is foot length in inches. The factor of 3 converts inches to barleycorns (3 barleycorns per inch), and the constants (22 for men, 21 for women) set the starting point of each scale.

To convert directly from US to EU without measuring your foot, you can combine these formulas. For men:

EU \approx US_{men} \times 1.27 + 16.93

For women:

EU \approx US_{women} \times 1.27 + 15.66

However, these derived formulas produce approximations. Because the two systems were developed independently — the Brannock system in the United States in 1927 and the Paris Point system in France in the 1800s — they do not align perfectly at every point. Industry-standard conversion tables, like the ones used in our converter, provide the most accurate mappings by cross-referencing actual foot measurements across both systems.

US to EU Shoe Size Conversion Examples

Ordering Nike Shoes from a European Website (Men's US 9)

You wear a US men's 9 and want to order Nike Air Max from a European retailer like Zalando or Nike.eu. Your US 9 corresponds to a foot length of approximately 27 cm (10.6 inches), which converts to EU 42.5. Most European Nike listings will show EU 42.5 as an option. If only whole EU sizes are available, choose EU 43 — going up is always safer than going down. Note that Nike tends to run slightly small, so if you are on the border between US 9 and 9.5, selecting EU 43 is the better call.

Shopping on ASOS for Women's Shoes (US 8)

You wear a US women's 8 and want to buy boots from ASOS, which lists sizes in EU. Your US women's 8 corresponds to a foot length of approximately 24.6 cm (9.7 inches), converting to EU 39. On ASOS, select EU 39. If the brand runs narrow (common with Italian and French designers), consider going up to EU 40, especially for pointed-toe styles. Remember that EU 39 is unisex — it describes the same foot length whether the shoe is marketed to men or women — but the equivalent US men's size for that foot would be US 6.5, not US 8.

Buying European Kids' Shoes Online (US 3Y)

Your child wears a US youth size 3 (3Y) and you are ordering school shoes from a European brand. US kids' 3Y corresponds to a foot length of approximately 22.1 cm, which converts to EU 35. Children's feet grow rapidly — about 1 cm per year between ages 6 and 10 — so many parents order one EU size up (EU 36) to extend the life of the shoe. Unlike the US system, which restarts numbering at youth size 1 after toddler size 13, the EU system uses one continuous scale from infant to adult, making it less confusing for international orders.

Tips for Accurate US to EU Shoe Size Conversion

Measure your foot in centimeters, not inches. Centimeters are the universal bridge between US and EU systems. Measure heel to longest toe while standing, in the afternoon when feet are at their largest.
When your US half size falls between two EU whole sizes, always round up. European shoes that are slightly too large can be adjusted with an insole, but shoes that are too tight will cause blisters and discomfort.
Remember that EU sizes are unisex. A men's EU 42 and a women's EU 42 describe exactly the same foot length. The difference is in the shoe's shape and width, not the size number.
Check the brand's specific size chart before ordering from Europe. Italian brands (Gucci, Prada) tend to run narrow, German brands (Birkenstock, Adidas) run closer to standard, and Nike tends to run about half a size smaller than Adidas.
European shoes typically come in one standard width (medium/D). If you wear wide (W/EE) or narrow (N/AA) in US sizing, look for European brands that explicitly offer width options, or size up by one full EU size for wide feet.
For online orders from European retailers, keep the return policy in mind. Zalando offers free returns across Europe, and many international retailers extend this to US customers. Order two adjacent EU sizes if you are unsure.

Frequently Asked Questions: US to EU Shoe Size

What EU shoe size is a US 9?

A US men's 9 converts to EU 42.5, and a US women's 9 converts to EU 40. The difference exists because the US system uses separate scales for men and women (offset by 1.5 sizes), while the EU system is unisex. If the European retailer does not offer half sizes, a US men's 9 should round up to EU 43.

What is US 10 in European shoe size?

A US men's 10 equals EU 44, and a US women's 10 equals EU 41-42 (approximately EU 41.5). The US men's 10 corresponds to a foot length of about 28 cm (11 inches). This is one of the most commonly searched conversions because US 10 is a popular men's size.

Is EU 42 the same for men and women?

Yes. EU 42 describes the same foot length (approximately 27 cm) regardless of gender. The European system is fully unisex — there are no separate men's and women's scales. However, the equivalent US size differs: EU 42 equals approximately US men's 9 but US women's 10.5. The physical shoe may also differ in width and shape between men's and women's models, even though the EU size number is the same.

Why is my EU shoe size different from what the formula gives?

The quick-add formulas (add 33 for men, add 31 for women) are approximations that can be off by 0.5 to 1 full size, especially at the extremes of the size range. This happens because the US and EU systems were developed independently using different units (barleycorns vs. Paris points) and do not align perfectly at every increment. Manufacturer-grade conversion tables — like the one our converter uses — are always more accurate than formulas.

Do European shoes come in half sizes?

Some do, but many do not. Traditional European brands use only whole EU sizes (39, 40, 41, etc.), while international athletic brands like Nike, Adidas, and Puma offer half sizes (42.5, 43.5) even in EU sizing. If you normally wear a US half size and the European brand only offers whole sizes, round up to the next whole EU number for a more comfortable fit.

How do I convert kids' US shoe size to EU?

For kids' shoes, a US toddler size 10 converts to approximately EU 27, a US youth size 1 (1Y) converts to EU 33, and a US youth size 3 (3Y) converts to EU 35. The EU system uses one continuous scale from infant to adult, unlike the US system which restarts at 1 after toddler size 13. This makes EU kids' sizing simpler: the numbers just keep going up as the foot grows.

What EU shoe size is a US women's 7?

A US women's 7 converts to EU 37.5 or EU 38, depending on the brand. The foot length for this size is approximately 23.8 cm (9.4 inches). EU 38 is the most commonly available option since many European brands do not offer half sizes. This is one of the most popular women's sizes worldwide.

Why are US and EU shoe sizes so different?

The US system uses the Brannock Device (invented in 1927) which measures in barleycorns — one-third of an inch per size increment — and assigns separate number scales to men, women, and children. The EU system uses Paris points — two-thirds of a centimeter per increment — and applies one unisex scale to everyone. These systems were created on different continents, in different centuries, using different base units, which is why a simple mathematical conversion does not produce a perfect match at every size.

Key Terms

Brannock Device

The standard foot-measuring tool used in US and Canadian shoe stores since 1927. It measures heel-to-toe length, arch length, and foot width in barleycorn units to determine US shoe size.

Paris Point

The unit of measurement used in European shoe sizing. One Paris point equals two-thirds of a centimeter (6.67 mm). EU shoe sizes are calculated as foot length in cm multiplied by 1.5, plus 2 for toe allowance.

Barleycorn

The unit of measurement in US and UK shoe sizing, equal to one-third of an inch (8.47 mm). Each full US shoe size increment corresponds to one barleycorn of foot length.

Unisex Sizing

A shoe sizing system where the same size number applies to both men and women. The EU system is unisex — EU 42 means the same foot length regardless of gender. The US system is not: men and women use separate scales offset by 1.5 sizes.

Last

A three-dimensional mold around which a shoe is built. The last determines the shoe's shape, width, and proportions. Different brands use different lasts, which is why the same EU size can fit differently across manufacturers.

Toe Allowance

The extra space added to foot length when calculating shoe size. The EU formula includes a constant of 2 (approximately 13 mm) for toe room. Proper toe allowance prevents cramping and allows natural foot movement.

Width Designation

A letter code indicating shoe width in the US system: N or AA (narrow), B (standard women's), D (standard men's), EE or W (wide), EEEE or WW (extra wide). Most European shoes come in a single standard width without letter designations.