Understanding Shoe Sizing: Australian vs International Size Charts

Shopping for children's shoes can be confusing when different brands and countries use different sizing systems. Australian sizes follow the UK system, but American and European sizes are commonly encountered when shopping online or from international brands. This comprehensive guide will help you navigate shoe sizing charts, understand the differences between systems, and ensure you always get the right fit for your child.

Understanding the Different Sizing Systems

There are four main shoe sizing systems you'll encounter when shopping for children's shoes: Australian/UK, US, European, and measurements in centimetres. Each has its own logic and scale, which is why conversion can be confusing.

Australian and UK Sizes

The good news for Australian parents is that Australian sizes are identical to UK sizes. When you see "AU" or "UK" on a shoe, they're interchangeable. This system uses whole and half sizes, starting from size 0 for infants and progressing through children's sizes before transitioning to adult sizes.

Children's sizes in the Australian/UK system typically run from size 1 to size 13 for juniors, then switch to adult sizing starting at size 1 again. This "reset" can cause confusion – a child's size 13 is followed by an adult size 1, not a size 14.

US Sizes

American sizing runs approximately 1 to 1.5 sizes larger in number than Australian/UK sizes. A child wearing AU size 10 would need approximately US size 11. Like the Australian system, US children's sizes reset when transitioning to adult sizes, typically after children's size 13.5.

Adding to the complexity, there's a separate sizing scale for toddlers (often marked "T") and one for youth/junior sizes. Some brands use "C" for children's sizes to distinguish from adult sizes.

European Sizes

European sizing uses a continuous number scale that doesn't reset between children's and adult sizes. The numbers are also much larger – where an Australian size might be 10, the equivalent European size is 28. European sizing is based on the "Paris Point" system, where each size represents approximately 6.67mm of foot length.

Many international brands, particularly those from Europe, use EU sizing. Understanding how to convert helps when shopping online or from brands like Geox, Ecco, or Superfit.

Children's Shoe Size Conversion Chart

Use this reference chart to convert between sizing systems. Remember that these are approximate equivalents – actual fit varies between brands and styles.

Toddler Sizes (Ages 1-4 approximately)

The toddler range typically covers foot lengths from about 12cm to 16cm:

• Foot 12.5cm: AU/UK 4, US 5, EU 20
• Foot 13cm: AU/UK 5, US 6, EU 21
• Foot 13.5cm: AU/UK 5.5, US 6.5, EU 22
• Foot 14cm: AU/UK 6, US 7, EU 23
• Foot 14.5cm: AU/UK 7, US 8, EU 24
• Foot 15cm: AU/UK 7.5, US 8.5, EU 25
• Foot 15.5cm: AU/UK 8, US 9, EU 26
• Foot 16cm: AU/UK 8.5, US 9.5, EU 27

Junior Sizes (Ages 4-8 approximately)

Junior sizes cover the primary school years for most children:

• Foot 16.5cm: AU/UK 9, US 10, EU 27
• Foot 17cm: AU/UK 10, US 11, EU 28
• Foot 17.5cm: AU/UK 10.5, US 11.5, EU 29
• Foot 18cm: AU/UK 11, US 12, EU 30
• Foot 18.5cm: AU/UK 11.5, US 12.5, EU 30
• Foot 19cm: AU/UK 12, US 13, EU 31
• Foot 19.5cm: AU/UK 12.5, US 13.5, EU 31
• Foot 20cm: AU/UK 13, US 1Y, EU 32

Youth Sizes (Ages 8-12 approximately)

Youth sizes bridge children's and adult sizes:

• Foot 20.5cm: AU/UK 1, US 2Y, EU 33
• Foot 21cm: AU/UK 2, US 3Y, EU 34
• Foot 21.5cm: AU/UK 2.5, US 3.5Y, EU 35
• Foot 22cm: AU/UK 3, US 4Y, EU 35
• Foot 22.5cm: AU/UK 3.5, US 4.5Y, EU 36
• Foot 23cm: AU/UK 4, US 5Y, EU 36
• Foot 23.5cm: AU/UK 4.5, US 5.5Y, EU 37
• Foot 24cm: AU/UK 5, US 6Y, EU 37

Why Sizes Vary Between Brands

Even within the same sizing system, a size 10 from one brand may fit differently than a size 10 from another. Several factors contribute to this variation.

Last Shape

The "last" is the foot-shaped form around which a shoe is built. Different brands use different last shapes, which affects how the shoe fits. Some brands run narrow, others wide. Some have roomier toe boxes, others are more streamlined. Asian-made shoes often fit narrower than European-made shoes.

Design Differences

A sandal, a school shoe, and a running shoe in the same size may all fit differently. Sandals typically fit a bit smaller as the foot isn't fully enclosed. Running shoes often fit larger to accommodate movement and swelling. Design elements like tongue padding and upper material affect interior space.

Manufacturing Variations

Even within a single brand, slight variations can occur between production batches. Quality brands maintain tighter tolerances, but some variation is normal in mass-produced footwear.

Tips for Online Shopping

Buying shoes online requires extra attention to sizing. Here are strategies for success:

Measure Feet in Centimetres

Centimetre measurements are more reliable than size numbers for online shopping. Measure your child's feet at home (see our measuring guide) and compare to the brand's specific size chart. Most quality brands provide a centimetre-to-size conversion on their websites.

Read Reviews

Customer reviews often mention whether shoes run small, large, or true to size. Pay attention to comments about width as well as length. If multiple reviews mention a shoe runs small, consider sizing up.

Check Return Policies

When shopping online, prioritise retailers with good return policies. Being able to exchange a wrong size without hassle makes online shoe shopping much less risky.

Compare to Known Fits

If you know your child fits well in a particular brand and size, use that as a reference point. Many retail websites show how their sizing compares to other popular brands.

Width Sizing

Not all feet are the same width, and some children need wider or narrower shoes than standard sizes provide. Width is typically indicated by letters: N (Narrow), M (Medium/Standard), W (Wide), and XW (Extra Wide). Not all children's shoes come in multiple widths, so this can limit options for children with non-standard width feet.

Signs your child may need a different width include bulging at the sides of the shoe (too narrow), excessive space at the sides with foot sliding (too wide), blisters from friction on narrow feet in standard shoes, and difficulty finding comfortable shoes in standard sizes.

Brands known for offering width options in children's sizes include New Balance, ASICS, and Clarks. If your child has particularly wide or narrow feet, seeking out these brands can help ensure better fit.

Using Foot Measurement for Sizing

The most reliable way to get the right size is to use actual foot measurements. Here's a quick guide:

Measure foot length in centimetres, from heel to longest toe. Add 10-12mm for growing room. This total gives you the ideal interior shoe length. Compare this to the brand's specific size chart to find the right size.

For example, if your child's foot measures 17cm, adding 10mm gives 18cm total. On most size charts, this would indicate approximately AU/UK size 10.5-11.

When Sizes Don't Match Between Feet

It's completely normal for children (and adults) to have one foot slightly larger than the other. When this is the case, always fit to the larger foot. A shoe that's slightly roomy on the smaller foot is much better than one that's too tight on the larger foot.

If the difference is significant – more than a half size – consult with a professional shoe fitter or podiatrist. Some specialty retailers can provide "split sizing" with two different sizes in a pair, though this isn't available for all shoes.