Shoe Sizes — Every System
Mondopoint, Paris point, barleycorn — foot length is the truth, widths included
The most complex sizing domain: EU, UK, US men, US women and Mondopoint (foot mm) — plus width letters and separate kids' scales with different zero points.
The Three Measurement Systems
Shoe systems disagree on what they measure, which unit they use and where size 0 sits. Width is a separate dimension.
EU size ≈ (foot cm + 1.2) ÷ 0.667, with ~13–17 mm wiggle room inside. Mondopoint = your foot in mm (260 mm foot = Mondopoint 260) — cleanest system, identical for children/men/women. UK/US are barleycorn; same foot is different number for men vs women because zero points differ.
The three shoe measurement systems
US/UK Constants (Barleycorn Definitions)
The approximate barleycorn relations that explain why UK/US numbers diverge.
Inner cavity must be 13–17 mm longer than foot for EU and UK/US. Mondopoint and JP are stated as foot length directly. Never convert JP/Mondopoint to EU with bare ×0.667 — add ~10–15 mm for shoe internal room.
US/UK barleycorn relations
Shoe Width Systems (N–M–R–W)
Width is labelled with letters that map across North-American, UK and German conventions. A women's medium ≈ B, men's medium ≈ D — different widths.
Women's medium ≈ B, men's medium ≈ D in the North American system. So a women's "M" and a men's "M" are different widths.
Width letter cross-reference
Adult Size Equivalence (EU / UK / US / Mondopoint)
Core adult conversion: Mondopoint mm → EU → UK → US men → US women. Mondopoint = foot length in mm — the anchor.
US men ≈ UK + 0.5 · US women ≈ UK + 2 · UK ≈ EU − 33 (e.g. EU 40 → UK 7) · Mondopoint = foot mm (250 mm ≈ EU 39.5 ≈ UK 6.5). Offsets grow up the scale (UK 12 → EU 46, UK 15 → EU 50).
Adult shoe equivalence
Foot Length ↔ Mondopoint ↔ EU ↔ UK ↔ US (Rich Cross-Table)
For precise work use Mondopoint = foot length as the anchor.
Foot cm to shoe systems
Children's Shoes (Foot Length → EU → UK → US)
Children's shoes use the same EU/UK/US scales but with their own zero points — kids' 1 is not an adult 1.
Measure foot in cm — the only reliable method for a growing child. Age is a poor guide.
Infants & pre-school (Mondopoint mm → EU gauge)
Junior kids — UK → EU → foot length
Children's → Adult Crossover
Top child size is roughly UK 13 / US 13.5 / EU 32; above that counts into adult (usually starting at adult US 1 / EU 33). Because zero points change, a child's 12 and an adult's 12 are different lengths.
Common Mistakes
Fit & common mistakes
- Treating EU and JP as same. JP/Mondopoint = foot mm; EU (Paris point) = cavity length with 13–17 mm wiggle — add wiggle before converting.
- Comparing men's and women's UK/US with same number — they differ by ~0.5–2 sizes.
- Ignoring width. A medium women's B is not a medium men's D — always read the width column.
- Sizing kids by age — always measure foot in cm.
- One foot bigger than the other — size to the larger foot.
Need help?
Try our Find my size tool for a personalized recommendation, or visit How to measure to learn how to take accurate measurements.