Our Kids To Women Shoe Size Conversion Chart Will Save You Money

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Our kids to women shoe size conversion chart can save you money on your next shoe shopping excursion!

woman wearing white Vans kids shoes after converting adult to kids shoe size

Here’s a genius way to get women’s shoes for way less!

Do the prices of shoes leave you feeling not so skippy? I’m excited to share a little shopping hack to convert kids sizes to women’s shoe sizes and help you pay way less for your favorite kicks! 🙌

You won’t have to sacrifice style. There are several brands that make the exact same shoe for both youth and adults. Try my trick to get the look you love for a fraction of the price. These kids-to-women shoe size conversions are easier than they sound. I know right off the top of my head that a women’s 8 in kids is a size 6.5 or that a women’s 7.5 in kids is a size 5. You’ll be able to do this simple math in your head too and I’m here to show you how to do the calculations!

kids and youth shoe section at store with adidas and vans displayed

If you wear a women’s U.S. size 8.5 or smaller, you may be surprised to learn that you can shop in the kids shoe department at any store! Kids shoes not only tend to be less expensive than adult sizes, but you can also find similar (and even identical styles), often with additional color and fun design options available! It’s also much easier to convert a youth to a women’s shoe size than you’d think!

Here’s our kids to women shoe size conversion chart:

Figuring out the correct kid sizes to women’s shoe sizes is easy! As you can see by reading the chart below, you simply subtract about 1.5 sizes from your women’s size and that will give you the correct kids to adult conversion for the size you need to buy in the kid’s section. For example, a women’s size 8 in kids is size 6.5. While all brands and sizes run slightly differently, this can be a great shopping guide until you’re used to buying in the youth department. Use our chart below to help you easily change a kids shoe size to women’s sizes.

Women’s Size Kid’s Size Foot Length
4.5 3 8 3/8″
5 3.5 8 1/2″
5.5 4 8 5/8″
6 4.5 8 7/8″
6.5 5 9″
7 5.5 9 1/4″
7.5 6 9 1/2″
8 6.5 9 2/3″
8.5 7 9 5/6″
9 7.5 10″
9.5 8 10 1/6″
10 8.5 10 1/3″

*Unfortunately, for men, this will only work if you’re sporting a size 7 or smaller, and in that case, you’d shop for the same size in both adult and kids sizes.

Kids shoe size to women shoe size conversion.

In summary, kids shoe sizes are about 1.5 sizes less than women’s sizes. For example, a 5.5 youth to women’s is a size 7 (or a size 7 women’s in kids is a 5.5) and a women’s size 8 in kids is a size 6.5.

So, that means a 3 youth is a 4.5 in women’s shoes. A 3.5 kids shoe size to women is a 5. A size 4 youth shoe is a women’s 5.5. A kids 4.5 is a women’s size 6 shoe. A youth 5 is a women’s 6.5. shoe. A women’s size 7 in kids is a 5.5 youth size. A 6 youth in women’s is a 7.5 shoe and a 6.5 youth in women’s is an 8. An 8.5 women’s in youth sizes is a 7. A child’s 7.5 is a women’s size 9. A youth size 8 is a women’s 9.5 and a kids 8.5 is a women’s size 10 shoe.

Don’t know your shoe size? Here’s how to measure your feet.

If you’re unsure of your women’s shoe size, Hibbet.com suggest this easy way to measure your own feet:

  1. Place a piece of paper up against the wall and tape it to the floor.
  2. Put on a pair of socks you often wear with shoes and stand with your back and ankles up against a wall.
  3. Use a pencil to mark the longest part of both feet and then trace your entire foot.
  4. Step off the paper.
  5. Use a ruler to measure your foot’s length from heel to toe.
  6. Compare your foot length to the third column in the chart above to find your shoe size.

Here are a few shoes you can buy right now using the kids sizes to women’s shoe size conversion hack…


1. Adidas sneakers

holding adidas white kids sneakers

Total savings when shopping kids sizes vs women’s shoe sizes: $15


2. Keds sneakers

side by side stock photos of white keds sneakers

Total savings when shopping kids sizes vs women’s shoe sizes: $17


3. Uggs slides

ugg fluff yeah slides

Total savings when shopping kids sizes vs women’s shoe sizes: $25 – $30


4. Nike sneakers

Nike Women's Air Force 1 Crater FlyKnit Sneakers

Total savings when shopping kids sizes vs women’s shoe sizes: $20


5. Vans slip-on shoes

Vans slip ons

Total savings when shopping kids sizes vs women’s shoe sizes: $19.99


6. Hunter boots

pair of navy blue short hunter rain boots outside

Total savings when shopping kids sizes vs women’s shoe sizes: $85+


7. Crocs clogs

classic crocs in navy at sam's club

Total savings when shopping kids sizes vs women’s shoe sizes: $10 (savings varies)

*Reflects regular – not sale – pricing.


8. Converse sneakers

Kids converse all-stars

Total savings when shopping kids sizes vs women’s shoe sizes: $25


9. Dr. Martens

three people wearing Dr. Martens Boots that are cheaper when you convert kids sizes to women's sizes

Total savings when shopping kids sizes vs women’s shoe sizes: $80

“Absolutely love them!!! I got them in the kids size for me 6.5 fits perfectly because I wear a women’s 8! Like any other shoes you have to break them in.”


10. TOMS

 

A pair of TOMS Fenix slip on shoes are cheaper when you convert kids sizes to women’s shoe sizes

Total savings when shopping kids sizes vs women’s shoe sizes: $15

*Reflects regular – not sale – pricing.


11. PUMA sneakers

PUMA Suede Shoes are one brand where you can covert kids sizes to women's shoe sizes

Total savings when shopping kids sizes vs women’s shoe sizes: $15


12. Hey Dude

women wearing white hey dude shoes with black skinny jeans

Total savings when shopping kids sizes vs women’s shoe sizes: $10+

*Reflects regular – not sale – pricing.


Ready to shop for shoes? Check out these other shoe deals! 


About the writer:

Kara is a writer and photographer from the Midwest. Her creative work has appeared in various publications over the past decade. With a background in finance, she loves to be money-savvy.


Join The Discussion

Comments 119

  1. Peaches

    I wear a 7 in Women’s and have found that I love Keenfootwear kids Seacamp CNX 2 sandals. My oldest and favorite pair is nearly 10 years old! These are some well-made kids shoes.

  2. Casey

    Lucky for me I wear a kids size anyway.

  3. Alice P

    I have done this for years and it does save money. My friends still remember me wearing my beloved β€œSmurfs” shoes from years ago. I find Keds fit so well.

  4. Queenie

    Yup I’ve doing this for years.

  5. Julie

    Yes I love shopping the kids shoes at Nordstrom Rack the Toms kids are way cuter and more comfortable than the adults

    • Amy P

      I totally agree with kid’s Toms being SO much more comfortable (and cheaper)!!

  6. Ashley

    I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes but your chart is off. I wear a size 7 and can consistently fit in a kids 4.5 or sometimes 5. Never 5.5 (well maybe in uggs because they tend to run small with all of the fur. It really is a 2 size difference if not more! (I have done this all of my life)

    • Queen

      Hi Ashley that’s something. I wear size 8 in women’s and I fit 6.5 kids.

    • Tiffany

      I have also always converted the size by subtracting 2.5 to find kid sizing. I wonder if they have changed how they size kids shoes in more recent years.

  7. Kandy McDermitt

    I have really wide feet, and I find that kid’s sizes tend to be wider than adult sizes. The only downside is that larger kid sizes seem to get snatched up more quickly.

  8. Kristie Boler

    Some of us only dream of wearing an 8.5 or smaller. Unfortunately, Size 12 doesn’t qualify😭

    • breanna-2

      Wow! Size 12! How tall are you? I wear a 10/10.5 and I am 5’10”. Color me impressed.

  9. Peaches

    I buy Keen footwear size five to size 6 depending on style (I wear a 7 in womens) and they fit great and are very sturdy. Some of my sandals are well over 8 years old and still going strong. I love that I can just throw them in the wash too.

  10. Mel

    This size 9.5 girl is so very jealous of you guys. Not only are they a better price, but often the kids’ versions of some styles are actually a cuter style. Fun post!

    • breanna-2

      Haha I feel ya. I am a 10/10.5 in some styles. This would never work for me.

  11. SoCalLemon

    *Might save you money. lol. Me and my giant size 11 is jealous of all you 8.5’s and smaller πŸ™‚

    • Angela (Hip Sidekick)

      You and me both! Size 11’s unite! πŸ˜‚πŸ˜©

  12. Karen B

    Being right at an 8.5 I find that a kids 7 doesn’t have the same feel as a women’s 8.5. Sometimes its structurally different. But I try every time anyway!
    Also I bought those AF1’s pictured above in women’s and kids and the kids version doesn’t have nearly the cool “crater” sole that the women’s does. its more of a plain speckled blue. I’m keeping them because they were a great deal and my 8 year old doesn’t care. She just wants to match me and her big sister, but I was disappointed. This is a great tip either way, but I have to try on if I think of getting a kids size.

  13. Madison (Hip Sidekick)

    If you love Converse like me, they run a tiny bit big in my opinion, so I go half a size down. So instead of a 5.5 in kids, I wear kids size 5 in converse (as a women’s size 7!) If you have wider feet, then I’d stick with the sizing on this graph for Converse!

  14. LaTanya Albright

    I wear a 6 1/2y and i wear a 8 in women, works for me❀️

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Yay! Happy to hear this works for you, LaTanya! πŸŽ‰πŸ’• I am always amazed by the savings you can grab when able to do this! πŸ₯° Thanks for sharing with us!

  15. Katie

    I have NEVER heard of this!!! I’m genuinely shocked because my family is so frugal. Thank you thank you I can’t wait to start using this trick to save money! hip2save is the best!!

    • Jessica (Hip Sidekick)

      Aww, you’re so welcome, Katie! πŸ’• Glad this tip will be helpful for your family! Happy saving – and shoe shopping! πŸ€—

  16. Jane

    I have actually started doing the opposite for my daughter and she loves the wider collection and I love the price.

    • Jessica (Hip Sidekick)

      So great to hear that you’ve found a sizing alternative that works well for your daughter, Jane! πŸ₯°

  17. Sheriberry

    Size 7 womans and have done this for years. Also get my low cut black socks in the boys department. Realized when my son was younger that they fit me and are cheaper.

    • Trish (Hip Sidekick)

      So awesome that you’ve been doing this for years! Thanks for sharing the helpful tip on shopping for socks in the boys department – such a great idea! πŸ™Œ πŸ’—

  18. Wendy Jabkowski

    It seems that Vans only go up to a size 3 in kids sizing.

    • Trish (Hip Sidekick)

      Thanks for mentioning that, Wendy! I’m seeing that too! 😊

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