We know shoes are essential to everyone’s wardrobe, but do you really know what the different sizes mean? Mens to womens shoe sizes vary due to different foot sizes. According to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society, women tend to have smaller feet and higher arches than men. While men are usually taller, they have wider, flatter feet. So, it’s not surprising that men usually need a larger shoe size than women.
What is shoe size?
A common question that most people have about shoe size, especially when trying to buy shoes online. So we are sharing this useful guide that helps you identify your actual shoe size and figure out what size shoe you should buy from the many sizes available online.
Shoe sizing varies from one brand to another. But, most companies have a general size range that they offer. To know the shoe size that you should wear, you need to determine the length of your foot and the width of your foot. The length of your foot is the distance between your heel and the end of your longest toe.
The width of your foot is the distance between the end of your big toe and the back of your heel. The longer your foot is, the larger the shoe should be. The wider your foot is, the narrower the shoe should be. You can use a tape measure to check your foot size.
Mens to Womens Shoe Size
There are many factors that influence the sizing of your shoes, including your height, weight, and gender. And since men have more width between their toes than women, it makes sense that they would require a larger size in order to fit properly.
Men’s and Women’s Shoe Size Conversion
| Men | Women |
|---|---|
| 4 | 5.5 |
| 4.5 | 6 |
| 5 | 6.5 |
| 5.5 | 7 |
| 6 | 7.5 |
| 6.5 | 8 |
| 7 | 8.5 |
| 7.5 | 9 |
| 8 | 9.5 |
| 8.5 | 10 |
| 9 | 10.5 |
| 9.5 | 11 |
| 10 | 11.5 |
| 10.5 | 12 |
| 11 | 12.5 |
| 11.5 | 13 |
| 12 | 13.5 |
| 12.5 | 14 |
| 13 | 15 |
Men’s vs Women’s Shoe Widths
A lot of women have wide feet. And a lot of men have narrow feet. So why does it matter? Well, when you look at women’s shoes, the width is generally wider than men’s shoes. There are several reasons for this:
- Firstly, we have different feet. The biggest difference is that men have shorter big toes, while women have longer little toes. This results in a wider toe box for women’s shoes.
- Secondly, we have different calf muscles. Because men’s calves are longer than women’s, the distance between our knees and ankles is greater. Therefore, the women’s shoe will be more comfortable because it’s narrower at the back.
- Thirdly, we have different bones. Men’s feet are more compact than women’s. That’s why men have smaller arches.
Men’s Shoe Widths
Users have an expectation that a shoe will fit well and provide support and protection for their feet. The size of a shoe may also reflect a person’s lifestyle and his or her age. A shoe size chart is a way to measure the width of a person’s foot and shoe size.
| X-Narrow | Narrow | Medium or Standard | Wide | X-Wide | XX-Wide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2A | B | D | 2E | 4E | 6E |
Men’s Shoe Size chart & Men’s Shoe Size Conversion
| USA | UK | EU | JAPAN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3.5 | 36 | 22.5 |
| 4.5 | 4 | 37 | 23 |
| 5 | 4.5 | 37.5 | 23.5 |
| 5.5 | 5 | 38 | 24 |
| 6 | 5.5 | 39 | 24 |
| 6.5 | 6 | 39.5 | 24.5 |
| 7 | 6.5 | 40 | 25 |
| 7.5 | 7 | 41 | 25.5 |
| 8 | 7.5 | 41.5 | 26 |
| 8.5 | 8 | 42 | 26.5 |
| 9 | 8.5 | 43 | 27 |
| 9.5 | 9 | 43.5 | 27 |
| 10 | 9.5 | 44 | 27.5 |
| 10.5 | 10 | 44.5 | 28 |
| 11 | 10.5 | 45 | 28.5 |
| 11.5 | 11 | 45.5 | 29 |
| 12 | 11.5 | 46 | 29.5 |
| 12.5 | 12 | 47 | 30 |
| 13 | 12.5 | 47.5 | 30.5 |
| 13.5 | 13 | 48 | 31 |
| 14 | 13.5 | 49 | 31.5 |
| 14.5 | 14 | 49.5 | 32 |
| 15 | 14.5 | 50 | 32.5 |
| 16 | 15.5 | 51 | 33 |
| 17 | 16.5 | 52 | 34 |
| 18 | 17.5 | 53 | 35 |
| 19 | 18.5 | 54 | 36 |
| 20 | 19.5 | 55 | 38 |
Women’s Shoe Widths
| X-Narrow | Narrow | Medium or Standard | Wide | X-Wide | XX-Wide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4A | 2A | B | D | 2E | 4E |
Why shoe size is important?
Shoe sizes can be confusing. How do we know what size to wear? We could look at our feet. But feet don’t always tell the whole story. Shoe size is important because the shoe can be the difference between comfort and pain.
For example, if you have flat feet, you have more chances of getting foot problems because you are unable to distribute your weight evenly. Another thing about having a big shoe size is that they tend to cause injuries. So, having a bigger shoe size means that you have to pay for more medical bills.
Conclusion
In this guide, we provide shoe charts and size charts to show you the difference in shoe size between men and women. You can use this information to help with a lot of different issues, including getting shoes at the correct size, finding the perfect size for your body type, and the best ways to find the right shoe for you.
A lot of people have different measurements for their body types. Even those who are exactly the same height and weight can be classified as one of four different shapes so you need to look at the shape of your legs as well as the size of your feet to find the right shoe size for you.
