What Does C Mean In Shoe Size

Have you lot always looked at footwear sizes and thought, what does shoe width letters mean? You might know that y'all habiliment a 7D, but what does that D stand for?

Shoe width letters range from AAA to EEE, with each letter representing a measurement. It sounds unproblematic plenty, yet it's not as straightforward as you may call back.

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

Featured in What Does Letters Mean in Shoe Size:

What the dissimilar letters correspond.
Size and width charts.
Shoe width letters explained.
Difference betwixt men'due south and women'due south widths.
How to measure the width of your foot.

What Does Shoe Width Letters Mean?

This unique footwear lawmaking is there to guide you to a meliorate fitting shoe. All the same, what the letters mean varies between men and women—as well equally boys and girls.

Before we get involved with measurements, permit's take a look at what the letters represent:

For Men

A: Extra narrow.
B:
C:
D:
E or EE:
EEE or EEEE: Extra broad.

For Women

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

For Children

B:
D:
Eastward: Actress-Wide.

Shoe Width Letters Explained

At present that nosotros know what each letter of the alphabet represents, allow'south look at each of them in more detail:

A/AA/AAA Width

As y'all could run across from the section above, A sizes are more common in women's shoes. This is because it typically represents Narrow or Extra Narrow widths.

The more A'south present, the narrower the width. Y'all may detect them denoted past the following:

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

Furthermore, women's shoes are ofttimes referred to as Slim and Super Slim, which means the same as Narrow and Extra Narrow.

B Width

B width is the most mutual letter in women's sizes as it's considered a Medium, Normal or Standard width.

Nevertheless, for men, B is accounted a Narrow width and in child's footwear, it'south classed as average.

D Width

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

Notwithstanding, D is considered wide for women and children.

E/EE/EEE Width

EE and EEE are the width references virtually normally used in this category. These represent the widest shoes, meaning with every Due east present the width increases. Similar to A widths, you'll come across E's represented in an culling 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 hand, 2E is regarded equally an Extra Wide size.

There are shoes available in sizes as big as 10E; even so, these are normally used in diabetic shoes.

If y'all're a frequent walker or hiker, we've reviewed the all-time walking shoes for wide feet.

Shoe Width Charts

Nosotros've put together the following charts to assistance you find the fit for you.

For Men

US Shoe Size	Narrow C	Medium D	Broad Due east
6	3 5/16"	three ½"	3 11/xvi"
half dozen.5	3 5/16"	iii ⅝"	iii ¾"
7	3 ⅜"	3 ⅝"	3 ¾"
7.five	iii ⅜"	3 11/16"	3 xv/16"
8	3 ½"	three ¾"	3 15/xvi"
8.five	iii ⅝"	3 ¾"	4"
nine	iii ⅝"	3 15/xvi"	4 ⅛"
9.five	3 11/16"	3 15/16"	4 ⅛"
10	3 ¾"	4"	four iii/xvi"
x.5	3 ¾"	4 ⅛"	iv five/16"
11	3 xv/16"	4 ⅛"	4 five/16"
11.5	3 15/16"	4 3/16"	4 ⅜"
12	iv"	4 five/16"	4 ⅜"
12.five	four ⅛"	iv 5/16"	iv ½"
13	4 ⅛"	4 five/sixteen"	iv ⅝"
13.5	4 3/16"	4 ⅜"	four ¾"

For Women

U.s.a. Shoe Size	Narrow AA	Medium B	Broad D
five	2 thirteen/xvi"	3 iii/sixteen"	3 9/1"
5.5	2 ⅞"	3 ¼"	3 ⅝"
half dozen	2 15/16"	3 5/sixteen"	three xi/16"
6.5	3"	3 ⅜"	3 ¾"
7	3 i/16"	3 7/16"	three 13/16"
7.v	3 ⅛"	3 ½"	3 ⅞"
8	3 3/16"	3 9/sixteen"	three 15/16"
8.5	iii ¼"	3 ⅝"	4"
9	3 ⅜"	iii 11/16"	4 i/xvi"
9.5	3 ⅜"	3 ¾"	four ⅛"
10	3 7/16"	three ¾"	four three/xvi"
10.five	3 ½"	three ⅞"	4 ¼"
11	three 9/16"	3 fifteen/16"	iv 5/16"
12	3 xi/16"	4 1/sixteen"	4 seven/16"

For Children

US Shoe Size	Average B	Wide D	Extra-Wide East
1Y	33/16"	35/8"	33/xvi"
2Y	35/sixteen"	33/4"	315/16"
3Y	37/16"	37/8"	41/16"
4Y	39/16"	4"	43/16"
5Y	311/16"	41/eight"	45/16"
6Y	33/16"	41/iv"	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 dissimilar widths will generally use D every bit a standard for men'southward footwear.

What Does C/D Mean in Shoe Size?

C/D in shoe size means it's a combination of two widths. The brawl of the foot is one size (in this case, D) while the heel is some other (in this case, C). Combinations like this are too constitute as Eastward/C, D/B, C/A and more.

Difference Between Men'southward and Women'southward Widths

Men, in general, have wider feet compared to women. This is why charts are based on gender.

A is generally only used in women'southward sizes, whereas EEE and above are predominantly plant in men's widths. Nonetheless, many brands are changing this to arrange women with wider feet.

As nosotros discussed at the beginning of the article, a D is classed equally Medium for men simply Wide for women.

Why the Width Is Important

Choosing the right width for your feet is as important as choosing the right length. Shoes that are likewise wide or likewise narrow tin can exist uncomfortable and fifty-fifty hard to walk in correctly.

Too Narrow Shoes

Shoes that are besides narrow for your feet can crusade blisters, sores, cramps and bunions. Your toes might be crossing as you're walking; this tin crusade ingrown toenails as well as hurting.

Furthermore, considering the shoes are tighter, sweating increases. If you have open sores or blisters, they could easily get infected in shoes that are too small. The sores volition probable be rubbing against the sides of the shoes, giving VIP access for bacteria and fungus.

Shoes Are Too Wide

Shoes that are as well broad volition cause friction every bit you lot walk, leading to blisters and sores. Blisters occur due to shearing strength equally the shoe slides up and downwards your foot as you're walking. Blood blisters underneath the toenails are also possible. This happens when the shoe flexes upwards and catches the boom, lifting it off of the smash bed.

Additionally, the shoes won't secure your feet properly, which can cause y'all to walk differently. As your toes will be struggling to keep the shoes on, it tin can lead to cramps and pain.

If you demand 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'south D Notwithstanding, standard-sized shoes aren't usually marked with the corresponding letters to signal this. Brands simply 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, it'southward likely to be a standard width. Yous should be 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 as running shoes, you'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 information technology tends to exist—although this isn't the instance for everyone.

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

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

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

How to Mensurate Shoe Width?

Here'due south how to measure the width of your human foot:

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

Can Foot Width Modify Overtime?

The width of your feet can change at whatever given point. It depends greatly on your overall health—such as if y'all proceeds weight or retain excess water, your feet may widen.

Other conditions, such every bit diabetes or pregnancy, can also bear upon the width of your feet.

With some health atmospheric condition, such as diabetes or being overweight, you can help to decrease your anxiety width. Every bit you lose weight or eliminate your insulin resistance, your feet should reduce in size.

Do All Shoe Brands Come in Width?

It'south mostly Usa 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'south shoes.

Popular brands that offering a wide selection of widths include Clarks, Munro and New Balance.

Learning the ABC's

As we've seen, the length of the shoe is but one-half the story. Most U.s. brands pattern their shoes to fit a range of widths, depending on the size of the shoe.

Purchasing shoes according to your correct width and length volition ensure y'all get the best possible fit. This is particularly significant when purchasing running or grooming shoes.

So, what does shoe width letters mean? Each letter of the alphabet indicates a sure width, ranging from A to E—A being the most narrow and E existence the widest.

We hope you've found this article informative, feel costless to leave a comment in the department below if you lot have any questions.