Sandals Size Conversion Chart

Convert from foot length, not from the size number

The safest way to convert a sandals size is to ignore the size number you usually wear and start from your foot length in inches. Measure both feet in the evening, use the longer foot, and find the row in the chart that contains that length. That row gives you the US, UK and EU sizes for the same foot, all at once. The size number alone is a poor starting point, because two brands can label the same foot with different numbers.

Conversion chart table in inches

The table above gives broad general conversions for women's sandals from US 5 to US 12, with foot length in inches and the matching UK and EU sizes. Read across a row to convert between systems for the same foot length. These are broad general equivalents, and brands grade differently, so always check the brand chart for the sandals you are buying before you order.

US to UK conversion

When you buy from a UK brand, look for the foot length or the insole length on its chart rather than trusting the two size gap. If the brand chart gives a foot length for each UK size, match your foot length to that column and let the UK number follow. That way a brand that converts differently still gives you the right size, because you never relied on the gap alone.

US to EU conversion

EU conversion is where brands disagree most, so treat the EU column with extra care. One brand may call a US 7 an EU 38 and another may call it an EU 38.5, and both may be right for their own lasts. If the brand chart lists insole length in centimetres, use that number instead of the EU size, because it is a direct measurement. Our US, UK and EU shoe size conversion guide covers the wider picture across shoe types.

When conversion tables disagree

Conversion tables disagree because there is no single standard that every brand follows. Each brand builds its sizes on its own last, which is the foot shaped form the shoe is made around, and then writes its own conversion table from that last. A brand with a long narrow last will convert differently from a brand with a short wide last, even when both sell a US 7. That is why two conversion charts can give you different EU numbers for the same US size.

When tables disagree, trust the brand chart for the sandals you are actually buying, and trust foot length over every other number. Find your foot length on the brand chart, read the size it points to in the system the brand uses, and order that size. If the brand chart gives no foot length at all, use this general chart as a fallback and choose a retailer with an easy return policy, so a wrong conversion costs you a return rather than a pair you cannot wear.

Converting for sandals versus closed shoes

Sandals and closed shoes do not always convert the same way, even within one brand. A closed shoe has a toe box and an upper that hold the foot, so a slightly long conversion still feels secure. A sandal has only straps and a footbed, so the same conversion can leave the foot sliding forward or the toes on the edge. Some people take the same size in both, and some take a half size down in sandals because the open toe feels roomier.

Do not carry a closed shoe conversion straight into sandals without checking it. Measure your foot, run the conversion from foot length, and then think about the strap style. An adjustable ankle strap makes a slightly long sandal safe, because it holds the heel in place. A fixed slide with no back strap is less forgiving, so the conversion needs to be right. Our sandals versus closed shoes sizing guide explains the differences in detail.