Sandal Sizes: Conversion Chart and How a Sandal Should Fit

Sandal size chart with sole length

The "sole length" column shows how long the footbed should be for each foot: foot length plus about 1-2 cm. Use it to check a product listing that gives outsole or footbed length, or to compare a sandal you already own.

Conversions follow the same scale as the shoe size chart, where US women's = UK + 2. Brands that set women's 1.5 sizes above men's label the same sandal half a size higher in US women's (EU 38 as 7.5).

How a sandal should fit: five checks

1. Toes: stand up and look down. You should see about 0.5-1 cm (¼-⅜ in) of sole in front of your longest toe. No toe should hang over or touch the edge.
2. Heel: your heel should sit fully on the footbed with a few millimeters to spare, and inside the heel cup if the sandal has one. A heel that overhangs the back is the most common sign of a sandal one size too small.
3. Sides: the outside edge of the foot should not spill over the sole at the little toe. If it does but the length is right, you need a wider fit, not a longer size.
4. Straps: buckled on a middle hole, with room for a fingertip under each strap. Straps fastened at their last hole will only get looser as leather stretches.
5. Arch: on a contoured footbed, the arch support should sit under your arch, not in front of or behind it. If it presses in the wrong place, the length is wrong even when the toes look fine.

Half sizes and choosing between two sizes

Many sandals come in whole sizes only. Which way to round depends on the construction:

EU-only and narrow-fit sandals

Contoured footbed sandals made in Europe are often sold in whole EU sizes only. Each EU size adds 6.7 mm (about ¼ in), which falls between a UK or US half size (4.2 mm) and a full size (8.5 mm). Without half sizes, the nearest EU size can be up to about 3 mm off your ideal length either way. In practice:

• Measure your foot standing, in cm, and pick the EU size whose foot length in the chart is equal or just above yours.
• Check the width options. Footbed brands commonly offer a regular and a narrow width in the same length. The narrow version keeps the same length and footbed shape with a slimmer sole and straps. If the straps are at their tightest setting and your foot still moves sideways, try narrow before trying a smaller size.
• Expect break-in. Cork and latex footbeds compress and take the shape of the foot over a few weeks. The sandal should feel firm but not painful at first.

Men's, women's and unisex sandals

Unisex sandals are usually labeled in EU sizes or in men's US sizes. To convert a men's US size to women's, add 1.5 for most brands (men's 7 is about women's 8.5). Women's sandal lasts are often narrower at the heel and forefoot, so a woman with wide feet may find a men's or unisex model more stable. In UK and EU sizing there is no separate women's number.

Kids' sandals

Children need less growing room in sandals than in closed shoes: about 0.5-1 cm, against 1-1.5 cm. Choose models with a closed or bumpered toe for active play, a back strap or heel strap rather than slides, and at least two adjustment points so the sandal can be tightened across a narrow foot. Size conversions are in the kids' shoe size chart.

Sandals vs flip-flops vs slides: how sizing differs

• Strapped sandals are held at the ankle or heel, so a slightly long sole is tolerable.
• Flip-flops are held only by the toe post and are often sold in paired sizes such as 37/38 or S/M/L. The toe post position matters more than exact length.
• Slides rely on a single band over the instep. If the band is tight, size up; if it is loose, the slide will fall off at every step.
• Slippers are indoor footwear sized loosely in ranges, with memory foam that packs down.

If a footbed is long enough but too roomy, a thin insole or heel pad will not stay put on an open sandal; a narrower width or a model with more strap adjustment is the better fix.

Frequently asked questions