Catalog note: Album entries can change. Use the live album link and WhatsApp to confirm the current option before ordering.
What changed?
- 2026-09-29: Opening answer rewritten as a direct conversion statement (24 cm = EU 38 / US W 7 / UK 5); added the half-centimeter step argument to the measuring paragraph and expanded the approximations paragraph into a full fit-variance passage (last shape, width, volume).
Shoe size labels are not portable between regions: a 24 cm foot is a EU 38, a US women’s 7 and a UK 5, and the same label can still fit differently from one style’s last to the next. Measure your own foot in centimeters, place that number on the chart below, and treat the regional size printed on the listing as a secondary label.
This guide gives you a repeatable method to measure your foot and convert between the common sizing systems, so you can shortlist catalog sizes with confidence before asking for availability.
It is written for buyers who review catalog references. It does not assume a listed size fits identically across every style — width and last shape still need a direct check.
Catalog note: Album entries can change. Use the live album link and WhatsApp to confirm the current size run, width option, and whether a style runs large or small before ordering.
Measure your foot, not your old size
The most reliable input is your actual foot length in centimeters. Regional numbers are derived from it, and a tape measure does not carry the drift that a remembered label does. Stand on a sheet of paper with your full weight on the foot, mark the tip of the longest toe and the back of the heel, then measure that distance in centimeters or millimeters. Repeat it on both feet and fit the larger one: a half-centimeter difference between left and right is common, and half a centimeter is exactly the spacing between one half-size step in the chart below — 22.5 to 23 cm, or 26 to 26.5 cm — so measuring a single foot can put you half a size out. Only after that should you compare your number with a regional chart.
- Stand on a sheet of paper with your full weight on the foot.
- Mark the tip of the longest toe and the back of the heel.
- Measure the distance in centimeters (or millimeters).
- Repeat for the other foot — most people have a slight difference, and you should fit the larger one.
Add roughly 0.5–1 cm of room at the toe for closed shoes so your foot is not pressed against the front. That buffer is the difference between a shoe that feels fine at home and one that hurts after an hour of walking.
The common sizing systems
Different regions use different baselines. Here is how they generally relate for women’s and men’s everyday shoes.
| Foot length (cm) | US (women) | US (men) | EU | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22.5 | 5.5 | — | 36 | 3.5 |
| 23.0 | 6 | — | 36.5 | 4 |
| 23.5 | 6.5 | — | 37 | 4.5 |
| 24.0 | 7 | — | 38 | 5 |
| 24.5 | 7.5 | 6 | 38.5 | 5.5 |
| 25.0 | 8 | 6.5 | 39 | 6 |
| 25.5 | 8.5 | 7 | 40 | 6.5 |
| 26.0 | 9 | 7.5 | 40.5 | 7 |
| 26.5 | 9.5 | 8 | 41 | 7.5 |
| 27.0 | 10 | 8.5 | 42 | 8 |
These conversions are approximations, not a guarantee, because a EU 38 in one style can fit like a 37.5 in another. Three things move the fit once the label matches. Last shape decides the toe box: a rounded last leaves more room at the same 24 cm foot length than a pointed one. Width is the number most regional charts leave out, so a wide foot can pinch at a correct length and a style may publish its own width letters instead. Volume decides the rest: boots need ankle room, sharp dress shoes are cut narrower, and one sneaker last can read half a size more generous than the next. That is why the centimeter column is the anchor and the regional number is a secondary label. If a listing publishes only a regional number, convert it back to centimeters before comparing it with any other style.
Why the same number fits differently
Three things shift the fit even when the size label matches:
- Last shape. A rounded last leaves more room in the toe box than a pointed one, even at the same length.
- Width. Many regions only mark length. If your foot is wide, a standard-width shoe at the right length can still pinch.
- Style. Heels, boots, and sneakers each sit differently. Boots need ankle room; sleek dress shoes often run narrower.
When a catalog lists only one number, the centimeter length plus a note about width is the information that actually predicts comfort.
How to use this with a catalog
Open the Shoes Catalog, find the style you want, and compare its listed size to your measured centimeter length using the table above — not to the size you usually wear. If a style offers width or runs large/small, factor that in before shortlisting.
Then send the style screenshot through WhatsApp and confirm the available size run and whether that specific style runs true to size. The complete catalog inquiry guide lists the exact points to check before you send that message.
The goal is not to memorize conversions. The goal is to start from your real foot length so the size you receive is the size that fits.
Related reading
- Shoe size, color, and material catalog guide
- Shoe construction methods and why the sole attachment matters
- Shoe materials and care before you order
The foot-length ladder above is part of the Luxury Bag Size Index, where shoe lengths are listed beside bag dimensions and belt widths, each with a source page.