Kids Shoe Size Chart: UK EU US by Age & cm Guide

Buying shoes for growing kids means wrangling with three sizing systems at once — and most parents discover the hard way that a UK 4 isn’t the same as a US 4. This guide pulls together verified conversion charts from Nike, adidas, Next, and other major brands so you can skip the guesswork and order the right size the first time.

Babies & toddlers age 0-3 foot length: 3.2–3.9 inches (adidas) · Children age 4-7 foot length: 6.5–6.9 inches (adidas) · Top brands with charts: Nike, adidas, Next · Common conversions needed: UK, EU, US kids

What are kids shoe sizes by age?

Retailers typically split children’s footwear into three buckets: baby (or infant), toddler, and youth (or junior). Nordstrom categorizes baby shoes as sizes 0–4 and toddler as sizes 7.5–12 (Nordstrom), while Shoe Carnival defines toddler as covering 9 months to 4 years (Shoe Carnival).

Toddler shoe size chart by age

For toddlers in the 9-months-to-4-years bracket, common conversions include US 5C equals UK 4 and EU 20 (12.1 cm) (Shoe Carnival), while US 10C translates to UK 9 and EU 27 (16.5 cm) for around age 4 (Wearview). The EU size system is based directly on foot length in centimetres — EU 20 corresponds to approximately 12.1 cm (Schuhe.net).

• US 5C → UK 4, EU 20, 12.1 cm
• US 10C → UK 9, EU 27, 16.5 cm

Older kids shoe size chart

Once children move into the youth or junior bracket, sizing shifts from the “C” (child) system to the “Y” (youth) system. US 13C or US 1Y corresponds to UK 13, EU 31–32, and measures 19.7 cm (Wearview). Big kid sizes continue up through US 3.5Y, which converts to EU 35 and UK 2.5 (Shoe Carnival).

What are UK kids shoe sizes?

UK children’s sizes run roughly a half-size lower than their US equivalents for infant and toddler sizes. US 1C corresponds to UK 0.5 and EU 16, with a foot length of 8.9 cm (Wearview). This relationship holds broadly across most brands, though minor discrepancies do appear — US 6C is listed as UK 5 by Kidz Global but UK 5.5 by Shoe Carnival (Kidz Global Apparel).

UK infant and junior sizes

The UK system starts at size 0 for newborns. Foot Locker UK confirms that UK size 0.5 converts to EU 16 and 8.9 cm for the 3–6 month age group (Foot Locker UK). Junior sizes continue into the teenage years, with UK 12 and above overlapping with adult small sizes.

What size is 7 UK kids?

A UK size 7 in children’s shoes typically falls in the junior range (roughly ages 10–12). In US sizing, this corresponds to approximately US 7.5Y or 8Y, depending on the brand’s specific conversion. Clarks, a major UK footwear brand, provides a fit guide for kids but doesn’t publish a standalone conversion chart (Clarks), so checking their specific size guide is advisable for Clarks purchases.

How do EU and UK shoe sizes differ?

The EU sizing system uses the Paris point, where each size represents one-third of a centimetre. This makes EU sizes directly tied to foot measurement: EU 16 means approximately 8.9 cm of actual foot length (Foot Locker UK). By contrast, UK sizes follow the “Barleycorn” system based on historical English measurements.

EU sizes in UK kids

The practical rule from Foot Locker UK: EU sizes run approximately 33 numbers higher than UK children’s sizes (Foot Locker UK). So a UK 1 becomes EU 34 in the conversion, UK 4 becomes EU 37, and so on. This makes EU sizing useful for direct measurement verification because it directly reflects centimetres.

EU to UK conversion

To convert EU to UK for children’s shoes, subtract roughly 33. For example: EU 20 → UK 4.5 (rounded), EU 27 → UK 9, EU 31 → UK 12. Most retailer charts round these conversions to the nearest 0.5 for practical usability. Minor variations exist between sources — for instance, Kidz Global lists EU 21 for what Shoe Carnival calls EU 20 (Kidz Global Apparel).

The implication: cross-border shopping requires knowing which sizing system the retailer uses — European sites display EU, UK retailers display UK, and US sites display US sizing by default.

Is size 13 the same as size 1?

Yes, in practical terms — size 13 (US children’s) and size 1 (US youth) overlap significantly. US 13C is listed as EU 31 and UK 12 by Shoe Carnival (Shoe Carnival), while US 1Y is EU 32, UK 13, and 19.7 cm (Wearview). The naming shift from “C” (child) to “Y” (youth) happens at this boundary, but the physical sizes are nearly identical.

What size is a kids 13 shoe?

A US kids size 13 measures approximately 7.5 inches (19.1 cm) according to Shoe Carnival (Shoe Carnival). In UK sizing, this is size 12; in EU sizing, size 31. Age-wise, this typically corresponds to children aged 6–7 years, though age approximations vary slightly across different charts.

What does size 1 mean for kids?

US size 1 in the youth system is the first size after children’s sizes end. It corresponds to approximately UK 13, EU 32, and 19.7 cm foot length (Kiwi Sizing). This size fits children roughly aged 7 years, though growth patterns vary individually.

Kids Shoe Sizes — Charts & How to Fit

Getting the right fit requires two steps: accurate measurement of the foot and correct interpretation of the size chart. The EU system’s direct centimetre basis makes it useful for verifying measurements regardless of which size notation is displayed.

Kids shoe size chart cm and mm

For parents working in centimetres, the most reliable reference is the EU size itself — EU 16 equals 8.9 cm, EU 20 equals 12.1 cm, EU 27 equals 16.5 cm, and EU 32 equals 19.7 cm (Wearview). To convert to millimetres, multiply by 10: a 95 mm foot needs approximately EU 17–18.

Measuring feet for right fit

The most accurate measurement method: trace the child’s foot on paper while standing, measure the longest point from heel to toe, and add approximately 1 cm for growth room. Compare this measurement against the foot length column in any reliable size chart. Under Armour’s kid size 2K corresponds to 8 cm foot length (EU 17.5, UK 1.5) (BSN Sports), demonstrating how brand-specific charts can vary.

“The EU size is usually about 33 numbers higher than the UK size.”

— Foot Locker UK, Kids Shoe Size Guide

International Conversion Comparison

Cross-border shopping demands a unified view of all three systems. The table below aggregates data from multiple retailers to show where conversions align and where minor discrepancies appear.

Minor discrepancies between sources (such as whether US 5C is EU 20 or EU 21) reflect rounding differences rather than actual measurement variations. The implication: parents should expect minor variance when cross-referencing charts from different retailers.

Step-by-Step Fitting Guide

Accurate measurement is the foundation of correct sizing. Follow these steps before consulting any size chart.

1. Measure at the end of the day. Children’s feet expand throughout the day with activity, so measuring in the afternoon provides the maximum foot size.
2. Have the child stand upright. Weight-bearing measurements are more accurate than seated measurements because foot length increases under load.
3. Trace both feet. Many children have slightly different-sized feet; always measure the larger foot for the primary size selection.
4. Add growth room. Most experts recommend adding 1–1.5 cm to the measured foot length to account for growth and movement.
5. Match to foot length column. Use the centimetre column in the size chart rather than the age column for highest accuracy.
6. Check brand-specific variations. Nike, adidas, and Clarks may size identically labeled shoes slightly differently; verify against the specific brand’s chart when possible.

“We created this easy-to-use sizing chart so that finding the right size shoes for your kids won’t be a workout in itself.”

— BSN Sports, Under Armour Kids Sizing

What this means: parents who rely on age estimates alone risk ordering the wrong size — measuring the actual foot eliminates guesswork across all sizing systems.

Confirmed Facts & What’s Unclear

The following points are verified across multiple sources, while other questions remain open due to limited authoritative data.

Summary

Cross-border kids shoe shopping requires navigating three distinct sizing systems, but the conversion math is straightforward once you understand the underlying principles. EU sizes map directly to centimetres, UK sizes run roughly 33 numbers below EU equivalents, and US sizes track closely to UK with a 0.5 offset in infant/toddler ranges. For parents ordering internationally, the practical choice is clear: measure the child’s foot in centimetres, use the EU size as your reference point, and verify against the specific brand’s chart — or accept that returns may be necessary when guessing between sizes.

Related reading: King Size Bed Dimensions CM – UK vs US vs EU Guide · New Balance Tennis Shoes Womens – Fit Guide

Finding toddler fits often relies on precise charts like the UK EU CM toddler guide, which detail UK, EU, and cm conversions alongside age guidelines.

Frequently asked questions