How to Measure Kids Shoe Size from Home – In Less Than 30 Seconds!

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated and revised for accuracy on May 2022 and reflects up-to-date information on how to measure kids shoe size from home.

Do you normally shop for your children’s shoes online and find yourself wasting time and money having to return the shoes all the time?

My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes

I have been fitting children’s shoes and orthotics for 10 years at a children’s shoe store that specializes in fitting children with foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. I have always used the standard foot measuring tool called the Brannock Device to figure out the child’s foot size.

This device is the standard foot measuring tool that most shoe stores use, and you might have seen it at your local children’s shoe store or a big retailer store such as Nordstrom’s or Foot Locker. It might look a little complicated to use, but it is by far the most effective one, and I frequently use this device, so let me show you how easy it is to use!

Learning how to measure your kids’ foot size from home takes 3 simple steps:

✅ First Step: When measuring your kids’ feet is to make sure that you always measure your kids when they are fully standing. On weight-bearing, the foot stretches in both length and width, so this is the only way to get the correct shoe size.

✅ Second Step: Make sure you measure both feet —most of us have half a size difference between our feet— The longer of the two feet is the correct length to be fitted. Measure to the longest toe, which is not always the “big” toe, but could be the second, or even the third toe.

✅ Third Step: Put step 1 and step 2 together and get your child’s measurements. Here you can see where your child’s heel goes:

Place your child’s right heel here:

Place your child’s left heel here:

• Check that your child is standing straight and that your child’s heels are back against the Brannock device – children tend to slide their feet forward, and also make sure that your child is not curling his or her toes.

• Make sure that you are only reading the numbers facing you.

• Check the width by sliding the bar over to the edge of the foot and locate your kids’ shoe size on the bar and view the width measurement that corresponds to that size.

Below you can find the Brannock Device:

I understand that not all families can afford to invest in this foot measuring device. That is the reason why I offer a service to determine your child’s exact foot size from your home.

How to Measure Kids’ Shoe Size From Home – Follow These 2 Simple Steps!

✅ Step 1: Measuring Your Child’s Exact Foot Length:

• Make sure that your child is standing straight, and then place a measuring tape or ruler below your child’s heels. You must measure your child’s feet while standing, as on weight-bearing the foot becomes longer. 

• Measure both feet up to the tip of your child’s longest toe (make sure that your child is not curling his/her toes). You must measure both feet since there is always one foot that is bigger than the other. Keep in mind that your child’s longest toe doesn’t necessarily have to be the big toe — it may in fact be the second or even the third toe.

• Make a note of that measurement in centimeters or inches or email me the image showing the measurements (such as you see below) to avoid confusion with the measurements.

✅ Step 2: Pictures of Your Child’s Foot Width:

The pictures below will help me determine whether your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.  Also, the pictures will help me see whether your child has a high instep and additional information such as whether your child has flat feet or not. Below you can find examples of how the pictures should look like:

Please note that I won’t need the measurements of your child’s foot width, the images will be sufficient to help me determine whether your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.

Recap – What to Include in Your Email

• Your child’s foot length measurements (or an image of their foot length measurements)
• Three images of your child’s feet (see example images above)
• The country you live in

Feel free to include in your email any additional information I should know about your child’s feet:

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

You will then receive a response within 24 hours with your child’s exact foot length, shape, and specific shoe recommendations as needed

How Much Does This Service Cost?

This service is completely free. I am passionate about fitting children’s shoes as I truly believe that the correct type of shoes can be life changing. Children’s feet are constantly developing, and what happens to their feet during their childhood will affect their physique as they grow older. 

If you wish to support the work of Fitting Children’s Shoes, you can Donate Here Your support helps ensure that families around the world can find the correct shoes for their children, regardless of their foot shape or condition.

Buying your kids’ shoes online doesn’t mean scrolling down through the pictures and choosing the shoe that looks the most stylish or the one that is available in your kids’ shoe size. If you are looking to buy your kids’ shoes online, you must know how the particular shoe style that you like fits.

For example, to provide children with growing room in their shoes we want to provide them with half a size longer than the size that they measure on the shoe measuring scale. However, if your child measures a size 10 on the shoe measuring scale but the shoes fit “short” then you will need to provide your child with a whole size longer instead of a half a size longer – so you will provide your child with a size 11 instead of a 10 ½. If the shoes fit “long” then you need to provide your child with the same size 10 – as the shoes already fit long.

Does this make sense to you?

You should always allow approximately 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.

If you can’t seem to find a particular shoe style for your child, you should take a look at a tool I created that allows you to filter shoe options by your child’s unique footprint. The tool involves a simple process in which parents select the child’s age, shoe size, type of shoe that you are looking for, whether you want velcro closure or shoelaces, and other important features such as whether the shoe is capable of accommodating an orthotic. You can find that tool below:

Find The Best Shoe Style for your Child’s Unique Feet

Have you tried using the Brannock device at home? Is there any other measuring tool you use to measure your kids’ foot size from home? Please share your thoughts below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.