How to measure a foot length

Short answer: Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against the wall, mark your longest toe and measure the distance. Do it in the afternoon, when your foot is largest. That gives you a foot measurement you can use for socks and shoes.

Why your foot length is worth knowing

Many people know their shoe size but not the actual length of their foot. Shoe sizes vary between brands and countries, while centimetres are the same everywhere. Once you know your foot length, you can compare it with any size guide. That makes it easier to choose socks that fit without folding or slipping down.

What you need

You need a sheet of paper longer than your foot, a pencil, a ruler and a wall with a straight edge at the floor. Place the paper on a hard floor, not a rug, so your foot stands steady. Take your socks off, or wear a thin pair if you want to measure for that kind.

Heel against the wall

Without a fixed starting point, the measurement can be off by several centimetres. Put your heel right against the wall and spread your weight on both feet. Use the number to choose your sock size. The same care with a fixed starting point applies when you take other measurements for a bamboo hoodie for men in the same guide.

The longest toe is not always the big toe

For many people the second toe is the longest, and that one decides the measurement. Hold the pencil upright and mark the tip of the toe that reaches furthest. Check both feet, as they are rarely identical. The same rule of taking the largest number applies when you choose a bamboo sweatshirt for men.

Measure in the afternoon

Your foot is up to half a centimetre larger at the end of the day than in the morning, because it swells a little after standing and walking. That is the measurement to use, since it is how your foot is for most of the day. The same goes for clothes for long days, like a men's bamboo sweatshirt.

Measure the distance correctly

Step off the paper and measure with the ruler from the edge at the wall to your mark. Keep the ruler straight and parallel to the foot. Note the number in centimetres with one decimal. Do the same with the other foot, and use the larger of the two so the bigger foot has room.

How to use the number for socks

Sock sizes usually cover a range of shoe sizes. Find your foot length in the guide and see which range you land in. If you sit on the border between two sizes, the smaller one is often best, because a sock that is too large folds in the shoe and can rub over time.

Save the measurement

Write down your foot length with a date alongside your other measurements. Feet can change over the years, and it is useful to see whether yours have. If you measure again after a year and get a different number, it is time to look at your sizes for socks and shoes again.

Frequently asked questions

How much larger does the foot get during the day

Up to half a centimetre. That is why a measurement in the afternoon gives the most accurate number for how your foot is most of the day.

Should you measure both feet

Yes, most people have one foot that is slightly larger than the other. Always use the larger of the two when you choose a size.

Should you add anything

Yes, usually half a centimetre to a full centimetre for shoes, so your toes have room. For socks, use the foot length as it is.