LoveGoBuy Spreadsheet Shoe Sizes: US, EU and CM

Why one number can describe different things

A US size is a position in a sizing system, while a heel-to-toe measurement describes your foot. A number printed as “CM” on a shoe box can be a label from the maker's size scheme rather than a direct measurement of your foot. Nike explicitly warns that its box and label CM value differs from the Foot Length (cm) column in its chart. Treating the two as identical can produce a misleading conversion even before another brand is involved.

Adidas publishes heel-to-toe values alongside US, UK, EU and JP labels. Its EU sequence includes fractional steps such as thirds, which is another reason a rounded “EU 42” in a seller description may be insufficient. These brand charts are examples of how sizing is documented, not proof that a particular seller's pair follows them exactly. The live option, model and seller chart still need to agree.

Start with a measured foot, not an old sneaker box

The adidas measurement guide recommends standing on paper, tracing the foot and measuring from heel to the longest toe. Nike's chart also provides a foot-length measurement method. Measure both feet because they may differ, and use the longer measurement as the safer starting point. Adidas additionally advises measuring near the end of the day, when fit may be more representative of a full day of wear.

Write the result in millimeters or centimeters and note the socks you intend to use. Then read the foot-length column of the relevant brand chart. A pair you already own can be useful as a second reference, but its printed size alone says little about whether a different model has the same shape. If your measured value sits between chart entries, read the maker's fit advice for that model rather than applying an automatic half-size rule.

Brand chart, model shape and seller option are separate checks

A brand chart maps measurements to its own size labels. The shape of an individual shoe determines how that label feels on a foot: toe-box volume, width, upper stiffness and intended socks all matter. Nike's chart distinguishes regular, wide and extra-wide shoes by toe-box girth, showing that length is only one dimension. A size can be correct in length yet uncomfortable across the forefoot.

A spreadsheet is a discovery tool, so its title may omit the chart that applies to the seller's current version. On the destination listing, look for the exact model, available size options and any stated fit advice. If the seller supplies an insole length, do not silently substitute it for foot length: they measure different things. Ask what the number represents and whether it was measured on the removable insole, the shoe interior or a chart.

A practical comparison without a universal conversion table

Imagine your longer foot measures 26.7 cm. In the adidas chart reviewed for this article, that heel-to-toe value appears with a particular adidas US, UK and EU row. It would be tempting to copy the EU number into every sneaker listing. Nike's warning about CM label versus foot length shows why that shortcut is unsafe. The 26.7 cm result is a measurement you can carry across comparisons; the size label is a brand-specific interpretation of it.

Use a simple three-column note: measured foot length, the official chart entry for the exact brand and the seller's offered option. Add a fourth note for width or fit comments if the model is known to run narrow or roomy. This makes a disagreement visible. For example, a listing that calls one size “27 cm” but gives no chart has an unresolved question, not a verified match. The goal is to preserve uncertainty until the seller clarifies it.

What to check when a listing uses several size systems

Check whether the seller's US label refers to men's, women's or youth sizing. The adidas chart places men's and women's US sizes on separate rows for the same heel-to-toe measurement, so a bare “US 9” can be ambiguous. Check that the EU and JP labels are presented as the same row, not assembled from unrelated charts. If the product page offers only a single dropdown number, identify which system that dropdown uses before ordering.

Photos of a tongue or box label can help identify what was printed on one photographed pair. They cannot test how that pair will fit you, and they may not match the size or production run you select. When an exact model chart is unavailable, request a clear size table and ask whether the listing follows it consistently across variants. If those answers remain unclear, keep the listing as a candidate rather than treating the spreadsheet title as sufficient sizing evidence.

Use the size decision where it belongs

Our shoe category helps compare silhouettes and current listings. This article answers the narrower sizing question: which measurement is being converted, and whose chart supplies the label? Once you have a measured foot length and a matching size row, confirm that the live seller option uses the same system. Save the selected model and option for your own comparison. A familiar US or EU number is a useful shorthand only after the underlying measurement and model context are clear.

The official charts below explain measurement and brand labeling. They cannot certify the dimensions of an unrelated listing or guarantee comfort. If size information conflicts, rely on an explicit clarification for that item rather than on a conversion copied from another brand.

The UK buyer’s two EU46 sneaker pairs make this distinction concrete: one size label accompanied different comments about comfort and presentation. For checking the printed label in photos, read what QC reference images can establish.