7Y means size 7 for men’s shoes, but it can be 8.5 or 9 when it comes to women’s shoe sizes. The difference between ladies’ and youth’s shoe sizes is 1.5 or 2 sizes.
When buying new shoes at online stores or local shops, the chances are very high that you run into some letters or abbreviations on the shoe. These acronyms include TD, GS, PS, BG, BC, GG, DS, et. Each letter has its own meaning when it comes to shoe size. For example, PS stands for Preschool, and shoe brands usually use the Y letter after a number to indicate its size, such as 7Y, 7.5Y, etc. But what does 7Y mean in shoe size? Let’s find the answer through this article.
What Does 7Y Mean In Shoe Size?
You all know that there is a vast range of shoe brands on the market. Each has its own shoe sizing chart and standards. Hence, reaching out to a specific factory is still considered among the best ways to know your exact shoe size. For instance, Nike offers users around the world a digital foot measurement tool called Nike Fit. This allows people to find out their perfect size easily.
In addition, several sneaker models come in a different sizing type, which is typically shortened in parentheses next to the sneakers’ name. Of course, you will not find this on traditional shoe sizing systems. For instance, 7Y in children’s shoe size will not be equivalent to size 6 in adults’ size.
But what does 7Y mean in shoe size? Lots of you might wonder about this, and here is the simple answer. The letter Y is used as an indicator for kids’ shoe sizes. Basically, it appears in Nike kids’ shoe sizes most of the time. It stands for youth or can also be considered a measurement for Preschool size.
In other words, 7Y means size 7 in shoe size for children. It can also be converted to shoe size for men and women. But what would the conversion be? Let’s see in detail.
If you are looking for kids’ shoe sizes conversion chart, visit our article on boys’ shoes size chart. This comprehensive guide will help you convert boys’ shoe sizes to men’s sizes by age. Whether you’re shopping for growing boys or young men, this useful chart will help you find the right fit.
What Does 7Y In Mens Shoe Size Mean?
In fact, there are sizes 7 and size 7Y when it comes to shoe size in general. However, size 7 refers to men’s shoe size, while size 7Y is usually used to indicate kids’ shoe size.
Some of you might know that there is a small difference in length when comparing men’s and women’s shoe sizes. The variation is only 1.5 sizes different. For example, if you usually wear size 9 in a female’s shoes, then you’d be a size 7.5 in a male’s shoes. But in this case, the variance between men’s and kids’ shoe sizes is the same in length.
It is known that in the United States, kids’ shoe sizes are measured based on men’s shoe size. Therefore, size 7 and 7Y will share the same size in length. However, the youth size (Y) is made for kids’ feet, and, of course, adult size is for adult feet.
The table below shows the 7Y in mens and how it corresponds to kids’ size.
| 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 7Y In Women’s Shoe Size Mean?
As you know, youth’s shoe sizes are the same as men’s shoe sizes. For instance, size 7Y means size 7 in men’s. However, there is a slight difference between 7Y in women. In particular, you should add 1.5 sizes when converting from youth’s shoe sizes to average women’s shoe sizes, and vice versa.
For instance, a youth’s (kids’) size 7Y shoe is equivalent to a women’s size 8.5 shoe. For more detail, let’s see the conversion table between youth and women’s sizes.
| 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 |
If you’re confused by the difference between kids’ sizes and women’s sizes, check out this article on kids’ sizes to women’s shoe sizes. It breaks down the conversions between the two and can help you determine if a size 7Y shoe is the right fit for you.
Shoe Size Chart for Kids
When looking for the meaning of 7Y in shoe sizes, it is also important to know the details about children’s shoe sizes. This way, you can easily convert from kids’ size to adult sizes, like the “general rule” mentioned above. Now, let’s have a look at the shoe size charts for children (mostly for Nike shoes).
| 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/Big Kids’ Shoe Size 7 The Same As Men’s?
If we have different shoe size charts for women and men, children’s shoe sizes share the same chart, no matter what gender is. In most cases, the measurements of children’s shoe sizes are, in reality, the same for male’s. Alternatively stated, a youth shoe size 7 is the same as men’s size 7, which is similar to size 8 or 8 ½ in women’s shoes.
If you’re wondering about the difference between youth and adult shoe sizes, check out this shoe size conversion chart. It breaks down conversions between men’s, women’s, and youth sizes, as well as international sizing, to help you find the right fit for your feet.
Is 7Y Children Shoe Size The Same As 8.5 Women’s?
In general terms, youth shoe sizes run 1.5 sizes smaller than women’s sizing. So, if you love a kid’s shoe style and want to choose your women’s size, simply add 1.5 sizes from your casual size. For instance, if you usually wear a women’s size 8, then your youth shoe size should be 6.5. Basically, kids’ sizes usually run as large as a 7. So, anything with a size up to 8.5 is within the female’s/youth’s overlap.
How to Convert from Kids’ Shoe Sizes to Adults’ Shoe Sizes?
In reality, it is really simple to convert from children’s shoe sizes to women’s or adult shoe sizes. Compared to men’s shoe sizes, a kid’s shoe size will generally be the same. For example, if your men’s size is 7, then it is also 7Y in children’s shoe size.
However, there will be a slight variation between women’s shoe sizes and kids’. As a general rule of thumb, a kid’s shoe size runs half of the size or 2 sizes smaller than a female’s shoe size. For instance, children who typically wear size 5 in youth shoe sizes will wear size 6.5 or 7 in women’s sizes. Having said that, it is always highly recommended to measure an individual’s foot to ensure that the shoes fit precisely.
So, the general formula for anyone who wants to convert children’s shoe sizes to women’s shoe sizes is: you US women’s shoe size subtract 1.5 or 2 sizes. Remember that this measurement applies to the US shoe sizing system.
And this formula also works in reverse. This means that you can convert any kids’ shoe size to ladies’ shoe sizes by adding 1.5 or 2 sizes. For example, a woman who usually wears size 6 in women’s shoes will wear a size 4 or 4.5 in kids’ shoes.
Nevertheless, you should be really wary that this can only be applied to youth or big kids’ shoe sizes (usually represented with an extra letter Y). For smaller kids’ shoe sizes, this formula will not work.
Kids Shoe Sizes to Adult’s Shoe Size Conversion
It is always a good starting point by following the “overall principle” of “your shoe size subtract 1.5 or 2 sizes”. Nonetheless, it is not always accurate if you see the detailed chart below.
In particular, if your feet tend to be narrower or wider in your female’s shoe size (for instance, you are a woman’s size 7 but also fit a 7.5 size), then you should look at the following table to get a more precise kids shoe sizes to women’s shoe size conversion.
| 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 Kids Shoe Size Conversion To Adults’ Size Work?
Basically, the shoe sizing for youth or big kids is built based on the men’s shoe sizing system. On the other hand, when minus half of a size or two sizes from your female’s shoe size, you will get your corresponding kids’ shoe size. In the same way, you can apply this formula in the opposite direction by adding 1.5 or 2 sizes if you want to convert your children’s shoe size to ladies’.
Conclusion
So, what does 7Y mean in shoe size? I believe that you now get the answer to this question. For men’s shoe sizes, 7Y equals size 7. In other words, sizes 7 and 7Y share the same length, but youth size is typically made for kids’ feet, while adult sizes are for adults’. However, 7Y is equivalent to size 8.5 or 9 in women’s shoe sizes.
If you notice, the difference between women’s shoe sizes and men’s shoe sizes is 1.5 sizes. And this variation is also the same for youth and ladies sizes. But in some cases, this size dissimilarity can also be 2 sizes different, depending on the style you choose and a certain brand’s standard sizing system.
