Shoe Box Sizes: Typical Dimensions for Shoes, Sneakers and Boots
Typical dimensions of retail shoe boxes by shoe type and size, the interior sizes of popular plastic storage boxes, and how to plan shelves and shipments around them.
There is no industry standard, but a men's sneaker or dress-shoe box is usually about 13-14 × 8-10 × 5 in (33-36 × 20-25 × 13 cm), and a women's shoe box about 11-13 × 7-8 × 4-4.5 in (28-33 × 18-20 × 10-11 cm). Ankle-boot boxes are 5-6 in tall, and tall-boot boxes run 16-20 in long. Box length grows by roughly ⅓ in per shoe size.
- Men's shoe box
- 13-14 × 8-10 × 5 in
- Women's shoe box
- 11-13 × 7-8 × 4 in
- Volume (men's)
- about 11 L
- Clear storage box
- 13 × 7.5 × 4.25 in
On this page
Shoe box dimensions by shoe type
Brands size their boxes to their own lasts, so the same shoe size can arrive in boxes an inch apart. These are the ranges you will see across major athletic and footwear brands, as outside dimensions (length × width × height).
| Box | Inches | Centimeters | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toddler and small kids | 8-10 × 5-6 × 3-4 | 20-25 × 13-15 × 8-10 | about 2-3.5 L |
| Big kids (youth) | 10-12 × 6-8 × 4 | 25-30 × 15-20 × 10 | about 4-6 L |
| Women's flats and sneakers | 11-13 × 7-8 × 4-4.5 | 28-33 × 18-20 × 10-11 | about 5-7.7 L |
| Men's sneakers and dress shoes | 13-14 × 8-10 × 5 | 33-36 × 20-25 × 13 | about 8.5-11.5 L |
| High-tops, large men's sizes | 14-15 × 10-11 × 5-6 | 36-38 × 25-28 × 13-15 | about 11.5-16 L |
| Ankle boots | 13-14 × 8-10 × 5-6 | 33-36 × 20-25 × 13-15 | about 9-14 L |
| Work and hiking boots | 14-16 × 10-12 × 6-7 | 36-41 × 25-30 × 15-18 | about 14-22 L |
| Knee-high boots | 17-20 × 12-14 × 5-6 | 43-51 × 30-36 × 13-15 | about 17-27 L |
A "shoebox" as an everyday unit (for dioramas, keepsakes or a shoebox gift drive) usually means the 13 × 8 × 4.5 in women's size. Its 468 cu in is 7.7 liters, close to a 2-gallon bucket.
How shoe size changes the box
US shoe sizes are based on foot length. On the Brannock scale each full size adds ⅓ in (8.5 mm), and a men's size 10 corresponds to a foot of about 10⅔ in (27.1 cm). The shoe is 0.5-1 in longer than the foot, and the box adds another inch or so for tissue and the toe box.
| US men's size | Foot length | Typical outsole | Typical box length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 9⅓ in (23.7 cm) | about 10-10.5 in | 12-13 in |
| 8 | 10 in (25.4 cm) | about 10.75-11 in | 12.5-13.5 in |
| 10 | 10⅔ in (27.1 cm) | about 11.25-11.75 in | 13-14 in |
| 12 | 11⅓ in (28.8 cm) | about 12-12.5 in | 14 in |
| 14 | 12 in (30.5 cm) | about 12.75-13.25 in | 14-15 in |
Women's sizes run about 1½ sizes off men's for the same foot length (a women's 8 is close to a men's 6½), so a women's 8 box is usually 11.5-12.5 in long. Size charts by age and region are in the shoe size guide, kids' shoe sizes and boot sizes.
Shoe storage box sizes
Clear plastic and drop-front boxes are sold as "shoe boxes", but their inside dimensions, not the outside, decide what fits. Walls and tapered sides cost 1-2 in of length.
| Box | Outside (L × W × H) | Inside | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sterilite 6 qt shoe box | 13⅝ × 8¼ × 4⅞ in | 11¼ × 6⅛ × 4¼ in (at bottom) | Women's flats, kids' shoes, small men's sizes |
| The Container Store clear shoe box | 13 × 7½ × 4¼ in | about 11¼ × 6¼ × 3¾ in | Women's flats, sandals, low sneakers |
| IRIS stacking drop-front box | 13¼ × 12 × 6⅝ in | 12¼ × 10 × 6¼ in | Most sneakers up to large men's sizes |
| The Container Store drop-front, large | 14⅜ × 10⅞ × 9⅛ in | not listed | Men's shoes up to size 17, high-tops |
An 11¼ in interior holds a shoe whose outsole is under about 11 in: most women's sizes and men's sizes up to about 8-9. A men's size 10 sneaker, with an outsole near 11½ in, needs a box with at least 12 in inside. Measure heel to toe along the outsole, and measure height at the collar for high-tops.
Planning shelves and closets for shoe boxes
Box depth sets the shelf depth, and box height sets the shelf spacing.
- Shelf depth: store boxes with the short end facing out. Men's boxes need a shelf about 14-15 in deep; women's about 12-13 in. Standard 12 in closet shelves suit women's boxes only.
- Shelf spacing: two men's boxes stacked are 10 in tall, so allow 11-12 in between shelves. For three women's boxes (13.5 in), allow 14-15 in.
- Count per shelf: divide shelf width by box width. A 36 in shelf takes three men's boxes (10 in wide) or four women's boxes (8 in wide) per layer, so two layers hold 6 men's or 8 women's pairs.
- Labels: put photos or labels on the short end that faces out, since that is the only side you see.
For closet layouts with shoe shelves and cubbies, see the closet organizer size guide.
Shipping shoes: box sizes and dimensional weight
Carriers bill by the larger of actual weight and dimensional weight (length × width × height ÷ 139 for UPS, FedEx and, since July 2026, USPS on boxes over 1 cu ft). A pair of sneakers weighs only 2-3 lb, so the box size decides the price.
| Packing method | Outer box | Dim weight (UPS/FedEx) |
|---|---|---|
| Label on the shoe box itself | 14 × 10 × 5 in | 6 lb |
| Shoe box inside a carton, 1 in clearance | 15 × 11 × 6 in | 8 lb |
| Shoe box inside a carton, 2 in clearance | 16 × 12 × 6 in | 9 lb |
Each box is under 1,728 cu in, so USPS bills it by actual weight instead, which usually makes USPS the cheaper option for single pairs. Collectors shipping valuable sneakers should always use an outer carton, since a crushed or labeled shoe box lowers resale value. More stock carton sizes are in the shipping box size chart.
For storing hats in the same closet, see hat box sizes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard size of a shoe box?
The size most people mean by "a shoebox" is about 13 × 8 × 4.5 in (33 × 20 × 11 cm), which is a women's or small men's shoe box with a volume of about 7.7 liters. Men's boxes for larger sizes are about 14 × 10 × 5 in (11.5 L).
Do men's shoes fit in plastic shoe storage boxes?
Small sizes do; large ones often do not. Common 6-quart clear shoe boxes are about 13½ × 8¼ × 4⅞ in outside but only about 11¼ × 6⅛ in at the bottom inside, which is too short for most men's shoes over a US size 9 or 10. Buy boxes listed for men's sizes or check the interior length against your shoe's outsole.
What size is a boot box?
Ankle-boot boxes are typically about 13-14 × 8-10 × 5-6 in. Mid-calf boots come in boxes about 15-16 in long and 6-8 in tall, and knee-high boots in boxes about 17-20 × 12-14 × 5-6 in, with the shafts folded or laid side by side.
What size box do I need to ship a pair of shoes?
Put the shoe box inside a shipping box about 1-2 in larger on each side. A 14 × 10 × 5 in shoe box fits a 15 × 11 × 6 or 16 × 12 × 6 in carton, billed at 8 or 9 lb dimensional weight by UPS and FedEx. Shipping the shoe box itself, taped and labeled, costs less (6 lb) but risks damaging it.