A wide foot is defined in the shoe industry by a measurement exceeding the standard width for a given foot length. Most mass-produced footwear is designed for a medium or standard width, typically a B for women and a D for men. Determining your foot width is necessary for ensuring long-term comfort and avoiding common foot health issues. Wearing shoes that are too narrow causes constant compression, which can lead to pain and the development of foot deformities over time.
Physical Indicators and Symptoms
Discomfort when wearing standard-width footwear is often the first sign of a wider-than-average foot. Shoes that fit correctly in length but feel tight across the middle or toe area suggest a width mismatch. This tightness frequently manifests as persistent cramping or a sensation of numbness in the toes. This occurs when the forefoot is squeezed and circulation is restricted.
A visual check of your feet and shoes can also provide physical evidence of a width problem. Look for visible redness, chafing, or irritation across the ball of the foot, which is the widest point. The shoe upper may visibly bulge or strain over the sides of your foot, especially near the joints of the big and little toes. Difficulty sliding your foot into a shoe, even when the length seems right, indicates the footwear lacks the necessary volume and width.
Accurate Measurement Techniques
Determining foot width requires a simple at-home measurement that accounts for your foot’s natural spread under weight. The most reliable approach is the tracing method. Place a sheet of paper on a hard floor with your heel lightly touching a wall. While standing and applying full weight, use a pencil held vertically to trace the complete outline of your foot.
Once the outline is complete, use a ruler to measure two dimensions: the length and the width. The length is measured from the back of the heel to the tip of the longest toe. The width is the distance across the broadest part of the forefoot, often called the ball of the foot. Measure both the left and right feet, as one foot is often slightly larger than the other. The larger measurement should always be used for purchasing shoes to ensure a comfortable fit.
For the most accurate assessment, take these measurements later in the day. Feet naturally swell over the course of the day due to gravity and activity, which can increase their size and width. Measuring at this time ensures you select a shoe size that will remain comfortable even when your feet are at their largest.
Common Causes of Increased Foot Width
Foot width is primarily determined by genetics, meaning some people are simply born with a broader foot structure. However, foot width is not static and can change significantly over a person’s lifetime due to several physiological factors. One common cause is the natural process of aging, where the ligaments and tendons in the foot lose elasticity.
This loss of support often causes the arches of the feet to flatten and lengthen, a condition known as acquired flatfoot, which results in a wider foot stance. Significant weight gain can also place greater pressure on the foot structure, causing the soft tissues to spread and the arch to collapse. Hormonal changes during pregnancy cause the body to release relaxin, which loosens ligaments, leading to permanent increases in foot length and width.
Applying Your Measurements to Shoe Sizing
The key to translating your measured width into a shoe size is understanding the standard width grading system, which uses letters to denote the forefoot circumference. In the United States, widths are designated by a sequence of letters, centered around ‘B’ for women’s standard width and ‘D’ for men’s standard width. A single width step, such as moving from a D to an E, corresponds to an increase of about one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch in the forefoot area.
Width Designations
For men, E or 2E is considered wide, while 4E is extra-wide. For women, D is categorized as wide, and E or 2E is extra-wide. Shoe width is always relative to the shoe length, meaning a size 9 wide shoe is wider than a size 8 wide shoe.
Avoiding Length Adjustments
A common error when shopping is purchasing a shoe that is one-half or one full size longer than necessary in an attempt to gain extra width. This practice should be avoided because a shoe that is too long causes the foot to slip and slide, potentially leading to blisters, instability, and an unnatural gait. Instead, select the correct length size in the corresponding wide-width designation. Many specialty brands offer widths up to 4E or 6E, ensuring that even the broadest feet can find a shoe that fits properly.