Shoe Size
By pgn
@pgntwo (22405)
Derry, Northern Ireland
April 2, 2016 12:36pm CST
Have you ever bought a pair of shoes from an on-line retailer?
Did you have to send the shoes back because they didn't fit?
It's unsurprising when you look at the chart above, showing the different systems there are around the world for measuring the size of a person's feet. What's more, even in the same part of the world, men's and women's feet are often measured using different scales!
The British shoe measurement system is based on an old Anglo-Saxon unit, the barleycorn. The standard size of a barleycorn is about 8.5mm (metric), or about 3 barleycorns to the inch (an inch being the same length in both the UK and the US since 1933).
The short clip from the British TV show, QI, below shows the fun that was had by the panel and the show's host when the question of What are feet measured in? arose.
I am surprised we ever manage to walk anywhere...!
Next time someone asks you to act your age and not your shoe size, you've got a snappy response to hand: In what country? 
25 people like this
27 responses
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
9 Apr 16
@ElizabethWallace I wonder how many returns they get...?
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
3 Apr 16
@pgntwo Yes, but Zappos is only online and they sell tons of shoes. Go figure.
1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22085)
• United States
5 Apr 16
I do not buy shoes online, because I never know what size I am!
I usually buy sneakers and workboots in the Men's section. Obviously dress shoes are from the Women's section and usually sandals and possibly also dress boots. Even then, the sizes vary so much that I have to try them on to make sure that they will fit me properly not to mention the fact that I usually forget which section I am in.
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23193)
• Bangalore, India
10 Apr 16
My kinda girl. I love sneakers, sandals, shoes, workboots. But heels are my sworn nemesis. 
1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22085)
• United States
11 Apr 16
@pgntwo It is the same with clothes for me. I have to try them on before I buy them to make sure they fit properly. Somewhere over the years, manufacturers have forgotten that women tend to have hips AND a waist ... maybe from all the "pencil models" they have now.
2 people like this
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
3 Apr 16
@Asylum I found the same with shoes from Clark's Shoes vs those from an independent shoe shop. I think shoe fitting is often cursory in some shops, if not overlooked completely, unless you insist upon it. And then trying on and taking a few steps in the new shoes are necessary before purchase...
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
10 Apr 16
@LadyDuck At least Italian, Spanish and French-made shoes all use the common European sizing chart - so a size 3 should be the same in all three countries. The standardisation across Europe has benefitted everyone in that respect, at least! 
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
3 Apr 16
It isn't just size. It is also other dimensions that count. I have high arches, so even if the "size" fits, the shoe may not. Such a pain to buy shoes. If/when I will a zillion dollars in the lottery (fingers crossed), I will hire a cobbler and have shoes made to fit my stupid feet.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
3 Apr 16
I had custom-made shoes for a couple of years when I was at school - quite comfortable, as I recall. Can't recall exactly why, possibly because a local cobbler was available and offered good prices for his wares, compared to what was available in the local shoe-shops.
I think you have the right idea! Good luck in the lottery!
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
4 Apr 16
@ElizabethWallace Just goes to show what a load of old cobblers (sl.) can earn...
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
4 Apr 16
@pgntwo Wow. I wish we had someone who had reasonable prices on custom made shoes. The best price I have heard is $500 each. Ouch.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
8 Apr 16
I'm so hard to fit and have a tough time with uncomfortable shoes- I can't use online shopping for shoes.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
8 Apr 16
@MarymargII Douglas Adams referenced a stage in the development of society called "The Shoe Event Horizon":
Skip to content Haibane.info a celebration of science fiction, anime, and geek culture This segment ranks among my most favorite moments of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Secondary Phase, Fit the Eleventh, to be precise (the BBC radio series is the
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
10 Apr 16
@vandana7 I think it is subject to the "not invented here" syndrome, y'see:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Not invented here (NIH) is a stance adopted by social, corporate, or institutional cultures that avoid using or buying already existing products, research, standards, or knowledge because of
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
2 Apr 16
Size depends on the type of shoe, brand, style. For instance ~ I just bought rain boots. .. totally does not rain often here but they were on sale and super cute. They don't offer half sizes and I'm a 7.5 but the "7" fit perfectly with enough room to even wear socks!
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
2 Apr 16
@pgntwo yes totally confusing but I just go by us sizing.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
2 Apr 16
@infatuatedbby Whatever works for you...
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
9 Apr 16
Good video pgn.
Yes I have but the only thing wrong with them was the color..size turned out fine.
As it happens on Amazon, some of the shoes give you sizes exactly..you can measure the length of your foot instead of just going by a generalised size.
Of course one would have to take into account width, but that time I was lucky.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
9 Apr 16
@pgntwo Well sort of..they are shoes..I had bought some of those for my son and had to make sure they were the right size.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
9 Apr 16
@pgntwo The only reason I bought those shoes online is because I could take the risk of them not fitting becoz they cost me next to nothing..in the end ironically the fit was perfect..the color was outrageous lolz so I wound up donating them to the local homeless place.
so I wound up donating them to the local homeless place.1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
12 Apr 16
That clip was funny, not that I understood every word. I liked the spiff the guy on the right said about that being the first day he's worn size 13 shoes.
I don't buy shoes online for that reason and because even when I do try them on in stores or even wear them a bit before buying, oftentimes after awhile they're not a good fit after all. The one brand, I've not had to break in, nor have I had blisters or any problems with them is sketchers.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
13 Apr 16
@pgntwo In looking up a link I saw that possibly zappo's sells them, but I'm not sure if either location sells them overseas or not.
Find all SKECHERS USA shoes available on Skechers official website. Free shipping both ways. Largest selection of Skechers available online.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23193)
• Bangalore, India
10 Apr 16
No online shoe shopping for me. I can't seem to find shoe for my feet at the shoe showrooms. LOL Online shopping would be total disaster.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
6 Apr 16
I have bought shoes online for The Boy, and as his feet are still expanding, I make him stand barefoot on a piece of paper, trace his foot using a pencil and then measure it with a ruler (the kind with inches on it, as we reject the evil metric system). Then I consult my internet chart of inches to shoe size calculations. Haven't had to return any yet. We haven't got season 6 of QI yet, but I only watch it for Alan Davies. I have caught Fry in a lie several times.
1 person likes this
@Dragonairy1 (1722)
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
6 Apr 16
Interesting, and yes, although I complain every time I put the boots on as they have a zip on the back which is tight to get on (although comfortable enough when up).
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
6 Apr 16
That reminds me...
"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" is a pop song musically composed by Lee Hazlewood and first written and recorded by Nancy Sinatra. It was released in Febr...
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
9 Apr 16
I just take the trace of my foot and have it bought, if I do not go to the shoe shop. I don't buy online too.
1 person likes this
@crystalvisions (440)
• United Kingdom
10 Apr 16
Thank you for the chart! I agree, buying shoes can sometimes be a nightmare because of the sizes from other countries printed on the soles when they should have the UK size
1 person likes this
