Have you ever wondered if you have a crazy-big or wildly small foot? For men, it’s pretty easy to determine, as there are many studies analyzing the average size of a male foot.
Shoe size generally tends to be proportional in height, though you cannot use one to predict the other. Therefore, average shoe size anecdotally can vary by age, height and location amongst other contributing factors.
Below, find everything you need to know about the average shoe size for men and how to determine your own shoe size at home.
The Average Shoe Size for Men
In 2014, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reported that the worldwide average shoe size for men is between 9 and 12, while the American average male shoe size is 10.5. While there are research reports from certified organizations, it is also important to note, though, that there is no formal scientific data that has officially calculated the global average shoe size of the male species.
How to Determine Your Own Shoe Size
To determine your shoe size, make sure to measure your feet at the end of the day when they’re the largest. The best method is to use a Brannock device or a ruler to determine your foot’s length and width, but every shoe has its own shape and fit that could affect the size you’ll need.
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Does the Right Shoe Size Matter?
The short answer is yes, shoe size matters because a properly fitting shoe is vital to foot health and comfort. Too small shoes can cause pinching or rubbing of the toes, leading to blisters, bunions, hammer toe and other uncomfortable ailments. A too large shoe causes the foot to move around inside of it, making falls more likely and also leading to blisters and other issues.
Additionally, an ill-fitting or uncomfortable shoe can put added pressure on the ankles, knees and back and lead to further ailments. Also, wearing the incorrect footwear for certain activities, say running or weight training in casual sneakers instead of shoes designed for that kind of movement can lead to undue strain, pain and injury of the feet and body.
Tips for Finding the Right Shoe Fit
Shoe sizes come in length and width, with the shoe size number accounting for the length. Unfortunately for those with wide or narrow feet, many men’s shoe sizes only come in the average medium width. A “D” may be used to represent medium width, while “B” is used for narrow shoes.
Of course, not every men’s size 10 shoe will fit the same, so it’s vital to try them on to see how they fit on your feet before committing to them. Additionally, shoes made or designed in Europe or other parts of the world run on a different size chart, so make sure to check a size chart to convert your size.
Knowing your feet measurement (each of your feet can be different sizes!) can help you find the correct size. You can do this by visiting your local shoe store and asking for a professional fitting. These are typically done with a metal tool called the Brannock Device, which measures the length width and arch of your foot. The shoe specialist will let you know your foot measurements and can help you find the best fitting shoe for you.
If you want to find your rough measurement at home, you can place your bare foot on a piece of paper and trace around it, keeping the pencil as upright as possible. Using the outline on the paper, measure from the tip of your big toe to the back of your heel to determine your foot length.
Average Shoe Size by Height
Generally speaking, shoe size is relatively proportionate to height for men and women, particularly after puberty. That said, not every man who is six feet tall will have the same—or even similar—size feet.
As men age, their feet and shoe size may grow due to a variety of factors that come with growing older: weight gain and wear-and-tear on the body. Ligaments and tendons in the feet often loosen with age, which flattens out the arch of the feet, making the larger.
People with foot problems such as bunions and hammer toe may also need to size up to accommodate their misshapen feet.
Height x Shoe Size
The chart below offers a guide on the average shoe size range by height bracket for men in the U.S. As you could guess, men above average in height often wear larger shoes than the rest of the population.
5’5″ or shorter 7 to 9
5′ 6″ to 5’9″ 9.5 to 10.5
5’10” to 6’2″ 11 to 12.5
6’3″ and taller 13 to 20+
Average Men’s Shoe Size in the U.S. Versus Globally
The average shoe size for adult men in America is 10.5 with a medium width. The average height of American men over 20 is around 5 foot 9 inches.
Globally, the average men’s foot is between sizes 9 to 12. In (typically smaller) countries where the population tends to be more ethnically homogenous, heights and shoe sizes vary less.
What About the Average Shoe Size of NBA Players?
Given that professional basketball players are taller than the rest of the population, they tend to have larger feet. NBA players average 6 feet 7 inches and weigh around 225 pounds. Their average shoe size is around a U.S. men’s size 15.
These athletes need a solid foundation to support their bodies that are constantly in motion—jumping around 70 times per game and changing direction a whiplashing amount of every two to three seconds. Thus, large feet, supportive shoes and proper footwork can all help an NBA player stay on his feet—literally.
What NBA Players Fill The Largest Size Basketball Shoes?
As we already mentioned, the average shoe size for NBA players is around a size 15, while the average American man is 10.5. There are plenty of basketball players with famously large feet.
NBA Hall-of-Famers Shaquille O’Neal and Bob Lanier both wore size 22 shoes during their days on the court. Current NBA players Tacko Fall (size 22), Karl Anthony Towns (size 20), twin brothers Brook and Robin Lopez (size 20), Andre Drummond (size 19) and Kevin Durant (size 18) are among those with the biggest kicks.
Best Foot Measuring Products:
- Brannock Device, $58.
- NBC Practical Foot Measuring Device, $15.
- Squatchi Foot Measuring Device, $21.
- Ritz Stick Foot Measuring Device, $23.
- Footer Foot Measuring Tool, $15.
The History of the Largest Shoe Size Available
The largest shoe size ever was 37AA, worn by Robert Wadlow, an American who lived from 1918 to 1940; Wadlow was 8 feet 11 inches tall and still holds the Guinness World Record for largest feet ever. Born in Alton, Illinois, he earned the nicknames of Alton Giant and the Giant of Illinois. His foot size and height were also largely speculated to be due to an abnormal overgrowth of human growth hormone.
Nowadays, the largest shoe size that most brands offer for men goes up to a 13 or 14, but athletic brands like Nike or Adidas offer up to a 21 or 22. There are also specified labels that are designed to provide extended shoe sizes.
Where To Buy Shoes For Large Feet:
- Nike — Up to Men’s Size 22.
- Adidas — Up to Men’s Size 21.
- Timberland — Up to Men’s Size 18.
- Ugg — Up to Men’s Size 18.
- Keen — Up to Men’s Size 17.
- Vans — Up to Men’s Size 16.
- Dr. Martens — Up to Men’s Size 16.
Smallest Shoe Size Available
While there is always an option to shop kids’ shoes sizes for men with smaller feet, the smallest size most adult shoe brands offer is on average a 5. A useful alternative is to shop shoes with unisex sizing as they typically have a wider range of smaller styles to fit that of women as well.
Where To Buy Shoes For Smaller Feet:
- Converse — Starts at Men’s Size 3.
- Adidas — Starts at Men’s Size 3.
- Nike — Starts at Men’s Size 4.
- Crocs — Start at Men’s Size 4.
- Puma — Starts at Men’s Size 4.
- Asics — Starts at Men’s Size 4.
- Onitsuka Tiger — Starts at Men’s Size 4.
Do Your Feet Ever Stop Growing?
For most adults, your feet will stop growing a few years after you hit puberty or adolescence — for most men, specifically, that’s around age 16. Your feet may continue to go up in shoe sizes, though, due to factors including weight gain and loss of ligament and tendon mobility across a lifetime, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Other conditions can affect shoe size later in life such as bunions and hammer toes, which would affect the length or width of a foot.
It is also possible that one foot could grow to be a different size than the other, though this difference is generally small and less common to cause a complete differential split in sizes that each foot requires.
A Teenager With Size 28 Feet Has the World’s Biggest 3-D Printed Shoes
Broc Brown, a teenager with size 28 feet due to Sotos Syndrome, faced difficulty finding comfortable shoes until startup Feetz stepped in. The San Diego-based company custom-made 3D printed size 28 shoes in black and red, personally delivered by CEO Lucy Beard, fulfilling Brown’s quest for comfortable kicks.
The Man With the World’s Largest Feet Guinness Record Has a Shoe Size That’ll Blow Your Mind
Jeison Orlando Rodríguez Hernández, a 22-year-old basketball enthusiast from Venezuela, has faced difficulties in finding shoes that fit him since childhood. With his remarkable foot size measuring 40.55 cm (1.33 ft) and 40.47 cm (1.32 ft), equivalent to a U.S. size 26, Hernández’s feet are almost as large as Sultan Kösen, the tallest man in the world. Hernández expressed how challenging it has been to find shoes his size, even at the age of 16, and how Guinness World Records has helped him appreciate himself and take pride in having the largest feet on Earth.
