Trace, measure heel to longest toe, then match the number to the maker's chart.
To measure your foot at home, tape paper to a hard floor, stand on it in the socks you plan to wear, and trace each foot with the pencil held straight down. Measure from the heel to the longest toe, then across the ball for width. Fit the larger foot and check the maker's own size chart.
Nike, adidas, Kohl's, Shoe Carnival and Clarks all measure heel to longest toe. The Brannock Device Company adds heel-to-ball arch length and width. This page covers all three, adds what boot makers say, and ends with the widths in stock on bespokewestern.com, checked 29 September 2026.
How do you measure your foot at home?
Trace each foot on taped-down paper, mark the longest toe and the heel, and measure between the marks with a ruler.
- Put on your socks. Nike, adidas and Justin Boots say to wear the socks you plan to wear with the shoe or boot.
- Pick the time. Nike measures at the end of the day, because feet tend to swell as the day goes on.
- Set the paper. Tape a sheet to a hard floor next to a wall (adidas).
- Stand and trace. Stand on the paper with your heel slightly touching the wall, and hold the pencil pointed straight down (adidas).
- Mark two points. Mark the tip of your longest toe and the outermost part of your heel (Nike). Brannock reads over the longest toe, which can differ from the first toe.
- Measure and repeat. Measure between the points with a ruler, then trace the other foot (adidas).
- Keep the larger numbers. Shoe Carnival keeps the larger length and width. Clarks gives the reason: the smaller side adjusts with insoles or thicker socks.
Shoe Carnival subtracts 1/16 inch for the gap tracing leaves. Kohl's and Justin Boots skip the paper: heel against a wall, then a tape measure to the longest toe.
How do you measure foot width?
Measure across the widest point of the foot, usually the ball beneath the big toe, as adidas describes. On a tracing, measure the gap between the outer edges. On a Brannock Device, slide the width bar firmly to the edge of the foot.
Width labels vary by maker. Justin Boots lists B for narrow, D for medium and EE for wide, and Brannock calls width terms unstandardized. Between two widths, Brannock picks wider for a thick foot and narrower for a thin foot. The shoe width chart goes letter by letter.
What does a Brannock Device measure?
A Brannock Device takes three measures: heel-to-toe length, heel-to-ball arch length and width. Brannock says shoes flex at the ball of the foot, so the ball joint needs the right spot in the shoe.
| Measure | What it reads | Brannock says |
|---|---|---|
| Heel-to-toe length | Overall length, read over the longest toe | Stand with equal weight on both feet |
| Heel-to-ball arch length | Heel to the ball joint, found with the pointer | Compare it with heel-to-toe and use the larger |
| Width | Ball of the foot, read with the width bar | Between widths, go wider for a thick foot |
Brannock adds that two feet of the same length can need different sizes. Danner sizes its boots to the Brannock and suggests a reading for both length and width.
What size am I from my foot length?
Match your longest measured length to the maker's chart. Ariat's men's footwear chart pairs a 9.5 inch foot with size 7 and a 12.25 inch foot with size 15. Six of its fourteen rows are shown, from the men's footwear table. Measure in inches: Ariat also prints centimeters, but its two columns do not always convert (its size 12 row pairs 11.5 inches with 28.6 cm, and 11.5 inches is 29.2 cm).
| Ariat men's size (US) | Length of foot (in) |
|---|---|
| 7 | 9.5 |
| 9 | 10.31 |
| 10 | 10.63 |
| 11 | 10.88 |
| 12 | 11.5 |
| 15 | 12.25 |
Ariat's Tall Boots table shows 10.5 inches at 26.2 cm where the footwear table shows 10.31, so this page uses the footwear chart. On the borderline, Ariat says to order the smaller size for a tighter fit or the larger for a looser fit, and Justin Boots says the larger size is usually better.
Is measuring for boots different from shoes?
The measuring is the same; the fitting differs. Danner says sizing on different styles may vary, and Red Wing says its Heritage boots often run a half size to a full size larger while its Work boots are typically true to size.
Toe room shows the split. AAOS OrthoInfo, on "Shoes: Finding the Right Fit," gives 1/2 inch between the longest toe and the tip of the shoe. Justin Boots and Ariat check boots with a thumb's width.
Makers disagree on heel slip. Justin Boots gives about ¼ to ½ inch on one page and approximately one inch on another. Alvies' try-on guide says the heel "should slip up and down by roughly ¼ to ½ an inch." Ariat caps heel lift at 1/8 inch. Check the number in person against that boot maker's own guidance.
The cowboy boot fit guide and the heel slip guide walk through it, and the stretching guide covers a pair that pinches in one spot.
When should you measure?
Measure late in the day, when feet are at their largest, and again each time you buy. AAOS OrthoInfo, "Shoes: Finding the Right Fit": "Because your feet may swell throughout the day (up to 8%), purchase shoes toward the end of the day to ensure maximum comfort."
The same AAOS page adds: "Feet can grow as we age, so have your feet measured every year."
Which method should you pick?
Pick the paper method for a reading tonight. Pick a Brannock reading if a shop is nearby, because it adds arch length and a width bar. For boots, follow the boot maker's own guidance and check the heel slip in person.
On bespokewestern.com, checked 29 September 2026, all 7 Alvies men's boot styles carry D and EE widths in stock, with size 15 in stock. The 4 Alvies women's boot styles come in B width, sizes 5 to 12. Hevias boots and loafers run sizes 8 to 13, with width not a listed option. Browse boots or the Alvies line with your length and width in hand.
Quick answers
Do you measure with socks on?
Yes, in the socks you plan to wear. Ariat adds that a thicker sock may lead to a larger size, and a thinner sock may feel like a snugger fit.
What if your feet are different sizes?
Fit the larger foot. AAOS OrthoInfo says: "Keep in mind that one foot may be slightly larger than the other, and you may need to size up to accommodate the larger foot."
Can you measure without paper?
Yes. Kohl's says to stand flat-footed, heel against a wall, and measure from the heel to the tip of your longest toe.
Does one size match across brands?
Each maker sizes its own way. AAOS OrthoInfo says: "The size may vary from brand to brand and from style to style." For men's and women's conversions, see the women's to men's shoe size guide.
Bottom line
Trace both feet in your socks, late in the day, and keep the larger length and width. Compare with the chart of the maker you are buying from. For boots, try the pair on and check the heel slip against that maker's own number.
Where to go next
- Cowboy boots at Bespoke Western
- Alvies boots in D, EE and B widths
- Shoe width chart
- How should cowboy boots fit?
- Is heel slip normal in cowboy boots?
Sources: Nike; adidas; Kohl's; Shoe Carnival; Clarks; The Brannock Device Company, instructions and fitting tips; AAOS OrthoInfo, "Shoes: Finding the Right Fit"; Ariat size charts and fit guide; Justin Boots fit guides; Danner Support; Red Wing; Alvies' try-on guide; bespokewestern.com catalog, checked 29 September 2026.
