C stands for the child, and Y denotes youth in the world of shoes. This letter indicates kids’ shoe sizes, which are usually 2T-3T, etc. sizes until you get the size of up to 7-8.
If you are purchasing shoes online or even at stores, chances are you will see different letters on the shoe. It can be A, B, C, D, E, etc. These letters refer to the shoe sizes, which mostly are shoe widths. For example, D means wide for women’s shoe width, and E is extra-wide. However, for men, D means medium width.
Usually, A means the narrowest width, while E means the widest width. But the more A letters are put on the shoe size, the narrower/tighter it is. The same applies to the letter E. But what about the middle letter C? What does C mean in shoe size?
Yes, this is so confusing. You might think C stands for something, but it can also be a letter to signify shoe sizes or any related thing. So, in this article, I will dig further as to what C exactly means in shoe size, as well as provide you with other useful information, such as definitions of combinations letters in shoes, shoe size chart, etc.
So What Does C Mean In Shoe Size?
In the world of shoes, C stands for the child. Yes, it is that simple. To compare, we have C and Y, with Y denoting Youth in shoe size. While a shoe with the letter C on it usually has a size ranging from 2T to 7 or 8, youth sizes will be larger and typically in the small-medium-large scale.
For example, if your kid often wears size 1 or 2 in the shoe size chart, then you might want to get the size 13C or 4Y for him/her. This also means the size 13 in the child shoe size chart and can be moved up to size 4 in youth shoes.
However, when it comes to shoe width sizes, C usually refers to regular, normal. C is measured by the width between your foot and the shoe’s heel. However, this letter is not really as popular as other shoe width sizes, and it is not found on shoe size charts. So, the best way to know if a shoe fits your feet is by looking at the shoe width charts and shoe size charts. Or you can also try on the shoes and see whether the shoe’s heel width comfortably fits.
Where Can I Find the Width on the Shoe
Now you know some of the most common shoe width letters. But you might wonder where you can find them in case you want to double-check the label’s precision. Usually, width letters are titled at the underside of the tongue or the insole.
What About Combination Letters in Shoe Size?
Some shoe brands even provide combination letters to their shoe size, such as C/D, C/A, etc. That is to say, the shoes have two width sizes.
The first letter is usually used to refer to the width between the shoe’s heel and your foot. In this case, C. Whereas, the second letter represents the width of the foot’s ball, which is usually larger, and D in this instance.
As C is not really popular like other width sizes, such as A, B, D, etc., it is better to try on shoes and see whether its heel width comfortably fits.
Besides the most common C/D combination letter, you can find some more combinations, such as:
C/A: medium-narrow for women, narrow and extra-narrow for men.
D/B: medium-wide for women, narrow-medium for men.
E/C: extra wide-medium for women, wide-medium for men.
In fact, there are more combination letters on the market for super-narrow or wide-extra wide shoe sizes. However, they might not be really common and also depend on the shoe sizes and shoe brands.
Women’s Vs. Men’s Shoe Widths
It is true that there is not much difference between women’s and men’s shoe widths. Basically, the measurements increase in size in a similar way.
Having said that, women’s shoe widths are typically not as wide as men’s. This is understandable because women tend to have smaller feet.
That is also why you are unlikely to see any E or 2E width letters in the women’s width shoe size. And the same applies to the letter A in men’s sizing. However, some shoe brands are changing to include more width options in the women’s shoe size chart.
In addition to the difference in letters, another key difference you will see in women’s vs. men’s shoe width is that shoes for men usually have wider widths for the same size. For instance, the average 6 size in women’s shoes is 3.313 inches wide, but it is 3.5 wide in men’s 6 medium sizes.
So, if you like shoes of the opposite gender, be aware of these differences. Also, always cross-check shoe size charts by widths and letters when making a buy.
Why Does Shoe Width Matter?
You might be aware of the importance of picking the right shoe length. But, what about the shoe width? Why is it so crucial? Basically, there are three types of foot widths, narrow, medium, and wide. It is sometimes hard to decide which width your feet are. So, that is one of the key reasons why shoe width matters.
Narrow Width Shoes
If you wear a pair of tight or narrow shoes or even narrow-medium, chances are it will rub against your toes and heel, resulting in frictions and blisters.
In addition, it is completely uncomfortable to wear such narrow shoes. More seriously, it can further chafe open sores, if any.
The fact is that narrow shoes are also not air-permeable enough for your feet. That is to say, sweat, bacteria will be trapped inside the shoes, which pose a high risk of entering any open wounds. As a result, it can cause infections.
If you have narrow feet, it’s important to find the right shoe size. Check out our wide shoe size charts for men and women to find out how to measure your feet properly and determine the perfect shoe size for your specific foot width.
Wide Width Shoes
Different from the constriction of tight shoes, wide-width shoes allow your feet to move to the sides, up and down. However, this is not a great thing as it can lead to blisters.
Moreover, your feet are likely to get unsecured in wide-width shoes. So, if you are going to walk or run fast, it can pose a risk of injury. Too much room inside the shoe makes your feet move freely. As a result, the shoes are not stable enough and can cause ankle roll or fall.
Just make sure that you’ll keep an eye on the shoe width letters to choose the right width for your feet.
How to Measure Your Shoe Width?
You can easily measure your shoe size at most shoe stores, but what about shoe width? Actually, it is very simple, and you can do it at home with the following steps:
- Stand on a piece of paper on an even surface
- Draw two straight lines down the page’s middle
- Stand straight with the widest part of your foot on the line
- Draw a dot on either side of your foot on the line
- Then measure the distance between two dots
- Repeat for the next largest part of your foot for a combined width size (C/D).
How to Measure your Kid’s Feet for Nike Shoes
You may all know Nike, a well-known shoe brand besides casual and sports footwear in general. Moreover, the company offers a large selection of shoes for both adults and kids. I have given the method to measure your feet’ size, but it is also important to get the right fit for your children. Here is how to do:
Firstly, you will need a piece of paper, a pencil/pen, and a ruler. Then have your child stand straight on even ground with their back against the wall. Don’t forget to align his heels with the wall. Next, place the ruler inside their foot and measure the foot’s length from the wall to the longest toe. Right the measurements down on the paper.
To know which shoe size is suitable for your kid’s feet, you can look at the size chart I put above. Or you can also use a digital foot measurement tool from Nike for the best possible accurate results.
Are you shopping for shoes on an international website? Check out Shoe Size Conversion Charts to compare the sizes cross-countries, including US, UK, and EU. This chart is useful when you’re traveling abroad or you want a pair of shoes from your favorite international brand that sells shoes in their unique sizes.
Pro Tips
- When measuring your child’s feet, it is recommended to do it at the end of the day, regardless of toddlers or babies. Because just like adults, kids’ feet might get a little bit swollen in the afternoon or after a long day walking.
- Besides, remember to ask your children to wear the normal socks that they typically wear. It is best if the socks have a medium thickness, neither too thick nor too thin.
- While your kid is trying on the shoes, it is recommended to allow for approx. 5 inches from his longest toes to the front of the sneakers.
- Once their feet are on the shoes, encourage them to jump or walk for a bit to make sure the shoe comfortably fits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much wider are wide-width shoes?
In fact, a pair of wide shoes is not really that much larger than a normal pair. Typically, shoe widths increase close to around 0.25 inches. However, this differs depending on shoe brands and is not always accurate. Sometimes, the increment is smaller, which is only around 0.188 inches.
What is a standard shoe width?
A medium or normal shoe width varies, depending on gender. For example, a standard shoe width for men is D, but it is B for women. However, medium-width shoe sizes usually don’t have letters in their sizes.
Are wide feet bad for choosing shoe size?
If you can remember the shoe width letters, wide feet will be much easier. Then you just need to double-check the shoe width and shoe size to get the right measurement for your foot length and width.
Conclusion
By now, you know “what does C mean in shoe size?” and even the meaning of other shoe width letters. Have a look at the size chart to make sure you get the right fit. Also, don’t forget to be sure if you need a narrow or wide pair of shoes.
I hope this guide helps you understand more about shoe width. Don’t hesitate to drop a comment if you are still confused about anything.
