K is a common letter in the world of shoes. But what does K mean in shoes? Everything will be revealed in the following part. Let’s discover!
Things can be really confusing when you are buying shoes for your kids, as you might bump into different abbreviations, such as Y, C, K, etc. You might have always been wondering how kids’ shoe sizes work.
Like adult shoe sizes, there is always a letter and/or number closely related to children’s shoe sizes. Depending on the age range, there will be different numbers and letters labeled on the kids’ sneakers. One of the most common and confusing letters is K. so, what does K mean in shoes? Keep reading to uncover its meaning in shoe sizes.
What Does K Mean In Shoe Size?
Basically, the letter K is usually denoted as shoe size for young preschoolers. In other words, you can consider K as youth or kids’ sizes. As a general rule of thumb, any children’s shoe size labeled with a letter K tends to be smaller than size 1. In addition, it typically goes down to size 10K.
This abbreviation is very common among most shoe brands as they want to make it clearer and easier for you to know which sneakers are for which age. While Nike provides letter C relating to youth or toddler shoe sizes, letter D is more popular in Adidas kids’ shoe sizes.
Just like adults’ feet, children’s feet are also different for many reasons. So, in case you don’t know your kids’ size, using their age is also a good way to know their shoe size.
Below is an estimation of kids’ shoe sizes based on their ages.
0 – 12 months: usually wear toddler size 1 – 5
18 months: usually wear toddler size 5 – 7
2 years old: usually wear size 7 – 9
3 years old: usually wear size 9 – 11
4 years old: usually wear size 11 – 12
5 years old: usually wear size 12 – 13
However, most people want to get half of a size or a full size larger just in case their kids’ feet increase in size when they grow up. For instance, if your baby is turning 5, then you might want to get a pair of size 13K in Adidas shoes or 13C in Nike shoes.
What Shoe Size Is 5K In The United States?
As you might know, the difference between big kids’ shoe sizes and men’s shoe sizes in the United States is zero. However, for little kids, sizes will be varied, depending on different countries, shoe brands, their foot sizes, shoe styles, etc. But here are the general shoe sizes for kids in the United States.
US Youth | UK | Inches | CM |
5K | 4.5 | 4.25 | |
6K | 5.5 | 4.625 | |
7K | 6.5 | 5.125 | |
8K | 7.5 | 5.5 |
What Shoe Size Is 5K In Yeezys?
As mentioned earlier, K stands for kids and is used to measure kids’ shoe size in Adidas and several shoe brands. On the other hand, C is more common for Nike kids’ shoe sizes. So, some of you might wonder what shoe size 5K in Yeezys Adidas shoes is. The chart below will show you.
US | EU |
5K | 20 |
6K | 22 |
7K | 23.5 |
10K | 27 |
What Size Is A 5K Shoes?
5K in the UK’s shoes, in this case is for Adidas and similar brands or shoe styles, is equivalent to size 5.5 in the US shoe sizing system. Below are some more common corresponding sizes from UK shoes with the letter K to US sizes.
US | UK | Heel to Toe Length (Inches) | Heel to Toe Length (cm) |
5.5 | 5K | 4.8 | |
6 | 5.5K | 5 | |
6.5 | 6K | 5.2 | |
7 | 6.5K | 5.3 |
Youth Shoe Size Chart With K
You already know the size 5K in the US’ shoes, but what about other countries? It is more convenient to get an overview of the kids’ shoe size chart conversion so that you will easily choose the right size for your kids.
US Youth | EU | UK | Foot length (inches) | Foot length (cm) |
2K | 17.5 | 1.5 | 3.125 | 8 |
3K | 18.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 9 |
4K | 19.5 | 3.5 | 4 | 10 |
5K | 21 | 4.5 | 4.25 | 11 |
6K | 22 | 5.5 | 4.625 | 12 |
7K | 23.5 | 6.5 | 5.125 | 13 |
8K | 25 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 14 |
9K | 26 | 8.5 | 5.75 | 15 |
10K | 27 | 9.5 | 6.25 | 16 |
10.5K | 27.5 | 10 | 6.625 | 16.5 |
11K | 28 | 10.5 | 6.75 | 17 |
11.5K | 29 | 11 | 7 | 17.5 |
12K | 29.5 | 11.5 | 7.25 | 18 |
12.5K | 30 | 12 | 7.33 | 18.5 |
13K | 31 | 12.5 | 7.625 | 19 |
How Should Shoes for Kids Fit?
As you might know, kids’ feet usually grow quite fast. So, if you are in quest of a new pair of children’s shoes or not, it is still very critical to stay connected with how their sneakers should fit. And below are some of the greatest and most important things to check the fit of children’s shoes:
Always Measure Your Kids’ Feet
One of the very first and critical things to do is to measure your children’s feet size. Here are some pro tips to help you make sure you get your kids’ feet measured right.
Measure frequently
Every time you get your kids new shoes, you always need to size their feet again. This is very important, particularly if you are purchasing them for active purposes, such as running, hiking, etc.
In addition, even when your kids don’t need a new pair, it is recommended to get their feet measured at least 1 or 2 times a year. This way, you can always know if the old pair still fits them well or not. And make sure that you measure your child’s feet again anytime they complain about cramps or restrictions.
While it is critical to measure the overall length of your kids’ feet, it is essential to measure their arch length and foot width for the best fit. All of these steps allow for an entire picture of which shoe size will be the most fitted to your kids’ feet.
Measure against the shoes’ insoles
A lot of you might know the old-time experiment of pressing the thumb against the shoes’ toe box area to see how much room there is in the shoe. And this test can also be effective on your kids’ shoes sometimes. But if you are not familiar with this, simply remove your child’s shoes, remove the insoles, and put them on the floor.
Then, get your kid to stand on the shoe insoles with their arches and heels in the appropriate positions. By doing this, you can easily see how much room is left ahead. Generally speaking, it is better to have around half an inch or so.
Additional Fit Tips for Kids’ Shoes
Besides these traditional tips, there are some more pro tips for measuring your kids’ shoe sizes.
Double-check the size with your kids
If your kids complain to you about their feet feeling cramped or constricted, then you might need to spend time checking their shoe fitting again. Their shoes can be in the wrong size or simply get smaller as their feet are growing.
In some cases, children will not tell you that their feet feel uncomfortable until you ask them. So, it is best to check their foot and shoe sizes, let’s say 2 to 3 times a year. And when you do, make sure to be specific about your relevant questions about shoe fit.
Not all children know how to answer the general question, “Do your shoes fit you well?”. Instead, ask them several questions like, “Do your feet move around here?” or “Do you feel cramped inside?” while figuring the point on their feet.
Consider getting your kids’ adult shoes if they weigh over 80 pounds
You might want to consider going up shoe sizes for your kids if they weigh more than 80 pounds and tend to fit adults’ shoes. Shoes for children are produced to offer needed support for bigger loads.
This can be interpreted as if you can even fit kids’ shoes if you have smaller feet than normal adults’ feet. It can also help you save some cash. But always remember to re-measure your feet whenever you feel cramped inside, or simply you need to buy a new pair.
Consider buying your kids women’s shoe sizes when leaving kids’ sizes
When your kids’ feet are growing out of children’s sizes, you can take women’s shoe sizes into account. These usually offer a wider variety and availability for you to choose from. For instance, it might be hard to find size 7 children’s shoes in men’s shoes, but you are more likely to find the corresponding styles in a pair of women’s 8.5-9 size. One thing to remember is that you will need to pay a bit more for adult-size footwear.
Conclusion
So, what does K mean in shoes? For most shoe brands, typically Adidas, K simply indicates shoe sizes for kids. At the same time, Nike usually uses the letter C, instead of K, to refer to their toddlers’ shoe sizes.