Easy Ways to Find Your Own Shoe Size

At some point in your life, you’ve probably bought an uncomfortable pair of shoes. Perhaps it was the last pair in a style you had to have, so you settled for the wrong size. Perhaps they were on sale, perhaps you mistakenly bought the wrong size, or the style of shoes was just uncomfortable.

Whatever the reason, I’m sure we’ve all experienced the repercussions of buying uncomfortable shoes. Your feet hurt, you develop blisters, and sometimes, bad shoe choices can even lead to back pain.

To avoid these problems, sizing your shoes correctly is important. I think it’s a general misconception that smaller shoe sizes for women are more attractive, but there’s nothing more unattractive than seeing someone limp around because she bought the wrong shoes! And look, ladies, I’ve been there. I used to not know that you should generally buy a half-size smaller in heels, so being a leggy girl, too-big heels make me look even more uncoordinated and gangly than I usually am.

So. How to pick the right shoe size? It’s pretty simple and can be done in a few easy ways. Are you ready to find the perfect shoe size? Here we go!

1. Trace your foot. This has got to be the easiest way of sizing your own feet. I’ll give you the basics here, but for a more complete tutorial, visit this site. You just need a sheet of paper larger than your foot (basic computer paper will normally work) and a pencil and ruler. Sit your foot down, trace it, and then draw straight lines on the four sides: your toes, sides of your feet, and heel. Then use the charts given here to determine your size. Easy!
2. Perhaps the laziest way to find your shoes size is just by walking into a shoe store and asking an associate for help. They’ll bring out that complicated metal sizing tool that no one ever seems to be able to read and size you right up! Asking for help is totally fine, even if you end up not purchasing any shoes.

If you do own an uncomfortable pair of shoes, there are a couple of things you can try to make them a little bit more comfortable. If they’re too large, try purchasing an insole that helps fill up extra space and cushion your feet. If they’re too small, you can stretch them out a bit with tools like this one.

I hope these tips help you find more comfortable shoes!