Short answer: our tabi shoes run true to size in EU sizing. Take your normal EU size in flats and mary janes; if you are between sizes, go down in flats and up in heels and boots. The one thing not to do is size up to give the split toe "more room". A tabi that is too big lets the foot slide forward into the partition, and that is the single most common reason people say tabis hurt.
The advice you find online is mostly about Maison Margiela (which does run small and narrow) or about canvas jikatabi work boots with metal clasps. Neither tells you how a vegan tabi ballet flat or a tabi slingback should fit. This guide does, style by style, with a measurement method and a chart you can actually use.
Measure your foot first (2 minutes)
- Stand on a sheet of paper in the socks you will wear, weight on that foot.
- Mark the back of the heel and the tip of the longest toe (often the second toe, not the big toe).
- Measure the distance in centimeters. Do both feet; use the longer one.
- Add nothing. Our chart already includes the standard toe allowance.
The tabi size chart
| Foot length | EU | US women's | UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22.0 to 22.5 cm | 35 | 5 | 2.5 |
| 22.6 to 23.0 cm | 36 | 6 | 3.5 |
| 23.1 to 23.5 cm | 37 | 6.5 to 7 | 4 |
| 23.6 to 24.0 cm | 38 | 7.5 to 8 | 5 |
| 24.1 to 25.0 cm | 39 | 8.5 | 6 |
| 25.1 to 25.5 cm | 40 | 9 | 6.5 to 7 |
| 25.6 to 26.0 cm | 41 | 10 | 7.5 |
Order by centimeters and EU size. US conversions vary by half a size between brands, which is why "I'm a US 7" produces different EU sizes on different sites. Most of our styles run EU 35 to 40; a few go to 41, 42 or 43, and the size selector on each product page is the source of truth.
Fit verdict by tabi style
| Style | Verdict | If between sizes | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tabi ballet flats (smooth upper) | True to size | Size down | Heel slip if too big; the toe grips, so a snug fit is right |
| Tabi flats, patent or satin | True to size, less give | Size up for patent, down for satin | Patent does not stretch across the vamp |
| Tabi mary janes | True to size | Size down | The strap holds the foot, so choose the size that fits the toe |
| Tabi slingbacks | True to size | Size up | Back strap must be snug; a loose strap lets the foot ride into the split |
| Tabi block heels and pumps | True to size | Size up | Heel pitch pushes the foot forward; a half-size of room at the toe is correct |
| Tabi boots | True to size with a mid-weight sock | Size up | Allow for the split-toe sock you will wear |
Flats
The smooth-upper Amelora is the reference flat: rounded toe box, low vamp, a fit that should feel snug across the instep on day one and relaxed by wear three. If your heel lifts when you walk, the shoe is too big, not too stiff.
Amelora Black Leather Tabi Ballet Flats
Reference fit: snug across the instep on day one, no heel lift when walking.
Patent is the exception. Our Echo has a mirror-finish upper with no stretch, so if you are between sizes, go up in this one style.
Echo Tabi Flats
Patent upper: zero give across the vamp, so size for the wider foot.
Mary janes
The strap does the holding, which frees you to size for the toe. Lena's single strap sits low on the instep; if the strap is tight on the last hole, the width is the issue rather than the length, and a half size up solves it.
Lena Tabi Mary Jane Ballet Flats
Size for the toe; the strap manages heel slip.
Slingbacks and heels
Two rules. First, the back strap of a slingback must be snug when you stand; sitting down it can feel loose and that is normal. Second, in any heel the foot slides forward, so a little room at the toe is correct and a size that is snug when standing flat will feel tight in a heel.
Claudia Tabi Slingback Heels
Fit check: strap snug standing, toe not pressed into the split.
Amelora Suede Tabi Heels - Plum
Low block heel; between sizes, take the larger.
Boots
Fit boots with the sock you will wear. A mid-calf split-toe sock adds roughly half a size of volume. Isolde has a rounded, cylindrical toe with more forefoot room than a pointed tabi boot.
Isolde Tabi Ankle Boots
Try on with a tabi sock; the rounded toe suits wide forefeet.
If you know your Margiela or Steve Madden size
Maison Margiela Tabi ballerinas run small and narrow; most people wear half a size to a full size up from their usual EU size. If you are already in a Margiela tabi, order our styles in your usual EU size, not your Margiela size, and expect more room across the toes. Steve Madden's tabi flats and boots are sized on a US last and generally run true to US size; convert with the chart above using centimeters rather than the US number.
Wide feet, narrow heels, high insteps
- Wide forefoot: choose rounded-toe styles (Amelora flat, Lena, Isolde). The split gives the big toe its own channel, so a tabi is often roomier than a plain pointed flat.
- Narrow heel: mary janes and slingbacks, where a strap does the holding. In flats, a heel grip.
- High instep: avoid the highest-vamp patent styles; strap styles adjust.
Do tabi shoes stretch?
Smooth vegan leather and suede-look uppers give a little across the width by wear five; they do not lengthen. Patent gives almost nothing. Satin softens but also does not lengthen. So buy the right length from day one and let width settle.
Fixes if you already have the wrong size
- Slightly big: a thin split-toe sock, then a heel grip, then a half insole.
- Slightly small in width: two short wears at home with a mid-weight sock; a leather-care balm on stiff spots.
- Small in length: exchange it. Length does not change. Our exchange policy is on the contact page.
Ribbed Crew Tabi Socks
A thin split-toe sock is the first fix for a slightly roomy tabi.
Frequently asked questions
Do tabi shoes run small or big?
Ours run true to EU size. Maison Margiela tabis run small and narrow. Measure in centimeters and use the chart rather than converting from a US size.
Should I size up or down for tabi shoes?
Between sizes: down for flats and mary janes, up for heels, slingbacks and boots. Never size up just to give the split toe room; that causes the sliding that makes tabis uncomfortable.
How should the split toe fit?
The partition should sit at your natural toe split without pushing the big toe sideways. Your toes should not touch the front when standing.
Are tabi shoes good for wide feet?
Rounded-toe tabi styles are, often more so than a plain pointed flat, because the big toe has its own channel and the toe box does not pinch the little toe.
Do tabi shoes come in half sizes?
Ours come in whole EU sizes, which are roughly two thirds of a US size apart, so an EU size will usually land within a quarter size of a US half size.
What size tabi socks do I need?
Our tabi socks are one size and stretch for EU 35 to 41. The toe partition should sit at your toe split without pulling.
Read next
- Are Tabi Shoes Comfortable? An Honest Wear Test by Style (Flats, Mary Janes, Heels, Boots)
- Which Tabi Flat Should You Buy First? Smooth vs Patent vs Satin vs Fabric, Compared
- The Best Margiela Tabi Alternatives Under $100: Vegan Flats, Mary Janes, Heels and Boots, Compared
Ready to choose? Every style in tabi heels and tabi flats lists its available EU sizes on the product page.