Most people know their shoe size in length, but few know the circumference around the widest part of their foot. That’s why shoes can feel comfortable initially but begin to pinch after a few hours. This guide shows you how to measure your forefoot circumference at home and use the calculator below to find your closest approximate width fitting. All you need is a soft measuring tape and a few minutes.
Once you’ve found your measurements using the guide below, you can compare them with width fittings from UK comfort brands such as Clarks and Cosyfeet.
If you already know your measurements and width size, my Complete Wide Fit Shoes Guide explains how to use those measurements to choose shoes that actually fit comfortably.
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
How to Measure Your Foot Width for the Calculator
This calculator uses the circumference around the widest part of your forefoot, rather than the straight-line width across a traced outline. You’ll need a soft measuring tape marked in centimetres. If you don’t have one, use a piece of non-stretchy string and measure it against a ruler afterwards.
Why Not Just Measure Straight Across Your Foot?
You can measure the width of your foot in a straight line, but what do you do with that number?
Unless you’ve got a shoe manufacturer’s fitting chart that uses straight-line measurements, it won’t tell you which width fitting to choose.
Our calculator uses Waldläufer’s forefoot-circumference chart, which measures all the way around the widest part of your foot.
This also takes account of how full your forefoot is, rather than just the distance from one side to the other.
That’s why we’re measuring around your foot, not straight across it. It gives us a measurement we can actually compare with the chart behind the calculator.
Step 1: Measure Later in the Day
Feet can become slightly larger as the day goes on, especially if you experience swelling. Measure in the late afternoon or evening, when your feet are more likely to be at their largest.
Step 2: Stand with Your Weight Evenly Distributed
Measure your bare feet while standing on a firm, level floor. Keep your weight distributed as evenly as possible between both feet. If you can, ask someone to take the measurement for you so that you can remain standing naturally.
Step 3: Measure Around the Forefoot Joint
Wrap the tape around the widest part of your forefoot, usually across the ball of the foot and around the joints beneath the big toe and little toe. This is sometimes called the ball girth or forefoot circumference.
Keep the tape comfortably against your foot without pulling it tight or leaving it loose. Record the measurement in centimetres to the nearest millimetre—for example, 24.3 cm.
Step 4: Measure Both Feet
Repeat the process on your other foot because one foot is often wider than the other. Enter the larger circumference into the calculator, as this is the foot your shoes will need to accommodate.
Sue’s tip: Take each measurement twice. If the figures differ, measure once more rather than averaging them—small changes in the position or tension of the tape can affect the result.
Shopping from the US? Convert Your Size First
This calculator uses UK shoe sizes. If you normally wear a US size, check the shoe brand’s own size-conversion chart first and use the corresponding UK size in the calculator below. Conversion can vary between brands, so a brand-specific chart is more reliable than simply subtracting a fixed number from your US size.
Step 5: Try the Foot Width Calculator
Enter your usual UK shoe size and the larger of your two forefoot-circumference measurements. The calculator compares your measurement with the Waldläufer fitting guide and identifies the closest German width reference: G, H, K or M. This is an approximate comparison, not a direct conversion to UK shoe-width letters or a guarantee of fit.
Foot Width Calculator
Use your larger forefoot measurement and enter it in centimetres.
This calculator provides a fitting guide, not a guarantee of fit. Width letters and shoe shapes vary between manufacturers and individual styles.
Measurement comparison based on the Waldläufer shoe fitting guide .
Next Step: Matching Your Width to the Right Brand
Now that you’ve used the calculator to find your approximate width code, the next step is comparing it with the widths offered by different manufacturers. Width letters can vary between brands, so always check the individual brand’s fitting information before buying. Here are a couple of useful places to start:
For Everyday Wide-Fitting Shoes
For everyday wide-fit footwear, Clarks is an accessible high-street option with women’s shoes available in different width fittings. Check the width shown for the individual style and compare it with Clarks’ own fitting information before buying.
Best for: Daily smart-casual wear, standard wide fits, and high-street accessibility.
For Extra-Wide Feet, High Insteps or Swollen Feet
If you need considerably more room because you have very wide feet, a high instep or feet that swell, specialist wider-fitting brands such as Cosyfeet can offer more choice than you’ll usually find on the high street. Check the measurements and fitting information for the individual style, particularly if you need room for orthotics or your feet change size during the day.
Best for: Very wide or swollen feet, high insteps, or extra room for orthotics.
What If Your Shoes Still Don’t Fit?
If you’ve measured your feet but your shoes still feel tight across the top of your toes, width might not be the problem. You may need more height inside the front of your shoes rather than extra width. I’ve explained this in my guide to choosing a high-volume toe box.
If you’re still unsure what the different width letters mean, my Wide Shoe Widths Explained guide covers UK, US and European fittings.
And if you’re wondering whether you need wider shoes in the first place, have a look at Do I Need Wide Fit Shoes?
Troubleshooting Measurement Issues
What if my feet are two different widths?
This situation is actually pretty common. Use the measurement from your wider foot when choosing shoes you’ll be wearing all day. Some speciality shoes allow for mismatched pairs, but when that’s not an option, it’s generally sensible to fit the larger foot rather than squeeze it into a shoe that’s too small.
Why do I get a different measurement each time?
Small differences usually happen because the tape has moved or been pulled more tightly. Keep it level around the widest part of the forefoot and comfortably against the skin without squeezing. Measure again while standing naturally. If possible, ask someone else to read the tape for you.
What can I use if I don’t have a soft measuring tape?
Wrap a piece of non-stretchy string around the widest part of your forefoot and mark where the ends meet. Lay the string flat and measure it with a ruler. Avoid elastic, wool or anything that may stretch, as this could give you an inaccurate result. If you’d prefer one for future measurements, an inexpensive soft body measuring tape is all you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I measure my foot with socks on?
Measure your bare foot for this calculator because its reference measurements are based on bare-foot forefoot circumference. Sock thickness can still affect how a shoe feels, so allow for your usual socks when trying footwear on.
Should I remeasure if I gain or lose weight?
It can be worth measuring again if your weight has changed significantly or if you’ve noticed that your shoes are fitting differently. It’s also worth rechecking if your feet regularly swell or your usual shoe size no longer feels right.
Does the calculator guarantee that a shoe will fit?
No. It provides an approximate width comparison and a useful starting point. Width labels, shoe shapes, toe-box depth and internal volume vary between manufacturers and even between styles from the same brand. Always check the individual shoe’s fitting information and returns policy before buying.
The Bottom Line
Measuring your forefoot circumference takes only a few minutes, but it gives you a much better starting point than relying on a width letter alone. Measure both bare feet while standing, use the larger result and enter it alongside your usual UK shoe size in the calculator.
The calculator identifies the closest Waldläufer German width reference based on your forefoot measurement and UK shoe size. It doesn’t provide a direct UK width equivalent, and it cannot account for every difference in shoe shape, depth or volume. Always check the individual style and the manufacturer’s fitting information before buying.
Keep your measurement handy and check it occasionally, particularly if you notice your feet or the way your shoes fit have changed.
Happy feet start with the right fit — and now you know exactly how to measure yours!
Once you know your approximate width, my Best Wide Fit Shoes for Comfort guide can help you explore suitable footwear.
Once you’ve got your measurements, our Wide Fit Shoes Guide helps you match your size to real-world shoe styles.
About Sue Holland
Sue writes WiderFittingShoes.com from first-hand experience of finding footwear for wide and difficult-to-fit feet. After two hip replacements, two ankle replacements and years of dealing with arthritis, swelling and feet that don’t always behave the same from one day to the next, she shares the practical things she’s learned about shoe fit, width and comfort.