Addressing Size and Fit Concerns When Shopping for Shoes Online

Now that you know just how convenient and economical online shoe shopping is, you’re probably asking, “But how do I know that the shoes will fit me?”  It’s a valid question.  There are several steps to take to ensure that the shoes you buy will be a good fit.  If you have an accurate idea of your real shoe size, you should be able to order with confidence.  There are, of course, differences from brand to brand and some styles of shoes may fit somewhat differently from others, but there are several steps you can take to keep mistakes on sizing at a minimum.

Determining Your Real Shoe Size

It’s essential to know what your true shoe size is if you’re going to order shoes online in order to minimize the need for returns and to ensure a comfortable fit.  Many people shopping for shoes haven’t actually checked their shoe size in years.  This is a mistake because, over the years, your shoe size can change.  Gaining or losing weight, changes in posture and simple aging can alter shoe size and the shape of the foot over time.  It’s a good idea to check your shoe size every few years at the least.

Trying on at the “Bricks and Mortar” Store

A visit to a traditional shoe store that can provide a professional shoe measurement is the best way to do this.  Avoid the shoe departments of major department stores and find a store that specializes in footwear if possible.  A seasoned associate can then measure your foot size using a metal template the measures both size and width.  For an accurate reading, it’s best to go later in the day.  Feet tend to swell a bit as the day wears on, so it’s best to try on shoes in the afternoon or evening to make sure you are sized properly.

After you’ve been sized, try on some shoes in a variety of brands.  Although there is a standard size guideline in use, there can be slight differences from brand name to brand name.  Trying on several different brands will give you an idea of how each brand fits so that, when ordering online, you will know not only know what size you take, but how well each brand tends to fit you.

Online Fit Guides

Many online shoe companies have fitting guidelines that you can use to give you an idea of your shoe size in a particular brand.  They will also give you an indication of what size you should order if, for instance, a particular shoe doesn’t come in half sizes.   They may suggest you order a half-size larger or smaller to get the best fit.  Some stores will also offer tips for particular brands or styles, mentioning that certain shoes run wide in width to alert buyers that they may want to adjust their typical size when ordering.

How to Measure Your Feet for Shoe Size at Home

If it’s inconvenient for you to visit a shoe store or would prefer to check your shoe size yourself, there’s an easy way to measure your shoe size at home.  You’ll need a piece of paper (two taped together if you have very large feet), a pencil, tape and a ruler.

Be sure you’re wearing the type of socks or stockings you will be wearing when you wear the shoes you’re shopping for; the thickness of socks can make a difference in shoe sizes.  Tape the paper to the floor so that it doesn’t shift while you’re measuring. 

Be sure you’re sitting down when you measure your foot with your foot pressed firmly onto the paper.  Your lower leg should be slightly in front of your angle for the best indication of how your foot will fall when you are walking or standing.  If you have someone helping you measure, you can also simply stand straight on the paper.  Trace your foot with the pencil (or have a friend do this for you).  Make sure you hold the pencil straight up-and-down, not slanting in around your foot.  Trace all the way around the foot.  Now trace the other foot – many people have one foot that is slightly larger than the other, and you will want to order shoes that fit the larger foot.

Next, using your ruler and pencil, draw a straight line that touches the outside points at the top bottom, left and right of the outline.  Now measure a straight line from the top to the bottom point, measuring it as accurately as possible (to the sixteenth of an inch if you can).  Do the same thing to measure from the left to the right side, again recording the measurement in sixteenths of an inch.   The length in inches can be translated to your shoe size, while the number for the width can be translated into the shoe width you need.  Subtract 2/10 of an inch from both measurements to take into consideration the thickness of the pencil to obtain a more accurate measurement.  On the next two pages are conversion charts that will show you how to convert the inches into either U.S. or European shoes sizes.

The chart below can help you convert the inches to an appropriate shoe size.

Women’s Shoe Size Chart

Shoe Size                                                     Shoe Widths

Inches             US size           Euro size                    A         B         C____

8 ½ “               5                      36                                2.6”     2.8”     3.0”
8-2/3 ”             5 ½                  36 ½                           2.7”     2.9”     3.1”
8-5/6 “             6                      37                                2.8”     2.9”     3.1”
9”                     6 ½                  37 ½                           2.8”     3.0”     3.2”
9’1/16”            7                      38                                2.9”     3.1”     3.3”
9-1/3”              7 ½                  38 ½                           2.9”     3.1”     3.3”
9 ½”                8                      39                                3.0”     3.2”     3.4”
9-2/3               8 ½                  39 ½                           3.1”     3.3”     3.4”
9-5/16             9                      40                                3.1       3.3       3.5
10                    9 ½                  40 ½                           3.2       3.4       3.6
10-1/6             10                    41                                3.3       3.4       3.6
10-1/3             10 ½               41 ½                           3.3       3.5       3.7
10 ½               11                    42                                3.4       3.6       3.8
10-2/3             11 ½               42 ½                           3.4       3.6       3.8
10-5/6 “           12                    43                                3.5”     3.7”     3.9”

Men’s Shoe Size Chart

Shoe Size                                                     Shoe Widths

Inches             US size           Euro size                    C         D         E____

9’1/3”              6                      37 ½                           3.3”     3.5”     3.7”
9 ½”                6 ½                  38                                3.3       3.6       3.8
9-2/3               7                      38 ½                           3.4       3.6       3.8
9-5/16             7 ½                  39                                3.4       3.7       3.9
10                    8                      39 ½                           3.5       3.8       3.9
10-1/16           8 ½                  40                                3.6       3.8       4.0
10-1/3             9                      40 ½                           3.6       3.9       4.1
10 ½               9 ½                  41                                3.7       3.9       4.1
10-2/3             10                    41 ½                           3.8       4.0       4.2
10-5/6             10 ½               42                                3.8       4.1       4.3
11                    11                    42 ½                           3.9       4.1       4.3
11-1/6             11 ½               43                                3.9       4.2       4.4
11-1/3             12                    43 ½                           4.0       4.3       4.4
11 ½               12 ½               44                                4.1       4.3       4.5
11-2/3             13                    44 ½                           4.1       4.4       4.6