Measure

• Have your feet measured. You may think you know your size, but could be surprised when you put your foot on the measuring device. The size and width of feet change with age and after pregnancies. Many shoe stores have trained staff to measure feet and fit shoes properly.
  
  

Size Doesn’t Matter

• Know that sizes are not the same across the board. Each shoe manufacturer, or even different styles from the same manufacturer, have different shapes and may require a different size. Try on all shoes before buying, or be sure the company you are ordering from online has a good return policy.
  
  

Calculate European Sizes

• Calculating American sizes to European sizes can be tricky. One rule of thumb is to subtract 31 from the European size. A size 38 in European sizes would be a 7 in American sizes using this rule. Like other sizing, this is not uniform and shoes in European sizes should be tried on before buying.
  
  

Shop in the Afternoon

• Feet spread as the day wears on. The best times to try on shoes are in the afternoon or evening, when feet are at their fullest. Standing and exercising can also cause the foot to be larger than normal. Since most shoe problems are with shoes too small, this is a good time to fit your feet with shoes.
  
  

Wear the Socks

• Shoe fitting is contingent on the socks you wear. Socks add bulk to the foot and change the fit of a shoe. If you wore socks when trying on sandals, you might buy then too large. When trying on shoes, wear the socks you would normally wear with that shoe.
  
  

Favor the Bigger Foot

• Chances are your feet are different sizes. Shoes don’t come in custom sizes. The best strategy is to fit to your bigger foot.
  
  

Consider the Shape

• When trying on shoes, consider the shape of your foot and the shape of the shoe. Some people have very narrow feet from heel to toe. Others have duck feet that are narrow at the heel and wide at the toe. Consider your foot shape when looking at shoes.
  
  

Test the Toes

• Pinch the end of the shoe to test for length. There should be ½ inch between the end of the longest toe and the end of the shoe.
  
  

Test the Width

• The ball of the foot is the widest part of the foot, and the most likely place for the foot to get pinched width-wise. Check the area behind the toes to see if there is enough width to accommodate the foot comfortably. This is where the foot naturally flexes, so adequate room at the ball allows more movement in the foot and better performance.
  
  

Take a Walk

• Try on the shoe and take a walk around the store to see how it feels. One common problem is to buy shoes too small to avoid heel slippage. It is better to ask the salesperson for other shoe choices than to buy a shoe too small to avoid heel slippage. This often caused by the construction of the shoe rather than the size.