Dance shoes aren’t sized like street shoes, and the numbers on the box change depending on where the brand is made — UK, EU or US. This chart converts between them, but the single most reliable method is to measure your foot in centimetres and match that to the brand’s own chart. Here’s how, from the team that fits dancers every week in Ottawa and Montréal.
How to measure your foot
Do this late in the day (feet swell slightly), wearing the socks or hosiery you’ll dance in:
- Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall.
- Mark the tip of your longest toe.
- Measure heel-to-mark in centimetres — do both feet and use the larger.
That length in cm is your anchor. Because dance shoes fit closer than street shoes, most dancers land a half to a full size down from their everyday shoe — see our fit & sizing guide for how snug is right.
Women’s dance shoe size chart (UK / EU / US / cm)
| UK | EU | US | Foot length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 34–35 | 4 | 21.5 |
| 2.5 | 35 | 4.5 | 22 |
| 3 | 35–36 | 5 | 22.5 |
| 3.5 | 36 | 5.5 | 23 |
| 4 | 37 | 6 | 23.5 |
| 4.5 | 37–38 | 6.5 | 24 |
| 5 | 38 | 7 | 24.5 |
| 5.5 | 38–39 | 7.5 | 25 |
| 6 | 39 | 8 | 25.5 |
| 6.5 | 40 | 8.5 | 26 |
| 7 | 40–41 | 9 | 26.5 |
| 7.5 | 41 | 9.5 | 27 |
| 8 | 42 | 10 | 27.5 |
Men’s dance shoe size chart (UK / EU / US / cm)
| UK | EU | US | Foot length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 39–40 | 6.5 | 25 |
| 6.5 | 40 | 7 | 25.5 |
| 7 | 41 | 7.5 | 26 |
| 7.5 | 41–42 | 8 | 26.5 |
| 8 | 42 | 8.5 | 27 |
| 8.5 | 42–43 | 9 | 27.5 |
| 9 | 43 | 9.5 | 28 |
| 9.5 | 44 | 10 | 28.5 |
| 10 | 44–45 | 10.5 | 29 |
| 10.5 | 45 | 11 | 29.5 |
| 11 | 46 | 11.5 | 30 |
These conversions are approximate. Sizing runs differently between makers, so always confirm against the brand’s own chart on the product page and your cm measurement before ordering.
How dance-shoe brands differ
Even at the same labelled size, brands vary in length, width and shape — treat a new brand as a fresh fitting. The first thing to check is which system the brand is sized in, because they are not the same:
| Brand | Sized in | Range we stock | What to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIDA | Centimetres | 21–27.5 cm (women), 17–31 cm across all lines | An AIDA “24” means 24 cm of foot — roughly EU 38 / UK 5. It is not EU 24. |
| International Dance Shoes | UK | UK 1–13 | Often dual-labelled “UK 5 / US 7”. Four width fittings: Narrow, Regular, Wide, Extra Wide. |
| Freed of London | UK (some US) | UK 3–12 | Classic British last; check whether the label shows UK or US before ordering. |
| BD Dance | EU | EU 34–48 | True to its own sizing and snug. |
| Candy | EU | EU 34–48 | — |
AIDA: centimetres to the size you already know
AIDA sizes by actual foot length, which is why measuring beats guessing. Measure heel to longest toe in centimetres and order that number. The equivalents below are approximate — where your measurement falls between two sizes, take the larger.
Women’s sizes
| Foot length (cm) | EU (approx.) | UK (approx.) | US (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22.8 | 36 | 3.5 | 5.5 |
| 23.2 | 37 | 4 | 6 |
| 23.6 | 37.5 | 4.5 | 6.5 |
| 24 | 38 | 5 | 7 |
| 24.4 | 38.5 | 5.5 | 7.5 |
| 24.8 | 39 | 6 | 8 |
| 25.2 | 40 | 6.5 | 8.5 |
| 25.6 | 40.5 | 7 | 9 |
| 26 | 41 | 7.5 | 9.5 |
| 26.4 | 42 | 8 | 10 |
Men’s sizes — men’s US sizing is offset differently from women’s, so use this table rather than the one above.
| Foot length (cm) | EU (approx.) | UK (approx.) | US (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24.7 | 38.5 | 5.5 | 6 |
| 25.1 | 39 | 6 | 6.5 |
| 25.5 | 40 | 6.5 | 7 |
| 25.9 | 40.5 | 7 | 7.5 |
| 26.3 | 41 | 7.5 | 8 |
| 26.7 | 42 | 8 | 8.5 |
| 27.1 | 42.5 | 8.5 | 9 |
| 27.5 | 43 | 9 | 9.5 |
| 27.9 | 44 | 9.5 | 10 |
| 28.3 | 44.5 | 10 | 10.5 |
| 28.7 | 45 | 10.5 | 11 |
| 29.1 | 46 | 11 | 11.5 |
| 29.5 | 46.5 | 11.5 | 12 |
| 29.9 | 47 | 12 | 12.5 |
AIDA stocks 21–27.5 cm in women’s and up to 31 cm in men’s. Outside the rows above, order by your centimetre measurement or ask us.
Wider foot? Every genuine wide and extra-wide pair we carry is gathered in wide-fit dance shoes.
Still unsure? Get measured
Sizing questions disappear on the fitting bench. Tell us your usual dance-shoe size and the brand you’re considering — or send a cm measurement — and we’ll advise before you buy. Better still, book a fitting at our Ottawa or Montréal showroom and we’ll get the size, width and heel right for how you dance.
Frequently asked questions
Are dance shoes true to size?
No — they run smaller and fit closer than street shoes, so most dancers go a half to a full size down. Always confirm with the brand’s chart and your centimetre measurement.
What is EU 38 in UK dance shoe size?
Roughly a UK 5 / US 7.5, about 24.5 cm — but this varies by maker, so check the specific brand’s chart on the product page.
How do dance-shoe sizes differ by brand?
UK-made brands (IDS, Freed) use UK sizing; European brands (AIDA) often use EU. Same labelled size can differ in length, width and shape — treat each brand as a fresh fitting.
How do I measure my foot in centimetres?
Heel against a wall on a sheet of paper, mark your longest toe, measure the distance, and use the larger foot.
Written by Olga and the Wedance fitting team. Olga has fitted dancers for several years and coaches Anna, who fits at our Montréal showroom. We fit dancers face-to-face at our Ottawa and Montréal showrooms — so this guide reflects real fittings, not a spec sheet.
