Ordering shoes online is the moment most people stop trusting their size. Australia uses a mix of systems, the box says US, and the brand's centimetre figure may not match the size you wear. The fastest fix is to measure your foot in centimetres and match it to a chart. This guide gives you that chart, explains which column to read for men and women, and shows where brands differ.
Quick answer: men's Australian sizes match UK sizes, and women's Australian sizes match US sizes. Measure your longer foot in cm in the late afternoon, then find that number in the table for your gender.
How to Measure Your Foot at Home
- Measure in the late afternoon or evening, because feet swell through the day.
- Tape a sheet of paper to a hard floor against a wall. Stand on it with your heel touching the wall and your weight evenly on both feet.
- Have someone mark the tip of your longest toe, which isn't always the big toe.
- Measure from the wall to the mark in centimetres. Repeat for the other foot and use the larger number.
- If you fall between two sizes, take the larger size. Nike and most brands recommend sizing up in that case.
Men's Shoe Size Chart: cm to AU, US, UK and EU
Men's Australian size is the same as the UK size. The table uses Nike's men's chart, which is the most common reference. Where a centimetre value sits between two sizes, both sizes are shown.
| Foot length (cm) | AU (UK) | US | EU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 3.5 | 4 | 36 |
| 23.5 | 4 to 4.5 | 4.5 to 5 | 36.5 to 37.5 |
| 24 | 5 to 5.5 | 5.5 to 6 | 38 to 38.5 |
| 24.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 39 |
| 25 | 6 | 7 | 40 |
| 25.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 40.5 |
| 26 | 7 | 8 | 41 |
| 26.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 42 |
| 27 | 8 | 9 | 42.5 |
| 27.5 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 43 |
| 28 | 9 | 10 | 44 |
| 28.5 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 44.5 |
| 29 | 10 | 11 | 45 |
| 29.5 | 10.5 | 11.5 | 45.5 |
| 30 | 11 | 12 | 46 |
Women's Shoe Size Chart: cm to AU, US, UK and EU
Women's Australian size is the same as the US size. The table uses Nike's women's chart.
| Foot length (cm) | AU (US) | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 5 | 2.5 | 35.5 |
| 22.5 | 5.5 | 3 | 36 |
| 23 | 6 | 3.5 | 36.5 |
| 23.5 | 6.5 | 4 | 37.5 |
| 24 | 7 | 4.5 | 38 |
| 24.5 | 7.5 | 5 | 38.5 |
| 25 | 8 | 5.5 | 39 |
| 25.5 | 8.5 | 6 | 40 |
| 26 | 9 | 6.5 | 40.5 |
| 26.5 | 9.5 | 7 | 41 |
| 27 | 10 | 7.5 | 42 |
| 27.5 | 10.5 | 8 | 42.5 |
| 28 | 11 | 8.5 | 43 |
| 28.5 | 11.5 | 9 | 44 |
| 29 | 12 | 9.5 | 44.5 |
Why Brands Don't Match Exactly
These charts are a starting point. Each brand's centimetre figure is its own sizing scale, so the same number can land on a slightly different size from one brand to the next. For example, a men's UK 9 is a US 10 in Nike but a US 9.5 in adidas, and adidas men's US is only half a size above UK, where Nike uses a full size. Use the brand-specific table on our Shoe Size Guide before you order from a particular brand.
Where to Go Next
Once you have your size, browse by brand and model. If you're choosing a running shoe rather than a casual one, our best running shoes for men in Australia and On Running vs ASICS women's guide compare the models by use, and the running shoe guide covers cushioning and width. Check availability on each product page for your size. Use the Shoe Size Guide for brand charts, or shop men's footwear and shop women's footwear.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 26 cm in US shoe size?
For men, 26 cm is a US 8 (AU/UK 7). For women, 26 cm is a US 9 (AU 9).
Is EU 37 the same as AU 6?
Not exactly. For women, EU 37 falls between AU 6 (23 cm) and AU 6.5 (23.5 cm), so measure your foot and use the chart by centimetres.
Should I measure my feet in the morning or afternoon?
Late afternoon or evening. Feet swell over the day, and a morning measurement can give you a shoe that's too tight.
What if my two feet are different lengths?
Use the longer foot. Size up if the difference is large, and check the brand's width options.
Do the charts apply to every brand?
They use Nike's chart as a reference. Other brands can differ by half a size, so use the brand table on our Shoe Size Guide.
