Do you know your shoe size? How do you differentiate between a men’s and women’s shoe size, especially if you’re into loafers and sneakers? Unfortunately, some people don’t know their shoe size, which makes them frustrated after spotting a beautiful pair of shoes, while others stop buying a nice pair because they feel it’s for the opposite gender. But don’t worry since you’re in the right place. We are going to take you through men’s and women’s shoe sizing and a conversion chart to prevent you from losing that nice pair you’d wish to take home.
Tips To Use When Choosing a Pair of Unisex Shoes
If you come across a beautiful pair of unisex shoes like loafers, sandals, oxfords, and sneakers, you’ve got to understand that those for men have some distinct differences from those of women. This means that there’s a notable difference in their sizes that you need to be careful of. For example, a unisex pair for men is somehow larger and wide, while that for women tends to be narrow.
To have an easy time understanding this, consider:
The sizing
The men’s shoes are 1.5 sizes smaller than those of women. But both men’s and women’s shoes have similar width sizes, with the only difference being one can be half-size wider. So, when you want to buy for your woman shoes and vice versa you need to be much keen on length more than width as here is where the main difference lies. So, to simplify this, a women’s shoe size 9.5 will be the same as a men’s size eight, but its width remains the same.
Why You Need to Understand the Men’s to Women’s Shoe Sizing & Conversion Chart
You need to know that men and women have notable physiological differences that also reflect their shoe sizes. However, there’s not much difference even though men’s feet are wide and longer than women’s. For a woman with wider feet, it’s advantageous for them to find shoes in the men’s department, and the same also applies to men with narrower feet.
But why the conversion chart? The number one benefit of understanding a conversion chart is that it helps you get the right fitting shoe that will make you comfortable in it. A not comfortable pair of men’s or women’s shoes will make you have blisters, bunions, or corns that can interfere with your feet’ health. This also prevents you from incurring several losses, especially if you bought it from a shop with no return policy.
It also helps you from measuring your feet size every time you want to buy a new pair of shoes. This can be tiresome if you’ve been up and down and you have little energy to go through feet measuring exercise.
Lastly, the conversion chart makes it easier for you to convert shoe size from the UK to EU size since shoe sizes differ from region to region. Remember there is a five-size system: the Japanese, US, EU, Chinese, and the UK.
A Guide on How You Can Read the Men’s and Women’s Sizing Chart
Check On the Length Conversion
If you want to convert the men’s shoe size from a woman’s, it’s best to go through a conversion chart. Here’s a conversion chart that will help you know the length of either shoe size with ease;
| Europe | UK | US and Canada | ||
| Unisex | Men | Women | Men | Women |
| 35 | 3 | 2½ | 3½ | 5 |
| 35½ | 3½ | 3 | 4 | 5½ |
| 36 | 4 | 3½ | 4½ | 6 |
| 37 | 4½ | 4 | 5 | 6½ |
| 37½ | 5 | 4½ | 5½ | 7 |
| 38 | 5½ | 5 | 6 | 7½ |
| 38½ | 6 | 5½ | 6½ | 8 |
| 39 | 6½ | 6 | 7 | 8½ |
| 40 | 7 | 6½ | 7½ | 9 |
| 41 | 7½ | 7 | 8 | 9½ |
| 42 | 8 | 7½ | 8½ | 10 |
| 43 | 8½ | 8 | 9 | 10½ |
| 44 | 10 | 9½ | 10½ | 12 |
| 45 | 11 | 10½ | 11½ | 13 |
| 46½ | 12 | 11½ | 12½ | 14 |
The Width Conversion
If you’re from America or love American shoes, you’ve definitely seen the letter ‘A’ written in most shoes. This indicates the shoe’s width, and the smallest width is represented by 4A or ‘AAAA.’ The other width sizes include AAA, AA, A, B, C, D, E, 2E, 3E, until you reach 6E. So, the width size of an average woman is B, but that of an average man is D width. Knowing your shoe’s width will prevent your feet from blisters since the shoe is likely to squeeze it if it’s a smaller width size.
But what determines your foot’s width size is your foot structure. So, to be comfortable with any shoes apart from the right width size, you’ve got to consider the shoes its heels, ankle area and toe box, and length.
What Is the Shoe Sizing System?
Shoe sizing systems are the easiest method of knowing if a pair of shoes can fit individuals. Every system shows the size of shoes depending on your foot’s length and width. But it’s important to note that there are five major shoe sizing systems in the world. They include the US, UK, Japanese, Chinese, EU. Additionally, some of these shoe sizing’s systems tend to be the same in other regions like the US and the UK measure shoe size in inches. However, some countries within Europe where the Paris points system is popular measure shoe size in centimeters.
When Should You Use the Men’s and Women’s Shoe Sizing Conversion Chart?
The shoe sizing conversion chart is an important tool you’ll require anytime you’re buying your shoes to avoid getting the wrong size. Since you can try if the shoes can fit in a shoe store, you may not need the shoe size chart. However, when ordering a pair of shoes online, you need to pay much attention to this chart. You should first know your feet’ size (by measuring), then look at the chart to know the opposite gender’s shoe size.
What’s more, even with the shoe sizing system, every shoe brand is manufactured in its unique way, which makes the sizes not equal to every manufacturer. For this reason, it’s advisable to order more than a pair of shoes from the manufacturers or stores to determine which is the ideal size for you. You should do this if you’re ready to buy two pairs ago or consider the store return policy to have one pair returned.
Read More: 6 Best White Volleyball Shoes for both Men and Women
Bottom Line
When you know your right shoe size, you’ll not have difficulties choosing a pair that comfortably fits. You will also not experience challenges choosing a unisex shoe if you understand the shoe size conversion chart. This will prevent you from incurring unnecessary expenses after buying from a store with no return policy.
However, you need to bear in mind that the women’s shoe sizes are 1.5 points bigger than the men’s. So, you need to consider that when converting the shoe sizes. But it’s wise to fit the shoes while buying in a physical shop. When you buy from an online shop, try and order for to different sizes or if you understand your size, go for at least a size bigger.
