Size

• Shoe sizes are generally determined via two measuring units, either barleycorn or Paris point. The size of one barleycorn measures 8.47 millimeters or 1/3 inch. A Paris point measures 6.67 millimeters or 0.26 inch. Interestingly, the measurement of a barleycorn is left over from old Anglo-Saxon measurements from pre-1066, when the measurement was standardized.
  
  

Features

• A shoe size is determined by measuring foot sizes and there are three general areas that can determine a shoe size. Many countries use the length of the inner part of the shoe. Another method is to determine average width of feet. The third method is to figure the length of the last (a template measured from a foot). These three methods can create widely different shoe sizes. If you want to find out your shoe size, visit a shoe store and ask a salesperson to measure your foot, both the length and width, with a special instrument that will verify what your correct shoe size is.
  
  

Geography

• Shoe size designations vary by country, although there is an international standard that is based on foot size measured in millimeters. In North America, shoe sizes are based on the length of the last and measured in barleycorns. Shoe sizes in the U.S. begin with 1. Women's shoes are equal to men's sizes but add 1.5, so a man's U.S. 9 would equal a woman's U.S. 10.5. Children's shoes are equal to men's shoe measurements plus 12.33. In the United Kingdom, shoe size is determined in a similar way, by the length of the last; however, shoe sizes begin at 0 rather than 1. France, Germany, Italy, Spain and most other European countries figure shoe size by the length of the last but in Paris points. China also follows this shoe size designation. Some countries figure the length of the shoe in centimeters, such as Haiti, Japan and Korea.
  
  

Considerations

• Shoe sizes can also feature an additional measurement that corresponds to varying widths of feet. Foot width is generally measured at the widest part of the foot, directly behind the toes. This width designation is paired with the shoe size and differ depending on the country. For the United States and United Kingdom, foot width for shoe sizes is indicated by A, B, C, D and E, with A being more narrow and E being the widest.
  
  

Problem/Solution

• Because of the various standards assigned to shoes manufactured in different parts of the world, it can be difficult to get the right shoe size in one country when ordering from another. Shoe size conversion charts and calculators make it easier to determine your shoe size in another country's measurements. For an online shoe size calculator, simply enter in your shoe size and the measurement system for that number. For example, if you wear a woman's U.S. size 9, enter the information in the box. When you click on a button, the shoe size conversions for a variety of areas are displayed (see resources).