Fit help

Kids’ shoe size chart

Children’s shoes use their own US scale, and it restarts once — which is where most of the confusion comes from. Below are the infant, toddler and youth conversions, how much growing room to leave, and how often to re-measure. Rather have someone check in person? Both Feet World stores measure kids’ feet free, or call (310) 398-7497.

Why kids’ sizes restart at 1

Infant and toddler sizes run from 0 up to 13. Once a foot outgrows a 13, the scale starts again at 1 — these are youth sizes, also sold as big kid or junior. So a youth 1 is one size bigger than a toddler 13, not eleven sizes smaller. If a shoe arrives wildly wrong, this is almost always why.

Measure before you buy

1. Tape paper to a hard floor against a wall.
2. Stand your child with their heel to the wall, weight on both feet. Sitting gives a short reading.
3. Mark the longest toe — it is not always the big toe.
4. Measure both feet and use the longer one.
5. Match the length to the charts below.

Measure late in the day, and measure in the socks they will actually wear with the shoe.

Infant & toddler sizes (US 4–13)

Youth / big kid / junior sizes (US 1–7)

Conversions are approximate and vary a little by brand. When a child is between two sizes, go up — not down.

How much growing room to leave

Aim for about a thumb’s width — roughly 1 cm — between the longest toe and the end of the shoe. Less than that and the shoe is already close to outgrown. Much more and the foot slides, which causes blisters and makes walking awkward. Buying two sizes up to “get a season out of them” usually backfires.

How often to re-measure

Every 2–3 months up to about age 4, and every 3–4 months after that. Children very rarely say a shoe is too tight — their feet adapt to it — so measure on a schedule rather than waiting to be told. Curling toes, red marks across the top of the foot, or socks wearing through at one toe are all signs to check sooner.

Shop kids’ shoes by age

• Infant · Toddlers · Big kids · Juniors
• Or browse all kids’ shoes and our back-to-school fit guide.

Get them measured in person

• Phone: (310) 398-7497
• In store: our team measures both feet and checks the fit while your child stands. Culver City & Arcadia
• See also our full adult size guide.

Wrong size? Free 30-day returns on full-price items.