How to Find Your Shoe Size — Width, Length, and Why It Matters
Apr 21, 2026
The Craft — No. 05
Shoe sizes measure length.
Width is where most people go wrong.
You know your shoe size. You have known it for years. And yet shoes still do not fit the way they should.
The reason, almost always, is width.
How to measure your foot correctly
You will need a piece of paper larger than your foot, a pen, and a ruler. Do this at the end of the day — feet swell slightly through the day and this gives you the most accurate measurement.
Step 1 — Length. Stand on the paper with your heel against a wall. Mark the tip of your longest toe. Measure the distance from the wall to the mark in millimetres. Do both feet — most people have one foot slightly longer than the other. Use the longer measurement.
Step 2 — Width. Stand on the paper and trace around the widest part of your foot — across the ball, just behind the toes. Measure the distance across this tracing in millimetres. This is your forefoot width.
Step 3 — Compare both feet. Note any significant differences between left and right. A difference of more than 5mm in length or width is worth accounting for when choosing a shoe.
Length — converting to shoe size
Add 15mm to your foot length measurement to allow for toe clearance. This gives you your ideal internal shoe length. Use the table below to find your size.
Width — the measurement that matters most
Width is graded alphabetically. D is narrow, E is standard, F is wide, G is extra wide. Most mainstream shoes are made in D or E width only — which is why so many people find that shoes fit in length but feel uncomfortable across the forefoot.
Our ready-to-wear range is built on an E/F last — wider than standard, designed for the foot that the mainstream market has chosen not to serve. If your forefoot width measurement is on the larger side for your shoe size, our shoes are likely to fit you significantly better than anything you have tried before.
Not sure? Come in.
If you are uncertain about your size or width, the most reliable thing is to visit the workshop. We measure both feet, assess your width, and tell you honestly which shoes in our range are likely to fit you — and which are not.
If your measurements suggest that our ready-to-wear range cannot accommodate your feet, we will tell you that too — and explain what a bespoke or made-to-order commission would involve.
Still unsure?
Contact us directly — by phone or through the enquiry form — and we will help you find the right size before you order.
Shop 121, Level 2, The Strand Arcade, 412 George Street, Sydney
Monday – Friday 9:30am – 5:00pm · Saturday 9:30am – 4:30pm
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