Measuring your feet at home is essential for ensuring comfort and promoting foot health, especially when buying shoes online. Wearing the incorrect size can affect posture and lead to discomfort or long-term issues like blisters or bunions. Since shoe sizes vary significantly between manufacturers and styles, relying solely on your old size is often inaccurate. Precise length and width measurements provide objective data to compare against brand-specific sizing charts.
Essential Supplies and Preparation
Gathering the correct tools is the first step toward accurate measurement. You will need a sheet of paper large enough to accommodate your entire foot, a straight-edge ruler or measuring tape, and a pencil or pen. The measurement process must take place on a hard, flat surface, such as a wood or tile floor, rather than a carpet, to prevent distortion.
The timing of the measurement is also important. Feet tend to swell throughout the day, reaching their largest size in the late afternoon or evening. To ensure the measurement reflects the maximum size, measure during this time. Additionally, wear the type of sock you plan to use with the new shoes, as this bulk must be accounted for.
Step-by-Step Guide for Foot Length
Begin by standing on the paper with your full body weight distributed over the foot you are measuring. This is necessary because the foot naturally flattens and lengthens under load, which is the shape the shoe must accommodate. If possible, ask a helper to trace your foot, as this allows you to maintain a stable, upright stance.
The pencil must be held perfectly perpendicular to the paper, tracing the outline closely without angling under the foot. Angling the pencil inward will result in a shorter, narrower tracing. Once the outline is complete, draw two straight lines: one line touching the back of the heel and another touching the tip of the longest toe.
The longest toe is not always the big toe, so identify the farthest point on the outline. Measure the distance between these two parallel lines in inches or millimeters using your ruler. This measurement represents the true length of your foot, and it is helpful to record the result in millimeters for increased precision when using international size charts.
Determining Foot Width and Arch Placement
The second measurement captures the width, which is found across the ball of the foot, the broadest point where the toes meet the rest of the foot. To find this dimension on your tracing, draw two parallel lines that touch the widest points on either side of the forefoot outline. Measure the horizontal distance between these two lines to establish the foot’s maximum width.
It is recommended to measure both feet, as a slight difference in size is common. Always use the measurements from the larger foot when selecting a shoe size to prevent discomfort and friction. Both length and width measurements are necessary for an accurate fit.
Translating Measurements to Shoe Size
With your precise length and width measurements recorded, consult the specific sizing chart provided by the shoe manufacturer or retailer. These charts list foot length in centimeters or inches and the corresponding shoe size number. If your measurement falls between two sizes on the chart, select the next size up to ensure adequate toe room.
The width measurement translates into a letter code system, which varies between US, UK, and European standards. In the North American system, women’s standard width is B, while men’s standard is D. Narrower widths are represented by A designations, and wider widths progress through E designations (e.g., E, EE, EEE).