Sneaker Sizing Guide: How to Find the Right Size Online
Raffles and fast releases rarely give you a chance to try a pair on first, and returns are often not accepted on limited shoes. Getting your size right before you enter is the cheapest way to avoid an expensive mistake. This guide covers how to measure your feet and how to think about fit differences between models.
Measure your feet properly
Measure in the evening, when feet are at their largest. Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall, mark the tip of your longest toe, and measure from the wall to the mark in centimetres. Do both feet and use the longer measurement. Most brands publish a size chart that maps foot length in centimetres to their sizes, and this is far more reliable than relying on the size you wear in another brand.
US, UK, EU and Japanese sizes
Sizes are not converted the same way by every brand, which is why a US 10 in one brand can be labelled a different EU size in another. Always use the conversion printed on the specific brand's chart or size tag rather than a generic table. Japanese and centimetre sizes are based directly on foot length, which makes them a useful reference point when comparing brands.
US men's and women's sizes are also different. Women's US sizes are typically one and a half sizes larger in number than the equivalent men's size, so a men's US 8 is roughly a women's US 9.5. Many releases are produced only in men's or grade-school sizing, so check which scale a release uses.
Why fit changes between models
Every model is built on a last — the foot-shaped form a shoe is constructed around — and different lasts give different lengths, widths and toe-box shapes. That is why the same person might wear one size in a slim running shoe and a half size smaller in a roomy basketball silhouette.
Materials matter too. Full-leather uppers usually soften and stretch slightly over time, while knitted and mesh uppers can feel snug at first. Patent leather and stiff synthetics barely stretch at all, so a tight pair will usually stay tight.
Using community fit feedback
For any new release, the best sizing information usually comes from people who own earlier versions of the same model. Look for repeated comments — if many owners say a model runs short, that is more useful than a single review. Retailer product pages sometimes include a fit note such as 'true to size' or 'consider going half a size up'.
If you are between sizes, think about how you will wear the shoe. Thicker socks, orthotic insoles and wide feet all point towards the larger size.
Before you enter a raffle
Decide your size for each model before the release window opens. Enter only in the size you will actually wear — most raffles forbid size switching after a win, and entering in other sizes can lead to cancellation. Our raffle guide explains the other common reasons entries are rejected.