US Shoe Sizes vs UK Shoe Sizes

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

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

US and UK shoe sizes both use the barleycorn as their base unit, which is why they look similar. But the two systems diverged historically and are now consistently offset: men's UK sizes run 1 lower than US, while women's UK sizes run 2 lower than US for the same foot.

This offset catches many shoppers off guard when buying from British brands. A Dr. Martens boot in size UK 8 is not the same as a US 8 — it fits a US Men's 9 foot.

Conversion Formulas

US Men → UK:   UK = US Men − 1
UK → US Men:   US Men = UK + 1

US Women → UK: UK = US Women − 2
UK → US Women: US Women = UK + 2

Men's examples:
  US 8 = UK 7    US 9 = UK 8
  US 10 = UK 9   US 11 = UK 10
  US 12 = UK 11  US 13 = UK 12

Women's examples:
  US 6 = UK 4    US 7 = UK 5
  US 8 = UK 6    US 9 = UK 7
  US 10 = UK 8   US 11 = UK 9

Why the Offset Exists

Both systems originally used the barleycorn (1/3 inch per size) and had the same starting point for children's sizes. They diverged because the US and UK standardized different zero points when adult sizes were formalized in the 19th and 20th centuries. The US men's scale effectively starts one size higher than the UK men's scale for the same foot length.

The women's offset is larger (2 sizes rather than 1) because women's sizing was standardized differently in each country. This is not a deliberate design choice — it is the accumulated result of independent standardization processes.

Buying from British Brands

Popular British shoe brands (Clarks, Dr. Martens, Church's, Hunter) list sizes in UK units. When ordering from their international websites, look for a size guide — most now include both UK and US equivalents. If only UK sizes are listed, men add 1, women add 2.

Some British brands sell in both UK and EU sizing depending on the market. A shoe listed as UK 9 / EU 43 is the same shoe — use whichever reference you are more comfortable with.

Quick Tips

✓
Men: subtract 1 from US to get UK. US 11 = UK 10.
✓
Women: subtract 2 from US to get UK. US 9 = UK 7.
✓
UK and Australian shoe sizes are the same for men but may differ for women — check the brand.
✓
If you are between UK sizes, choose the larger one for leather shoes (they stretch); choose the smaller one for trainers/sneakers (they tend to be more generous).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is US Men's 10 in UK?

US Men's 10 = UK 9. Subtract 1.

What is US Women's 8 in UK?

US Women's 8 = UK 6. Subtract 2.

Are UK and Australian shoe sizes the same?

For men, yes — UK and Australian men's shoe sizes are identical. For women, Australian women's sizing follows UK sizing in most contexts, though some brands may differ. Always check the brand's size guide.