Running Shoes Conversion Guide

There are times when it is just tricky to fit a person in the perfect running shoe. Sometimes thinking outside the box and picking a different gender or adult/children shoes can open up many more options that fit you. The colors and quality of these shoes are more similar than ever, meaning that there is a good chance that you will be the only person that knows what type of shoe you purchased.

There are a variety of reasons that a woman might want, need or feel more comfortable in a men’s shoe. But there are a few reasons that stand out:

1. The largest women’s shoe size in some models is 11 or 12. If your foot is larger, you might need to wear the men’s version.
2. Some shoes, including carbon-fiber-plated racing shoes and track spikes, only come in unisex sizing, which is typically men’s sizing.
3. The volume of a woman’s foot might fit better in a men’s shoe, as the men’s model is usually wider and has more space than the women’s.
4. You might just like the color or style of a men’s shoe better than the women’s versions out there.

It should be noted that a standard women’s width is a B width, whereas a standard men’s width is a D width, see more on that below.

The calculation to convert women’s shoe sizes to men’s (or vice versa) is simple: subtract 1.5 from the women’s shoe to find the equivalent men’s size. For example, a women’s size 10 would be equal to a men’s size 8.5.

For quick reference, here is a conversion chart for women’s to men’s shoe sizes.

There are a variety of reasons that men may need a women’s running shoe. If they cannot quite fit into a men’s shoe or there are only a few options available, choosing a women’s wide in the correct size may open a variety of options.

Similarly, more and more shoe companies are not making narrow options anymore, and the standard width for women is a B width, the same as a men’s narrow. Finally, you may like the colors or style of women's shoes more than mens.

Here is our conversion chart:

Standard vs. narrow vs. wide means different things when looking at men’s vs. women’s shoes. Mostly this is because typically women’s feet are narrower than men’s.

The most important question to ask when choosing a running shoe is what is the most comfortable for you. Here is our width conversion chart.

Ever wonder why men’s shoes start at size 7 or 8? It’s because kid’s shoes are on a men’s scale. This is great to know if you are say a woman’s 5.5 wide, which can be tough to find, but it is much easier to find a kid’s size 4.

There is also a gap for many kids shoes when they reach around a size 5 to 7, where they can wear a women’s 6.5 to 8.5. Know that the children’s shoes have a standard D width.

Hopefully, some of these charts will help you find the perfect shoes. We still always suggest that the best way to find the perfect shoe for you is going to one of the approximately 250 Fleet Feet locations to get fit by an expert outfitter using our Fit Process with our 3D fit id© foot scanner. However, we understand that sometimes you can’t get to a physical Fleet Feet and want you to have some tips and tricks for converting different styles of shoes if you are buying online.

If you buy shoes from us (either in-store or online) and you don’t love the way they look, fit or perform, bring them back within 60 days for a full refund.

Plus, we offer free shipping on all orders over $99 on fleetfeet.com, and we’ll match a lower price from a qualifying retailer. That’s our Happy Fit Guarantee.