Foot width

Foot width is the distance straight across the widest part of the foot, at the ball, measured standing. Shoes usually give it as a letter rather than a number: in US sizes, D is the men's standard width and B the women's. On the Brannock scale, one width letter is 3/16 in, about 4.8 mm.

How to measure

1. Stand on a sheet of paper, weight on the foot.
2. Mark both sides of the widest part, at the ball of the foot, the pen held straight up.
3. Measure straight across between the two marks.
4. Do both feet and keep the wider one.

A few millimeters matter here, so measure twice.

On a size chart

Width shows as a letter beside the size, or as a foot width row in centimeters on charts that list it. None of Ruban Size's three shoe templates has a width row. The Women's shoes template gives the advice in its fit note instead: "Wide feet: take half a size up." Brands that sell widths should list them, because a foot length alone can't tell a shopper which letter to pick.

In Ruban Size

Name a row "Foot width" and Find my size for shoes asks for it beside the foot length. A foot within half a centimeter of the chart's width for the chosen size is regular, about one Brannock letter either way; narrower is narrow, wider is wide. A wide foot reads "Your foot width: wide." and "Wide feet: if this model comes in widths, choose wide; if not, half a size up may feel better." Width counts a little in the choice of size too, well behind the length. The Women's shoes template is a good start.