Some styles, like sneakers, tend to run wider than others, like dress shoes. If you have very wide feet, you may need to go up a full size or even two sizes larger. You may also want to look for shoes that are specifically designed for wide feet.
However, wide shoes may not be the most comfortable on your feet or the most secure and supportive. A half size up is a good option if you just want a little more room, but whether to go wider or just bigger will depend on the style of the shoe and how long you will be wearing it.
It also depends on the length (your numbered shoe size) and whether you're a man or woman. For instance, if your foot is 3.75 inches wide and you wear a size 5, you'll need a wide fit. On the other hand, if you wear a size 8, you can opt for medium-width footwear.
Should you size down in wide-fit shoes? If the shoe size width charts above suggest you should get a wide-fit shoe, then stick to your usual size. If your feet are only slightly wider, visit one of our stores and try on a size bigger – this might give you the extra room you need.
Shoe size and shoe width tend to be proportional in standard sizing, so large shoes may run a little wider than necessary if you have long, but narrow feet. However, we'd advise against opting for a larger shoe size, solely for the purpose of getting a wider fit, as this could cause a trip hazard.
A half-size represents a 1/8” difference. It may not seem significant but is enough to distinguish between comfort and discomfort. Because there is no standardisation for shoe sizing, a half size difference will also depend on the brand of shoe. With some makes, a half size will be more significant than others.
However, if your feet are sliding side to side, the shoes are too wide for you. Downsizing in length with wide shoes may cause pain and injury to your toes and isn't always the right solution. Yet, neither problem is a complete death sentence for the style you're attempting to achieve.
Wide shoes can accommodate tall and deep feet because the forefoot width is one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch wider than a standard shoe's width and one-half of an inch wider than a narrow shoe. An increased width can decrease bunions, blisters, corns, calluses and discoloration people with wide feet can experience.
Properly fitting shoes stay in place as you move, but if the shoes are too big, you will almost certainly have painful blisters by the end of the day. Other painful effects of wearing shoes that are too big include: Corns and calluses: caused by excessive pressure on the toes.
Shoes that are on the tighter side are likely to rub, and since this friction can cause blisters, it's best to have a bit of wiggle room. The ball of your foot should fit comfortably in the widest part of the shoe, and at the heel make sure that you have some room for slight heel slippage.
The widest part of your foot is typically measured at the outer base of your big toe bone to the outer base of your pinky toe. A telltale sign of someone with wide feet wearing non-wide shoes is someone with blisters on the outer sides of their big toe or pinky toe, but that's not all.
Can I wear wide fit shoes with normal feet? If you're comfortable wearing wide width shoes even though your feet are standard width, then it's not an issue. In fact, wearing wide width shoes with normal feet can sometimes be more comfortable when you go on long walks.
And don't be surprised if you have to drop from, say, an EE width to a D width—your feet's side-to-side measurements may decrease with weight loss, as well.
While most shoes will stretch and mold to fit your feet over time, many can be manually stretched. Leather shoes are easiest to stretch, but most fabrics and materials can also be stretched.
Insoles are your new best friend
Although often intended to help with posture problems and other discomfort, insoles are also useful to make shoes smaller by taking up extra space in footwear that's a tad on the big side. Full insoles are a fantastic solution if your shoes are too big across the length of your foot.
Check the space at the end of the shoe.
Stand up and make sure there is 3/8" or 1/2" (about the width of your finger) between your longest toe (usually the second toe) and the end of the shoe.
In the US, shoes come in up to nine different widths, ranging from AAA (narrowest) to EEE (widest). Width Variations: Shoe width varies based on gender. For men, a D width is considered medium, while for women, it's considered wide. Similarly, E width is wide for men and extra-wide for women.
Differences between Wide and Medium shoes
Wide shoes are shoes designed for people with wider feet, usually 1/ 4 inch wider than medium shoes and 1/ 2 inch more than narrow fitting shoes. On the other hand, medium shoes are shoes that are 1/ 4 inch wider than narrow fitting shoes.
As a rule of thumb (or toe), you should have about 3/8″ to 1/2″ of room from the tip of your longest toe to the end of the shoe. Your big toe is not automatically your longest toe. Pick the shoes that match your foot shape.
A half size in shoes is only 1/8 of an inch in added length. Shoes size can vary for many reasons, from sports injuries to weight gain and age. It's not uncommon to go up a half size if your feet or arch height begins to become more flat overtime.
While the difference between the length of whole and half sizes are small, keep in mind that shoe width does increase with size. So, selecting a half size larger will give you a little more wiggle room for both length and width.
There is approximately a 1/6" difference between each half-size (e.g., between 9 and 9.5, between a 9.5 and a 10, and so on) For every half size up, the width (across the ball) will increase by 1/8"
How weight affects the size of your feet. Most people gain weight as they get older — and those extra pounds press down on the ligaments and tendons that support your foot. As a result, your foot can widen or lengthen.
They don't change in size, necessarily. But feet may get wider, not longer, as we age. They change in their elasticity the same way other body parts do – tissue becomes less tight, causing the increased width and sagging of the arches.