Understanding Kids’ Shoe Sizes — Why EU Sizing Might Save You Headaches

Reading a Shoe Box Without Getting Dizzy

If you’ve ever picked up a pair of shoes and stared at the size label wondering what language it’s speaking, you’re not alone. Between US, EU, UK, and other systems, it can feel like every brand uses a different ruler.

And they kind of do. Which is probably the worst part about shopping for shoes. 

This year we've expanded our shoe collection recognizing the need in Prince George to have more options for kids and youth shoes. So, we've done some research to help the shop and you really understood what those numbers mean and how to shop for different brands on the same day. 

👟 US Shoe Size

The US sizing system uses different starting points (called “zero points”) for children’s, youth, men’s, and women’s shoes:

• Children’s sizes run from 0–13, then restart at 1 for youth sizes. Sometimes a shoe will be labeled 5 TODDLER ... the words baby, toddler, or kid often referring to the first run from 0-13 and not to be confused with 'adult sizes'.
  

• Youth sizes then continue into men’s sizing. These shoes might be labeled Junior or Youth to distinguish themselves from a size 4 Toddler.
  

• Women’s sizing starts again with its own zero point, meaning a men’s 7 and a women’s 8 aren’t the same length. Right, yikes. If your child is wearing a Youth 6, they should be able to jump into a womens 8.
  

Each full size represents roughly ⅓ of an inch in length and yes, this small increment used to be called a barleycorn, named after the grain!

Because the difference in shoe sizes is often less than 1cm, the best way to measure si with a cm or millimetre reference. 

🇨🇳 CN Shoe Size

In some cases, CN sizing (China) refers directly to the length of the foot in millimetres. You might see this measurement in our preloved shoe collection because many shoes purchased from Amazon will come to us that way or it will be the number embedded into the sole of the shoe.

For example:

• CN 160 = 160 mm foot length (about 6.3 inches).
  

It’s less commonly used in North America with shoe boxes but you might see it listed on global brands or imports. CN numbers are listed on the Reima boxes, and this has beens super easy for us in store to choose a box based on just a measurement. 

🇪🇺 EU Shoe Size

Truthfully, we find that European sizing system is the most consistent and straightforward — and the one we recommend focusing on when shopping across brands. The other day I pulled a pile of shoes which had the same EU and CN numbers, the the US number varied from a 9.5 to a 10.5. 

Each size increases by 0.75 cm (around 6.6 mm).
It’s based directly on the length of the foot in millimetres, starting around:

• EU 35 ≈ 8.75 inches
  

The same scale applies to men’s, women’s, and children’s shoes, which is one reason it tends to be more reliable and super easy to chat about. It also helps navigate some of that half size headache and move through different 'gendered' shoes. Because we do carry an EU 38 in kids shoes; it's a kids US 6ish. 

🇯🇵 JP Shoe Size

Japanese (JP) sizing is refreshingly logical becasue it’s simply the length of the foot in centimetres. This is how Jan & Jul sizes their Tall Puffy Winter Boots.  -- we provodie the USA number on the listing but in store the big number on the box is JP.

So if your child’s foot measures 17 cm long, you’re looking for a JP 17.

🇬🇧 UK Shoe Size

UK sizing is similar to the US system but with a different starting point. Both use the same ⅓-inch increment per full size (the famous barleycorn), but a UK 5 and a US 5 aren’t identical. We dont' typically reference or use the UK sizing, but you will find it on the tag of the shoe. And perhaps you've always wondered why it's smaller than. 

👶 What “Baby” or “Toddler” Means when paired with a Shoe Number

When you see words like Baby or Toddler after a shoe size, they simply mean the shoe is designed for small children rather than adults.
There’s no universal cutoff : some brands consider a 12-month-old a “baby,” while others call them a “toddler.”

The terminology varies, but what matters most is the actual length and fit of the shoe. A lot of decisions that get made about labeling are completely arbritary. 

If brands are talking about their shoes being sized in months, you can often equate it sizes 1-6 in the children's size run; but often these shoes will run their own size preferences. Remember that a child might be big or small for their age and reallyh measuring in months is impractical at best. 

Our Best Tip: Focus on the EU Size

After fitting hundreds of pairs in-store, we’ve learned that EU sizing gives the most consistent results when moving between brands.

For example:
An EU 27 shoe might be labelled anywhere from US 9.5 to US 10.5, depending on the manufacturer. When we focused on the US number, we often ended up with shoes that didn’t fit.

That’s why we  recommend using your EU size as your anchor point when comparing brands. So far this has been the most successful anchor on comparing boxes. Naturally, in our preloved collection fo shoes this all goes out the widow as we focus on whatever number we can find. Can shoe companies agree to make these numbers more prominent and harder to fade?

The Most Important Number: Your Child’s Foot Length

At the end of the day, the most reliable measurement isn’t a size at all. It’s your child’s foot length.

Here’s how to measure it at home:

1. Have your child wear socks (if they’ll wear socks with the shoes).
   

2. Measure their foot at the end of the day, when it’s slightly swollen ---  this gives you a more accurate size.
   

3. Measure from the heel to the longest toe.
   

That number (in centimetres or millimetres) is what converts most directly into EU or CN/JP sizes.

A few things you can’t tell from a chart?

• Ankle fit (some kids have thicker ankles that affect fit).
  

• Foot width (narrow vs. wide).
  

That’s why trying shoes on in-store, or shopping with someone who knows how different brands fit, makes all the difference.

 Final Thoughts

Between regional systems and brand variations, shoe sizing can feel like a puzzle but it doesn’t have to.

When in doubt:

• Focus on EU sizing for consistency.
  

• Measure your child’s foot length in centimeters.
  
  And when possible, try before you buy (we’ll always help you find the best fit in-store - including honesty when it just doesn't fit.
  

At Nest & Sprout, we fit kids’ feet every week, from babies just starting to walk to school-aged kids who need reliable boots for a Prince George winter. We've ditched any official measuring devices knowing that theres a bit of chaos always involved with tryin gon kids shoes and we welcome it. 

So if sizing still feels confusing, come in and we’ll help you decode that shoe box label together.