You Can Save Big on Women’s Shoes By Shopping in the Kids Department
Here’s a genius way to get women’s shoes for way less!
Do the prices of adult shoes leave you feeling not so skippy? I’m excited to share a little shopping hack to convert your women’s shoe size to kids and help you pay way less for your favorite kicks! 🙌
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 youth section anywhere you go! Kid’s 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!
Here’s our women’s to kid’s shoe size conversion chart:
As you can see by reading the chart I created, you simply subtract about 1.5 sizes from your women’s size and that will give you the correct conversion for the size you need to buy in the kids section. 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.
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, just in youth sizes.
Here are a few shoes you can buy right now using the women’s shoe size to kids conversion hack…
1. Adidas sneakers
Total savings when shopping in youth section: $15
Hip Tip: Speaking of Adidas… here are some other ways you can save on Adidas shoes!
2. Madden Girl sandals
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- Madden Girl Bartlet Slide Thong Sandal – Women’s (left) $34.97
- Madden Girl Beached Slide Sandal – Youth (right) $21.97
Total savings when shopping in youth section: $13
3. Nike sneakers
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- Revolution 5 Running Shoe – Women’s (left) $64.99
- Revolution 5 Rebel Sneaker – Kids’ (right) $54.99
Total savings when shopping in youth section: $10
4. Van slip-on shoes
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- Vans Asher Slip-On Sneaker – Women’s (left) $49.99
- Vans Asher Slip-On Sneaker – Kids’ (right) $39.99
Total savings when shopping in youth section: $10
Check out these Lululemon knockoffs we found on Amazon!
I tried this once & the kids shoes weren’t made as well as the adults so, I returned them
Darn! Thanks for the honest comment, Mellie. Sorry to hear about that.
That is exactly what I’ve experienced. And it doesn’t matter what brand – I’ve tried to buy kids shoes in all different brands, expensive and cheap, the kids shoes are not made as well as adults, they don’t fit well, and lack arch supports. It seems kids shoes are less expensive because the quality is so poor – not because they are smaller!!
I do this and it really does save me money. Great post! 👏👏
Agreed
Thanks so much for the feedback! Glad you enjoyed the post!
Yes, my teen sometimes wears shoes labeled as big girls. I have not noticed any difference in quality with the brands I have purchased, but the fit is not always the same. You just need to try them on and compare.
I do this! I wear a 6 in women’s and a 4 in kids. I find the difference to be more like 2 sizes almost universally. I’ve seen very few stores that carry up to a kids 7 though. Most stop at 5.
I agree with the 2 size difference! This chart was definitely off because I buy a lot of kids shoes and they are actually cut wider so they’re roomier. They’d fall off if I went with the size listed in the chart above!
I agree. I wear a women’s 8 and a kids 6- I buy kids chacos
Done this trick for years! Why pay more for same shoe or boot
Yup! I’ve been doing this for years!!!
Awesome! Glad to hear it!
I’ve bought Keen’s for kids sandals ever since I was diagnosed with neuropathy in my feet. The toes are wider than the women’s of the same style so that’s good for me. I love the colors and I am still wearing the first pairs I bought 8 years ago!
Wow! That’s awesome! Good to know how well they have held up for you, Peaches! Thanks for taking a moment to share your experience with us!
Yep! I buy kids uggs and kids hunter boots for so much cheaper.
My niece does the same thing. You guys are lucky.
🙌
Me, too!
Only if your foot isn’t GINORMOUS! 😢
YES!!! This has saved me so much money over the years, not to mention kids shoes just never sell out as fast if it is really popular!
I am a 7.5 Women’s and usually buy 5.5-6Y. My main reason for doing this initially was saving money, however it has allowed me personally to buy shoes of higher quality and support(nice runners, keen sandals, etc) that are so much more expensive in the adult sizes!
I do this a ton for my daughter. Shes a women’s 9 and I’m able to buy all her Nikes, Adidas, and Van’s I’m kids sizes!
Karen,
May I ask what size kids you buy for a woman’s 9? I didn’t see it on the chart. My necie wears a 9 and I always buy her shoes and flip flops. TYIA
Mell
Some youth size 7s will fit a women’s size 9, depending on brand and exact foot size.
I’ve been doing this for years. I have small feet so I can get away with buying boys/ girls shoes and most of the time they are quite a bit cheaper. The biggest savings are on brands like Sperry and name brand running shoes.
I wish ! Ha ! Not when you are a size 11. So jealous ! Shoe deals are hard to find with big feet 🙂
Ha! Same girl! I’m size 12.
Agree, I have been buying kids shoes forever, I usually buy clearance at Walmart, Target and Kohl’s and the quality is the same as women’s sizes. Sometimes the styles are childish so I don’t get those. My sister envies my small feet.
Yes I do this a lot
I always do this 🤣 I’ve even bought myself a pair of Cat and Jack boots lol
Lol!!!
I wear a women’s 6 1/2-7. I have been doing this for years, especially sneakers. There is no difference in the quality. Michael Kors also makes very stylish kids shoes.
what size in kids do you get? I’m curious since we’re the same size
I can never find the bigger kids sizes. They tend to stop at size 5 everywhere I’ve looked (at least in boys styles). I’ve started buying my son women’s shoes because I can’t find kid ones big enough. I’ve never thought to get my shoes in the kid’s department though.
I’ve been doing this for years…the kids shoes in brands like Uggs, Sorel, Hunter, Nike, etc. are way cheaper, then if there are any sales on top of that it makes it even less. 😊
Thank you! I’m an 8.5 and I always thought only real small feet could get away with this! Totally going to try searching kids first next time!
You are welcome, Amber! I’m sure happy you saw this post and hope you find some! Let us know!
I’ve been buying Nike sneakers youth size 7 (Nike youth sizing runs small) for my women’s size 8 feet and it saves a bundle. I find the Nike youth sizes actually fit me better than the women’s… Perhaps it’s because the width is different, though I’m not sure. I assumed the sneakers were meant for boys because of the sizing so I never thought about buying youth-girls sized shoes for me. I will have to check this out!
I have always gotten my footwear in the children’s dept. I also get my jeans and tops. A women’s small is a girls 14/16. I still use my sons winter jacket he grew out of it 20 years ago
Won’t help me with my size 10 feet!! Boo 😒
Nor my 11s!!
My size is 9😔
Stores like Burlington has up to size 7 on the kids section
I wish I was able to do this with Birkenstock’s. My daughter has a pair that are size 37 that she is about to grow out of, and the next size is 38 and it goes into adult prices.
Nordstrom Rack has kids shoes to size 6-7. They do run a little wider and the toe box in sneakers is usually boxier.
I’ve done this for under armour slides. The kids were alot cheaper so i bought a size 7 and they fit!
I buy size 7 kids for myself in kids. I wear a 9 woman’s shoe. Chaco’s is a good one to use this rule on. 55.00 vs 115.00 I think YES! I have also bought nike running shoes with this also.
I tried this once, but my feet are narrow and the kids shoes just don’t fit correctly (too wide for me).
This post made my day! I’ve been trying to understand the difference between son’s growing shoe size compared to men’s and women’s sizes this week when he outgrew his shoes seemingly over night. ALSO, I’m always hunting for both a bargain for myself AND shoes made wide enough for my short/wide feet. Lastly, I often think the girls’ shoes are SO cute and fun and wish there were more styles like that offered in adult sizes- I never thought to try a large girls size for myself. I think this post is a game changer for me!
I do this sometimes, and I am a man who can pull this off! I have really small feet for a guy (men’s size 6 to 6.5) and kids/youth sizes are the same, so needless to say I can wear youth size 6 kids shoes! The upper limit of kids shoes are actually a little too big for me believe it or not 🙃
TIP: This works well with UGGS, as well.
I do this with some shoes, kids shoes tend to be wider, which is a plus for me. However, the support is not as good as an adult shoe, since they were not intended for the adult weight, but a child’s weight.
I did this. I wear 7 or 7 1/2. The shoes I wanted did not come in women’s but they had for kids. I was able to fit a 7Y 😃. Saved 30 bucks. Well my bf did 😂
I do this all the time, but a few brands this hasn’t worked for me are Vans and Rothys. They run a big smaller that comfy for me.
I fit into US 5 making it difficult to get this size for my tiny feel, left with very less choice, maybe I should try considering d kid size
I have a few pair of kids UGGS. I can’t do the taller ones because I don’t have kid sized calf’s 🤣, but it’s saved me quite a bit from the same size in the adults. Nordstrom even has an adult to kid sized conversion chart on their website.
My wife frequently buys men’s sneakers, usually 2 number sizes smaller than her women’s size. If the styles work for you, men’s sneakers tend to be priced the same or better, be much better made and last ~twice as long. Crummy sneakers and no pockets in their pants mean women really get the short end of the stick. (and yes, I know that list goes on…)
Pink tax. Thanks for understanding I need pockets!!!