Sock size in figures

Short answer: Sock sizes cover a span of shoe sizes. A typical size covers three to four sizes, and you choose by your own shoe size, not your clothing size. If you are at the top of the span, the next size up is often the best choice.

A span of three to four sizes

A sock size is not one number but a span. If it says thirty seven to forty, it covers four shoe sizes. That works because the knit in a sock has enough stretch to cover the whole span without fitting wrong. So you are not looking for an exact number, just the span your size falls in. See socks for men and women.

Choose by shoe size, not clothing size

Your clothing size says nothing about the length of your foot. Two people with the same sweater size can have very different shoe sizes. That is why you go by shoe size when choosing socks. Use the size you most often buy shoes in and find it in the span. This applies whether you shop for yourself or someone else.

Why stretch is enough

A sock has to pull over the heel and then sit close around the foot. The fabric gives a lot as you put it on and draws back afterwards. So the same sock can fit well on a foot at the bottom of the span and one at the top. The difference is how much the fabric is stretched.

At the far end of the span

If you are at the highest size in the span, take the next size. A sock stretched to its limit wears faster at the heel and toe, because the fabric thins where it is pulled most. The next size up gives a little more fabric to work with and sits more calmly on the foot through the day.

Signs the size is right

The heel should sit on the heel and not ride up to the ankle or slide under the foot. The toes should rest lightly without pressing on the nails. The cuff should stay up without leaving deep marks. If the sock slides down in the shoe, it is often too big, and if it leaves marks, it is often too small.

Washing and sock size

Socks are washed often and can draw in slightly if washed hot or tumble dried. Wash them at a low temperature and let them dry hanging. That way the knit keeps its stretch, and the sock still covers the whole span after many washes. Turn them inside out before they go in the machine.

Socks go with the rest of the wardrobe

Socks are the easiest garment to size, because the span does the work for you. That makes them easy to add when you are choosing other parts of your wardrobe anyway, such as tops or a slip. See bamboo tops for women and bamboo slips.

Use the size guide

If you are unsure which span a size covers, it is listed in the size guide for each sock. Spans can vary a little between styles, so check them each time rather than assuming the size you bought last. It takes a moment and saves you a sock that does not fit as it should.

Frequently asked questions

How do you choose a sock size

By your shoe size. The size is given as a span, and you find the span your size falls in, whatever clothing size you wear.

How many sizes does one sock size cover

Typically three to four shoe sizes. The fabric has enough stretch to cover the whole span without fitting wrong on the foot.

What do you do at the top of the span

Take the next size up. A sock stretched to its limit wears faster at the heel and toe, and a larger size sits more calmly.