Men's to Women's Shoe Size: The Simple Conversion (Women's = Men's + 1)
You found the sneaker you want, but the listing shows a men's size and you normally buy women's — or the reverse. Don't overthink it. For sneakers, there's one rule that gets you there, and a full conversion chart below to double-check any size in US, UK, EU, or centimeters. At West Coast Deals a large share of our adidas listings are cut on men's or unisex lasts, so knowing this conversion is the difference between a pair that fits and a return.
The one rule: women's = men's + 1
To go from a men's size to a women's size, add one. A men's 8 is a women's 9. A men's 9.5 is a women's 10.5. To go the other way — women's to men's — subtract one. A women's 8 is a men's 7. That's it. The physical shoe is the same length; only the number printed on the box changes, because men's and women's US sizing use different starting points.
Why it's 1 size, not 1.5
You'll see the internet quote a 1.5-size difference, and for some dress shoes that's true. But athletic brands — adidas, and most sneaker makers — use a 1-size offset on their size charts, which is what the conversion below reflects. When you're buying sneakers, add or subtract one and trust it. If you're ever unsure, skip the men's/women's numbers entirely and match your foot length in centimeters, which is identical for everyone.
Men's to women's shoe size conversion chart
Find your size in any column and read across. The CM column is your foot length in centimeters — the one measurement that never changes between men's, women's, or regions.
| US Men | US Women | UK | EU | CM | Inches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5 | 3.5 | 36 | 22.1 | 8.7 |
| 4.5 | 5.5 | 4 | 36.7 | 22.5 | 8.9 |
| 5 | 6 | 4.5 | 37.3 | 22.9 | 9 |
| 5.5 | 6.5 | 5 | 38 | 23.3 | 9.2 |
| 6 | 7 | 5.5 | 38.7 | 23.8 | 9.4 |
| 6.5 | 7.5 | 6 | 39.3 | 24.2 | 9.5 |
| 7 | 8 | 6.5 | 40 | 24.6 | 9.7 |
| 7.5 | 8.5 | 7 | 40.7 | 25 | 9.8 |
| 8 | 9 | 7.5 | 41.3 | 25.5 | 10 |
| 8.5 | 9.5 | 8 | 42 | 25.9 | 10.2 |
| 9 | 10 | 8.5 | 42.7 | 26.3 | 10.4 |
| 9.5 | 10.5 | 9 | 43.3 | 26.7 | 10.5 |
| 10 | 11 | 9.5 | 44 | 27.1 | 10.7 |
| 10.5 | 11.5 | 10 | 44.7 | 27.6 | 10.9 |
| 11 | 12 | 10.5 | 45.3 | 28 | 11 |
| 11.5 | 12.5 | 11 | 46 | 28.4 | 11.2 |
| 12 | 13 | 11.5 | 46.7 | 28.8 | 11.3 |
| 12.5 | 13.5 | 12 | 47.3 | 29.3 | 11.5 |
| 13 | 14 | 12.5 | 48 | 29.7 | 11.7 |
| 13.5 | 14.5 | 13 | 48.7 | 30.1 | 11.9 |
| 14 | 15 | 13.5 | 49.3 | 30.5 | 12 |
| 15 | 16 | 14.5 | 50.7 | 31.4 | 12.4 |
How to read a men's listing if you wear women's sizes
Say you normally wear a women's 9. Subtract one: you want the men's 8. If a listing only offers half sizes around it, the centimeter column is your tiebreaker — a women's 9 is 25.5 cm, so grab whatever men's size matches 25.5 cm. This is exactly how to shop the many adidas classics — Sambas, Gazelles, Superstars — that get listed in men's sizing. It opens up the full size run instead of limiting you to women's-only listings.
Does the shoe itself change between men's and women's?
For most sneakers sold as unisex, no — it's the same shoe, same last, same width, just labeled with the men's number. Some women's-specific models are built on a slightly narrower last with a different footbed, but the classic adidas terrace and running silhouettes we carry are overwhelmingly unisex. That's why the +1 conversion works so cleanly for them: you're buying the identical shoe, only reading a different number.
Still not sure? Check the model's fit
Conversion gets you the right length; the model still decides how snug it feels. adidas classics run true to size but narrow, and the Superstar runs roomy. Once you've converted your number, confirm it against the specific pair with our adidas size chart and fit guide or the model-by-model Do adidas Run Small? breakdown. For specific silhouettes, our Samba sizing guide and Superstar up-or-down guide go deeper.
Every pair from West Coast Deals is authenticated in-house and shipped fast from Portland, Oregon — so once you've converted to the right size, the pair on the box is exactly what lands at your door.
— Anthony from West Coast Deals