The 3-Step Guide to Measuring Your Feet at Home
Stop guessing your shoe size. Grab a piece of paper, a pen, and a ruler to find your true measurements in minutes.
Almost 60% of people are wearing the wrong shoe size. Most rely on a measurement they took ten years ago, but feet change over time due to age, weight shifts, and activity. Knowing your actual 'length in millimeters' is the only way to shop accurately online. Here is how to do it professionally at home.
1. Preparation for Accuracy
You need a piece of A4 paper, a sharp pencil, and a ruler. Perform the measurement in the evening, as your feet are at their largest after a day of walking around. Wear the type of socks you intend to wear with the shoes you’re shopping for.
2. The Trace and Mark Process
- The Wall Method: Tape the paper to a hard floor, flush against a wall. Stand on the paper with your heel lightly touching the wall.
- The Mark: Have someone else mark the longest part of your foot (usually the big toe or the second toe) with the pencil held vertically. Mark both feet, as most people have one foot slightly larger than the other.
- The measure: Use your ruler to measure the distance from the wall to your mark in millimeters (mm).
3. Converting mm to Shoe Size
Take your longest measurement and add 5mm to 10mm of 'wiggle room.' This is your Target Shoe Internal Length. Compare this final number to the 'CM' or 'JP' size on a brand's sizing chart. For example, if your foot is 263mm, a shoe with an internal length of 270mm (Size 27.0 JP or 9 US) will likely fit you perfectly.
Conclusion: Data-Driven Shopping
Once you have your mm measurement, you are an empowered shopper. You can ignore the confusing US/UK/EU numbers and go straight to the metric length, which is the most reliable data point on any shoe label. Measure once, shop forever!