European shoe size conversion
By the Sizemaven team. Checked against its sources October 14, 2026.
On Nike's men's chart, a US men's 8 is EU 41, a 9 is EU 42.5 and a 10 is EU 44. A US women's 8 is about EU 40 on the standard scale, and Nike's women's chart lists it as EU 39. EU sizes count in Paris points of 2/3 cm, so brands round differently and can disagree by half a size.
- US men's 9
- EU 42.5
- US women's 8
- EU 40
- One EU size
- 2/3 cm
- One US size
- 1/3 inch
US men's to EU and UK shoe size chart
EU sizes below follow Nike's men's chart, which is the chart the shoe size calculator uses. UK sizes are 1 below US men's, as on Nike's chart. The last column is the longest foot each size fits.
| US men's | EU | UK | Foot length up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 38.5 | 5 | 23.7 cm (9.33 in) |
| 6.5 | 39 | 5.5 | 24.1 cm (9.50 in) |
| 7 | 40 | 6 | 24.6 cm (9.67 in) |
| 7.5 | 40.5 | 6.5 | 25.0 cm (9.83 in) |
| 8 | 41 | 7 | 25.4 cm (10.00 in) |
| 8.5 | 42 | 7.5 | 25.8 cm (10.17 in) |
| 9 | 42.5 | 8 | 26.2 cm (10.33 in) |
| 9.5 | 43 | 8.5 | 26.7 cm (10.50 in) |
| 10 | 44 | 9 | 27.1 cm (10.67 in) |
| 10.5 | 44.5 | 9.5 | 27.5 cm (10.83 in) |
| 11 | 45 | 10 | 27.9 cm (11.00 in) |
| 11.5 | 45.5 | 10.5 | 28.4 cm (11.17 in) |
| 12 | 46 | 11 | 28.8 cm (11.33 in) |
| 12.5 | 47 | 11.5 | 29.2 cm (11.50 in) |
| 13 | 47.5 | 12 | 29.6 cm (11.67 in) |
| 14 | 48.5 | 13 | 30.5 cm (12.00 in) |
| 15 | 49.5 | 14 | 31.3 cm (12.33 in) |
US women's to EU and UK shoe size chart
EU sizes are one scale for everyone, so a women's EU size is the EU size of the same foot length. The calculator turns a women's size into a men's size on the US standard scale (women's minus 1), then reads Nike's men's EU column. Nike's own women's chart counts women's sizes from men's plus 1.5, so it lists most women's sizes half an EU size lower.
| US women's | EU (standard scale) | EU (Nike women's chart) | UK | Foot length up to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 36 | 35.5 | 3 | 22.0 cm |
| 5.5 | 36.5 | 36 | 3.5 | 22.4 cm |
| 6 | 37.5 | 36.5 | 4 | 22.9 cm |
| 6.5 | 38 | 37.5 | 4.5 | 23.3 cm |
| 7 | 38.5 | 38 | 5 | 23.7 cm |
| 7.5 | 39 | 38.5 | 5.5 | 24.1 cm |
| 8 | 40 | 39 | 6 | 24.6 cm |
| 8.5 | 40.5 | 40 | 6.5 | 25.0 cm |
| 9 | 41 | 40.5 | 7 | 25.4 cm |
| 9.5 | 42 | 41 | 7.5 | 25.8 cm |
| 10 | 42.5 | 42 | 8 | 26.2 cm |
| 10.5 | 43 | 42.5 | 8.5 | 26.7 cm |
| 11 | 44 | 43 | 9 | 27.1 cm |
| 11.5 | 44.5 | 44 | 9.5 | 27.5 cm |
| 12 | 45 | 44.5 | 10 | 27.9 cm |
If you know your women's size at Nike, read the Nike column. For a brand you have not worn before, measure your foot and compare the length with the brand's chart. The women's to men's guide explains the half-size gap between the two US scales.
Why EU sizes run in Paris points
The EU (Continental) size is the length of the last, the foot-shaped form a shoe is built on, counted in Paris points. One Paris point is 2/3 cm, about 6.7 mm. US and UK sizes count in barleycorns of 1/3 inch, about 8.5 mm per whole size and 4.2 mm per half size.
Because the steps differ, one US size covers about 1.3 EU sizes and a US half size covers about two-thirds of an EU size. A chart has to round each US size to the nearest EU half size, so the EU column moves unevenly. On Nike's men's chart, US 8.5 to 9 moves from EU 42 to 42.5, while US 9.5 to 10 moves from EU 43 to 44.
The EU number measures the last, which is longer than the foot. An EU 42 is a last of 28 cm (42 x 2/3), while Nike fits an EU 42 to a foot of about 25.9 cm. That gap is why you cannot get your EU size by measuring your foot in centimeters and multiplying.
Why brands disagree by half a size
Each brand decides which EU number goes with which foot length, and many sell only whole EU sizes. The same US size can therefore carry different EU numbers.
| Chart | US men's 9 | US women's 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Calculator (standard scale, Nike EU) | EU 42.5 | EU 41 |
| Nike men's and women's charts | EU 42.5 | EU 40.5 |
| Birkenstock | EU 42 | EU 40 |
| Zappos | EU 42 | EU 39 to 40 |
Brannock's own conversion chart notes that variations often exist within the same scale from one country to another. Treat a converted EU size as your starting size, and use the brand's chart when it gives foot length in centimeters. Nike warns that the CM number printed on its boxes is not the foot length.
US to UK shoe sizes
UK sizes use the same 1/3 inch step as US sizes, so the gap is fixed. On Nike's chart and in the calculator, UK is 1 below US men's (a US men's 9 is UK 8) and 2 below US women's on the standard scale. Zappos puts UK only half a size below US men's, so check the brand's chart for UK too.
Questions
What is EU 42 in US sizes?
On Nike's men's chart, EU 42 is a US men's 8.5, which is a women's 9.5 on the standard scale. Birkenstock lists EU 42 as a men's 9 to 9.5 or a women's 11 to 11.5.
What is a US 9 in EU sizes?
A US men's 9 is EU 42.5 on Nike's chart. A US women's 9 is about EU 41 on the standard scale and EU 40.5 on Nike's women's chart.
Are EU shoe sizes the same for men and women?
Yes. EU sizes are one scale for both, based on the length of the last. A women's and a men's shoe with the same EU number are meant for the same foot length, although brands round differently.
Why is my EU size different in two brands?
Each brand maps foot length to EU numbers in its own chart and rounds to its own steps. A half-size difference between brands is common, so check the chart of the brand you are buying.
Can I convert EU to US by subtracting a fixed number?
Only roughly. Birkenstock gives US women's + 31 and US men's + 33 as a rule of thumb for its own shoes. On other charts the gap grows across the range because EU steps are smaller than US steps: on Nike's men's chart it is 32.5 at a US 6 and 34.5 at a US 15.
Sources
The numbers on this page come from the pages below. Brands differ, so check the size chart on the product page before you buy. Read our method