Men's to Women's Shoe Sizing Chart (2024)

Imagine you have your eyes on a stunning pair of sneakers, but to your surprise, you realize it’s for the opposite sex. Don’t write off the pair immediately, though.

Many shoe brands offer unisex styles, especially when it comes to sneakers, loafers, sandals and oxfords.

This is where our men’s to women’s shoe-sizing chart comes in handy.

The Importance of a Mens to Womens Shoe Sizing Chart

Given their physiological differences, men and women tend to have slightly different shoe sizes.

In general, men usually have wider and longerfeet, while the average women’s shoe sizeis smaller. This is why women with wide feet have an easier time finding a better fit in the mens department. The same goes for men who have narrow feet.

You can use a gender shoe size conversion chartto buy a pair of shoes that’s generally marketed to the opposite gender or to expand your choices by looking at unisex styles. The chart makes it easy to figure out what size shoe you should buy for a perfect fit.

For example, if you’re a women’s size 8.5, you’d be a men’s size 7.

So, if you know how shoe size conversion works, you’ll have a much higher chance of finding a pair of shoes that fit perfectly.

You Might Also Like:

• Peloton Shoes Sizing
• New Balance Sizing

How to Read the Men’s to Women’s Shoe Sizing Chart

Length Conversion

In the US, in terms of length, women’s shoe sizes are about 1.5sizes larger than men’s.So, a women’s size 8.5 would roughly be a men’s size 7.

With the help of our shoe size chart, you can easily convert any women’s shoe size into its corresponding men’s size.

Width Conversion

Americans typically use a letter representation to indicate shoe width. The smallest width is AAAA—also shown as 4A.

The sequence continues with AAA, AA, A, B, C, D and E. After that, we have 2E and 3E, all the way to 6E.

The average woman is a B width, while the average man is a D width.

Nevertheless, the numbers tend to stay the same across genders—with minor differences among individuals. Therefore, if you’re a women’s D width, your men’s counterpart shoe would probably be a D width.

Still, depending on her feet’s structure, a woman may need to go down half a sizeto get the right width.

However, in addition to the shoe’s length and width, you should also consider its heel, toe box, and ankle areato get the right fit.

Shoe Sizing Systems in Different Countries

A shoe sizing system is a standard way of measuring how a pair of shoes fit a person. Most systems indicate size based on the length and width of the foot.

There are different systems in different regions of the world. For example, the US and the UK measure shoe size in inchesand tend to have a similar approach despite being slightly different.

However, some other countries in Europe use what’s known as the Paris points system, which uses centimeters.

The shoe size chart below shows how you can convert the two systems for both men’s and women’s shoe sizes.

Comparing Shoes Between Brands

You might think converting between women’s and men’s shoe sizes is easy, but you’ll notice that it gets more difficult when different brands have unique sizing systems. For example trying to find a New Balance size for your friend who wears an 8 1/2 or 9 within the same brand can be tricky since their foot may fall into two distinct categories – something worth considering if he has difficulty finding good quality shoes!

Why Do Men and Women Have Different Shoe Size Scales?

Women often wear shoes that are too small for their feet because the sizes vary by gender. Women’s shoe scales use an inch as its unit of length, while men have 33/8 in.; this means women need to purchase footwear one-third larger than what is recommended on a standard size scale (and vice versa).

When to Use the Gender Shoe Size Chart

The best way to see how a new pair of shoes fit is to try them on in the store. But, buying shoes online is a completely different story. This is definitely when you need the sizing chart the most.

Start by measuring your feet, and then refer to the chart to figure out the opposite gender’s shoe size.

Although there are various standard shoe sizing systems, each brand uses a different manufacturing process, which means products from different brands will inevitably vary in size.

So, when buying shoes online, order at least two different sizesand see how each pair fits. Make sure you check out the online store’s return policy so that you don’t end up buying both pairs.

What Size is a Women’s 7 in Men’s

A woman’s size 7 is actually men’s 5 1/2 – This could very a 1/2 size depending on the manufacturer and shoe style.

What Size is a Women’s 8 in Men’s

A woman’s size 8 is usually about a man’s size 6.5, but sometimes it’s 1.5 sizes bigger or smaller than normal.

What is Women’s Size 9 in Men’s

A woman’s size 9 is men’s size 7.5. It’s generally a 1.5 size difference

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Convert Women’s Shoe Size to Men’s?

The easiest way to convert a women’s shoe size to men’s size is to use a shoe size conversion chart. But, as a rule of thumb, subtract 1.5 points from the women’s size. A women’s size 10.5 would be a men’s size 9, while a men’s size 7 would be a women’s 8.5.

What Is a Men’s Size 8 in Women’s?

A men’s size 8 would be a women’s size 9.5. There’s generally a 1.5 point difference.

Why Are Women’s Shoe Sizes Different Than Men’s?

Women’s shoe sizes are different than men’s because they have different physiologies. Adult males are typically larger than their female counterparts and thus have bigger feet. Adult females, on the other hand, have smaller, narrower feet.

Can a Man Wear Women Shoes?

Yes, a man can wear women’s shoes. But, they’re usually half a size narrower. Moreover, men’s shoe sizes are anywhere between 1.5 to 2 points less than the women’s. Men who have narrow feet may find it more comfortable to wear unisex designs made for women.

The Takeaway

When buying a pair of shoes, there are times when you fall in love with a pair that’s generally marketed to the opposite gender. If you find yourself in this situation, you can use a shoe size chart to find out the opposite sex’s sizing.

In general, men’s shoe sizes are about 1.5 points smaller than women’s, but the widths are roughly the same. Although the shoe size chart is a handy tool, do your best to try on the shoes before buying them. If you’re buying online, order at least two pairs to pick the pair with the best fit and return the others.