SizingFit question
Kids' Shoe Size Chart: Toddler, Little Kid and Big Kid Sizes
How kids' shoe sizes work on Nike's chart: C sizes for toddlers and little kids, the restart at 1Y, big kid to women's, and how much room to leave for growth.
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Fit sheet
- Babies and toddlers
- 1C to 10C
- Nike
- Little kids
- 8C to 3Y, restarting at 1Y after 13.5C
- Nike
- Big kids
- 1Y to 7Y; 7Y = men's 7 = women's 8.5
- Nike
- Growth room
- A finger's breadth, about 3 to 6 months of growth
- AAOS
From the makers' own size charts and the sources listed at the end of this page.
Kids’ sneakers come in three ranges. Nike’s chart sizes babies and toddlers from 1C to 10C, little kids from 8C to 3Y and big kids from 1Y to 7Y. The C count ends at 13.5C and starts again at 1Y. A big kid 7Y equals a men’s 7 and a women’s 8.5.
The ranges overlap on Nike’s chart: 8C to 10C appear under both toddler and little kid sizes, and 1Y to 3Y under both little kid and big kid sizes. The foot length for a size is the same in either range, so go by the size number and the foot length.
Toddler and little kid sizes (C)
C sizes climb from 1C to 13.5C. These rows are from Nike’s kids’ chart. Nike prints an age only for its baby and toddler sizes, up to 7C.
| Kids’ size (Nike) | Age on Nike’s chart | Foot length (inches) | EU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2C | 6 months | 3 15/16 | 17 |
| 4C | 12 months | 4 9/16 | 19.5 |
| 6C | 24 months | 5 1/4 | 22 |
| 7C | 36 months | 5 9/16 | 23.5 |
| 8C | 5 15/16 | 25 | |
| 10C | 6 9/16 | 27 | |
| 12C | 7 1/4 | 29.5 | |
| 13.5C | 7 3/4 | 31.5 | |
| 1Y | 7 15/16 | 32 |
Ages are a rough guide only. A child’s foot length is what decides the size.
Where does the scale restart?
After 13.5C, the next size up is 1Y, not 14C. On Nike’s chart 1Y follows 13.5C at 7 15/16 inches, then the Y sizes keep climbing in half sizes. That restart is why a 1Y is bigger than a 13C, even though the number is lower.
Big kid sizes (Y) and women’s sizes
Big kid sizes line up with adult sizes. Nike’s chart gives each Y size the same number in men’s sizes, and a women’s size 1.5 higher.
| Big kids’ size (Nike) | US men’s | US women’s | Foot length (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | 1 | 2.5 | 7 15/16 |
| 3Y | 3 | 4.5 | 8 9/16 |
| 4Y | 4 | 5.5 | 8 13/16 |
| 5Y | 5 | 6.5 | 9 1/8 |
| 6Y | 6 | 7.5 | 9 3/8 |
| 7Y | 7 | 8.5 | 9 11/16 |
So on Nike’s chart, a women’s 7.5 matches a big kid 6Y. Other brands may convert differently; men’s to women’s shoe size shows how Converse and Adidas differ for adults.
How much room should you leave for growth?
Leave about a finger’s width at the toe. AAOS says a finger’s breadth of extra length usually allows for about 3 to 6 months of growth, depending on the child’s age and growth rate. HealthyChildren.org, from the American Academy of Pediatrics, says the top of a toddler’s big toe should be about a finger’s width from the inside edge of the shoe.
Check often. HealthyChildren.org says to check a toddler’s fit about once a month, and that a first pair may not last more than 2 or 3 months. It also says no shoes at all is better than shoes that are too tight.
Note
The American Podiatric Medical Association adds a few rules for every age: measure before buying, buy for the larger foot, try shoes on with the socks or tights the child will wear, and never hand shoes down from one child to another.
How to measure a child’s foot
Nike’s kids’ guide offers a printable measuring sheet, or a plain sheet of paper on the floor against a wall. Have the child stand with the heel pressed to the wall, trace each foot, and measure both. Use the longer measurement, and size up if it falls between sizes, as Nike recommends.
The full method, including how to do it for adults, is in how to measure your feet.
Toddler, little kid and big kid sneakers
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For adult sizes and why brands differ, see the shoe size chart. Shopping a European brand? The EU to US shoe size page covers EU conversions.
Frequently asked questions
What does C mean in kids' shoe sizes?
On Nike's chart, C sizes cover babies, toddlers and little kids, from 1C up to 13.5C. After 13.5C the count starts again at 1Y.
What does Y mean in shoe sizes?
Y marks big kid sizes. Nike's big kids' chart runs from 1Y to 7Y, and each Y size matches the same number in men's sizes, so 5Y is a men's 5.
What is a 6Y in women's shoes?
Nike's kids' chart lists a 6Y as a women's 7.5 and a men's 6. Other brands may convert differently, so check their own chart.
How much room should kids' shoes have?
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says a finger's breadth of extra length usually allows about 3 to 6 months of growth. HealthyChildren.org says to check the fit about once a month.
Sources
- Kids' Shoes Size ChartNike
- Shoes: Finding the Right FitAmerican Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoInfo)
- Shoes for Active ToddlersAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Helpful Kids Shoe Shopping TipsAmerican Podiatric Medical Association
Filed under SizingStart with Shoe Size Chart: How Sneaker Sizes Work for Men, Women and Kids
