Shoe width is really important, typically for those with narrow and wide feet. This guide helps you know how to measure shoe width easily and correctly.
When you locate the ideal pair of shoes, try them on, and they don’t really fit your feet, you feel like you are one of Cinderella’s hideous sisters. Neither cramming nor stretching them out will help.
Knowing what shoe widths are and what the various classifications and sizes signify is one of the greatest methods to get the shoe that perfectly fits your feet. All you need to understand will be covered in this article, including the explanation of shoe widths and how to measure shoe width. Let’s get rolling!
Why Do My Shoes Not Properly Fit My Feet?
There are various reasons for this. Shoe widths from different shoe sizing systems (like in the US, UK, and EU) tend to differ between men, women, and kids. The type of footwear can also make a difference; fits that work for one style may not work for another.
Your foot form might also affect how well a pair of shoes fit. Wide-fitting shoes are required for individuals with wide feet, while people with a higher arch might need flexible buckles or so to wear them easily and comfortably.
Why Are There Different Widths Of Shoes?
The fact is that no two people’s feet are the same form or size. And this is why shoes are available in a range of widths so that a broader range of people may wear them.
Because of the differences in shoe widths, the tread on the shoe’s bottoms also varies from size to size. For example, wide-fit shoes have a wider sole and a more profound toe box than shoes offering a standard fit.
What Are The Different Shoe Widths?
As mentioned above, shoe widths are not the same between genders and ages. So, here are the common shoe width sizes for men, women, and children.
Shoe widths for men:
E means narrow fitting
F denotes standard fitting
G equals to wide fitting
H signifies extra wide fitting
Shoe widths for women:
C is equivalent to the narrow fitting
D signifies standard fitting
E means wide fitting
EE is similar to extra-wide fitting
EEE represents the ultra-wide fitting
Shoe widths for children:
D means very narrow
F indicates a standard fitting
G represents a wide fitting
H designates extra wide fitting
Do Shoe Width Sizes Really Matter?
Yes, the width of your shoes is crucial to your foot health. Cramps, sores, and bunions can all be caused by wearing shoes that are too tight. In addition, they are prone to be overly snug, which can lead to excessive sweating and bacterial infection.
Shoes that are overly broad will not suitably secure your foot, creating rubbing while you are walking and possibly resulting in blisters, pain, and sores. In addition, to walk or stand properly, your toes must be gripped. It can cause problems like hammer toe and nail issues if they are not.
How To Measure Shoe Width Size?
There are different ways to measure your shoe width size to ensure the right fit. But here are the three most simple and effective ones.
Method 1: Measuring Your Feet
Step 1: Put your foot on a piece of paper while you are seating
Sit in a chair with your back and shoulders straight. Take a blank sheet of paper large enough to fit your entire foot on. Make a flat contact with the paper with your foot. Wear your regular socks while gauging your foot if you plan to wear socks with the shoe you are about to purchase.
Step 2: Trace your foot
Draw the contour of your foot with a ballpoint pen. Make sure to keep the pen as close as possible to your foot’s shape. This will aid in the measurement’s accuracy.
If you have somebody else sketch your foot as you stay seated straight, you’ll have the most precise figure, but it’s fine if you do it on your own.
You can also use a soft tape measure to directly calculate the width and length of your foot.
Step 3: Do the same thing with the other foot
After you’ve finished gauging your first foot, proceed to the other foot and repeat the process. Because feet are frequently somewhat different sizes, you will be selecting shoes for your bigger foot.
Step 4: Measure the distance between each foot’s widest points
You must first calculate your foot width in order to decide the suitable width for your shoes. Determine which parts of your feet have the most breadth. Both widths should be measured with a ruler or tape measure.
The broadest area of the foot is usually right behind the toes, in which your foot’s ball is positioned.
Step 5: Subtract to get the right shoe width
The initial readings will not be completely precise. Your measurements will be a little bit bigger than your real foot because the pencil or pen added a small amount of gap. Subtract 15 inches (or 0.51 cm) from each reading to get your most precise foot width.
Method 2: Deciding Your Shoe Size
Step 1: Find out what size shoes you wear
A generic sizing chart for shoe size can be found with a quick internet search. Compare your foot length to the shoe size that corresponds to it. However, keep in mind that there are distinct sizing charts for women, men, and children.
According to US standards, a foot measuring 8.5 inches (or 22 centimeters) will be a women’s size 5. In Europe, an 8.5-inch (22-centimeter) measurement, on the other hand, would be a size 35 or 36.
Step 2: Determine your width based on that measurement
Your shoe width size should be indicated on the sizing chart according to your shoe size. Return to the shoe width dimensions of your larger foot after determining your shoe size. Relying on that information, work out the ideal shoe width size for your shoes.
A woman wearing size 5 shoes with a size width of roughly 4 inches (or 10 centimeters), for instance, would need extra width. For girls, extra broad shoes are usually designated as “E” in retailers.
Step 3: When feasible, use particular sizing charts
Each shoe sizing chart is unique, and several shoe brands may fit somewhat bigger or smaller than normal. So, before guessing your shoe size solely depending on a general chart, check and see whether the company offers a particular sizing chart or not. This will make it highly possible that your shoes will actually fit, particularly if you are buying them online.
Method 3: Ensuring Exactness
Step 1: Measure your feet later in the day
During the day, the size of your feet usually changes, more or less. Swelling causes feet to grow larger during the night. To ensure that your shoe will fit across the day, it is best to measure your feet in the late afternoon or night.
Step 2: Take your measurements while wearing the socks that will be worn with your shoes
Wear your socks before measuring your feet if you usually put socks on while wearing shoes. Gym or running shoes, for instance, are often worn with socks, so wear your normal training socks when checking your feet’ measurements.
Several shoes, such as sandals, flip flops, and flats, are not typically worn with socks. So, socks are not necessary while measuring your footwear in this scenario.
Step 3: Try on shoes before buying them
Shoe width and size might help you discover shoes that are more likely to fit. However, even if your dimensions are accurate, factors such as your foot shape can alter how your shoes will fit. So, it is usually a good idea to try on shoes before buying them to ensure that you get the right fit.
If you get shoes online, make absolutely sure you get a complete refund if they do not really fit.
Step 4: Purchase shoes that are the correct size for your larger foot
Typically, one foot is slightly larger than the other. Decide the widths of your shoes using the measurements from this foot. As a result, your shoes will comfortably fit on both feet this way.
The foot width chart below will help you figure out what shoe width you will need:
| UK Size | US Size | Narrow | Medium | Wide | X Wide |
| 3 | 5 | 7.2 cm | 8.1 cm | 9 cm | 10 cm |
| 4 | 6 | 7.5 cm | 8.5 cm | 9.4 cm | 10.3 cm |
| 5 | 7 | 7.9 cm | 8.8 cm | 9.7 cm | 10.6 cm |
| 6 | 8 | 8.3 cm | 9 cm | 10 cm | 11 cm |
| 7 | 9 | 8.6 cm | 9.4 cm | 10.3 cm | 11.3 cm |
| 8 | 10 | 8.8 cm | 9.7 cm | 10.6 cm | 11.6 cm |
| 9 | 11 | 9.1 cm | 10 cm | 11 cm | 11.9 cm |
| 10 | 12 | 9.6 cm | 10.3 cm | 11.2 cm | 12.3 cm |
| 11 | 13 | 9.7 cm | 10.6 cm | 11.6 cm | 12.7 cm |
| 12 | 14 | 9.9 cm | 10.9 cm | 12 cm | 13.1 cm |
| 13 | 15 | 10.2 cm | 11.2 cm | 12.4 cm | 13.5 cm |
Is Shoe Width Proportional To Shoe Size?
In general, the larger your foot is, the wider the shoe width will be. This is because shoe width refers not only to the gap between your shoe’s broadest points but also to how profound they are.
In normal sizing, shoe width and shoe size are proportionate. Thus big shoes may fit slightly wider than needed if your feet are long yet narrow.
Nevertheless, choosing a bigger shoe size simply for the goal of achieving a wider fit is not recommended since this could result in a potential trip danger.
Final Thought
How to measure shoe width is actually easy if you follow my guides above. But eventually, always make sure you measure your feet carefully to get the most accurate shoe size and width. This is because it affects not only your comfort but also your foot health.
