on October 19, 2025
Here’s everything you need to find the right kids shoe sizes for your children – be it toddler shoe size charts, kids shoe size charts, or youth shoe size charts. Find perfectly fitting shoes for your kids! You can even convert US kids’ shoe sizes to UK or EU sizes.
How do Kids Shoe Sizes work in the US?
There is no gender gap for kids’ shoe sizes—no difference between sizes for boys and girls, not even for those sparkly princess gels.
Shoe sizes for kids are divided into different age groups: small or little kids shoe sizes (grouped under the categories of newborn, infants, and toddler shoe size chart), big kids shoe size chart for children aged 4 – 6 years, and youth shoe size chart.
Youth shoe sizes run from 1Y to 7Y (ages 7 – 12 years). If your child needs larger sizes than 7Y, then it’s time to step up to adult shoe sizes.
To help visualize these categories, here's a quick overview of how kids' shoe sizes are generally broken down:
Toddler and Kids Shoe Size Chart (Ages 1-6 years)
For small children, shoe sizes are typically marked with a "C" for child/toddler. Ranging from size 1C up to 13C, this covers infants through pre-schoolers. Toddler sizes (roughly 4.5C to 9.5C) are sometimes additionally tagged with a “T” for toddler following the shoe size number. For instance, an 8T would be a shoe suitable for a 2-year-old toddler.
For children aged 4 to 6, shoe sizes range from 10C to 13.5C. If purchasing international brands, note that UK sizes run a half size smaller—for instance, a US size 11C is equivalent to a UK size 10.5. For more accuracy across various international standards, refer to this detailed chart:
Toddler Shoe Size Chart (Specific Details)
| US Toddler Shoe size | Foot length in Inches | UK Shoe Size Toddler | Euro Shoe Size Toddler | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 4.5C | 4 7/8" | UK 4 | EU 20 | 12.3 cm |
| US 5C | 5" | UK 4.5 | EU 20.5 | 12.7 cm |
| US 5.5C | 5 1/8" | UK 5 | EU 21 | 13.0 cm |
| US 6C | 5 1/4" | UK 5.5 | EU 21.5 | 13.3 cm |
| US 6.5C | 5 1/2" | UK 6 | EU 22.5 | 13.8 cm |
| US 7C | 5 5/8" | UK 6.5 | EU 23 | 14.2 cm |
| US 7.5C | 5 3/4" | UK 7 | EU 23.5 | 14.6 cm |
| US 8C | 6" | UK 7.5 | EU 24.5 | 15.0 cm |
| US 8.5C | 6 1/8" | UK 8 | EU 25 | 15.4 cm |
| US 9C | 6 1/4" | UK 8.5 | EU 25.5 | 15.7 cm |
| US 9.5C | 6 3/8" | UK 9 | EU 26 | 16.0 cm |
Kids Shoe Size Chart (Specific Details)
| US Kids Shoe size | Foot length in Inches | UK Shoe Size Kids | Euro Shoe Size Kids | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 10C | 6 5/8" | UK 9.5 | EU 27 | 16.6 cm |
| US 10.5C | 6 3/4" | UK 10 | EU 27.5 | 16.9 cm |
| US 11C | 6 7/8" | UK 10.5 | EU 28 | 17.3 cm |
| US 11.5C | 7" | UK 11 | EU 28.5 | 17.6 cm |
| US 12C | 7 1/8" | UK 11.5 | EU 29 | 17.9 cm |
| US 12.5C | 7 1/4" | UK 12 | EU 30 | 18.5 cm |
| US 13C | 7 3/8" | UK 12.5 | EU 30.5 | 18.8 cm |
| US 13.5C | 7 1/2" | UK 13 | EU 31 | 19.2 cm |
Point to ponder: Kids’ feet grow rapidly, potentially two shoe sizes per year. Always measure their feet regularly for well-fitted shoes to avoid foot damage. If unsure, choose the bigger size.
Youth Shoe Size Chart (Ages 7-12 years)
Youth shoe sizes are the next step up, marked 1Y through 6Y, and will usually fit children ages 7 to 12 years. These sizes vary considerably from adult sizes, so it’s important to stick to the youth chart until your child outgrows 6Y. See the chart below for specific youth sizing:
Youth Shoe Size Chart (Specific Details)
| US Youth Shoe size | Foot length in Inches | UK Shoe Size Youth | Euro Shoe Size Youth | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 1Y | 7 5/8" | UK 13.5 | EU 31.5 | 19.5 cm |
| US 1.5Y | 7 7/8" | UK 1 | EU 32.5 | 20.0 cm |
| US 2Y | 8" | UK 1.5 | EU 33 | 20.4 cm |
| US 2.5Y | 8 1/4" | UK 2 | EU 34 | 21.0 cm |
| US 3Y | 8 3/8" | UK 2.5 | EU 34.5 | 21.3 cm |
| US 3.5Y | 8 1/2" | UK 3 | EU 35 | 21.7 cm |
| US 4Y | 8 5/8" | UK 3.5 | EU 35.5 | 22.0 cm |
| US 4.5Y | 8 7/8" | UK 4 | EU 36.5 | 22.6 cm |
| US 5Y | 9" | UK 4.5 | EU 37 | 23.0 cm |
| US 5.5Y | 9 1/4" | UK 5 | EU 38 | 23.6 cm |
| US 6Y | 9 3/4" | UK 5.5 | EU 39 | 24.7 cm |
How much room should children have in a shoe?
When your child’s shoes have less than a half-inch (12mm) of space from the toes to the shoe end, it’s time for a new pair. Ideally, new shoes should provide at least 3/4 inch (17mm) of room for foot movement.
Children’s Shoe Size Mexico US Conversion
The chart below will help you convert your US Kids Shoe Size to the Mexico Kids Shoe size.
| Mexican Kids' Shoe Sizes | US Size Kids | Foot Length | Shoe width |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11.5 | 4C | 11.6 cm (4.56 in) | 5.38 in |
| 12.5 | 5C | 12.4 cm (4.88 in) | 5.5 in |
| 13 | 6C | 13.3 cm (5.23 in) | 5.75 in |
| 14 | 7C | 14.1 cm (5.55 in) | 5.87 in |
| 15 | 8C | 15 cm (5.90 in) | 6.01 in |
| 16 | 9C | 15.8 cm (6.22 in) | 6.25 in |
| 17 | 10C | 16.7 cm (6.57 in) | 6.50 in |
| 17.5 | 10.5C | 17.1 cm (6.73 in) | 6.62 in |
| 18 | 11C | 17.5 cm (6.89 in) | 6.63 in |
| 18.5 | 11.5C | 18 cm (7.08 in) | 6.75 in |
| 19 | 12C | 18.4 cm (7.24 in) | 6.87 in |
| 19.5 | 12.5C | 18.8 cm (7.40 in) | 7.12 in |
| 20 | 13 | 19.2 cm (7.56 in) | 7.25 in |
| 21 | 13.5C | 19.7 cm (7.76 in) | 7.37 in |
How to measure kids shoe sizes?
Place the foot flat, sole down on a sheet of paper and trace the circumference of the foot, keeping the pencil straight up and down and the toes together. Then measure the foot lengthwise with a ruler and look up the size in our shoe size chart. More detailed explanations of how to measure shoe sizes can be found here.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Is US Kid’s Shoe Size Same As UK?
Close but not quite. UK’s children’s shoe sizes are, as a rule, 1/2 size smaller than the corresponding US size. A size 8 US shoe is a size 7.5 in the UK, and so on. Consult the above charts and calculators to make sure you choose the right UK shoe size, based on your US shoe size.
How do Shoe Sizes for Kids work?
Understanding kids’ shoe sizes: Shoe sizes for kids bear little relation to adult shoe sizes. First of all, there is no difference in sizing by gender. Boys and girls use the same sizing system (unlike women’s and men’s sizes, which differ greatly). But kids’ shoe sizes are divided into different age groups: small or little kid shoe sizes vs. big kids/youth shoe sizes. Small kids are newborn, infant and toddlers. Big kids shoe sizes are from size 10C (approx. 4 years) up to size 6Y.
Are Boys and Girls Shoe Sizes the same?
Yes, boys’ and girls’ shoes use the same sizing. Unlike with adult sizes, there is no separate boys’ shoe size chart.
Is US Kid’s Shoe Size Same As Canada?
Yes. Canadian size for children’s, men’s and women’s shoes are identical to US sizes, so there is no conversion necessary. As long as you know your child’s US shoe size, you’ll know their Canadian size.
What shoes does the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) recommend?
The APMA has a quick three-question test to help you determine if your children’s shoes/baby walking shoes “make the grade”:
- Does the shoe have a stiff heel? The shoe shouldn’t collapse when you press on both sides of the heel counter.
- Is the toe flexible? The shoe shouldn’t be too stiff in the toe area, but it shouldn’t fold up too easily when pressed either.
- Does the shoe have a rigid middle to support your foot? The shoe shouldn’t twist or sag in the middle.
Furthermore, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends shoes that are neither too big nor too small . Did you know that over 65% of kids are wearing shoes that are too small for their feet? The concern here is that by wearing poorly fitting shoes, kids can develop foot deformities like “hallux valgus.” According to the National Institutes of Health, 30 percent of kids have foot deformities that are irreversible—making proper shoe sizing critical!