Baby Shoe Size Chart UK: Sizes, Conversions and How to Measure

Written by the Babbez team.

What is the UK baby and toddler shoe size chart?

UK children's shoes run in whole and half sizes, starting from tiny infant sizes and climbing up through the toddler years. Because the UK, EU and US use different scales, the same foot can carry three different numbers depending on the brand — which is exactly why a conversion chart is worth keeping to hand.

The table below uses the verified Clarks UK fit guide as its spine, with the foot length in centimetres that each size maps to. In the baby and toddler range, the US number sits about half a size above the UK number (so US = UK + 0.5). The approximate age is a rough guide only — feet vary hugely, so measure rather than guess.

UK size	EU size	US size	Foot length (cm)	Approx. age
1.5–2	17.5	2.5	10.1	Newborn–3 months
2.5	18	3	10.5	approx 3 months
3	18.5	3.5	10.9	approx 3–6 months
3.5	19	4	11.3	approx 6 months
4	20	4.5	11.7	approx 6–9 months
4.5	20.5	5	12.2	approx 9 months
5	21	5.5	12.6	approx 9–12 months
5.5	22	6	13.0	approx 12 months
6	22.5	6.5	13.4	approx 12–18 months (first walkers)
6.5	23	7	13.8	approx 15–18 months
7	24	7.5	14.2	approx 18–24 months
7.5	25	8	14.7	approx 2 years
8	25.5	8.5	15.1	approx 2–2.5 years
8.5	26	9	15.5	approx 2.5 years
9	27	9.5	15.9	approx 3 years
9.5	27.5	10	16.4	approx 3–3.5 years
10	28	10.5	16.8	approx 3.5–4 years

Two cautions worth knowing. First, EU and centimetre values round slightly differently between brands, so treat the numbers above as a close guide, not a guarantee — and when the box UK number and the foot length disagree, believe the foot. Start-Rite's own advice is that if in doubt, go by the EU size. Second, the US children's scale resets at the “big kid” boundary, so the tidy US = UK + 0.5 rule is only safe across the baby and toddler range shown here. For larger junior shoes, convert by centimetres or EU size rather than trusting a US number.

Which UK shoe size does my baby need by age?

Age is the least reliable way to choose a size, but it helps as a starting point before you measure. This quick guide groups the chart above into the stages most UK parents shop for.

Stage	Rough age	Typical UK size	Foot length (cm)
Newborn (first shoes / pre-walkers)	0–6 months	UK 1.5–3	10.1–10.9
Crawling & cruising	6–12 months	UK 3.5–5.5	11.3–13.0
First walkers	12–18 months	UK 5.5–6.5	13.0–13.8
Confident toddler	18 months–2.5 years	UK 7–8.5	14.2–15.5
Pre-schooler	3–4 years	UK 9–10	15.9–16.8

Remember these are trainers, plimsolls, first shoes and wellies for the same foot — the style changes, the size does not. Always confirm against a real measurement.

How do I measure my baby's feet at home?

You can get a good working measurement with a sheet of paper, a pencil and a ruler:

• Stand your baby on the paper, or hold the paper flat under the foot of a baby who isn't standing yet, so the foot is bearing a little weight.
• Mark the very back of the heel and the tip of the longest toe — which isn't always the big toe.
• Measure the distance in centimetres, do both feet, and use the longer foot.
• Measure again at the end of the day, when little feet are at their largest.
• Match that length to the centimetre column in the chart above.

NHS podiatry guidance is to measure the longest foot and to allow roughly a thumb's width — about 1 cm, or around 14 mm — of growing room at the toe, rather than buying to the exact length. Because that growing room affects how a shoe fits a real child's foot, treat the measurement as a guide for choosing a size, and leave any judgement about whether a specific shoe fits a specific child to a trained fitter or podiatrist. Many UK retailers, including Start-Rite with its SizeWise tool, offer a measuring aid, and Clarks and other shops still measure feet in store.

What are UK width fittings (F, G and H)?

Here is where UK charts do something US charts largely don't: they fit shoes for width as well as length. Two babies can share a foot length and need different shoes because one foot is broader than the other.

• Clarks offers F (standard), G (wide) and H (extra wide) as its main children's fittings.
• Start-Rite adds E (narrow) below these, giving a fuller ladder of E = narrow, F = standard, G = wide, H = extra wide.

If a shoe is the right length but gapes at the sides or feels tight across the foot, UK fitters generally suggest having the width checked rather than simply jumping up a length. Whether that particular fit is right for your child, though, is a question for the shoe-fitter or a podiatrist — not a rule we set. Because the same UK number can be up to half a size out between brands, the centimetre length and the EU size remain your most reliable reference points.

What kind of first shoes will I see in UK shops?

UK shops use their own vocabulary, so here is a quick translation for the aisles — the same foot, different styles for different stages:

• First shoes / pre-walkers – soft shoes for babies not yet walking outdoors, largely for warmth and looks rather than support.
• Cruisers – for the stage when your baby pulls up and shuffles along holding the furniture, before walking on their own.
• Trainers – casual lace-up or riptape sports shoes (never called sneakers here).
• Plimsolls / pumps – thin canvas school PE shoes, often elasticated or riptape for little ones.
• Wellies (wellingtons) – waterproof rubber boots for puddles and wet weather.

Whichever style you buy, come back to the centimetre foot length to choose the size, and tuck a spare pair of socks in the pram or buggy for the day out.

When does a baby actually need shoes?

This is a foot-health question, so we relay it rather than answer it in our own voice. According to the Royal College of Podiatry and NHS podiatry services, children do not need supportive outdoor shoes until they are walking competently — typically somewhere around 10–18 months. Before that, first shoes and pre-walkers are for warmth and protection, not support.

The same authorities note that going barefoot indoors and on safe surfaces helps a young child's foot develop strength, balance, muscle and the natural toe-grasping action, so they encourage keeping little ones barefoot as much as is safe while they are learning to walk. They also explain that the foot arch does not begin to develop until about age 2 and isn't fully formed until around age 6 — which is why a flat-looking toddler foot is completely normal. For guidance about your own child, speak to the NHS or a registered podiatrist.

How should first shoes fit, and how often should I check?

The Royal College of Podiatry describes a good children's fit as one with room at the toes to wiggle, a secure heel with no slipping, an adjustable fastening such as riptape or a buckle, a flexible sole, and the correct width as well as length. We pass that on as their checklist, not our verdict — only a trained fitter or podiatrist can judge how a specific shoe fits a specific child.

On timing, the same guidance is that toddlers and under-threes should have their size re-checked roughly every 6–8 weeks, and older children every 2–3 months, because feet grow surprisingly fast. Any broader claim — for example that ill-fitting shoes lead to long-term foot problems — belongs to the podiatry authorities, and we'd point you to them rather than state it ourselves.

Which UK brands are worth knowing?

For reference points, UK parents most often mention Clarks (the benchmark for F/G/H width fitting) and Start-Rite (E–H fittings and a phone measuring tool). For soft-sole first walkers there's Bobux UK and Dotty Fish, while Next, John Lewis, M&S and Kickers all publish their own size guides. Sizes on the box can still vary between them, so always come back to the centimetre length.

Frequently asked questions

Are UK and EU baby shoe sizes the same?

No. They are different scales — a UK 4 is roughly an EU 20, for example. Use the conversion table above, and lean on the centimetre foot length when two brands disagree.

What is my baby's US size if I know the UK size?

In the baby and toddler range, the US size is about half a size above the UK size, so US = UK + 0.5. This holds for the sizes in the table above; for larger junior shoes, convert by centimetres or EU size instead, because the US scale resets at the bigger sizes.

Do newborns need shoes?

The NHS and the Royal College of Podiatry say babies don't need supportive shoes until they're walking competently. Before then, first shoes are for warmth and protection. For advice on your own baby, ask the NHS or a podiatrist.

Can I just choose a size by age?

Age is only a rough guide because feet vary so much. Measure the longest foot in centimetres and use the chart — measure, don't guess.

What does an F fitting mean at Clarks?

F is the standard width fitting; G is wide and H is extra wide. Start-Rite also offers E for narrow feet. UK shoes are fitted for width as well as length.