How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
Last updated: March 2026
Many parents struggle to determine their child’s correct shoe size when buying shoes online. The good news is that learning how to measure your child’s foot size at home is simple and only requires two steps: measuring foot length and identifying foot width and shape.
Most parents only measure foot length, but choosing the correct shoes also requires understanding:
- Foot width (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide)
- Instep height
- Foot shape
- Possible foot conditions such as flat feet
As a children’s shoe fitting specialist, I developed a simple method that allows parents to accurately determine their child’s shoe size from home. Once you take the measurements, you can send them to me and I will help determine your child’s exact size and recommend the best shoes for their foot shape.
How to Measure Kids’ Feet for Shoes
Measuring your child’s feet correctly is the first step to choosing shoes that fit properly. Many parents are unsure how to measure kids’ feet for shoes, especially when shopping online. The two steps below will help you determine your child’s foot size and foot shape from home.
Step 1: Measure Your Child’s Foot Length
Have your child stand straight and measure from the back of the heel to the tip of the longest toe (which is not always the big toe). Always measure both feet, as one foot is often slightly larger.
We will input your child’s foot measurements in the standard foot measuring tool (Brannock device) to retrieve your child’s exact foot length.
You can follow the instructions in this video for better visualizations purposes.
Record the measurement or take a photo of the measurement so there is no confusion.
This measurement allows me to determine your child’s exact shoe size using the standard Brannock measuring system.
Step 2: Determine Your Child’s Foot Width and Shape
Foot length alone does not determine the correct shoe size. Foot width and overall foot shape are just as important.
Option 1: Record a short video of your child’s feet
Option 2: Take three photos of your child’s feet
This image helps determine whether your child is flat footed and whether your child has a high instep or not.
This image helps determine whether your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
This image helps determine whether your child has rolled ankles or not.
Recap – What to Include in Your Email
• Your child’s foot length measurement (or a photo of the measurement)
• A short video or three photos of your child’s feet
• The country you live in so I can recommend shoes available in your area
Once I receive your information, I will review your child’s foot shape and determine your child’s exact shoe size and overall foot shape. If needed, I can also provide optional shoe recommendations that may work well for your child’s specific foot shape and needs.
Please email the information to:
customerservice@fittingchildrenshoes.com
You will typically receive a response within 24 hours with your child’s exact foot length, foot shape assessment, and optional shoe recommendations if needed.
Why This Method Works
Most shoe size charts only estimate size based on length. However, two children with the same foot length can require completely different shoes depending on their foot width and shape.
By combining foot measurements with visual analysis, I can recommend:
- The correct shoe size
- The correct shoe width
- Specific shoe models that work best for your child’s feet
This helps parents avoid the frustration of ordering multiple pairs of shoes that don’t fit.
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.
Measuring your child’s feet at home and understanding their foot shape can significantly improve your child’s comfort and overall foot health. Taking a few minutes to measure their feet properly can help ensure that the shoes you choose fit correctly and support healthy foot development.
Thank you SO much for making rhis information so easy to find and understand! I am worried about our sweet baby’s feet and want to get the proper fit. You are awesome. I will take the measurements and email the video!
Hello Ann,
I’ll review everything within the next 24 hours and follow up with you. That way, you’ll have a clear picture of your baby’s exact foot shape and the right shoe size to look for.
Hi, ur website is v helpful and detailed , u r doing a great job.
My son 12yr have medial arch foot. We made arch for him to put in a shoe . Just searching for which shoe is best for him.a jogger , or any flat shoe, like school shoes with laces ?
I am from Pakistan and his shoe size is 7 in Bata brand.. we take 1 size big n put arch support sole in it . Can u suggest any shoe from bata Pakistan so he can wear in school n all day.as dr suggested to wear shoe all day for good recovery.
Please guide .thanks.
Hi Fakhra,
Thank you so much for your kind words—I’m glad to hear you’re finding the website helpful!
Unfortunately, I don’t have access to check which specific shoe styles are available in Pakistan. However, I recommend looking for sneakers that offer a stable base of support, firm heel counters, and laces for a more secure fit. These features are especially important for promoting proper foot alignment and stability.
If you have any other questions or need further guidance, feel free to reach out to me directly at customerservice@fittingchildrensshoes.com—I’m always happy to help!
Think my daughter might have MTA, went to a orthopedic however the visit was anything but useful. She’s almost two, im just trying to look for sneakers she can wear on the daily. Would appreciate any help.
Hi Sandra,
I’d be happy to help you find the right shoes for your daughter! To get started, could you please share a few details with me?
1. Her foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide)
2. Her current shoe size
3. The country you’re contacting me from (so I can check availability in your area)
4. Whether she has any foot conditions—such as flat feet or high insteps
Once I have this information, I can recommend the best shoe options for her specific needs! Looking forward to your reply.
Hi Juan,
Would it be possible to call me regarding which shoe would be best for older infants and toddler to KEEP their shoes on?
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you,
Kelly
Hello Kelly,
I usually prefer to communicate via email, but if you need to reach me by phone or text, feel free to use the number below:
+1 301-691-8479
My son has flat feet but what I assume to be a high step. He is constantly complaining of foot pain. We have had xray and mri and all they can find is inflammation in the bone. Every shoe I buy him he almost breaks them down immediately. We have a hard time getting his foot into a shoe and it always seems to tight on the top of his foot. Can you please help me find a shoe for him? I’m going to try and email you for sizing. I’ve bought orthotics for his shoes and I think it only makes his foot hurt worse because it pushes the top of his foot up against his shoe. I just want him to be able to walk comfortably and not be in pain.
Hello Kayla,
I just wanted to confirm that I received your email and I will be responding shortly.
My baby foot plat foot because one left foot cross to body balance so solution sir
Hello.
Are you looking for a pair of shoes for your child who has flat feet? I would need to know your child’s foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide), and the country that you are contacting me from to check what specific shoes you might be able to order: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
HI,
so glad to have found your article. My granddaughter has Hemihypertrophy, and it has been very hard to find her shoes that don’t hurt her foot. I will get her measurements and will email you. We live in California it has been hard to find places to find her the right shoe.
Thank you for everything you do.
Hello Martha,
Sounds good, and I am happy to help.
I respond to emails in the order that they are received, so I will try to respond as soon as possible.
wow, this is such great information.
Hello Angelica,
I am glad to hear that you find the website informative!
Hi Juan, I have done a disservice to my son. Instead of getting the best fit, I purchased the most popular brands. I noticed the over pronation this year and started doing research. Please help. USA
Hello Christina,
I am happy to help.
I saw your email and will respond as soon as possible. I respond to emails in the order that they are received.
Email sent! What a blessing you are
Hello Justine,
I am happy to help!
Thank you, Juan. This is the most helpful and comprehensive source I’ve found thus far for my kiddos’ footwear. Can I share pictures for both of them with you in case you’re still helping families? I’ve never been to a children’s shoe store and suspect I might be getting the wrong type of shoes (and size) especially for my 3 year old son.
Hello Mariana,
I am still providing the virtual shoe fitting service. Please follow the instructions in this article and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Hi Juan,
Thank you for providing this service, for free!Im quite disparate to find a proper trainer for my son , with Down Syndrome, in Uk.I’ve sent you an email with all the details.Thank you for your help!!!
Viky
Hello Viky,
I wanted to confirm that I received your email and I will respond as soon a possible. I respond to emails in the order that they are received.
Thanks for sharing this post and impressive site.
Thank you so so so much for offering your expertise! I can’t tell you how overjoyed I was to find your website. I’ve spent countlesss hours researching, buying, and returning shoes trying to find the right fit and brand for my son’s very wide feet. It has been so frustrating. I can’t wait to hear back from you with some advice! Thank you again 🙂
Hello Alyssa,
I am happy to help.
I will respond to your email as soon as possible. I respond to them in the order that they are received.
Good morning Juan, may I ask if you can help my son please? He is 7 years old, wight 21kg, has knock knees and flat feet. His feet measured at 8.5 inches long and 3.5 inches wide. Can you help me find shoes and sandals please? He is currently receiving physical therapy for weak hip…
Hello Christine,
I am happy to recommend specific shoes for your son, but first I need to know from which country you are contacting me to check what shoes are available in your area. In addition, I can’t tell by the width measurements whether your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. If you are unsure of your son’s foot shape please send the images requested in this article.
Hi Juan! I’m living in California USA. I have sent you an email with pictures, please let me know if you can receive it, Thank you so much!!
Hello Christine,
I have responded to your email. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Hi Juan, sorry to bother you, I am unable to receive your reply, is it possible if I send you another email with different email address, and have you reply to it again please?
I sent you my response through a different email address. Please check your inbox again.
Good morning Juan Pablo, thank you for offering this service. I sent you an email yesterday afternoon with my son’s measurements. I’ve been having a tough time trying to find him the right soccer shoes, he always has trouble putting them on, at the store they keep telling me he doesn’t have wide feet. But I noticed he’s developed calluses around his big toes and small ones and also has redness on back of his foot therefore my assumption is he possibly might have wide feet and a high instep but I’m not an expert. Also he’s developed a corn on the sole of his right foot, not sure if its the soccer shoes or the constant playing of soccer. Thank you in advance for your assistance, please confirm you received my email I would greatly appreciated.
Hello Gino,
I received your email and I just responded. Keep in mind that I respond to emails in the order that I receive them. I can confirm that your son has wide feet, a high arch, and a high instep. You will find all of the details in my response.
Thank you so much for all the information and doing this! I have twin 1 year olds that are constantly taking their shoes off at daycare, causing me to miss work to pick them up. I will be sending their measurements shortly!
Hello Brittany,
Sounds good, I will respond as soon as possible.
Really glad on this. I have send you my 2 year old son legs detail today. He also has same problem, please guide us. Really looking fr are your reply.
Hello Ruwi,
I will get to your email as soon as possible. I respond in the order that the emails are received.
Dear Mr. Valenzuela,
Thank you so much for your very helpful and informative website! I am struggling with figuring out our son’s width and exact size and if he has flat feet or high instep! I might ask for your help. Will try to follow your directions first.
God bless you!
Hello Olga,
I am happy to help, but please try to follow the instructions on this article first.
Dear Mr. Valenzuela,
Thank you so much for your very helpful and informative website! I am struggling with figuring out our son’s width and exact size and weather he has flat feet or high instep! I might ask for your help. Will try to follow your directions first.
Gif bless you, Olga
Hi Juan – Thanks so much for offering this service free of charge – it’s highly appreciated. I have just emailed you the information you requested. Do you also provide recommendations on which shoes to wear based on the results? I always have trouble finding the correct shoes for my kids! Thanks again for all your help – I find your website extremely valuable and I visit it frequently.
I will send you a specific list of the shoes I recommend based on your child’s foot shape.
I am amazed you are offering this service for free. I was looking at your website and noticed that every time you recommend a specific shoe you tell us how it fits which is extremely helpful. Determining the accurate shoe size for children can be challenging as some brands may be big or small.
This is great stuff I will be sharing it with friends and family.
Hi Elizabeth,
I am glad you found the article informative.
Hi Juan. I don’t know how many times I ordered shoes online and had to return them because they were either too big or too small. I just received your response and apparently my son has wide feet with a very high instep which is probably the reason why none of the shoes were fitting correctly. I just wanted to reach out and thank you for your help.
Hi Kelvin,
My pleasure! Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions.
You are offering an excellent service.
Like you, I think children’s shoes need to fit properly. My mother insisted we were measured for shoes and I did the same with my children and grandchildren. Poorly fitting shoes can damage feet, especially those of a growing child.
Here in the UK we can still get a child’s feet measured, though it has to be by appointment now.
I am sure a lot of families are grateful that you offer this service for free.
Hi Linda,
I hope things are well in the UK. Happy to help and let me know if you ever need help fitting your grandchildren’s shoes.
Hello there! I’ve always had an issue with buying the correct sizes of shoes for my 2 kids, even when I took them to our local shoe store. I feel like most salesmen don’t have the patience to deal with my kids so I started buying their kids’ shoes online and you article has been super duper helpful! Many thanks!!!!
Hi Sophie,
I am glad you found the article informative. I will be here in case you have any questions.
Hi Juan. I received your shoe size recommendations for both my daughter’s feet and they were right on point. We were finally able to find a pair of comfortable boots that they like. We were able to accomplish this because you told us they have both extra wide feet. Forever grateful for your service!
Excellent! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Hi Juan,
My grandson always used to kick off his shoes until we got him a pair of the extra wide shoes you recommended. He loves his shoes and he refuses to take them off. That new Balance shoe is the only shoe he will wear, for now we are glad that we found something that works. Many thanks keep up the good work.
Pete
Hi Pete,
I am glad to hear that the shoes worked out for your grandson’s feet. I suggest that you periodically check the shoes and make sure his toes are not rubbing against the side of the shoes.
What a great service you are offering! A big well done for your service and filling the gap, developing the most effective way of custom fitting tailoring for childrens foot needs. This personalized shoe size measurement is brilliant Juan!
I’m in a community where there are numerous parents, and confident that they’ll be delighted to see and use your free on-line service for their children’s shoes!
You must have seen so many children who had painful discomforting feet before, now being free with healthier feet, which also builds up confidence.
Well done again for caring, being so kind and generous with your free measurements service for children’s feet!
Hi Dayo,
Thank you! My goal is to make sure that no children suffers from foot or leg pain from wearing the wrong type of shoes.
Hi Juan. I just sent you my daughter’s foot measurements. Can you believe we took her to 3 different shoe stores and they all measured her at different sizes? One store told me she has narrow feet and the other one told me she has wide feet! How is this possible?
I always respond back between 24 hours so you will get my response soon. I am not sure how that happened to your daughter but if you followed the instructions on my article I will be able to tell you whether your daughter has narrow or wide feet, as well as her exact foot length.
I haven’t been able to walk into shoe store in these times so your service came at the perfect time. I already received your response with my son’s measurements and wanted to thank you for offering this amazing service to parents. I didn’t know he had a high instep, which makes perfect sense as we always struggled getting his shoes on and off. Thank you Juan!
Hi Sean,
You are welcome, Happy to help!
Hi Juan, thank you so much for offering this service for free. I order my kids’ shoes online all the time, and the shoes are always too small or too big resulting in me having to return the shoes. This is a waste of my time and money.
I just sent you both of my son’s measurements so I am looking forward to your response.H
I will be sharing this with friends and family as well as in my social media channels.
Hi Jannette,
You are welcome. Just wanted to confirm that I received your email.
Hi JP,
I have incredibly flat feet. Knowing that this is hereditary my 5 yr old son too has flat feet . Is there anyway to revert this or increase a natural arch over time because of his young age ?
Hi Audray,
If your son doesn’t develop an arch by the time he reaches six years old then it’s highly likely that he will remain flat footed for the rest of his life.
Please note that having flat feet is common and no treatment is necessary unless the child starts complaining about foot or leg pain. if your son starts complaining about foot or leg pain I suggest that you make sure your son is wearing supportive shoes at all times. Depending on the degree of your son’s flat feet you might also have to consider fitting an orthotic inside your son’s shoes.
The correct type of shoes and the orthotics won’t mold your son an arch, but they will help improve your son’s walking gait and overall posture.
Keep in touch and let me know if you have any other questions.
Thank you so much for providing this service! Our fav local Childrens shoe store that did the measuring for us shut down and I have no idea how to properly size my kids for shoes, particularly my oldest who has low tone, toe walks and is flat footed. He normally wears AFOs with special shoes but I tried to figure out shoe size for him myself for water shoes when we went on a little vacation and he has blisters all over his feet from them now. I’ll be getting the measurements and pics tomorrow to send.
Hello Jaime,
I am happy to help!
I will wait for the images and measurements. Make sure that your son is standing straight and that the measuring tape is not titled.
Hi Juan , its has been 2-3 years since I first wrote you and my son is now 8 with completely flat feet ( as does his father ) . He does not complain of any pain or discomfort but i would like your suggestion for easy to find best shoes for flat feet . I have read many articles but have a hard time finding the recommendations.
What are your suggestions for us in Canada ( Montreal) ?
Ps. I just ordered the Asics gel venture 8 and have read about but can never find the New Balance 997h V1.
Thank you in advance ,
Audray
Hello Audray,
The issue is that most of the shoes I recommend in my articles are available mostly in the United States.
I suggest that you email me with your son’s foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide), so I can send you specific shoe recommendations: fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Hi JP,
I sent you the pics. I always have trouble determining how much space or size up a shoe should be give that the shape is not flat at tip . And is it 12 mm or less ?
Hello Audray,
I received your email and responded. However, you didn’t provide me with your son’s foot measurements. They need to be either in centimeters or inches, and you need to measure from the back of his heels to the end of the longest toe.
Hi Juan
Thank you for providing this service for free. We haven’t been able to take our daughter to our local shoe store so I am so glad I found you in Google. I just emailed you her measurements and the pictures you requested so I hope I hear from you soon. Take care.
Hi Lucas,
I always respond in less than 24 hours.
Oh my god thank you so much for providing this free service. My friend told me about your website and I have been looking through it and found a pair of sneakers for my daughter’s extra extra narrow feet. You have no idea how hard it has been to find shoes that fit her well.I wanted to drop a line to say THANK YOU!
Hi Kimberly,
Anytime and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about your daughter’s feet.
Hi Juan, thank you for offering this service for free. I am not able to take my daughter to our local shoe store since they have gone out of business. I just emailed you her measurements so you should receive the email soon. We will like to have her measurements as soon as possible as she is due for new shoes.
Hi Rick,
I saw your email and I have already responded. Take care.
Hi! I just sent you some pictures of my sons feet and am hopeful you can help us find his true size. I am so thankful for all the information in your article and appreciate any help you can give me ?
Hello Krystal,
I did receive your email and I am reviewing the images right now. You will receive a response in the next 30 minutes.
Thanks for your time, I already send you a email with my son’s info.
Hello Mina,
Did I already respond to your email? I just finished catching up with all of the emails I had. If I haven’t responded to your email maybe it didn’t get send properly. Feel free to message me at 301-691-8479
Hi! As I was reading all of your helpful pages, I noticed that it’s been a year or so since the last comment, is this something you have continued to do?? My son is 7 and 119lbs, born with bilateral clubfoot. I’m looking into finding the best shoe for him since what weve gone with in the past has caused him pain. I’ve noticed he has a flatter arch and a high instep. We are located in the united states. You can contact me at (304)559-4397 or my email at D3S3RAYH@yahoo.com thank you so much for your articles, and best wishes for you and yours. ♡
Hello Deseray,
I am still offering this service and I respond to families emails in the order that they are received.
Thank you for providing this service for free. It was actually my mother the one that found you in Google and called me right away as we have been having issues buying my daughter shoes online. She was more exited than I am. Anyways I just wanted to say thank you for providing this service for free and I will be emailing my daughter’s pictures and measurements shortly.
Hi Joy,
You are welcome. It always takes me less than 24 hours to respond once I receive the email with the images.
Dear Juan,
You were so helpful a few months ago in suggesting a show for my grandson! He is now ready for a new pair and a few months ago you sent me photos of the shoes I should buy for him next. I believe they were nikes but I can’t find the photos of them that you sent. Could you please help me again? His little feet have suddenly grown and I need your help.
Hello Sandra,
I found the email that you are talking about and I forwarded our conversation to your email address.
I am so grateful to have found this website. The information was so insightful. I can’t tell how difficult it is to find foot wear for my daughter. We visit countless stores. I buying and returning on line all the time. It’s just an endless nightmare of frustration. I am looking forward to hopefully ending the confusion of proper shoe fitting shoes. I only hope there’s a selection of styles for every occasion.
Hi Rhonda,
I hope you and your daughter are well and staying safe.
I am glad that you found the article informative. Let me know if you are having trouble finding a specific shoe style for your daughter’s feet and I will help you find it.