Are France and UK Shoe Sizes the Same? Know Before You Buy
France vs UK Shoe Sizes: Not the Same, Not Even Close
If you've ever bought shoes while traveling—or worse, online—then you've probably asked yourself this one burning question: Are France and UK shoe sizes the same?
Short answer? Nope. Not even by accident.
French shoe sizes (a.k.a. European sizes) follow a completely different system compared to the UK. So yeah, if you're a UK size 9, you’re not gonna be a 9 in France. You'll need to convert. Every time.
Let’s break it down.
How French Shoe Sizes Are Measured
The Paris Point system
French sizing is based on something called the Paris Point, which is 2/3 of a centimeter (roughly 6.67mm). The size equals the length of the shoe last (the mold) in Paris Points.
So a French size 42 means the foot is about 28 cm long, plus some toe room.
But this measurement includes the last, not the actual foot. Tricky, right?
Basically:
French Size = Foot length (cm) × 1.5 + some padding
(Okay, it’s a bit more complicated than that, but that’s the gist.)
UK Shoe Sizes: Smaller Numbers, Different Logic
The British formula
UK sizes, meanwhile, are based on the Barleycorn system, which dates back to medieval times. Yeah, really. One Barleycorn = 1/3 of an inch. A UK size zero starts at 4 inches (kids’ sizing), and every size adds a barleycorn.
So if you're a UK men’s size 9, your foot is about 10.25 inches (or 26 cm-ish).
Oh—and women's sizes in the UK are offset by a bit. A UK women’s 6 is roughly a UK men’s 5.5. Confused yet? It gets worse.
Quick Conversion: UK vs France Shoe Sizes
General rule of thumb (but not perfect)
Here’s a rough cheat sheet:
| UK Size | FR (EU) Size |
|---|---|
| 5 | 38 |
| 6 | 39 |
| 7 | 41 |
| 8 | 42 |
| 9 | 43 |
| 10 | 44-45 |
| 11 | 46 |
These aren't exact equivalents (some brands vary a lot), but they’ll get you in the ballpark.
Pro tip: Always check the brand’s own size chart. Trust me, I've ordered a "42" from one French brand and it fit like a tight UK 7. Another time, it felt like a 9½ clown shoe. No joke.
What About Women's Sizes?
Yep, the same problem. A UK women’s size 5 is roughly a French 38.
But again, roughly. Some shoes run large, others small. Heels? Completely different ball game. Don't even start on boots.
If you're shopping online for women's shoes across UK and French systems, use these steps:
Measure your foot in cm
Check the brand’s chart
Read the reviews (especially the “runs small” or “true to size” part)
Pray a little
Bonus: Why This Confusion Even Exists
Because… Europe never decided on a single sizing system. France uses Paris Points. UK has barleycorns. The US added their own twist. And no, even EU regulation doesn’t fully unify shoe sizing.
Honestly, the whole thing’s a mess. And it's not getting fixed anytime soon.
Final Thoughts: Always Convert, Never Assume
Are France and UK shoe sizes the same? Absolutely not.
They don’t even speak the same sizing language. Always convert your size, double-check the brand’s chart, and if possible, try them on before buying.
Because ending up with a shoe that’s either squeezing your toes or flopping off your heel? Yeah, nobody needs that.
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Is 172 cm good for a man?
Yes it is. Average height of male in India is 166.3 cm (i.e. 5 ft 5.5 inches) while for female it is 152.6 cm (i.e. 5 ft) approximately. So, as far as your question is concerned, aforesaid height is above average in both cases.
Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?
The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.
Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?
How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).
How tall is a average 15 year old?
Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years
| Male Teens: 13 - 20 Years) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 14 Years | 112.0 lb. (50.8 kg) | 64.5" (163.8 cm) |
| 15 Years | 123.5 lb. (56.02 kg) | 67.0" (170.1 cm) |
| 16 Years | 134.0 lb. (60.78 kg) | 68.3" (173.4 cm) |
| 17 Years | 142.0 lb. (64.41 kg) | 69.0" (175.2 cm) |
How to get taller at 18?
Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.
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Can you grow between 16 and 18?
Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.
Can you grow 1 cm after 17?
Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.