Shoe size systems compared
EU (Paris point), UK, US and international systems explained
The European shoe size system is based on the Paris point (French: point de Paris). One point equals 2/3 of a centimeter, or approx. 6.67 mm. The EU size corresponds to the last length in Paris points. The foot length is somewhat shorter than the last length, since the last includes a comfort allowance: foot length in cm ≈ EU ÷ 1.5 − 1.5. EU 42 therefore corresponds to a foot length of approx. 26.5 cm. This standard is common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and most EU countries.
The British system (UK) is based on barleycorn units (1 barleycorn = 1/3 inch ≈ 8.47 mm). The UK scale starts at size 0, which corresponds to a foot length of 4 inches (approx. 10.2 cm). For adults, the approximate rule is: UK = EU − 33. The British system traditionally distinguishes between men's and women's sizes, with women's shoes running 1.5–2 sizes smaller than men's in the UK system for the same foot length.
The American system (US) is similar to the British one but starts from a different baseline. Men's US = UK + 0.5; women's US = UK + 2. An important difference: US manufacturers often distinguish more strongly between men's and women's sizes than British ones. In addition, the US system has wider standard width fittings (B, D, EE) that have no direct equivalent in the EU system.
When shopping online from the US or UK, mis-purchases due to incorrect size conversion are common. Practical tips: measure your foot length in cm, use the manufacturer's size charts, and pay attention to shoe width (regular or wide). For athletic shoes, it is often advisable to go half to a full EU size larger than for everyday shoes. Our calculator provides conversion values based on the widely used approximation system – always double-check against the specific manufacturer's size chart before making a brand purchase decision.