Men's vs Women's Shoe Size Conversion

5 min read•June 1, 2025•Reviewed: June 1, 2026

✓Reviewed by Apex Conversion Editorial Team · Last reviewed June 1, 2026

In the US and UK, men's and women's shoe sizes are on separate scales. A women's US size 9 is not the same as a men's US size 9 — they fit different foot lengths. The offset is approximately 1.5 sizes: a US women's size 9 fits the same foot as a US men's size 7.5.

This matters when buying unisex or gender-neutral shoes, shopping from men's sections as a woman (or vice versa), or converting to EU sizes, which do not separate by gender.

The Gender Conversion Rule

US Women → US Men:  subtract 1.5
US Men → US Women:  add 1.5

Examples:
  Women 9   = Men 7.5
  Women 10  = Men 8.5
  Women 7   = Men 5.5
  Men 10    = Women 11.5
  Men 8     = Women 9.5

UK conversion:
  UK Women → UK Men:  subtract 2
  UK Men → UK Women:  add 2

EU sizing is gender-neutral:
  EU 40 fits both a US Men's 7 and a US Women's 8.5

Why the Scales Are Different

The US shoe size scale was historically built around men's shoes, with women's sizes added later using a different starting point. Women's feet tend to be slightly narrower relative to length, so women's lasts (the molds shoes are built on) were developed separately. The numeric offset of 1.5 sizes was established as a convention in the 20th century and has stuck ever since.

In practice, the offset accounts for both length and width: a women's shoe is built for a foot that is proportionally narrower than a men's shoe of the same length. A woman buying men's shoes typically goes 1.5 sizes down, but the shoe may still be wider in the toe box and heel than ideal.

Buying Unisex Shoes

Popular unisex or sneaker brands (Nike, Adidas, Converse) often list sizes in men's US sizing. Women shopping these brands typically size down 1.5 US sizes. Converse, for example, explicitly notes that their shoes are in men's US sizing and recommends women go 1.5 sizes smaller.

EU sizing avoids the confusion entirely since it is a single unisex scale. When in doubt, find your EU size (using your foot length in cm) and use that as your reference across all brands.

Quick Tips

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Women shopping men's shoes: subtract 1.5 from your women's size. Women's 9 = Men's 7.5.
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Men shopping women's shoes: add 1.5. Men's 8 = Women's 9.5.
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EU sizing is your anchor: find your EU size once (using foot cm measurement), and use it for all international shopping.
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Fit still varies by brand even with correct size conversions — check return policies when ordering internationally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a woman wear men's shoes?

Yes. Many women wear men's shoes for wider fits or specific styles. Subtract 1.5 from your US women's size to get the men's equivalent. Be aware that men's shoes have a wider toe box and heel cup.

Do EU shoe sizes differ between men and women?

Not numerically — EU sizing uses the same scale for both. However, men's and women's shoes are still built on different lasts even at the same EU size, so the fit will differ in width and shape.

Why is the offset 1.5 and not a round number?

The US men's and women's scales started from different historical zero points that did not align neatly. The 1.5-size offset emerged from standardization rather than intentional design.

What about kids' shoe sizes?

Children's shoe sizing in the US runs from about 0C (newborn) to 13.5C (big kids), then transitions to adult sizing starting at 1Y. EU children's sizes follow the same Paris point system but on a separate scale.

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