How to Find Your True Shoe Size Online

Buying shoes online is convenient until you get the wrong size. Returns are a hassle, shipping takes time, and somehow the size 10 from one brand fits completely differently than the size 10 from another. The problem is not that online shoe shopping is broken. The problem is that most people do not actually know their correct shoe size.

Your feet change over time. Pregnancy, aging, weight changes, and even the type of activity you do can alter the length and width of your feet.

That size you were measured at five years ago in a shoe store might not be accurate anymore. Here is how to get an accurate measurement at home and use it to buy shoes online with confidence.

What You Need

Gather a few things before you start: a piece of paper large enough for your foot (standard letter paper works for most people), a pen or pencil, a ruler or measuring tape, and a wall.

That is it. The whole process takes about five minutes.

Step-by-Step Foot Measurement

Step 1: Prepare Your Surface

Place the paper on a hard floor against a wall. Carpet compresses under your weight and can throw off your measurement. Tile, hardwood, or laminate flooring all work well.

Step 2: Stand on the Paper

Put on the type of socks you normally wear with the shoes you are buying.

If you are measuring for dress shoes, wear thin dress socks. For athletic shoes, wear your workout socks. This matters because sock thickness changes the effective size of your foot. Stand with your heel against the wall and your foot flat on the paper. Make sure your full weight is on the foot you are measuring.

Step 3: Mark the Longest Point

Have someone else place the pen at the tip of your longest toe and make a mark straight down on the paper.

If you are doing this alone, hold the pen vertically and carefully mark the spot yourself. Your longest toe is not always your big toe. For about 20 percent of people, the second toe extends further.

Step 4: Measure the Length

Remove your foot and measure from the edge of the paper (where the wall was) to the mark you made. Measure in both inches and centimeters since different brands use different measurement systems.

Step 5: Measure the Width

Stand on the paper again. This time, mark the widest point of your foot on both sides. This is usually at the ball of the foot. Measure the distance between those two marks.

Step 6: Measure Both Feet

Your feet are almost certainly different sizes. Measure both and use the larger measurement when selecting your shoe size.

Converting Measurements to Shoe Sizes

Once you have your measurements, you need to convert them to the sizing system used by the brand you are shopping with.

Here is where it gets tricky: there is no universal standard. Most reputable shoe brands include a size chart on their website. Use the brand's own chart rather than a generic conversion table.

Understanding Width Sizing

Width is where online shoe shopping really falls apart for a lot of people. Most shoes are sold in a standard width (D for men, B for women). But plenty of people need narrow or wide options.

New Balance, ASICS, and Brooks are particularly good about offering wide and narrow options. Ignoring width is one of the most common reasons online shoe purchases go wrong.

Brand-Specific Sizing Quirks

Nike tends to run about half a size small and narrow in the midfoot. Adidas generally fits true to size but runs slightly wider than Nike. New Balance is one of the most consistent brands for true-to-size fit.

Converse runs notoriously large. Most people go down a full size. European brands like Ecco and Birkenstock tend to fit slightly wider than American brands.

Using Online Reviews and Fit Tools

Many online retailers now include fit information based on customer reviews. Amazon, Zappos, and Running Warehouse all show whether buyers found a shoe to run large, small, or true to size.

This crowd-sourced data is surprisingly accurate when the sample size is large enough. Some brands offer virtual fit tools that use your phone camera to scan your foot and recommend a size.

When to Size Up vs Size Down

As a general rule, your toes should have about a thumb's width of space between them and the front of the shoe when you are standing. If you are between sizes, size up for athletic shoes and running shoes. For dress shoes and boots, you can get away with a snugger fit because they tend to stretch slightly with wear. For shoes you will wear with orthotics, size up by half a size.

Final Tips

Measure your feet in the evening. Your feet swell throughout the day, and an evening measurement represents the largest your feet will be. Keep your measurements written down somewhere accessible. And take advantage of return policies. Zappos, REI, and several other retailers offer free returns on shoes. Order two sizes if you are unsure, try both on at home on a clean surface, and send back the one that does not fit.