How Do EU Shoe Sizes Work?

European shoe sizes use their own numbering system, and the numbers on the label don’t mean what most shoppers assume they mean. This guide covers how the EU scale is built and how to measure your feet for it. 

Key Takeaways

• EU shoe sizes use a single numbered scale, and the numbers get larger as the shoe gets larger.
• An EU size number is a sizing label, not a measurement of your foot in centimeters.
• EU sizing traditionally comes from the Paris point system, where one full size equals about two-thirds of a centimeter.
• Measuring your feet and comparing the result to a brand’s own EU chart is the most reliable way to find your EU shoe size. 

“EU” refers to European shoe sizing, a numbering system commonly used across continental Europe and by footwear brands around the world. When you see 38, 41, or 45 printed on a shoe box or listed on a product page, that’s an EU size. 

Understanding EU shoe sizes is increasingly useful as more shoppers buy footwear from international brands. Here’s how EU shoe sizes work and how to find yours.

How Does EU Shoe Sizing Work? 

EU shoe sizing uses a numbered scale commonly used by footwear brands across continental Europe. The numbers climb as the shoe gets bigger, so a 42 is longer than a 41, and a 41 is longer than a 40. 

What trips shoppers up is that the scale doesn’t line up neatly with US or UK sizing, and the numbers themselves don’t describe your foot the way many people expect.

EU Shoe Size Numbers

If you see EU shoe sizes like 38, 39, 40, and 41, they’re simply size labels. Some people assume those numbers refer to the length of your foot in centimeters, but they don’t. Instead, each number shows where a shoe falls on the European sizing scale.

That’s why it’s best not to assume your EU size will always convert neatly to a familiar US or UK size. A shopper who wears a US 9 might need a 42 from one brand and a 43 from another. Checking EU size conversions against the brand’s actual chart only takes a few seconds and can help prevent you from buying the wrong size. 

How EU Sizes Are Calculated

The EU scale traditionally comes from the Paris point system, an older measurement standard built around the shoe rather than the foot. One Paris point equals two-thirds of a centimeter, so moving up one full EU size adds roughly 0.67 centimeters of length.

The European system traditionally bases the size number on the length of the shoe last, or the foot-shaped mold used to make the shoe. Because a last includes space beyond the foot itself, the size number does not translate directly into your foot length.

Even with a shared system, fit still varies from brand to brand. Two companies can build very different shoes on the same nominal size, especially across sneakers, boots, and dress shoes. Checking the manufacturer’s chart before buying is still the safest approach, even if you usually wear the same shoe size.

Men’s and Women’s EU Sizing

EU sizing generally uses the same number scale for both men’s and women’s shoes. So an EU size 40 is still a size 40 whether the shoe is made for men or women. This is different from US sizing, where men’s and women’s shoes use separate shoe sizing systems.

However, that doesn’t mean a men’s EU 40 and a women’s EU 40 will fit the same. Women’s shoes are often made narrower in areas like the heel and forefoot, and the overall shape of the shoe can be different. 

Materials and shoe style also affect fit. For example, a stiff leather boot may feel tighter than a stretchy knit sneaker in the same shoe size. Brand sizing can vary too, so it’s best to treat the EU shoe size as a starting point.

How Do You Measure Your Foot for EU Shoe Sizes?

Finding your EU shoe size starts with measuring both feet from the back of the heel to the tip of the longest toe. Most people have one foot slightly larger than the other, so use the larger measurement.

Here’s the best way to get more accurate results when measuring your shoe size:

• Stand up while you measure, since feet spread under your body weight.
• Wear the socks you’d normally wear with that type of shoe.
• Measure in the afternoon or evening, when feet are at their largest.
• Place your heel against a wall, and mark where your longest toe ends.
• Measure the distance from the wall to the mark.

After measuring, write down the length of your foot. You can measure directly in centimeters, or measure in inches and convert that number to centimeters afterward. Using centimeters can make it easier to compare your measurement with an EU size chart. 

Matching Your Measurement to an EU Size Chart

Once you know your foot length, you need to find that measurement in the size chart and see what EU size it corresponds to. 

Here’s a simple reference chart:

For example, let’s say your foot measures 24 cm. Start in the Foot Length (cm) column and move down until you find 24.0 cm in the chart. Then follow that same row to the EU Size column. You’ll see an approximate EU size of 38. That means you want to start looking at shoes in EU size 38. 

This chart is only a general guide. EU sizing can vary slightly between brands, so always check the brand’s own size chart before buying. If your measurement falls between two sizes, the brand may recommend sizing up or down depending on how the shoe fits most customers.

Make EU Shoe Sizes Easier for Your Shoppers To Understand

If you sell shoes online, customers may not know which EU size to choose. Giving them a clear size chart can help them compare their measurements with the sizes you offer before they place an order.

Kiwi Sizing lets you add size charts to your Shopify product pages with measurements in both centimeters and inches. You can also show international sizing and translations for shoppers in different markets. Product matching rules can automatically display the right chart on the right products, which saves you from adding charts one by one.

Help customers choose the right size with a Shopify size chart solution that makes EU sizing easier to understand.