To measure foot width at home, stand on a sheet of paper, trace around your foot, and measure straight across the widest part, which is the ball of the foot just behind the toes. Do both feet, in centimeters, and use the larger number. It takes five minutes and needs only paper, a pencil and a ruler.
Width matters most when you buy from brands that offer it as an option, such as New Balance, Naturalizer and Clarks. But most fashion shoes, ours included, come in one standard width. Almost every measuring guide stops at the number. This one goes a step further: once you know your width, which shoe shapes and closures will actually fit, especially in EU sizes that do not show width at all.
What do shoe width letters mean?
| Women's US width | Also written as | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 4A / 2A | AAAA / AA, N, S | Extra narrow / narrow |
| B | M | Medium. The default when no width is shown |
| D | W | Wide |
| 2E | EE, WW, XW | Extra wide |
As a reference point, a women's US 8 in B width is about 3.5 inches, or roughly 9 cm, across the ball. Each step up or down changes the width by somewhere between a quarter of an inch and about 1 cm. Charts differ between brands, so treat any single chart as a guide and not a rule.
How do you measure foot width in 5 steps?
You need: two sheets of paper, a pencil, a ruler or tape measure, and the socks you would normally wear with the shoes.
- Stand on the paper. Put the paper on a hard floor against a wall, with your heel touching the wall. Stand with your weight on that foot. Feet spread under load, so do not measure sitting down.
- Trace the outline. Hold the pencil upright and draw around the foot. If you can, ask someone to do it for you; leaning over shifts your weight.
- Mark the widest points. Find the widest part of the outline, usually from the joint below the big toe to the joint below the little toe.
- Measure width and length. Measure straight across between the two marks for width. Measure from the wall edge to the tip of the longest toe for length.
- Repeat for the other foot. Most people have one larger foot. Use the larger measurements.
Take a couple of millimeters off each number to allow for the thickness of the pencil line.
When is the best time to measure?
The usual advice is afternoon or evening, because feet can swell a little during the day. Not every source agrees that the difference is significant for healthy feet, but measuring later costs nothing and avoids buying shoes that only fit in the morning.
How do I know if I have wide feet?
Compare your width with a chart for your length, and check the everyday signs as well.
- Likely wide: the sides of your feet bulge over the edge of the sole, shoes crease or split at the widest point, or you size up for comfort and end up with spare length at the toe.
- Likely narrow: your heel lifts out of flats, straps are on the last hole, or there are gaps at the sides of the topline.
- Likely medium: standard shoes fit in your measured length without either problem.
Do EU sizes include width?
No. A standard EU size describes length only. Some brands add their own width codes, such as letter scales used by a few German makers or the letter fittings Clarks uses, but those are specific to the brand. When an EU-sized shoe shows no width, assume a medium fit and read the product description for toe shape and closure.
What to buy once you know your width
In single-width shoes, the style does the work a width letter would. These are the shapes we would point each foot type toward.
Wide feet: laces you can loosen
A lace-up front opens as far as you need across the widest part of the foot.
Romy Lace-Up Ballet Flats
A rounded toe and a lace-up front in smooth black vegan leather. Sizes EU 35–41.
Loosen the lowest crossing first; that is where the ball of the foot sits.
Wide feet: soft, open uppers
Mesh and lace give where a stiff upper would press. A square toe adds room for the toes to lie flat.
Florence black Lace Ballet Flats
Sheer floral lace on fine mesh with a square toe and a bow-tied strap. Sizes EU 35–45.
Wide feet: wrap styles in longer sizes
If you size up for width, ankle ties keep the extra length from slipping.
Mara Leather Lace-Up Ballet Flats
Slim vegan leather straps wrap from the vamp up the ankle. Sizes EU 36–43.
Medium feet: almost anything, starting with a strap flat
Standard width is what most shoes are made for. A simple strap flat is the everyday choice.
Vivra Strap Leather Ballet Flats
Smooth black vegan leather with one delicate strap for hold.
Narrow feet: buckles and pointed toes
A pointed toe tapers with a slim foot, and an adjustable buckle takes up spare volume.
Buckled Mary Jane Flats
A pointed mary jane with an adjustable buckle strap in vegan leather. Sizes EU 35–42.
Narrow feet: laced split toes
In a tabi, a cord across the vamp keeps a slim foot from lifting at the heel.
Elodie Lace-Up Tabi Flats
A fine cord laces across a soft black vegan leather tabi flat.
How toe shape changes the width you feel
| Toe shape | How it feels across the forefoot | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Square | Roomiest; toes lie flat | Wide feet, long second toes |
| Round | Moderate room | Medium and slightly wide feet |
| Split toe (tabi) | Room for the big toe to sit apart; length must be right | Medium feet; wide feet in soft or laced versions |
| Pointed | Narrowest; needs extra length | Narrow and medium feet |
Measuring for online orders
Write down your length and width in centimeters and keep them on your phone. For each shoe, check three things: the brand's size chart in centimeters, the toe shape, and whether there is anything adjustable. If you are between sizes, go up for pointed and square closed toes and for wide feet in general. Our own range is mostly EU 35 to 40, with some styles from 34 and some up to 46. For split-toe pairs, use our tabi sizing guide.
Will the shoes stretch to fit?
Do not count on it. Vegan leather softens with wear but gives less than animal leather, and patent finishes barely move. Buy for the fit on day one. To keep that fit, wipe uppers with a soft damp cloth, dry them away from heat, and store them with tissue in the toe so the shape holds. Heat-based stretching tricks can crack coated finishes, so skip them.
New Balance, Naturalizer, Clarks and single-width brands
If your measurement puts you clearly at wide or extra wide, a brand with true widths is the most reliable answer. New Balance sells women's shoes in 2A, B, D and 2E. Naturalizer labels its range narrow, medium, wide and extra wide. Clarks uses its own letter fittings. These brands build separate shapes for each width, which a single-width shoe cannot replace.
Fashion brands like ours make one width, and it is fair to say so. What we can offer wide and narrow feet is choice of shape: square toes, lace-ups, wrap ties and adjustable buckles, all vegan, from $46.99 to $68.99 in the styles above. If you are slightly off medium in either direction, that is usually enough. If you are far from it, start with a true-width brand.
Frequently asked questions
Is B width narrow or medium for women?
Medium. B is the standard women's width and the default when a shoe lists no width.
What is the difference between B and D width?
D is one step wider than B, which means wide in women's sizing. The difference is roughly a quarter of an inch to 1 cm across the ball, depending on the chart.
Can I measure foot width with a tape measure?
Yes. Trace the foot first, then measure the tracing. Measuring around the foot gives girth, which is a different number.
What does a Brannock device measure?
The metal device used in shoe shops measures heel-to-toe length, heel-to-ball length and width.
Should I measure with socks on?
Wear the socks or tights you plan to use with the shoes. For flats worn bare, measure barefoot.
My feet are two different sizes. Which do I use?
The larger one. A heel grip or half insole can take up the spare room on the smaller foot.
Read next
- Ballet Flats for Wide Feet: Toe Shape Matters More Than Size
- Best Flats for Narrow Feet: How to Stop Heel Slip for Good
- Do Ballet Flats Stretch? How Tight They Should Be, and How to Stretch Them Safely
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