In a kid’s shoe size chart, size 5Y is equivalent to size 5 in a male’s size based on the US sizing system. But 5Y will be between size 6.5 or 7 in ladies’ shoe sizes.
When choosing a suitable size for your shoes, you might come across different letters, numbers, or abbreviations on the shoe. These can be 6,7,8, or 39, 40, 41, or sometimes you will see 6W, 7Y, 5Y on the shoe’s tag label. So, what does 5Y mean in shoe size?
In short, 5Y indicates the shoe sizes for children or big kids’ shoes. You can understand that Y simply means youth. Interestingly, this 5Y size can be converted to adults’ shoe sizes, including men’s and women’s shoe sizes. Read ahead to get more information about the meaning of 5Y in shoe size, as well as the way to convert it into different gender/age’s shoe sizes.
What Does 5Y Mean In Shoe Size?
It is commonly known that each shoe company has its own shoe sizing chart. Of course, some might share the same. For example, shoe brands based in Europe might have a similar shoe size chart, but this chart can be different from brands in the United States and Asian nations.
In addition to this, shoe styles will also affect the overall sizes for ages and genders. If you notice, there is usually a letter after the number labeled on the shoe (say, 5Y, 6Y, 8W, 9EE, etc.). Unfortunately, not all of you know the meaning of these letters. So, what does 5Y mean in shoe size? Will it be corresponding to size 6 in men’s or women’s shoe sizes?
As a general term, Y denotes youth in children’s shoe sizes. You can find this size letter in almost all Nike kids’ shoes. It can also be available in other shoe brands but is not really popular.
Put another way, 5Y indicates size 5 in big kids’ or youth’s footwear sizes. But, it is interesting to know that 5Y can be completely converted to men’s and women’s sneaker sizes. And not only size 5Y, but other corresponding sizes can also be changed. Keep reading to see the details.
What Does 5Y In Men’s Shoe Size Mean?
Without a doubt, you know that 5Y represents size 5 when it comes to youth shoe sizes. But what does 5Y in men’s shoe size really mean? In fact, male shoe sizes in the United States are considered the standard for big kids’ shoe sizes. In other words, 5Y means size 5 in the shoe size chart for males.
Some of you may know that there is a 1.5 size variation between ladies’ and men’s footwear sizes. In particular, a woman typically wears size 8 in female’s sizes, then she will fit size 6.5 in male’s sizes. Having said that, there is no dissimilarity between men’s and youth’s shoe sizes. But remember that we are comparing the shoe lengths, and this formula is not applied to shoe widths.
Even though big kids’ shoe sizes are similar to men’s footwear sizes, it is obvious that men’s sizes are typically made for men’s feet while children’s sizes (shortened as Y) are manufactured for kids’ feet.
Here is the shoe size conversion chart between children’s and males’ shoe sizes measured based on the US sizing system.
| Men | Youth (Grade School) | Foot Length (Inches) | Foot Length (cm) |
| 5.5 | 5.5Y | 9.25 | 23.49 |
| 6 | 6Y | 9.375 | 23.81 |
| 6.5 | 6.5Y | 9.56 | 24.28 |
| 7 | 7Y | 9.68 | 24.58 |
| 7.5 | 7.5Y | 9.81 | 24.91 |
What Does 5Y In Women’s Shoe Size Mean?
As I mentioned previously, men and children share the same shoe size charts in length (of course, each size is specially made for men’s or kids’ feet). For instance, size 5Y in a pair of kids’ shoes corresponds to size 5 in a man’s pair.
But when you compare the difference between women’s shoe sizes and youth shoe sizes, there will be a slight variation in length. In particular, a pair of women’s shoes is usually 1.5-2 sizes larger than a pair of a child’s shoes. So, in this case, size 5Y denotes kids’ footwear sizes, but it can be translated to size 6.5 or 7 when it comes to shoes for ladies.
Being 1.5 or 2 sizes difference highly depends on various shoe companies and styles as well. You can see the following chart of women and youth shoe size conversion for added details.
| Women | Youth (Grade School) | Foot Length (Inches) | Foot Length (cm) |
| 7 | 5.5Y | 9.25 | 23.49 |
| 7.5 | 6Y | 9.375 | 23.81 |
| 8 | 6.5Y | 9.56 | 24.28 |
| 8.5 | 7Y | 9.68 | 24.58 |
| 9 | 7.5Y | 9.81 | 24.91 |
General Size Chart for Kids
Understanding the shoe sizes for kids is a good way to know your corresponding adults’ sizes if you have the general rule of how to convert youth shoe sizes to men’s or women’s.
But before jumping to the size conversion chart between kids’ and adults’ shoe sizes, let’s have a look at the table of kids’ shoe sizes in the United States.
| US – Kids | UK | EU | Heel-to-toe length (cm) | Heel-to-toe length (in) |
| 1C | 0.5 | 16 | 7 | 2.75 |
| 1.5C | 1 | 16.5 | 7.5 | 2.95 |
| 2C | 1.5 | 17 | 8 | 3.15 |
| 2.5C | 2 | 17.5 | 8.5 | 3.35 |
| 3C | 2.5 | 18 | 9 | 3.54 |
| 3.5C | 3 | 18.5 | 9.5 | 3.74 |
| 4C | 3.5 | 19 | 10 | 3.94 |
| 4.5C | 4 | 19.5 | 10.5 | 4.13 |
| 5C | 4.5 | 20 | 11 | 4.33 |
| 5.5C | 5 | 21 | 11.5 | 4.53 |
| 6C | 5.5 | 21.5 | 12 | 4.72 |
| 6.5C | 6 | 22 | 12.5 | 4.92 |
| 7C | 6.5 | 22.5 | 13 | 5.12 |
| 7.5C | 7 | 23.5 | 13.5 | 5.31 |
| 8C | 7.5 | 24 | 14 | 5.51 |
| 8.5C | 8 | 25 | 14.5 | 5.71 |
| 9C | 8.5 | 25.5 | 15 | 5.90 |
| 9.5C | 9 | 26 | 15.5 | 6.10 |
| 10C | 9.5 | 26.5 | 16 | 6.30 |
| 10.5C | 10 | 27 | 16.5 | 6.49 |
| 11C | 10.5 | 27.5 | 17 | 6.69 |
| 11.5C | 11 | 28 | 17.5 | 6.89 |
| 12C | 11.5 | 28.5 | 18 | 7.08 |
| 12.5C | 12 | 29.5 | 18.5 | 7.28 |
| 13C | 12.5 | 30 | 19 | 7.48 |
| 13.5C | 13 | 31.5 | 19.5 | 7.67 |
| 1Y | 13.5 | 32 | 20 | 7.87 |
| 1.5Y | 1 | 33 | 20.5 | 8.07 |
| 2Y | 1.5 | 33.5 | 21 | 8.27 |
| 2.5Y | 2 | 34 | 21.5 | 8.46 |
| 3Y | 2.5 | 35 | 22 | 8.66 |
| 3.5Y | 3 | 35.5 | 22.5 | 8.86 |
| 4Y | 3.5 | 36 | 23 | 9.05 |
| 4.5Y | 4 | 36.5 | 23.5 | 9.25 |
| 5Y | 4.5 | 37.5 | 23.5 | 9.25 |
| 5.5Y | 5 | 38 | 24 | 9.45 |
| 6Y | 5.5 | 38.5 | 24 | 9.45 |
| 6.5Y | 6 | 39 | 24.5 | 9.65 |
| 7Y | 6 | 40 | 25 | 9.84 |
Is Youth’s Shoe Size 5Y The Same As Men’s?
As many people already know that each shoe brand might have its own sizing standard and separate shoe size charts. Depending on brands and shoe styles, some might have different sizes for men’s and women’s shoes, while others share the same size chart. For example, Vans is famous for unisex sneakers. Therefore, both females and males use the same size chart.
And almost all shoe companies offer only 1 size chart for both boys and girls. But in general, the big kids’ footwear size is built according to the size chart of men’s shoes. In other words, the youth’s shoe size 5Y is the same as size 5 in male’s. Just keep in mind that this measurement is applied to foot length only.
Is 5Y Big Kids’ Shoe Size The Same As 6.5 Women’s?
Unlike male shoe sizes, women’s shoe sizes are not equal to kids’. In particular, you will need to add 1.5 or 2 sizes if you want to convert from a child’s footwear size to your equivalent ladies’ size. So, in this case, 7Y kids’ shoe size is not the same as size 5 in a female’s shoes. Instead, it corresponds to size 6.5 or 7 in women’s. This difference is also dependent on a certain shoe company and the sneaker style you choose.
How to Convert from Children’s Shoe Sizes to Adults’ Shoe Sizes?
There is nothing difficult when converting from big kids’ shoe sizes to adults’. When it comes to men’s shoe sizes, you don’t need to convert anything as children’s footwear sizes are built on the basis of the US male’s sizes. For example, if you usually wear a pair of size 5 in men’s shoes, then your equivalent youth size will be 5Y.
However, you will need to make some changes when converting from women’s shoe sizes into big kids’. Of course, there will be variations in shoe widths (both men’s vs. youth’s and women’s vs. youth’s shoe sizes). But in this article, we just talk about the difference in shoe length. Generally speaking, ladies’ footwear sizes are 1.5 or 2 sizes bigger than kids’ sizes.
That is to say, a kid who typically fits size 5Y in kids’ shoes might wear a size 6.5 or 7 in a women’s shoe. However, it is always crucial to measure your feet sizes (both length and width) again to ensure you choose the most precise shoe size.
So, here is the common formula for anyone who wants to convert from a casual female’s shoe size to the corresponding size in children’s shoes. Simply subtract your US women’s shoe size to 1.5 or 2, and you will have your equivalent size in youth’s shoes.
This formula can also be used when you want to change from your kids’ footwear sizes to your ladies’ sizes. In this case, you just need to add 1.5 or 2 sizes to your normal children’s sizes. For example, a kid’s 5Y size shoe will be similar to size 6.5 or 7 in women’s shoes.
But, it must be emphasized that the above formula is only applied to big kids or youth shoe sizes. And it will not work if the child’s footwear size is too narrow/small.
Big Kids’ Shoe Sizes to Adults’ Shoe Size Conversion Chart
As mentioned earlier, you can use the general rule of adding or minus 1.5 or 2 sizes when converting children’s to women’s shoe sizes and vice versa. However, there will be different factors affecting this size variation, such as shoe styles, specific brand sizing standards, or your own foot type.
So, you might need to be flexible in different cases. For example, size 5Y in youth’s shoe sizes can be equivalent to size 6.5 or 7 in female’s shoe sizes. But in fact, if your feet are wider than normal, you can go up even 2.5 sizes from the kids’ size.
| US Youth/Kids Shoe Sizes | US Women Shoe Sizes | US Men Shoe Sizes | Foot Length (cm) | Foot Length (inches) |
| 13C | 1.5-2 | – | 7.375 | 18.73 |
| 13.5C | 2-2.5 | 0.5 | 7.5 | 19.05 |
| 1Y | 2.5-3 | 0.5-1 | 7.625 | 19.36 |
| 1.5Y | 3-3.5 | 1-1.5 | 7.875 | 20 |
| 2Y | 3.5-4 | 1.5-2 | 8 | 20.32 |
| 2.5Y | 4-4.5 | 2-2.5 | 8.25 | 20.95 |
| 3Y | 4.5-5 | 2.5-3 | 8.375 | 21.27 |
| 3.5Y | 5-5.5 | 3-3.5 | 8.5 | 21.59 |
| 4Y | 5.5-6 | 3.5-4 | 8.625 | 21.91 |
| 4.5Y | 6-6.5 | 4-4.5 | 8.875 | 22.54 |
| 5Y | 6.5-7 | 4.5-5 | 9 | 22.86 |
| 5.5Y | 7-7.5 | 5-5.5 | 9.25 | 23.49 |
| 6Y | 7.5-8 | 5.5-6 | 9.5 | 24.13 |
| 6.5Y | 8-8.5 | 6-6.5 | 9.67 | 24.56 |
| 7Y | 8.5-9 | 6.5-7 | 9.83 | 24.97 |
| 7.5Y | 9-9.5 | 7-7.5 | 10 | 25.4 |
| 8Y | 9.5-10 | 7.5-8 | 10.16 | 25.8 |
| 8.5Y | 10-10.5 | 8-8.5 | 10.33 | 26.24 |
| 9Y | 10.5-11 | 8.5-9 | 10.5 | 26.67 |
How Does The Big Kids’ Shoe Size Conversion Chart To Adults’ Size Work?
Most of the time, men’s shoe size charts can be considered the standard to build the size scale for kids’ shoes. Therefore, you will find that males’ shoe sizes are the same as children’s shoe sizes when it comes to foot length. But it will not be true for the foot width, which is applied to both ladies’ and men’s shoes. Let’s say, if you typically wear size 5 in a man’s shoe, it is translated to size 5Y in youth.
In contrast, to find your corresponding women’s shoe size from a kid’s size, you need to go up between 1.5 and 2 sizes. And when going down 1.5 or 2 sizes from your ladies’ footwear size, you will get your equivalent children’s size.
And the last thing to take into account is that the above formula is only applied when you are converting shoe sizes in foot length. It will not be true for foot width as different people have different foot types. Some might have wide feet, while others have smaller feet, yet both might share the same foot length.
Conclusion
What does 5Y mean in shoe size? The question has now been answered. Generally speaking, 5Y can be translated into size 5 in men’s shoes. However, it will be similar to size 6.5 or 7 when converted to a lady’s shoe.
Basically, the variation between youth’s shoe sizes and women’s shoe sizes are from 1.5 to 2 sizes. However, in some cases, the size difference can go down or up more than 2 sizes, depending on various shoe styles and companies.
