EU to US Kids' Shoe Size Conversion
| EU | US |
|---|---|
| 20 | 4 |
| 21 | 5 |
| 22 | 6 |
| 23 | 7 |
| 24 | 8 |
| 25 | 9 |
| 27 | 10 |
| 28 | 11 |
| 30 | 12 |
| 31 | 13 |
| 32 | 1Y |
| 33 | 2Y |
| 34 | 3Y |
Sizing conventions vary by brand and by cut — this table shows the standard published conversion. Always check the garment's own size chart when one is available. See how these tables are compiled.
Converting a continuous scale into a segmented one
A EU kids' shoe size sits on the same unbroken Paris-point numbered line used for EU adult sizes, while the US system splits children's sizing into distinct infant, toddler, and youth ranges before eventually crossing into adult numbering — so converting EU to US means first figuring out which US sub-range the converted number actually falls into, not just reading a single offset off a chart.
This matters in practice because a EU size that converts to, say, a 'US 13' could mean either the top of the toddler range or, confusingly, get mixed up with an entirely different 'youth 13' further up the scale if a retailer's chart isn't labeled clearly — checking which US category the retailer means, not just the bare number, avoids a genuinely common ordering mistake.
European growth-room conventions differ slightly from American ones
Some European children's shoe brands build in a touch more room in the toe by design as standard practice, distinct from a parent deliberately sizing up — meaning a EU size that measures true to a child's foot length may already include a small growth allowance the US retailer's chart doesn't assume the same way, worth knowing if you're converting for a snugger-fitting shoe category like ballet or gym shoes where excess room affects performance.
Get a fresh length reading, not an old EU size
Measure the child's current foot length in centimetres rather than converting an old EU shoe size, since children's feet change fast enough that a size from even a few months ago is a weak proxy — and double-check which US sub-range (toddler or youth) the converted number lands in before completing an order.
First walking shoes are their own category entirely
For a child who has only just started walking, the shoe's job is different from an older child's shoe — the sole needs to be thin and flexible enough for the foot to feel the ground and develop normally, rather than prioritizing structure or growth room the way a school shoe might. A EU first-walker size converted to US should be checked against that specific first-walker line's own chart rather than a general children's shoe conversion, since first-walker lasts are sometimes shaped differently from the rest of a brand's kids' range.
Sibling hand-me-downs are a common source of sizing confusion
Parents converting a size because an older sibling's shoe is being passed down should remember that the original size, whatever country it was bought in, reflects that older child's foot at time of purchase, not the younger child's current foot — measuring the younger child directly and converting fresh, rather than trusting the label on a hand-me-down, avoids inheriting a fit mismatch along with the shoe.
Frequently asked questions
Why might I see two different 'size 13' shoes that don't match?
US kids' sizing has a toddler range and a separate youth range, and both can contain a size labeled 13 — check which category a listing means rather than assuming the bare number is unambiguous.
Do European children's shoes already include growth room in the sizing?
Some European brands build in slightly more toe room as a design standard, distinct from deliberately sizing up — worth knowing for close-fitting categories like ballet flats or gym shoes where that built-in allowance affects performance.
How reliable is an old EU size for converting to a current US size?
Not very — children's feet grow quickly enough that a size recorded even a few months ago undercounts the current foot length. Measure fresh before ordering across systems.
Is the EU-to-US kids' conversion as steady as EU-to-US adult sizing?
Less so, mainly because of the US system's structural splits between infant, toddler, and youth ranges — the number-to-number gap isn't as constant across the full kids' range as it is for adults.
Does the EU-to-US conversion work the same for a first walker as for an older child's shoe?
Not necessarily — first-walker lasts prioritize sole flexibility over structure and are sometimes shaped differently from the rest of a brand's children's line, so check that specific first-walker chart rather than a general kids' conversion.