Women’s to Men’s Shoe Size Conversion: Chart and How to Convert

Making sure you’re buying the correct shoe size is one of the most important parts of sneaker shopping. You don’t want to end up securing a limited shoe release and wait for the pair to arrive only to find out that the sneaker is too big or too small. That’s especially true if you’re buying a sneaker that’s listed in women’s sizing when you need a men’s size or vice versa. Thankfully, converting women’s to men’s shoe size is pretty simple and straightforward.

Quick Rule for Converting Women’s to Men’s Sizing

For the most part, you can quickly convert US women’s shoe sizes to US men’s shoe sizes by subtracting 1.5. For example, if a women’s shoe is listed as a women’s size 10.5, the men’s size is 9. To convert the other way around, you’d add 1.5. So for a men’s size 10.5, you add 1.5 to get a women’s size 12.

Conversion Chart

Below are conversion charts to quickly convert women’s shoe sizes to men’s shoe sizes. This covers US women’s, US men’s, UK, EU, and CM, so if you’re buying internationally, you can reference this to figure out exactly which size you need to buy.

Brand Exceptions

The conversion chart and the quick rule from above are a general rule of thumb that works for most cases, but there are a few exceptions to converting women’s shoe sizes to men’s. For adidas, they convert between men’s and women’s sizes by adding 1. For example, a men’s size 11 is a women’s size 12, while other brands would list this as a women’s size 12.5. This also runs true for Salomon. When it comes to adidas’ EU sizing, they use thirds, whereas most other brands will list half-sizes.

Chuck Taylors from Converse have their own size conversion separate from other Converse products. Women’s shoe sizes are converted by adding two to men’s sizing. For example, a Chuck Taylor listed as a men’s size 9 is a women’s size 11. This also runs true for unisex Crocs styles.

Width Differences Between Men’s and Women’s Pairs

Shoe width also varies between men’s and women’s shoe sizes. While not entirely universal or standard, the common conversions are shown in the chart above.

Buying a Women’s Exclusive Release as a Man and Vice Versa

If you’re looking to purchase a women’s exclusive sneaker that is listed in women’s sizing but your shoe size is in men’s, it’s easy to convert. You can always reference our chart on this page, but again, the quickest way (which works in most cases) is to add 1.5 to the men’s shoe size. For example, if you’re a size 13, your women’s shoe size is 1.5 more, meaning it will be a women’s size 14.5. Not every product page will have both men’s and women’s sizes listed together, so make sure you’re paying attention.

FAQ

How do you Convert Women’s Shoe Sizes to Men’s?

The quickest way to convert a US women’s shoe size to a US men’s shoe size is by subtracting 1.5 from the women’s size. For example, a women’s 10 is a men’s 8.5.

Does the 1.5-Size Conversion Work for Every Brand?

Unfortunately, the rule of adding 1.5 to a men’s shoe size to get the women’s shoe size is not universal. Some brands have different rules, like adidas and Salomon, which only add 1 when converting between men’s and women’s sizes (ex., a women’s 12 is a men’s 11 in adidas and Salomon shoes). Converse Chuck Taylors have their own conversion, with a men’s size 12 converting to a women’s size 14.

Are Women’s Shoes Narrower Than Men’s Shoes?

Women’s shoes are generally narrower when compared to men’s shoes. The length is clearly defined, but the width is not often spelled out; for the most part, you’ll be safe just converting your shoe size. Check specific sneaker size guides before buying to ensure you’re getting the right size.

How do I Know Whether a Unisex Sneaker is Listed in Men’s or Women’s Sizing?

Each product page across different retailers and brands is different. Some places will have a conversion already baked into the size selector, while others will make a note regarding which size they are going by. Many will also include a size guide on their page so you can easily convert.

Nicholas Vlahos

Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy watching films and discovering music. Follow me on Letterboxd @nickvlah For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com