Shoe Widths Explained: Your Guide to Wide-Fit Shoes | Wynsors (2024)

Let’s face it. We all come in different shapes and sizes – but when it comes to our feet, they often get the short straw.

At some point, we’ve all donned a pair of ill-fitting shoes that have left us subject to painful blisters and sore toes. In fact, 58% of people have bought a pair of shoes that hurt their feet, according to our survey. Sometimes, it’s just not possible to “wear in” a pair of shoes. If this is the case for you, maybe you should consider picking up a pair of wide-fit shoes.

So, how do you know if you have wide feet? Worry not, as we’ve put together an informative guide equipped with shoe width charts, expert advice and frequently asked questions all about wide-fitting footwear.

Although, sometimes, there are sizing discrepancies between different footwear brands, most people can order a pair of shoes in a certain size and they’ll fit perfectly. However, this isn’t always the case for everybody – which is where wide-fitting shoes come into play.

Standard sizes may not be wide enough for some people’s feet, so wide-fit shoes tailor to these wider foot widths by incorporating a wider tread on the soles and a deeper toe box than standard shoes.

Are you struggling to fit your feet in your shoes comfortably and without pain? It might be because you have wide feet. Finding shoes that properly fit your feet can be a tricky business. This means that unfortunately, many people are totally unaware of their correct shoe size because they haven’t had their feet measured since school (76% in fact!).

If your quest for finding your perfect fit hasn’t been successful so far, look at our shoe width measurement charts below to help you figure out if you need wide-fit shoes. Whether you’re wondering what an ‘E’ fit shoe is or you’re looking for a simple method for finding your measurements – our foot width charts below will help you identify and convert sizes.

Place your foot flat on a piece of paper and carefully draw an outline around your foot. Follow this step by measuring the widest part of your foot on the paper with a ruler to find the width of your foot. For more in-depth instructions on how to measure your feet, visit our measuring guide.

To use the shoe charts below, find your regular size under the UK column, then follow the row across until you find the width you have just measured. This will then tell you if you need a narrow, standard, wide or extra-wide fit. For example, if you are usually a women’s UK size 5 and your width measurement is 9.6cm, then you should opt for a wide-fit shoe.

If your feet are wider than the ‘standard’ shoe width size in the table above, getting yourself a pair of wide-fit shoes will give you an all-round better and healthier fit, as well as preventing issues such as:

• Blisters – wearing shoes that are too tight often results in your shoes beginning to rub due to the increased friction, which can unfortunately lead to blisters developing. Wearing wide-fit shoes will ultimately reduce the friction and relieve the pain you are experiencing. For more information on preventing and treating blisters, read our guide.
• Hammertoes – shoes that are restrictive in the toe box area can lead to hammertoes, potentially causing a permanent deformity. Wearing a shoe with a wider toe box area will allow the toes to have more room to establish a natural shape, preventing any damage.
• Bunions – while there is an ongoing debate about bunions being mainly hereditary, wearing tight shoes will ultimately accelerate the onset of this condition. Wide-fit shoes will allow your feet to spread and therefore give your feet the best chance of avoiding bunions.

For more information surrounding why finding the perfect fit for your feet is so important, read our blog post.

Wide-fitting shoes are now more accessible and stylish than ever, so if you’re after footwear for wide feet, we have an extensive collection of brands at Wynsors. For women’s shoes, Apache, Dr Keller, Comfort Plus, Platino and Wynsors’ own brand have a great range to choose from. If you’re after wide-fit shoes for men, Business Class, Rockstorm and Comfisole have an excellent selection.

We hope our guide to shoe widths and wide-fit shoes has helped you learn if you need a wider-fitting shoe for a comfier and better fit! If there are any questions we haven’t answered, please get in touch on our Facebook or Twitter and our friendly experts will be happy to help.  For a great selection of affordable footwear, browse shoes for men and women at Wynsors.