Charles Black Custom Initials

This guide converts men's shoe sizes between UK, EU and US, and matches your foot length in centimetres or inches to the right size. It also covers how to measure your feet at home, how leather shoes should fit, what to do if you are between sizes or have wide feet, and how exchanges work if a pair doesn't fit.

Quick answer: to get from EU to UK, take away 34 (EU 43 is a UK 9). To get from UK to US, add one (UK 9 is a US 10). If you are not sure of your size, measure your foot in centimetres and use the foot length column below.

EU to UK at a glance: EU 41 = UK 7 · EU 42 = UK 8 · EU 43 = UK 9 · EU 44 = UK 10 · EU 45 = UK 11 · EU 46 = UK 12 · EU 47 = UK 13.

Men's shoe size chart: UK, EU and US

Foot length is the length of your bare foot, not the inside of the shoe. Each size step is about 0.9 cm (just over a third of an inch).

Sizes we make: our shoes, boots and trainers come in whole UK sizes. Most styles run from UK 7 to UK 12, and selected styles go up to UK 13 or 14. The sizes available for each style are shown in the size menu on its product page.

How to convert shoe sizes

UK, EU and US men's sizes use different scales, so the same foot has a different number in each system. On our chart they line up in a simple pattern:

• EU to UK: take away 34. EU 41 is a UK 7, EU 44 is a UK 10 and EU 46 is a UK 12.
• UK to EU: add 34. A UK 8 is an EU 42 and a UK 11 is an EU 45.
• US to UK: take away one. A US 9 is a UK 8 and a US 11 is a UK 10.
• UK to US: add one. A UK 9 is a US 10 and a UK 12 is a US 13.

Brands do not all convert in exactly the same way, so a size from another brand is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Your foot length in centimetres is the most reliable way to choose.

How to measure your feet

You need a sheet of paper, a pencil and a ruler or tape measure. It takes about five minutes.

1. Measure at the end of the day. Feet swell slightly as the day goes on, so an evening measurement gives a size that stays comfortable.
2. Wear the kind of socks you plan to wear with the shoes.
3. Place the paper flat on a hard floor, with one edge against a wall.
4. Stand on the paper with your heel touching the wall and your weight spread evenly over both feet.
5. Mark the tip of your longest toe with the pencil held straight up. For some people this is the second toe, not the big toe.
6. Measure from the wall to the mark in centimetres.
7. Repeat with the other foot. Most people have one foot slightly longer than the other, so use the longer measurement.

Find your measurement in the foot length column. If it falls between two rows, see the advice on being between sizes below.

How your shoes should fit

A good fit is about length, width and how the shoe holds your heel. When you try a new pair on, check that:

• Your toes do not press against the front of the shoe when you stand up, and you can move them freely.
• The widest part of your foot sits at the widest part of the shoe without pinching.
• Your heel stays in place when you walk, with no more than a little lift.
• Nothing rubs or digs in across the top of your foot.

Leather shoes should feel snug but not tight at first. Our uppers are full-grain leather, and leather softens and shapes to your foot as you wear it. It gives a little across the width, but a shoe does not get longer, so never buy a pair that is too short in the hope it will stretch.

Loafers and Chelsea boots have no laces to adjust, so they rely on the right length and a snug hold at the heel. With lace-up shoes and trainers, the laces let you fine-tune the fit across the top of your foot.

If you are between sizes

We make whole sizes only. If your foot length falls between two sizes on the chart:

• For lace-up shoes, boots and trainers, choose the larger size. The laces let you take up a little extra room.
• For loafers and Chelsea boots, go by your longer foot and check the heel hold when you try them on.
• If one foot is noticeably longer than the other, always size for the longer foot.

If you are still unsure, order the size you think is right and try them on at home. If they don't fit, you can exchange them for a different size (see below).

Shoe width guide

Length is only half of fit. Our standard width is Medium (F), which suits a foot measuring about 25 cm around its widest part (the ball of the foot, just behind the toes).

For wider feet, measuring around 25.6 cm or more, we make selected styles in Wide G fitting. These are labelled WIDE FIT after the style name. See all men's wide fit shoes.

You may need a wide fit if shoes in your correct length usually feel tight across the ball of your foot, press on your little toe, or leave red marks on the sides of your feet. If a wide fit version isn't available in the style you want, sizing up is an alternative, though the shoe will also be slightly longer.

To measure, stand up and wrap a soft tape measure around the widest part of your foot, across the ball of the foot, and read the measurement in centimetres.

What the width letters mean: UK men's shoes use letters for width, and each letter up is a little wider. F is the standard men's width, G is wide and H is extra wide. US sizes use different letters: D is standard and 2E (EE) is wide. Our shoes come in F (standard) and, in selected styles, G (wide).

Trying shoes on and exchanges

When your shoes arrive, try them on indoors on a carpet or soft floor, and walk around for a few minutes. Keep the tags on and the shoes in their box until you are happy with the fit.

• UK orders can be exchanged once for a different size or another item of equal value.
• Request your return label through our returns portal within 14 days of delivery. You then have a further 14 days to send the shoes back.
• Shoes must be unworn and in their original box. Shoes that show signs of wear on the soles, uppers or inside cannot be returned, and size or fit issues after wear are not covered.
• Full details are in our returns and exchanges policy.

Need help choosing a size? Email hey@oswinhyde.com.

Shoe size questions

What is EU 41 in UK shoe size?

EU 41 is a UK 7 and a US 8, for a foot about 25.4 cm (10 in) long. UK 7 is the smallest size we make.

What is EU 45, 46 or 47 in UK sizes?

EU 45 is a UK 11 (US 12), EU 46 is a UK 12 (US 13) and EU 47 is a UK 13 (US 14). Most of our styles go up to UK 12, and selected styles are also made in UK 13 and 14.

What is UK 7, 10 or 11 in EU sizes?

UK 7 is EU 41, UK 10 is EU 44 and UK 11 is EU 45. On our chart, add 34 to any UK size to get the EU size.

What size is a 44 in men's UK shoes?

An EU 44 is a UK 10 and a US 11. It fits a foot about 28.1 cm (11.06 in) long. If you usually wear 44 in another brand, measure your foot as well: if it is closer to 27.2 cm you may be a UK 9 (EU 43), and if it is closer to 29.0 cm you may be a UK 11 (EU 45).

What is EU 42 or 43 in UK sizes?

EU 42 is a UK 8 (US 9), for a foot about 26.3 cm long. EU 43 is a UK 9 (US 10), for a foot about 27.2 cm long. If you're unsure which you are, measure your foot and use the foot length column in the chart.

How do I convert EU to UK shoe sizes?

On our chart, take 34 away from the EU size: EU 41 is a UK 7, EU 45 is a UK 11 and EU 47 is a UK 13. To go the other way, add 34 to the UK size.

How do I convert US to UK men's shoe sizes?

US men's sizes are one size above UK sizes, so take one away from the US size. A US 10 is a UK 9 and a US 12 is a UK 11. Note that US women's sizes use a different scale, so this only applies to men's sizes.

Do you sell half sizes?

No. We make whole UK sizes only. If you normally wear a half size, use your foot length to choose, and see our advice on being between sizes above. In lace-up styles, we suggest choosing the next size up.

What sizes do your shoes come in?

Most styles come in UK 7 to UK 12 (EU 41 to 46). Selected styles are also made in UK 13 and UK 14. The size menu on each product page shows exactly which sizes that style comes in.

Should I size up or down in leather shoes?

Start with your true size from the chart. Leather softens and moulds to your foot with wear, so a new pair should feel snug rather than loose. Don't size down expecting leather to stretch in length, because it won't. Size up only if you are between sizes in a lace-up style or need extra width and no wide fit version is available.

Do leather shoes stretch?

Leather gives a little across the width and over the top of the foot as it softens with wear, which is why a new pair should feel snug at first. It does not stretch in length, so if your toes touch the front of the shoe, you need a bigger size.

How do I know if I need a wide fit?

If shoes that are the right length feel tight across the ball of your foot, squeeze your little toe or leave marks on the sides of your feet, you probably need a wider fit. Our standard fitting is Medium (F); our wide fit styles are made in Wide G, for feet measuring around 25.6 cm or more around the ball of the foot.

What do shoe width letters like D, F, G and H mean?

They show how wide the shoe is. In UK men's sizes F is standard, G is wide and H is extra wide. In US sizes D is standard and 2E (EE) is wide. Our shoes come in F, with selected styles in G.

What if my shoes don't fit?

Try them on indoors, on carpet, as soon as they arrive. If they don't fit, UK orders can be exchanged once for a different size, as long as the shoes are unworn and in their original box. Request a return label through our returns portal within 14 days of delivery, then send the shoes back within a further 14 days.