UK to US Men's Shoe Size Conversion
| UK | US |
|---|---|
| 6 | 7 |
| 6.5 | 7.5 |
| 7 | 8 |
| 7.5 | 8.5 |
| 8 | 9 |
| 8.5 | 9.5 |
| 9 | 10 |
| 9.5 | 10.5 |
| 10 | 11 |
| 10.5 | 11.5 |
| 11 | 12 |
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 British men's size for a US order
UK men's sizing and US men's sizing share the barleycorn-derived third-of-an-inch step, but the two systems settled on numbering that puts a UK 8 at a US 9 — a one-size gap, distinct from the roughly two-size gap in women's UK-to-US conversion. Confusing the two offsets is an easy mistake if you're converting for a partner or gift and default to the shoe 'rule of thumb' you remember from women's sizing.
The two exceptions worth knowing about aren't at the edges of the size run at all — they're the heritage English shoemaker and the UK sport-specific chart covered below, both of which can miss the standard offset regardless of what size you wear.
British width fittings translate more usefully than EU sizing
If you know your UK width fitting (F, G, H on brands that offer it), that's a real, if approximate, guide to your US width letter (D, E, EE) — something EU sizing simply can't offer, since continental shoemakers rarely label width at all. Bring that fitting letter with you when shopping a US brand for the first time rather than defaulting to standard width.
The exception worth remembering
Long-established English shoemakers sometimes carry older house-last proportions that don't shift by the standard one-size offset — for a heritage brand specifically, check its own published US conversion rather than assuming the general UK men's rule applies.
Rugby, cricket, and other UK sport-specific sizing
Some British sport-specific footwear (rugby boots, cricket shoes) is still sold primarily through UK-based retailers with sizing charts calibrated for the UK market first, converting to US as an afterthought rather than a primary market. For these niche categories, checking the manufacturer's own stated US conversion is more important than for mainstream dress or athletic shoes, since the standard high-street offset may not have been the basis for that chart at all.
Width sizing is more common in the US market
US men’s dress shoes more frequently offer an explicit width option (narrow, medium, wide) alongside the length size than UK brands typically do, so a UK shopper with a genuinely wide or narrow foot may find more precise sizing available converting into a US brand than they’re used to at home.
Frequently asked questions
Is UK 8 always a US 9 for men?
For a mainstream high-street brand, essentially yes, regardless of the size you take — the one case worth watching for is a heritage English shoemaker on an older house last, which is a brand-specific exception, not a small-size or large-size one.
Is the men's UK-to-US offset the same as the women's offset?
No, and mixing them up in a gift order is the single most common mistake on this page — apply the two-size women's shortcut to a man's UK 8 and you'll hand over a US 10, a full size too big, instead of the correct US 9.
Can I use my UK width fitting to guess my US width?
Yes, approximately — UK F/G/H fittings correspond roughly to US D/E/EE, which is genuinely useful information EU sizing doesn't give you since continental brands rarely label width at all.
Do all UK shoe brands follow the same US conversion?
Mainstream UK brands generally do, but heritage English shoemakers sometimes use older house lasts that shift the offset — check that specific maker's chart if it's a traditional brand.
Does UK sport-specific footwear like rugby boots convert the same way as dress shoes?
Not reliably — niche UK sport categories are often charted for the UK market first with US conversion as a secondary note, so check the manufacturer's own stated US size rather than the standard high-street offset.