Boots Size Conversion Chart

Why foot length is the key to conversion

Size numbers differ between countries, but foot length does not. A foot that is 9.7 inches long is the same foot in every country, so the chart ties each size to a foot length and lets you read across to the other systems. Converting by number alone, without the foot length, is how people order a size that is a full size out.

Each system grew up separately, so the steps between sizes are not identical. US sizes step by a third of an inch in foot length, UK sizes step by a similar amount from a different starting point, and EU sizes step by about two thirds of a centimetre. The chart smooths those differences into one table, which is why every row is labelled broad general guidance.

Conversion table by foot length

The table below lists foot length in inches and in centimetres next to US women's, US men's, UK and EU sizes. Use your measured foot length to find your row, then read the size you need in the system the shop uses. If you shop from a brand that lists only EU sizes, the EU column is the one to follow.

Keep in mind that the table gives the size for the longer foot when your feet differ, because the longer foot sets the size and the shorter foot adapts. Measure both feet, use the longer one for conversion, and check the fit on the longer foot first when the boots arrive.

US women's to US men's conversion

US women's and US men's sizes describe the same feet on scales that are about one and a half sizes apart. As a broad general guide, a US women's 8 matches a US men's 6.5, and a US women's 10 matches a US men's 8.5, for the same foot length. The table shows the pairing for every row, so you do not need to do the subtraction yourself.

The pairing is a guide, not a rule, because men's and women's boots are often built on different lasts with different width and calf shapes. A women's boot in the converted size may fit the length but feel different across the ball of the foot or at the calf. Use the conversion for length, then check width and calf separately.

US to UK conversion

UK sizes run lower than US sizes for the same foot. As a broad general guide, a US women's 8 matches a UK 6, and a US men's 8 matches a UK 7.5, for the same foot length. The gap is not a fixed number across the whole table, because the two systems start from different points, so read the row rather than applying a single subtraction.

UK boot sizing is common on boots made for the UK market, and some brands list UK sizes alongside EU sizes. When a shop lists only UK sizes, find your foot length row and read the UK column, then check the brand chart, because a UK size from one brand can sit a little higher or lower than the same UK size from another brand.

US to EU conversion

EU sizes use a single scale that steps by about two thirds of a centimetre, so the EU column in the chart runs from 35 at the smallest row to 47.5 at the largest. As a broad general guide, a US women's 8 matches an EU 39.5, and a US women's 10 matches an EU 42.5, for the same foot length. Half sizes exist in EU sizing too, and the table shows them where they fall.

EU sizing is the most common system on boots made in Europe, and many international shops list EU sizes first. If you know your EU size from a previous pair, you can work backwards through the table to find your foot length, then read across to the US size. That is more reliable than guessing from the size number alone.

Conversion mistakes to avoid

The most common mistake is converting a shoe size to a boot size without allowing for the boot itself. A lined winter boot takes up more room than an unlined shoe, so the converted size may feel tight even when the number is right. If the boots are lined or insulated, consider the roomier end of the converted size.

Another mistake is trusting a conversion printed on a shopping site without checking the foot length behind it. Some sites round conversions up or down, and a rounded conversion can put you half a size out. Always trace the conversion back to your measured foot length, and compare it with the brand chart before you order.