How to Measure Your Shoe Size: Step-by-Step Guide

You order a new pair of shoes, they arrive at your doorstep a week later, and you excitedly unwrap the package and slip into your new kicks. Only… they don’t fit. And you even ordered your usual size! Fortunately, there’s a simple fix to avoiding this dilemma: knowing how to measure your shoe size. 

Once you’ve got all the right foot measurements—including length and width—it’s sort of like having a magic superpower when ordering kicks online. Having these measurements on hand even allows you to shop in stores without having to go through the rigamarole of trying them on. Because yeah, that’s kind of annoying, too.   

Why It’s So Important to Wear The Correct Shoe Size 

OK, so obviously knowing your correct shoe size is going to ensure fewer returns and comfier fits, but there are additional benefits of measuring your feet. 

“Having shoes that fit and hold your foot correctly can help maintain better foot health and posture,” notes Ayelet Lax Levy, president of NAOT Footwear. “You not only want to make sure that the length and width of the shoes is correct, but that you find shoes with good arch support, metatarsal support, and heel indentation. It’s important that each of these features hits your foot at the right point to make sure that you’re supported in your posture and that your hips and legs all align correctly.” 

She adds that wearing shoes that are too small can cause bunions, hammer toes, or other foot problems. And sporting kicks that are too large can mean your ankle isn’t supported correctly and may affect your toes, which will do a sort of clasping motion in order to keep your shoes in place.

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How to Measure Your Shoe Size: Step By Step 

Learning how to measure your shoe size is super simple, and once you’ve got the numbers written down you’ll be able to order and purchase shoes with more confidence. Note that it’s best to measure your feet at the end of the day when they are largest.

Step 1: Gather Supplies

You’ll need the following to measure your feet: 

• Paper that’s larger than your foot
• Tape
• Pencil 
• Ruler or tape measurer
• Socks

Step 2: Place the Paper On the Ground

Erica Mitchell, celebrity shoe stylist, says to place the paper on a flat, hard surface—like a floor—and to secure it with tape to prevent it from slipping.

Step 3: Trace Your Foot 

While wearing your socks, “Sit on a chair and place your foot firmly on the paper and trace around the outline of your foot,” Michell says. “Try to keep the pen perpendicular to the paper for accuracy.” 

Step 4: Measure the Length & Width 

Now use your ruler to measure the length and width of your foot, Mitchell instructs. 

• Length: Measure the distance from the longest toe—which isn’t always the big toe—to the heel. Write down the measurement in centimeters or inches. 
• Width: Measure the distance between the widest parts of your foot, which is usually across the ball of the foot. Note this measurement as well. 

Step 5: Repeat on Your Other Foot 

Repeat this process for the other foot. Mitchell says, “It’s common to have one foot slightly larger than the other. You’ll use the measurements from the larger foot when choosing shoes.” 

Step 6: Find Your Size 

Store your measurements in an easy to access place—perhaps in your Notes App or written down somewhere near your computer. Whenever ordering shoes, refer to the brand’s size chart to find your correct size when buying a new pair. “Shoe size charts can vary by brand and country, so it’s important to check the specific brand’s sizing guide when purchasing shoes, especially online,” Mitchell says. 

Once we hit adulthood our feet don’t change a ton, but it’s still a good idea to re-measure periodically to account for changes. Feet can change size due to various factors such as weight gain or loss, pregnancy, changes in physical activity, and even natural changes in the structure of the foot over time. It’s not uncommon for adults to find that their shoe size changes as they age.