Shoe Width Chart: What B, D, EE and 4E Mean

Same length, three widths. The letter on the box is only part of the fit.

Shoe width letters describe how wide a shoe runs across the ball of the foot. Most US makers treat D as men's standard and B as women's standard, then step wider through E, EE (also written 2E) and 4E. Each maker sets its own labels, so read the chart for the pair you are buying.

This page puts the makers' width labels and step sizes side by side, each attributed to the maker that printed it: New Balance, Brooks, Justin, Ariat, Hockerty, PAHI USA, Healthy Feet Store and Wikipedia. It adds the house's dated stock: on bespokewestern.com, checked 29 September 2026, all 7 Alvies men's boot styles list D and EE widths, 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 left off the option list.

What do shoe width letters mean?

Width letters name a fit band across the ball of the foot, from narrow through standard to extra wide. Wikipedia describes the typical North American system as B narrow, C regular, D medium, E wide and EE extra wide, with D the norm for men and B for women. FitMyFoot notes that manufacturers follow different width systems, and Wikipedia adds that the width behind a letter can vary significantly between manufacturers.

The table shows how four makers label each step. A blank cell marks a step that maker's page leaves off.

FitMyFoot's men's scale runs C narrow, D medium and E wide, so even the step names shift by source.

What does D mean in shoe size?

D is the standard men's width and a wide width for women. Hockerty says D is often considered wide to women and standard to men.

Brooks advises shoppers who switch between men's and women's sizing to go by the width name instead of the letter. In Brooks' own example, a women's 10.0 wide (D) becomes a men's 8.5 wide (2E). Our women's to men's shoe size guide covers the length side.

Is EE the same as 2E?

Yes. Hockerty states that a 2E shoe is the same as EE, and Wikipedia's comparison table lists EE beside 2E, EEE beside 3E and EEEE beside 4E. New Balance and Brooks print 2E and 4E; Justin prints EE and EEE; Ariat prints EE and EEEE.

Is 2E wide or extra wide?

It depends on the maker. New Balance and Brooks label 2E wide. Hockerty and PAHI's men's chart call EE extra wide; PAHI's decoder table calls EE wide and 4E extra wide.

Justin's width chart calls E wide and EE extra wide, and a second Justin page lists EE as wide.

How much wider is each width?

Each step adds a small amount across the ball, and the makers give different figures. Healthy Feet Store steps by 1/8 inch, PAHI USA's text says about 1/8 inch, and Wikipedia gives a common step of 3/16 inch. The table lists each maker's men's US size 10, in the maker's own unit.

Width rises with length. New Balance's men's US 6 runs B 9.3, D 9.7, 2E 10.1 and 4E 10.4 cm, and Wikipedia says Brannock widths differ by shoe length.

Brooks gives width names without exact measurements. It builds narrow, medium and wide on the same footbed, and its extra-wide adds a wider footbed and more upper material.

How do you know if you need a wider shoe?

Pressure or pinching across the forefoot points to a wider width, according to Hockerty. Ariat adds a tight toe box, side pinching, red marks and toes rubbing the inside of the boot.

PAHI USA says that when length already works, the real issue is usually width. FitMyFoot says a shoe that feels tight across the arch often needs a wider fit rather than a larger size.

New Balance's sizing tool says to measure the widest part of each foot in the late afternoon and use the larger measurement. Our guide to measuring your foot has the steps.

What does EE mean in boots?

In boots, EE is a men's width one or more steps wider than the standard D. Justin's width chart calls E wide and EE extra wide, a second Justin page lists EE as wide, and Ariat labels its men's EE work boots wide. All 7 Alvies men's styles on bespokewestern.com list D and EE, checked 29 September 2026.

How do boot widths work?

Boot makers use the same letters with fewer steps. Justin lists men's B, D, E, EE and EEE with D standard, and women's B standard and C wide. Ariat's men's work boots run EE (wide) and EEEE (extra wide), with women's in C (wide).

Danner says some styles come only in EE because they were modeled on a last that traditionally ran narrow. Hockerty says boots may feel tighter because of stiffer materials.

Justin says EE gives more space to anyone who found standard sizing uncomfortable, and Ariat suggests trying multiple widths of one style. Alvies' try-on guide says its boots are designed with a wider toe box and that the width of a boot breaks in the most. For a snug pair, see how to stretch boots and shoes, and for wider feet read cowboy boots for wide feet.

Which width should you buy?

Pick the width label printed by the maker of the pair you are buying, and read that maker's own chart. For Alvies men's boots, choose D or EE; both are in stock on bespokewestern.com, checked 29 September 2026.

Pick D if your forefoot sits comfortably in the standard width. Pick EE if standard widths pinch, the sign Justin and Ariat both describe. Alvies women's boots come in B, and Hevias pairs are chosen by length.

Quick answers

Is 4E the same as EEEE?

Yes. Hockerty lists EEEE (4E) as the widest commonly available option, and Wikipedia's table pairs EEEE with 4E. Ariat calls EEEE the widest standard men's work boot width.

Does width change with shoe length?

Yes. New Balance's men's US 6 runs 9.7 cm at D, while its US 10 runs 10.6 cm at D. Wikipedia says Brannock widths differ by shoe length.

When should I try boots on?

Try them on later in the day. Ariat says feet have naturally expanded by then, and New Balance recommends late afternoon.

What if I sit between two widths?

Hockerty says that for dress shoes, the wider option often brings better long-term comfort. New Balance says to choose the larger size when between sizes.

Bottom line

Width letters carry each maker's own meaning, with D the men's standard and B the women's standard at most of them. Use the maker's label and chart for every pair, and measure late in the day. Alvies men's boots come in D and EE.

Where to go next

• Boots
• Alvies boots
• Cowboy boots for wide feet
• How should cowboy boots fit?
• How to measure your foot

Sources: New Balance size guide and Men's Size & Width Tool; Brooks Running support; Justin Boots width chart and fit tips; Ariat; Danner support; Hockerty; PAHI USA; Healthy Feet Store; FitMyFoot; Wikipedia, Shoe size; Alvies try-on guide. House stock from bespokewestern.com, checked 29 September 2026.