Direct answer
How to Choose Heels Size Online
Take fresh foot length and width measurements, find your row on the brand chart, and compare the full row rather than the size letter alone. Check the toe shape, the heel height and the heel type, because a pointed stiletto in your usual size can feel very different from a round toe block heel in the same size. Order from a shop with a clear return policy, and try the heels on a hard floor at home before you decide to keep them.
Start with fresh measurements
Online shopping removes the fitting room, so your measurements have to do the work instead. Measure both feet in the evening, in the hosiery you will wear, and record the longer foot length and the width across the ball. A measurement taken months ago may no longer match your foot, and a size chosen from memory is the most common cause of an online return.
Enter those numbers in the heels size calculator to get a starting US size, then keep the raw numbers beside you while you shop. The raw foot length is more useful than the size letter when you compare brands, because each brand grades its sizes a little differently and the foot length lets you read its chart directly.
Read the brand chart, not just the size letter
Open the brand chart for the exact heels you want and find the row that matches your foot length. Compare the full row, including any width or insole length the brand gives, rather than trusting the size letter alone. Two brands can both sell a US 7, yet one may fit a foot length of 9.3 inches and the other a foot length of 9.5 inches.
If the brand gives no foot length chart, look for stated insole length or a fit note that says the style runs small, true to size or large. A style that runs small usually needs a half size up, and a pointed toe often needs the same. When no chart and no fit note exists, treat the purchase as a trial and check the return policy first.
Toe shape and heel type change the size you need
A pointed toe takes space from the toes, so a pointed stiletto in your usual size can pinch even when the length is right. A round toe or a square toe gives the toes more room in the same size, and a peep toe lets the longest toe breathe. When you shop online, look closely at the toe shape in the photos and read the product description for the toe shape name.
Heel type changes stability and comfort as much as size does. A block heel and a wedge spread your weight across a wider base, so they feel steadier than a stiletto at the same height. If you are ordering a high stiletto online for the first time, consider a block heel in the same height as a safer first order, or choose a lower heel height until you know how the brand fits.
Heel height and the day you will wear them
Think about how long you will be on your feet before you choose a heel height online. A kitten heel or a low heel suits a full day of standing and walking, a mid heel suits an evening out, and a high heel suits a short event where you will sit for much of the time. The product page usually lists the heel height, so compare it with the heights you already own and find comfortable.
A platform under the front of the shoe reduces the effective heel height, which is why a platform heel can feel easier than a plain heel of the same height. Read the description for the platform height as well as the heel height, and subtract one from the other to estimate how steep the shoe will feel. That simple check stops many disappointing deliveries.
Check the return policy before you order
A clear return policy is part of the sizing decision when you buy heels online, because even careful measuring cannot guarantee a perfect fit. Check how many days you have to return, whether the return is free, and whether the heels must be unworn and in the original box. Keep the box and the packaging until you have tried the heels properly.
Try the heels on a hard floor at home, on carpet first if you are worried about marks, and walk, turn and stand in them for a few minutes. If they pinch, slip or rub, return them rather than hoping they will break in. A pair that hurts on the first try at home will hurt more after a full day out.
What to do when two sizes both look right
When your foot length sits on a boundary between two sizes, use width and toe shape to choose. A wider foot usually does better in the larger size, and a pointed toe usually needs the larger size too. A narrower foot in a round toe can often stay in the smaller size without feeling cramped.
If you still cannot choose, order the size the brand chart points to and keep the other size in mind as the exchange. Some shoppers order both sizes when the return is free, try them side by side at home, and return the one that fits worse. That costs more up front, but it settles the question in one delivery instead of two.
Heels sizing tool
Use the Heels Size Calculator
Use the calculator to get a starting US heel size from your measurements, then compare it with the brand chart before you order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I order my usual size or a size up online?
Order the size the brand chart points to from your foot length. If the style is pointed or the brand says it runs small, a half size up is often the safer choice.
How do I know if a heel runs small online?
Check the brand chart for foot length ranges and read the fit notes. A style described as running small, or a pointed toe in your usual size, often needs a half size up.
Can I trust the size chart on a product page?
Trust the brand foot length chart when it is given, because it describes the actual shoes. A general size chart is only a starting guide when no brand chart exists.
What should I check first when the heels arrive?
Try them on a hard floor, walk and turn, and check the toes, the ball, the heel cup and the straps. Keep the box until you are sure you will keep them.
Is it better to order two sizes online?
It can be, when returns are free. Trying both sizes side by side at home settles a borderline choice faster than ordering one size and exchanging it later.