How to convert shoe, clothing and ring sizes
There is no single worldwide sizing standard, so the same foot, body or finger gets a different number in the US, Europe and the UK. The fastest way to convert is to measure once in a neutral unit — centimetres for shoes, chest or bust in inches/centimetres for clothing, and inside diameter in millimetres for rings — then read across to the system you need.
For shoes, stand on a sheet of paper, mark heel to longest toe, and measure the length in centimetres. Match that figure to the CM column in the chart below and every other column lines up. For rings, take a ring that already fits and measure its inside diameter across the centre in millimetres, then read across to US, UK or EU.
Why sizes differ by brand & country
Each region built its sizing system independently — EU shoe sizes use Paris points, UK and US sizes use barleycorns offset by a country-specific starting point, and clothing labels are tied to body-measurement tables that were never harmonised. On top of that, every brand uses its own lasts, patterns and fit models, so two items labelled the same can differ by a full size.
Treat these conversions as a reliable starting point, not a guarantee. When you are between sizes, measure your foot in centimetres or your finger with an existing ring, and check the specific brand's chart before buying.
How to measure for the best fit
- Shoes: measure both feet in the afternoon, when they are at their largest, and use the longer foot. Trace each foot on paper and record the heel-to-toe length in centimetres, then match it to the CM column.
- Clothing: with a soft tape measure, take your chest or bust, waist and hips, keeping the tape level and snug but not tight. Compare each measurement to the brand's own size table.
- Rings: measure the circumference in millimetres by wrapping a paper strip around the finger, or measure the inside diameter of a ring that already fits across its centre.
Measure when your body is at a normal temperature and write the numbers down so you can re-check them against any brand's chart.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a US size 9 in EU?
- For women's shoes a US 9 is roughly EU 40 (about 25.5 cm). For men's shoes a US 9 is roughly EU 42.5. Brands round differently, so confirm with the maker's chart and your foot length in centimetres.
- How do I measure my foot size at home?
- Stand on a sheet of paper and trace around your foot, then measure the straight-line distance from heel to longest toe in centimetres. Match that length to the CM column in the chart to read off your US, EU and UK size.
- How do I measure my ring size at home?
- Wrap a thin strip of paper around the base of your finger and measure its length in millimetres to get the circumference, or measure the inside diameter across the centre of a ring that already fits. Compare that figure to the ring chart's circumference or inside-diameter columns.
- Why do brands fit differently?
- There is no single global standard and every brand uses its own lasts, patterns and cuts. Two items with the same label can vary by a full size, so use these conversions as a guide and check each brand.
- What's the difference between US and UK shoe sizes?
- For the same foot, the UK number is usually about 0.5 to 1 size smaller than the US number. For example, a US men's 9 is roughly a UK 8.5, and a US women's 9 is roughly a UK 7.
- How do I convert clothing sizes between US, EU and UK?
- Measure your chest or bust, waist and hips with a tape and match them to a brand's size table, since label numbers differ by region. As a rough guide, a US women's size adds about 30 to reach the EU number and adds about 4 to reach the UK number.
- What is my ring size in millimeters?
- Your ring size in millimetres is the inside diameter of the band — for example, a US 6 is about 16.5 mm and a US 9 is about 18.9 mm. You can also use the circumference (the distance around the inside), which equals the diameter multiplied by about 3.14.