A Foot Width Calculator helps you determine the precise width of your feet to find shoes that fit comfortably and correctly. Using properly sized footwear is crucial for overall foot health, as it can prevent issues like bunions, corns, and general foot pain. This tool uses simple measurements you can take at home to classify your foot as narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide. Consequently, it empowers you to make informed decisions when purchasing shoes, ensuring a better fit and greater comfort. By understanding your specific foot dimensions, you move beyond standard shoe sizes and address the critical aspect of width, which many people overlook. This calculator provides the data needed to select footwear that truly matches your foot's unique shape.
formula of Foot Width Calculator
You can calculate your foot width and understand its relation to shoe sizing using a few straightforward formulas.
- Basic Manual Measurement Formula:
Foot Width = Distance across the widest part of the foot (usually across the ball of the foot), measured in inches or centimeters - Foot Width to Length Ratio (Optional for Sizing):
Foot Width Ratio = Foot Width / Foot Length
This calculation helps categorize feet as narrow, average, or wide. Furthermore, it offers a standardized way to understand your foot's proportions.
Typical ratio range:
< 0.36 = Narrow
0.36–0.39 = Average
0.39 = Wide
- U.S. Shoe Width Sizing (Approximate Guideline):
This guideline gives a general idea of how width measurements correspond to standard U.S. shoe width letters. Remember that actual shoe width charts vary by manufacturer.
Foot Width (in inches) Men's Size 9 Women's Size 9
~3.6" Narrow (B) Extra Narrow (AA)
~3.9" Medium (D) Medium (B)
~4.1" Wide (E) Wide (D)
~4.3"+ Extra Wide Extra Wide
General Shoe Width Reference Charts
To help you find your shoe width without performing calculations every time, you can use these general reference tables. First, find your standard shoe size in the left column. Then, move across the row to find the measurement in inches that most closely matches your foot's width. The column header will indicate your corresponding width category.
Men's U.S. Shoe Width Chart (Inches)
| Shoe Size | Narrow (B) | Medium (D) | Wide (E) | Extra Wide (EE) |
| 7 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 |
| 8 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.9 |
| 9 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.0 |
| 10 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.1 |
| 11 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| 12 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.3 |
| 13 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.4 |
Women's U.S. Shoe Width Chart (Inches)
| Shoe Size | Narrow (A) | Medium (B) | Wide (D) | Extra Wide (E) |
| 6 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.5 |
| 7 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.6 |
| 8 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.7 |
| 9 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 |
| 10 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.9 |
| 11 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.0 |
Example of Foot Width Calculator
Let's walk through an example to see how this works in practice. Imagine a person named Jordan wants to find their correct shoe width.
First, Jordan measures their foot.
Foot Length: 10.2 inches
Foot Width: 4.1 inches
Next, Jordan can calculate the Foot Width to Length Ratio to get a general idea of their foot type.
Foot Width Ratio = Foot Width / Foot Length
Foot Width Ratio = 4.1 / 10.2 = 0.40
Since the ratio (0.40) is greater than 0.39, Jordan's foot is classified as wide.
Now, to find the specific shoe width size, Jordan checks the reference chart. Assuming Jordan wears a men's size 10, they would look at the "Men's U.S. Shoe Width Chart".
Looking at the row for Size 10:
Narrow (B) is 3.5 inches.
Medium (D) is 3.7 inches.
Wide (E) is 3.9 inches.
Extra Wide (EE) is 4.1 inches.
Jordan's width measurement of 4.1 inches matches the "Extra Wide (EE)" category for a size 10 shoe. Therefore, Jordan should look for shoes in size 10 EE for the best fit.
Most Common FAQs
To get an accurate measurement, place a piece of paper on a hard, flat surface. Stand on the paper with your weight distributed evenly. Using a pen or pencil held straight up, trace the outline of your foot. Afterwards, use a ruler or measuring tape to measure the distance between the two widest points of your foot outline. This is typically across the ball of your foot, just behind the toes. Measuring this way ensures you capture the foot's true width when it is bearing weight.
The ideal time to measure your feet is in the late afternoon or evening. Feet naturally swell slightly throughout the day due to activity and gravity. As a result, measuring later in the day provides a more accurate representation of your foot's largest size. This helps you avoid buying shoes that feel fine in the morning but become tight and uncomfortable by the evening.
It is very common for a person's feet to be slightly different in size or width. If you find that one foot is wider than the other, you should always choose a shoe size that accommodates the larger or wider foot. Squeezing a wider foot into a smaller shoe can cause discomfort and foot problems. For the smaller foot, you can add a thin insole or a heel grip to ensure a snug fit if necessary. Always prioritize the comfort of your larger foot.