If you presume that we only use the English alphabets to make words, you are wrong. In shoe industries, the term ‘letter’ has an entirely different meaning.
What does shoe width letters mean?
Before purchasing any shoes, you need to have in-depth knowledge about the shoe size’s letterings because if you buy shoes with wrong letters, you will have ill-fitted shoes, and returning is a hassle.
To give you a clear understanding, I tried to explain all the necessary information about shoe width letters in this article. Make sure to provide a read before you plan to buy a new pair of shoes.
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Explanation Of Shoe Width Letters
Shoe width letters classify into 9 different widths-AAA, AA, A, B, C, D, E, EE, EEE. Each of them represents a different size, and these are the U.S sizes.
Let’s dig into a more detailed explanation:
A/AA/AAA Widths
The shoe width letter A is divided into four different sizes- A, AA, AAA. A denotes the narrowest shoe sizes; with increasing A’s, the shoes’ width becomes narrow. The measures can get up to 4 A’s.
Women mostly use the widths as their feet are tapered, whereas men’s feet are comparatively wide and broader. If we talk about inches, A widths are generally between 3.4 and 3.9 inches across the ball of the foot.
For men- A width represents extra narrow.
For women,- AAA represents super slim.
B Width
B width is considered the most common letter and standard shoe width for women’s shoes. As it is medium to regular width for women again, it will be tiny for men’s feet. Usually, B width shoes are between 3.6 to 4.1 inches across the ball of the foot.
For men- B width represents narrow.
For women- B width represents standard or medium width.
For children- B width represents the average width.
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D Width
D is the opposite of B. D width is considered the most common and standard shoe width for men’s shoes. As it is medium to regular width for men, it will be very much wide for women’s feet. Usually, D width is between 3 to 5 inches across the ball of the foot.
For men- D width represents standard size.
For women and children- D width represents a wide size.
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E/EE/EEE Width
Those who have wide feet always look for E/EE/EEE/EEEE widths as it represents the widest shoes. With increasing, E’s the width of the shoes becomes wider. The sizes can get up to 4 Es.
Usually, for E width, the measurement is between 4.2 and 4.7 across the foot’s ball. And for EE width, the size is between 4.4 and 4.9 inches across the foot’s ball.
For men- EE denotes wide, EEE/EEEE denotes extra wide.
For women- EE denotes extra wide.
For children- E denotes extra wide.
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Shoe Width Charts
Go through the chart below and get your desired size of shoes.
MEN’S SHOE WIDTH CHART:
| US Shoe Size | Narrow C | Medium D | Wide E |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 3 5/16” | 3 ½” | 3 11/16” |
| 6.5 | 3 5/16” | 3 ⅝” | 3 ¾” |
| 7 | 3 ⅜” | 3 ⅝” | 3 ¾” |
| 7.5 | 3 ⅜” | 3 11/16” | 3 15/16” |
| 8 | 3 ½” | 3 ¾” | 3 15/16” |
| 8.5 | 3 ⅝” | 3 ¾” | 4” |
| 9 | 3 ⅝” | 3 15/16” | 4 ⅛” |
| 9.5 | 3 11/16” | 3 15/16” | 4 ⅛” |
| 10 | 3 ¾” | 4” | 4 3/16” |
| 10.5 | 3 ¾” | 4 ⅛” | 4 5/16” |
| 11 | 3 15/16” | 4 ⅛” | 4 5/16” |
| 11.5 | 3 15/16” | 4 3/16” | 4 ⅜” |
| 12 | 4” | 4 5/16” | 4 ⅜” |
| 12.5 | 4 ⅛” | 4 5/16” | 4 ½” |
| 13 | 4 ⅛” | 4 5/16” | 4 ⅝” |
| 13.5 | 4 3/16” | 4 ⅜” | 4 ¾” |
WOMEN’S SHOE WIDTH CHART:
| US Shoe Size | Narrow AA | Medium B | Wide D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2 13/16” | 3 3/16” | 3 9/1” |
| 5.5 | 2 ⅞” | 3 ¼” | 3 ⅝” |
| 6 | 2 15/16” | 3 5/16” | 3 11/16” |
| 6.5 | 3” | 3 ⅜” | 3 ¾” |
| 7 | 3 1/16” | 3 7/16” | 3 13/16” |
| 7.5 | 3 ⅛” | 3 ½” | 3 ⅞” |
| 8 | 3 3/16” | 3 9/16” | 3 15/16” |
| 8.5 | 3 ¼” | 3 ⅝” | 4” |
| 9 | 3 ⅜” | 3 11/16” | 4 1/16” |
| 9.5 | 3 ⅜” | 3 ¾” | 4 ⅛” |
| 10 | 3 7/16” | 3 ¾” | 4 3/16” |
| 10.5 | 3 ½” | 3 ⅞” | 4 ¼” |
| 11 | 3 9/16” | 3 15/16” | 4 5/16” |
| 12 | 3 11/16” | 4 1/16” | 4 7/16” |
CHILDREN’S SHOE WIDTH CHART:
| US Shoe Size | Average B | Wide D | Extra-Wide E |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | 33/16” | 35/8” | 33/16” |
| 2Y | 35/16” | 33/4” | 315/16” |
| 3Y | 37/16” | 37/8” | 41/16” |
| 4Y | 39/16” | 4” | 43/16” |
| 5Y | 311/16” | 41/8” | 45/16” |
| 6Y | 33/16” | 41/4” | 47/16” |
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Things To Know About Shoe Width
Shoes play a significant role in protecting our feet, so it is mandatory to get the exact size of shoes. We spend a handsome amount of time in shoes, so if the shoes are too big or too small eventually gives us uncomfortable wear.
Wearing too narrow or small shoes leads to significant health problems- swelling, blisters, cramps are one of them. Too tight or narrow shoes cause the feet to sweat excessively, which then clogs the feet’ pores, causing rashes and fungal infection. Little shoes oppose the growth of toenails, which results in ingrown nails and cause severe pain. Also, excessive rubbing of the shoes with the skin causes the skin to tear.
In the same way, wearing too big or wide shoes causes foot problems. Friction occurs while walking in wide shoes and thus leads to blisters in the feet. There is a high chance of accidents because big or wide shoes come out of your feet quickly while walking. But toenails can also have blood blisters when the shoe bends upward and continuously catches the nail, which then lifts off the nail bed.
A general question pops up- Does shoe width increase with shoe size?
Yes, with increasing shoe size, the width of the shoe increases. Larger shoes have a wider width, and smaller shoes have a tapered width.
Do keep in mind our feet size doesn’t remain constant throughout our lives. Our feet size can change anytime, depending upon our health condition. Pregnancy, weight gain, diabetes can increase or decrease the size of our feet. So it is recommended to take a new measurement of your feet every time you buy a new pair of shoes.
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Measure The Shoe Width
Accurate measurement of the feet is needed to get a perfectly fitted shoe.
Here is the rule of how you can measure your shoe width:
- Take off your shoes and socks.
- Place a paper on the floor and put your foot on it.
- Outline your foot’s shape with a pen, try to draw as close to the foot.
- Take a measuring tape and measure the widest part of your foot. With the same process, measure the other feet. The results can vary for both feet; the measurement for one foot can be more comprehensive than the other.
If you have trouble measuring your feet, you can go to physical stores and take help from professionals.
Frequently Asking Questions
What is the standard shoe width?
The standard shoe width for men and women is different. For men, the typical shoe width is D, and for women, the regular shoe width is B. Shoe boxes or shoe labels don’t identify standard sizing; instead, they mention other sizes. Also, on the label, the wide and narrow widths are mentioned.
What is considered a wide foot size?
For example, if the width of your foot is 3 9/16 inches and you wear a size 8, this is considered as regular width. But, if your foot’s width is 3 9/16 inches and you wear a size 5, you’ll need a shoe that is wide in size. Children’s shoes don’t change or vary in width.
How much wider is a wide shoe?
The difference between shoe widths is roughly ¼ inches when you measure at the ball of the foot. Wide width is ¼ inches broader than a medium width, and an extra-wide width is ½ inches broader than medium width.
What is the difference between regular and wide shoes?
The difference between a regular width shoe and a wide width shoe is very little, approximately 1/8 of an inch. But if you think of comforts, then these 1/8 inches are enough to bring you all the discomfort. The shoe is more expensive when the shoes have a wider width, but the area before the toes is mostly wide.
Conclusion
A pair of shoes can last you more than a year, and you can only take advantage of a shoe only when you have got a comfortable and perfectly fitted one. Now that you have a clear concept about the shoe width lettering, we hope you can choose the right pair of shoes.
We tried to add as much information in this article and hope this guide will help you get your ideal shoe size.
