The document includes information about the following:
- What is sizing?
- Derivation of the shoe sizes
- Common sizing systems
- International shoe size systems
-conversion of shoe sizes using formula
2. SIZING
sizes vary from country to country depending upon the general
need and purpose of the market. Shoe size is an alphanumerical
indication of the fitting size of a shoe for a person, simply, it is the
number given to a certain fit of a shoe based on a certain ratio of the length, width and
form of the shoe. A size is basically a standard set by the manufacturer to regard a
certain fit. There are several different shoe-size systems that are used worldwide. These
systems differ in what they measure, what unit of measurement they use, and where the
size 0 (or 1) is positioned. Only a few systems also take the width of the feet into
account. Some regions use different shoe-size systems for different types of shoes (e.g.,
men's, women's, children's, sport, or safety shoes).
DERIVATION OF A SHOW SIZE-
The length of a foot is commonly defined as the distance between two parallel lines that
are perpendicular to the foot and in contact with the most prominent toe and the most
prominent part of the heel. Foot length is measured with the subject standing barefoot
and the weight of the body equally distributed on both feet.
The size of the left and right foot is often slightly different. In this case, both feet are
measured, and the shoe size is based upon the larger foot.
Each size of shoe is suitable for a small interval of foot lengths. The inner cavity of a
shoe must typically be 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) longer than the foot, but this relation
varies between different types of shoes.
Shoe
3. There are three characteristic lengths that a shoe-size system can refer to:
The median length of feet for which a shoe is suitable.
For customers, this measure has the advantage of being directly related to their body
measures. It applies equally to any type, form, or material of shoe. However, this
measure is less popular with manufacturers because it requires them to test carefully for
each new shoe model, for which range of foot sizes it is recommendable. It puts on the
manufacturer the burden of ensuring that the shoe will fit a foot of a given length.
The length of the inner cavity of the shoe.
This measure has the advantage that it can be measured easily on the finished product.
However, it will vary with manufacturing tolerances and provides the customer only very
crude information about the range of foot sizes for which the shoe is suitable.
The length of the "last"
The foot-shaped template over which the shoe is manufactured. This measure is the
easiest one for the manufacturer to use, because it identifies only the tool used to
produce the shoe. It makes no promise about manufacturing tolerances or for what size
of foot the shoe is actually suitable. It leaves all responsibility and risk of choosing the
correct size with the customer. Further, the last can be measured in several different
ways resulting in different measurements.
All these measures differ substantially from one another for the same shoe.
4. COMMON SIZING SYSTEMS-
1. Mondopoint:
The International Standard is ISO 9407:1991, Shoe sizes—Mondopoint system of sizing
and marking, that recommend a shoe-size system known as Mondopoint.
It is based on the mean foot length and width for which the shoe is suitable, measured
in milimeters. A shoe size of 280/110 indicates a mean foot length of 280 milimeters
(11 in) and width of 110 milimeters (4.3 in).
Because Mondopoint also takes the foot width into account, it allows for better fitting
than most other systems. It is, therefore, used by NATO (The North Atlantic Treaty
Organization) and other military services.
European standard EN 13402, used also for clothes, recommends, instead, that shoes be
labelled with the interval of foot lengths for which they are suitable, measured in
centimeters.
2. United Kingdom and Ireland:
Shoe size in the United Kingdom (British size) is based on the length of the last,
measured in barleycorn (approx 1/3 inch) starting from the smallest practical size, which
is size zero. It is not formally standardised.
A child's size zero is equivalent to a hand (4 in, 12 barleycorns or 10.16 cm), and the
sizes go up to size 13½ (8½ in or 21.59 cm). Thus, the calculation for a child shoe size in
the UK is:
An adult size one is then the next size up (8⅔ in or 22.01 cm) and each size up continues
the progression in barleycorns. The calculation for an adult shoe size in the UK is thus:
3. United States and Canada:
5. In North America, there are different systems that are used concurrently. The size
indications are usually similar but not exactly equivalent, especially with athletic shoes at
extreme sizes.
The traditional system is similar to English sizes but start counting at one rather than
zero, so equivalent sizes are one greater. (This is similar to the way that floors in
buildings are numbered from one rather from zero (ground) in these regions).
- So the calculation for a male shoe size in the USA or Canada is:
[citation needed]
- Women's sizes are almost always determined with the "common" scale, in which
women's sizes are equal to men's sizes plus 1.5 (for example, a men's 10.5 is a
women's 12). In other words:
- In the less popular scale, known as the "standard" or "FIA" (Footwear Industries of
America) scale, women's sizes are men's sizes plus 1 (so a men's 10.5 is a
women's 11.5).
- Children's sizes are equal to men's sizes plus 12.33. Thus, girls' and boys' sizes do
not differ, even though men's and women's do.
Children's shoe stores in the United States use a sizing scheme which ends at 13, after
which it starts at 1 again as adult sizes.
4. Continental Europe:
The Continental European system is used in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and most
other continental European countries.
In this system, the shoe size is the length of the last, expressed in Paris points, for both
genders and for adults and children alike. Because a Paris point is ⅔ of a centimeter, the
formula is as follow:
6. Based on foot length, one must first add about 1.5 cm.
5. Asia:
The Asian system is based on metric measurements and standardised as JIS S 5037:1998,
CNS 4800, S 1093, or KS M 6681. Foot length and girth are taken into account.The foot
length is indicated in centimeters; an increment of 5 mm is used. This system was also
used in the GDR.
The length is followed by designators for girth (A, B, C, D, E, EE, EEE, EEEE, F, G), which is
taken from a table indexed to girth and length. There are different tables for men's,
women's, and children's (less than 12 years of age) shoes. The tables also include the
width as supplemental indications. Not all designators are used for all genders and in all
countries. For example, the largest girth for women in China is EEEE, whereas in Japan, it
is F.
In Japan, one maker also adds an indication for the foot width: N (narrow), M (medium),
and W (wide).
NOTE: Athletic shoes
Some makers of athletic shoes, such as Nike, Reebok, or Fila, use an increment of 5 mm
instead of half a barleycorn (4.23 mm). As with other systems, women's sizes are one
size up.
Male shoe size (athletic) = foot length in centimeters − 18
Female shoe size (athletic) = foot length in centimeters − 17
There are different sizes for children's and youths' shoes, for example, Nike uses the
following:
Shoe size (children) = foot length in centimeters − 6
Shoe size (youth) = foot length in centimeters – 19
7. It is obvious that due to the different increments, the sizes can be similar to “normal” US
sizes only for medium shoe sizes. For shoes that are larger or smaller, the sizes deviate
substantially.
8.
9. INTERNATIONAL SHOE SIZE CHART
NOTES
1. The Mondopoint system is the same as measuring the foot (not the shoe) in
Millimeters (mm.). However, some companies treat Mondopoint as Centimeters
(cm.). So a shoe may be labeled either 240 (mm) or 24 (cm) if it is designed for a foot
that is 240 millimeters long (including some wiggle room for socks). You may see
mondopoint sizes with two numbers separated by a slash, e.g. 240/95. The second
number is the width of the foot in millimeters.
2. American Women's shoe sizes are the same as American Men's shoe sizes plus 1½.
3. Canadian shoe sizes are equivalent (identical) to American shoe sizes for both Adult
and Children's, Men and Women.
4. Mexican shoe sizes plus 1½ are the same as American Men's shoe sizes.
5. British shoe sizes plus 1 are the same as American Men's shoe sizes
6. Japanese shoes sizes are American Men's shoes sizes plus 18. (Some companies say
add 19.)
7. Europe uses a system that came from the French called Paris Points (aka Parisien
Prick). One Paris Point equals two-thirds of a centimeter. The system starts at zero
centimeters and increases. There are no half sizes. American size 0 is the same as 15
Paris Points.
8. 1cm is 10mm.
9. 1 Inch is 2.54cm
10. Length in Inches = 71/3 + (US Men's shoe size)*1/3
11. Paris Points = 311/3 + (UK shoe size)*4/3.
12. A Chinese 7 is a UK 4. That's all I know at the moment about sizes of shoes in China.
13. Australia and New Zealand use the same shoe sizes as the United Kingdom for boys,
men and girls. However, I have seen women's shoe charts where Australia is 1 or 2
sizes bigger than U.K. Korea measures shoe sizes in mm.
14. There are two scales used in the U.S. The standard (or "FIA") scale and the common
scales. The "common" scale is more widely used. The scales are about ½ size
different.
10. CONVERSION OF SHOE SIZES USING
FORMULA
1. UK Size to US Size:
Formula-
MENS WOMEN
UK size= US size - 1 UK size= US size – 2.5
For example:
Let’s convert UK size 7 into US size,
Men-
UK 7= 7-1
= 6 (US)
Women-
UK 7= 7-2.5
= 4.5 (US)
2. UK Size to European/French Size:
Formula-
CHIRLDEN ADULT
(12+ UK size)*1.27 (25+ UK size)*1.27
For example:
Let’s convert UK size 7 into European size,
Children-
(12+7)*1.27
=19*1.27
=24.13 ≈ 24
Adult-
11. (25+7)*1.27
=32*1.27
=40.64 ≈ 40
3. European/French size to UK size:
Formula-
CHIRLDEN ADULT
(French size/1.27)-12 (French size/1.27)-25
For example:
Children-
Let’s convert 23 into UK size,
(23/1.27)-12
=(18.11)-12
=6.11 ≈ 6
Adult-
Let’s convert 33 into UK size,
(33/1.27)-25
=25.98-25
=0.98 ≈ 1