Foot length

Foot length is the distance from the back of the heel to the tip of the longest toe, measured standing with your weight on the foot. Shoe sizes are read from it: the Japanese size is the foot length in centimeters, while the UK and US scales count in barleycorns of 1/3 inch and the EU scale in Paris points of 2/3 cm.

How to measure

1. Stand on a sheet of paper, heel against a wall.
2. Mark the tip of your longest toe, the pen held straight up.
3. Measure from the wall to the mark.
4. Do both feet and use the longer one.

On a size chart

The Shoes template lists the foot length of each size next to its US, UK and EU sizes. A few rows:

Ruban Size's engine works the usual equivalents out from the length, and the template's rows follow it, each rounded to the half size: EU is 1.5 times the foot in centimeters plus 2; UK is 3 times the foot in inches minus 23, US men's minus 22 and US women's minus 21.

In Ruban Size

Find my size for shoes asks for the foot length and gives the equivalents under the answer: a 26 cm foot reads "Usual equivalents (approximate): EU 41 · UK 7.5 · US M 8.5 · US W 9.5 · JP 26". When the chart lists insole lengths rather than feet, it adds 10, 15 or 20 mm of toe room for Snug, Regular and Loose before comparing. The Shoes template has the foot figure and the steps above.