What Does The D In Shoe Size Mean

Take you ever looked at footwear sizes and idea, what does shoe width letters hateful? You might know that y'all clothing a 7D, but what does that D stand up for?

Shoe width messages range from AAA to EEE, with each letter of the alphabet representing a measurement. It sounds elementary enough, nevertheless information technology's non every bit straightforward as yous may think.

To help you lot decipher this shoe alphabet and find properly fitted shoes, we'll walk you through each letter.

Featured in What Does Letters Mean in Shoe Size:

What the different letters represent.
Size and width charts.
Shoe width letters explained.
Divergence betwixt men's and women'south widths.
How to measure out the width of your foot.

What Does Shoe Width Letters Mean?

This unique footwear code is there to guide you to a better fitting shoe. However, what the letters hateful varies between men and women—equally well as boys and girls.

Before we become involved with measurements, let'south take a expect at what the letters represent:

For Men

A: Extra narrow.
B:
C:
D:
East or EE:
EEE or EEEE: Extra wide.

For Women

AAA: Super slim.
A or AA:
B:
C:
D:
EE: Extra wide.

For Children

B:
D:
E: Extra-Wide.

Shoe Width Letters Explained

At present that nosotros know what each alphabetic character represents, let's expect at each of them in more than detail:

A/AA/AAA Width

Every bit yous could see from the section in a higher place, A sizes are more common in women'south shoes. This is because it typically represents Narrow or Extra Narrow widths.

The more A'south present, the narrower the width. You may find them denoted by the following:

2A (AA).
3A (AAA).
4A (AAAA).

Furthermore, women's shoes are oft referred to as Slim and Super Slim, which means the aforementioned as Narrow and Actress Narrow.

B Width

B width is the nearly common alphabetic character in women'due south sizes as it'due south considered a Medium, Normal or Standard width.

Nevertheless, for men, B is deemed a Narrow width and in child's footwear, information technology'southward classed as average.

D Width

D is the nigh common letter in men'south sizes as this is regarded equally Medium, Normal or Standard.

However, D is considered broad for women and children.

E/EE/EEE Width

EE and EEE are the width references about unremarkably used in this category. These correspond the widest shoes, meaning with every East present the width increases. Similar to A widths, you'll encounter E's represented in an alternative format:

2E (EE).
3E (EEE).
4E (EEEE).

For men, 2E sizes are considered Wide and 3E or 4E, Extra Wide. For women, on the other manus, 2E is regarded every bit an Extra Wide size.

There are shoes available in sizes as large as 10E; however, these are commonly used in diabetic shoes.

If you're a frequent walker or hiker, nosotros've reviewed the best walking shoes for wide anxiety.

Shoe Width Charts

We've put together the following charts to assist you observe the fit for you.

For Men

US Shoe Size	Narrow C	Medium D	Wide E
six	3 5/16"	iii ½"	3 11/16"
6.five	3 v/xvi"	three ⅝"	3 ¾"
vii	iii ⅜"	3 ⅝"	3 ¾"
vii.v	3 ⅜"	3 eleven/16"	three 15/16"
8	3 ½"	3 ¾"	iii xv/16"
8.5	3 ⅝"	iii ¾"	4"
9	3 ⅝"	3 fifteen/16"	iv ⅛"
9.5	3 eleven/sixteen"	three 15/16"	iv ⅛"
10	3 ¾"	4"	4 3/16"
10.five	three ¾"	4 ⅛"	4 v/16"
xi	3 fifteen/xvi"	4 ⅛"	4 5/16"
11.5	3 15/16"	4 3/16"	4 ⅜"
12	iv"	4 5/16"	four ⅜"
12.5	4 ⅛"	4 5/16"	4 ½"
13	four ⅛"	4 five/16"	iv ⅝"
13.5	four 3/16"	4 ⅜"	4 ¾"

For Women

US Shoe Size	Narrow AA	Medium B	Wide D
5	ii xiii/16"	3 3/16"	3 nine/i"
5.5	ii ⅞"	three ¼"	3 ⅝"
6	two xv/xvi"	3 5/16"	iii xi/sixteen"
half-dozen.v	3"	3 ⅜"	3 ¾"
7	3 i/16"	3 7/16"	3 13/16"
7.v	3 ⅛"	3 ½"	3 ⅞"
eight	3 3/16"	3 9/16"	three 15/16"
8.5	three ¼"	3 ⅝"	four"
9	3 ⅜"	three eleven/16"	4 1/16"
9.5	3 ⅜"	three ¾"	4 ⅛"
10	3 7/sixteen"	three ¾"	4 3/sixteen"
10.5	3 ½"	iii ⅞"	4 ¼"
11	3 9/16"	3 xv/16"	4 5/xvi"
12	3 11/16"	4 1/16"	4 seven/16"

For Children

US Shoe Size	Average B	Wide D	Actress-Wide Due east
1Y	33/sixteen"	35/viii"	33/16"
2Y	35/xvi"	33/4"	315/16"
3Y	37/16"	37/eight"	41/sixteen"
4Y	39/16"	4"	43/xvi"
5Y	311/xvi"	41/8"	45/16"
6Y	33/16"	41/4"	47/16"

What Does D Mean in Shoe Size?

D in shoe size, for men, means you have an average-sized foot, but a wide foot for women. Brands that don't design different widths volition generally use D as a standard for men's footwear.

What Does C/D Mean in Shoe Size?

C/D in shoe size means it's a combination of two widths. The ball of the human foot is ane size (in this case, D) while the heel is another (in this case, C). Combinations like this are also found equally East/C, D/B, C/A and more.

Difference Between Men'southward and Women's Widths

Men, in full general, take wider anxiety compared to women. This is why charts are based on gender.

A is by and large simply used in women's sizes, whereas EEE and above are predominantly plant in men's widths. However, many brands are irresolute this to accommodate women with wider feet.

As we discussed at the beginning of the commodity, a D is classed as Medium for men but Broad for women.

Why the Width Is Important

Choosing the right width for your anxiety is as important as choosing the correct length. Shoes that are too broad or too narrow tin be uncomfortable and even hard to walk in correctly.

Too Narrow Shoes

Shoes that are also narrow for your feet can cause blisters, sores, cramps and bunions. Your toes might exist crossing equally you're walking; this can cause ingrown toenails too as pain.

Furthermore, because the shoes are tighter, sweating increases. If yous have open sores or blisters, they could easily get infected in shoes that are too small-scale. The sores will probable be rubbing against the sides of the shoes, giving VIP access for bacteria and mucus.

Shoes Are Too Wide

Shoes that are too wide volition crusade friction as y'all walk, leading to blisters and sores. Blisters occur due to shearing strength every bit the shoe slides up and down your foot as you're walking. Blood blisters underneath the toenails are besides possible. This happens when the shoe flexes up and catches the blast, lifting information technology off of the blast bed.

Additionally, the shoes won't secure your feet properly, which can crusade yous to walk differently. As your toes will be struggling to go along the shoes on, information technology can lead to cramps and hurting.

If yous need more tips and tricks, we've found 8 ways to make your big shoes fit.

What Is the Average Width?

The average shoe width for women is B and for men, it's D Withal, standard-sized shoes aren't usually marked with the corresponding letters to indicate this. Brands only designate shoes a alphabetic character if they consider the width is out of the "average" range.

What Does Shoe Width Letters Mean in shoes

If a shoe doesn't display lettering, information technology's likely to be a standard width. Y'all should exist able to find the shoe measurements on the box or within the shoe on the label.

In shoe types where a correct fit is crucial, such every bit running shoes, yous're likely to find a range of widths available.

Does Shoe Width Increase With Shoe Size?

As a rule, the bigger a foot is, the wider it tends to be—although this isn't the case for everyone.

Shoe length and width are proportional to standard sizing, which ways, larger shoes run wider and smaller shoes run narrower.

This can create minor issues for people with long, narrow feet or short, wider feet. However, you should be able to observe a fitting width to suit your feet giving the wide range of options available.

Hither's a helpful video that illustrates how the width of shoes can differ.

How to Measure Shoe Width?

Hither's how to mensurate the width of your foot:

Remove shoes and socks.
Place your human foot down on a piece of paper on a flat surface.
Utilise a pen to draw an outline of your foot—as close to the foot every bit you tin can.
Use a record measure to measure the widest role of your pes.

Can Pes Width Change Overtime?

The width of your feet tin modify at any given point. It depends greatly on your overall health—such as if you gain weight or retain excess water, your feet may widen.

Other conditions, such as diabetes or pregnancy, can also impact the width of your feet.

With some health atmospheric condition, such as diabetes or existence overweight, yous tin help to decrease your anxiety width. As you lose weight or eliminate your insulin resistance, your feet should reduce in size.

Do All Shoe Brands Come up in Width?

It's mostly US brands that offer shoes in unlike widths. In Europe, footwear is offered in standard widths. These are typically B for women's shoes and D for men's shoes.

Popular brands that offer a wide option of widths include Clarks, Munro and New Balance.

Learning the ABC's

As we've seen, the length of the shoe is but half the story. Most US brands design their shoes to fit a range of widths, depending on the size of the shoe.

Purchasing shoes according to your correct width and length will ensure yous get the best possible fit. This is particularly meaning when purchasing running or training shoes.

So, what does shoe width letters hateful? Each letter indicates a certain width, ranging from A to E—A being the well-nigh narrow and E beingness the widest.

We promise you've found this article informative, feel free to leave a comment in the section below if you have any questions.