Running Shoe Size Guide

Australian sizing charts for every major running brand — US, UK, EU and AU conversions.

General Sizing Tips

  • Always measure both feet — they are often different sizes. Fit the larger foot.
  • Measure in the afternoon when feet are slightly swollen from daily activity.
  • Leave a thumbnail's width (about 10–12mm) between your longest toe and the shoe tip.
  • For trail running, size up half a size to allow for downhill toe impact.
  • AU sizing is generally the same as UK sizing for most brands.

How to Measure Your Feet at Home

You don't need a Brannock device to get an accurate running shoe size — a piece of paper and a tape measure is enough. Do this in the afternoon or evening, since feet swell slightly over the course of the day and a morning measurement will run small.

  1. Place a sheet of A4 paper on a hard floor against a wall, and stand on it with your heel touching the wall.
  2. Keep your weight evenly on both feet — running shoes are fitted standing, not sitting, since your foot lengthens and spreads under load.
  3. Mark the tip of your longest toe on the paper (for most people this is the big toe, but for some it's the second toe).
  4. Measure the distance from the wall edge to the mark in centimetres — this is your foot length.
  5. Repeat for the other foot. It's normal for one foot to be up to a full size larger; always buy to fit the larger foot.
  6. Match your foot length in cm to the "Foot length (cm)" column in the brand tables below to find your starting size, then check that brand's fit note for width and toe-box adjustments.

Understanding Widths, Not Just Length

Most fit complaints aren't actually a length problem — they're a width problem being solved by buying a longer shoe. If your foot feels squeezed across the ball but the toe box has plenty of spare room at the front, look for a "Wide" or "2E" version of the same model (Brooks and New Balance stock these most widely in Australia) rather than sizing up. Sizing up for width gives you a shoe that's roomy sideways but too long, which causes the foot to slide forward and increases blister risk on the toes. As a rough guide: if you can pinch more than about 1.5cm of loose material across the widest part of the upper when laced snugly, the shoe is too wide for your foot; if the upper is taut with no give, it's too narrow.

HOKA

💡 HOKA runs true to size for most runners, though the brand's trademark oversized midsole makes the shoe feel more cushioned than long — don't assume a plush ride means you need a bigger size. The toe box on models like the Clifton and Bondi is rounded and roomy, which is why wide-footed runners still often size up half a size rather than reaching for a wide (2E) build. Trail models such as the Speedgoat fit slightly snugger through the midfoot for lockdown on technical terrain.

Men's Sizes

US AU / UK EU (approx) Foot length (cm)
6 5 40 12.3
6.5 5.5 40 12.8
7 6 41 13.2
7.5 6.5 41 13.6
8 7 42 14
8.5 7.5 42 14.4
9 8 43 14.8
9.5 8.5 43 15.3
10 9 44 15.7
10.5 9.5 44 16.1
11 10 45 16.5
11.5 10.5 45 16.9
12 11 46 17.3
13 12 47 18.2
14 13 48 19

Women's Sizes

US AU / UK EU (approx) Foot length (cm)
5 3 36 11.5
5.5 3.5 37 11.9
6 4 37 12.3
6.5 4.5 38 12.8
7 5 38 13.2
7.5 5.5 39 13.6
8 6 39 14
8.5 6.5 40 14.4
9 7 40 14.8
9.5 7.5 41 15.3
10 8 41 15.7
10.5 8.5 42 16.1
11 9 42 16.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I size up half a size for running shoes?

Not automatically. Only size up if your longest toe is within a thumbnail's width of the shoe's end when standing, or if you're buying a trail shoe for downhill running, where feet slide forward on impact. Sizing up "just in case" usually causes heel slip and blisters instead of solving a fit problem.

Why do running shoe sizes vary so much between brands?

Each brand designs its shoes on a proprietary "last" — the foot-shaped mould the upper is built around — and lasts differ by country of origin and target market. Japanese-designed lasts (ASICS, Mizuno) tend to run narrower than US-designed lasts (Brooks, Nike), which is why the same labelled size can fit differently across brands even though the sole length is similar.

Is Australian shoe sizing the same as UK sizing?

Yes, for adult running shoes AU sizing matches UK sizing almost exactly, so any UK size chart is safe to use for Australian purchases. US sizing runs about one full size larger in men's and 1.5 sizes larger in women's than the AU/UK equivalent.

How much bigger should trail running shoes be than road shoes?

Most runners take the same size in trail and road shoes from the same brand, but if you regularly run technical descents, going up half a size prevents your toes from jamming into the front of the shoe on impact. Check the brand-specific notes above, since some trail lasts (like Salomon) already run slightly snug.

My feet are two different sizes — which size should I buy?

Always fit to your larger foot. A very small gap on the smaller foot is easily solved with an extra insole or thicker sock, but a shoe that's too small on your larger foot will cause blisters and black toenails on longer runs.

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