Views: 290 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2021-07-28 Origin: Site
One of the common questions our customers ask our fitting specialists is how to convert from EU to UK size. We thought we could write an explanation that would help you understand the size conversion dilemma that plagues shoe lovers around the world.
Thirty years ago, most shoes were made in Britain and were therefore a British size. The last on the shoe is specially designed for the shape of the British foot. Globalization has changed the world dramatically since then, including the shoe industry.
The UK shoe industry has been hit hard by the explosion of low-cost manufacturing in Europe and the Far East. High-quality European manufacturers still make man shoes in the UK in half size because they think the right size is crucial.
Contrary to popular belief, the size of the EU does not translate directly into the size of the UK. Typically, they are five sixths the size of the UK, compared with five sixths the size of the EU. The conversion chart above illustrates why this is a problem: EU sizes simply do not match UK sizes, which may lead many customers to choose the wrong size. Today, many of our top brands manufacture their great shoes in European or continental sizes.
The problem with making full - and half-British lasts is that it's expensive. If fewer sizes are produced, the cost of mass production will be lower. In accordance with British sizing, due to the difference between the two sizes, it is usual to produce both full and half sizes to provide a comfortable size.
As a result, any women's shoe size system made in the UK usually requires 14-17 different sizes for each style. However, when women's shoes are produced in EU size, they may only be size 7-9 to cover all possibilities.
In children's shoes, the impact of EU-sized manufacturing is even more extreme. A baby shoe, for example, comes in 25 different UK sizes, from baby size seven to baby size six. The European size, however, requires only 17.
For many brands, manufacturing on an EU scale represents a cost-effective solution. The big problem comes when European-size shoes are sold in the UK and the US, where customers expect to see a familiar size on the front of the box. Unfortunately, some brands cut corners by oversimplifying size conversion (e.g., one UK size equals one EU size), which can be very unhelpful.
This is a very common misconception and the root of many online shoppers' problems. Over time, many big brands and retailers have beefed up translations that match the exact size -- because it makes it easier to advertise products. For the sake of simplicity, few retailers will advertise full-size shoes and instead provide you with their own translations.
EU sizes are often converted to UK using the following methodology for Women:
Confusingly for Men’s sizes, some retailers follow this approach:
A similarly simple approach is used for child sizes. In fact, the shift is misleading and partly explains why shoe sizes vary widely from brand to brand. Converting from EU size back to UK or US size causes many headaches and fitting challenges for us and our customers!
Every day in every one of our stores, we get women asking for British size eight shoes. They often wear their favorite brand number 41 for years, unaware that it's not really number 8 at all. The good news is that our staff can guide what is appropriate and explain why there are transition challenges.
In summary, we recommend that you use the charts above to convert sizes; they should be a good starting point. It's important to remember that sizing is only part of the story and there's no substitute for trying on shoes to determine if they're right for you. When shoes are manufactured around the world and are usually designed to suit local preferences, this is a common problem with size conversion.
When you shop online, there's always the risk that the size won't fit you, so check the return instructions before you buy. There are some great new brands coming out every year, and if you want to find the best products on the market, ultimately it's a risk worth taking.
Feel free to contact us for advice on the translation of EU shoe sizes to UK sizes, by phone or email. If you can, come and visit one of our stores. Either way, our fitting specialists will help to answer your questions the best we can and help you navigate the pitfalls of size conversion.
