Running Shoes Conversion Guide

With all the different colorways and sizing, it can be tricky to find your perfect pair of running shoes. At Fleet Feet, we want you to discover what fits you best. And sometimes that means trying on shoes marketed towards a different gender or adult/children. The colors and qualities of these shoes are more similar than ever, so you’ll likely be the only one that knows which type of shoe you purchased.

The calculation to convert women’s shoe sizes to men’s is simple: Subtract 1.5 from the women’s size to find the equivalent men’s size. Add 1.5 if you’re going from men’s to women’s. Another note is that many men’s shoes are available in larger equivalent sizes than women’s, and vice versa. Check out this conversion table as a reference:

Unisex sizing is typically the same as men’s sizing. Track spikes and some carbon-plate racing shoes are widely sold as unisex, so keep that in mind as you shop.

Standard, narrow and wide mean different things for men’s and women’s shoes—because women’s feet are typically narrower than men’s. In fact, a women’s standard width is the same as a men’s narrow width. Reference this next conversion table to decide which width may be most suitable for you:

Youth shoes are on the men’s sizing scale and have the same standard width. Oftentimes, children’s shoes stop at size 5 and men’s shoes start at size 7. In this gap, kids can wear a women’s size 6.5 to 8.5 with a slightly narrow fit. If you are searching for a women’s 5.5 wide, that same shoe may be more easily found in a kid’s size 4.

If you do not know your correct size, head over to one of our retail stores to try out the Fleet Feet fit id® Outfitting Process. We got you covered.

With state-of-the-art 3D foot-scanning technology, our trained Outfitters give you details on your foot measurements and thoughtful shoe recommendations. Fleet Feet’s top tier customer service and innovative technology provides you with the most personalized shopping experience.

Above all, our goal is to provide you with the perfect pair of sneakers in your perfect fit for your specific fitness goals.

If you can’t make it to a store, use this guide and this blog post for tips on how to choose the best running shoes.