Note: Men's sizes are typically wider than Women's sizes (D vs B width).
How Does Women's to Men's Shoe Conversion Work?
In the United States, the standard difference between women's and men's shoe sizes is approximately 1.5 sizes. Because men's sizing is based on a different scale, a woman wearing a specific size will usually find the equivalent fit in a men's shoe by subtracting 1.5 from her current size.
For example, if you wear a US Women's Size 9, you would subtract 1.5 to find your men's equivalent, which is a US Men's Size 7.5.
The Difference in Width
Sizing isn't just about length; width plays a major role in how a shoe feels. Standard width for women's shoes is "B," while the standard width for men's shoes is "D." This means that even if the length is correct after conversion, a men's shoe will naturally feel slightly wider than a women's shoe of the equivalent length.
Quick Conversion Examples
US Women's Size
US Men's Size (Approx)
7.0
5.5
8.5
7.0
10.0
8.5
11.5
10.0
Important Considerations When Converting
Brand Variance: Not all brands follow the 1.5-size rule perfectly. Athletic brands like Nike or Adidas may vary slightly from dress shoe brands.
Unisex Sizing: Many sneakers (like Converse or Vans) are listed in unisex sizes. Usually, the box will display both sizes clearly.
International Sizing: In the UK and EU, sizing is often unisex or follows a single scale, making conversion unnecessary. This 1.5-size rule applies specifically to US sizing.
function convertShoeSize() {
var womensSize = document.getElementById("womensSize").value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("shoe-result-area");
var displaySpan = document.getElementById("mensResult");
if (womensSize) {
var wSize = parseFloat(womensSize);
var mSize = wSize – 1.5;
// Ensure we don't show negative sizes for very small inputs
if (mSize < 0) {
mSize = 0;
}
displaySpan.innerHTML = mSize.toString();
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
// Smooth scroll to result
resultDiv.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' });
} else {
alert("Please select a valid women's shoe size.");
}
}