What Is the Difference Between Medium and Wide Shoes for Kids?
Choosing the right shoe width matters just as much as getting the length right. If your child has wide feet and ends up in medium-width shoes without realizing it, it can lead to blisters, calluses, or longer-term foot problems. As a certified children’s shoe fitter, here’s exactly what separates a medium shoe from a wide one — and how to tell which your child actually needs.
What Is the Difference Between Medium and Wide Shoes?
The difference between a medium and a wide width shoe is just 1/8 of an inch. It sounds small, but that extra space makes a real difference — helping prevent your child’s toes from rubbing together or pressing against the sides of the shoe.
That extra width lets the toes spread naturally, reducing rubbing, overlapping, and pressure against the shoe’s sides. Proper width isn’t just about comfort — it’s about protecting your child’s foot health.
Why do some kids need wider shoes? Some simply have broader feet by nature; others need extra space due to a specific condition, like bunions or high arches.
- Medium width: standard, suits most children
- Wide width: more room, better for wider feet
Signs Your Child Needs Wide Shoes
A few clear signs point to a too-narrow fit — catching these early prevents ongoing discomfort and supports healthy foot growth.
Other signs to watch for:
- Complaints of foot pain or discomfort
- Shoes wearing out unevenly on one side
- Difficulty putting shoes on or taking them off
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A Few Shoes That Work Well in Both Medium and Wide
Rather than repeat a long product list here, I want to highlight two shoes that specifically illustrate the medium-vs-wide distinction well — both are offered in true medium and wide widths, so you can see the same style adjusted for two different foot shapes.
574 by New Balance
This classic sneaker offers a great combination of style, comfort, and support. It features a roomy, rounded toe-box and is available in medium and wide widths, making it ideal for children with standard or wider feet.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Order on Amazon or the New Balance website
- Also available with laces on the New Balance website or Amazon
- Accommodates medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Firm heel counters
- APMA Seal of Acceptance
- Sizing tip: Order a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
See Kai Riley
These See Kai Run shoes are not available in wide widths but feature extra depth and round toe boxes in case your child has wide feet.
Key Features
- Order on Amazon
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Fits wide and extra wide feet
- APMA Seal of Acceptance
- Padded tongue and collar
- Breathable textile lining and cushioned insole
- Sizing tip: Order one full size larger than your child’s current foot size
990v6 by New Balance
These are one of the most durable and supportive New Balance shoes for kids and are available with Velcro or laces. The downside that many parents complain about is the high price tag.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Order with laces on the New Balance website or Amazon
- Velcro version also available on the New Balance website or Amazon
- Accommodates medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Firm heel counters, stable base of support, and semi-straight lasts
- Removable insoles
- Sizing tip: Order a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
Ikiki Shoes
These shoes are a fantastic option for kids with wide feet. Designed with a roomy toe box and adjustable straps, they provide a comfortable, secure fit without squeezing or putting pressure on your child’s feet.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Order on Amazon
- Not available in wide or extra wide widths but fits naturally wide
- Wide opening to make it easy to put on and take off shoes
- Synthetic Vegan Leather
- Squeaks can be turned on/off with a switch
- Sizing tip: Order one full size larger than your child’s current foot size
See Kai Run Lucia Mary Jane
This Mary Jane features extra depth and a roomy toe box that provides ample space for growing feet, while the adjustable hook-and-loop strap ensures a secure, customized fit without pressure on your child’s toes.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers and little kids
- Order on Amazon
- Not available in wide or extra wide widths but fits naturally wide
- Awarded the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
- Durable cotton drill upper, comfy leather insole, and recycled mesh lining keep feet fresh
- Breathable textile lining and cushioned insole
- Sizing tip: Order one full size larger than your child’s current foot size
Fresh Foam 650 by New Balance
These wide and extra wide New Balance shoes provide extra depth, oversized openings, and round toe-boxes, making them an ideal choice for kids with wide feet.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Order on Amazon or the New Balance website
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Also available with laces on Amazon
- Sizing tip: Order one full size larger than your child’s current foot size
Rave Run v2 by New Balance.
Available in medium and wide widths, this shoe offers a spacious fit and a rounded toe-box, making it a great option for children with medium or wide feet.
Key Features
- Order the Velcro version on the New Balance website or Amazon
- Available in wide and extra wide widths
- Breathable mesh upper
- Padded collar and tongue
- Sizing tip: Order one full size larger than your child’s current foot size
Fresh Foam Arishi v4 by New Balance
These New Balance shoes with deep toe-boxes are ideal for kids with wide feet. Families appreciate how these shoes are available in wide and extra wide widths and offered at a reasonable price.
Key Features
- Available for toddlers, little, and big kids
- Order on the New Balance website or Amazon
- Also available with laces on Amazon or the New Balance website
- Accommodates medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Ideal for mild to moderate cases of pronation
- Semi-firm heel counters
- Sizing tip: Order a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
M2P Journey 3.0 Adapt by Stride Rite
These Stride Rite wide shoes provide extra depth and round toe-boxes to help prevent putting pressure on your child’s toes.
Key Features
- Order on Amazon
- Available in extra wide widths
- APMA approved
- Leather upper
- Sizing tip: Order one full size larger than your child’s current foot size
How to Measure Your Child’s Foot for the Right Width
Getting an accurate measurement is the first step to finding shoes that actually fit. My virtual fitting guide walks you through determining your child’s exact shoe size and width — medium, wide, or extra wide — right at home, with just a few simple tools.
Reach Out for Specific Recommendations
If you’re unsure whether your child needs medium or wide shoes, or which specific style is the best fit, reach out — I’m happy to provide recommendations tailored to your child’s foot shape.
I am glad I found this site. I am a son and he sometimes seems unable to fit into some of the shoes, because my son has a wider foot. Finding a shoe for him sometimes really frustrating because some shoes are either too tight or too long.
I think this will help me make my choices. However, when I am in a shop, is there a way to communicate with the staff on what kind of shoe I want? Will she/he understand the terms I use?
Hell Michael,
I am glad that you found the post informative. The most common mistake parents make is to try longer shoes when a child complains about the shoes feeling too tight. This takes away the pressure in the width, but it leads to the child wearing a shoe that is too long, which will end up compromising his or her stability.
If you are in a shoe shop they will probably understand when you explain them that your child has a wide foot and needs a wider shoes.
I hope this clarifies!
Thank you for providing your thoughts and suggestions on this, I definitely fall under the category of parents who have no clue about correct shoe width for their kids. My kid just recently started mentioning that his new shoes are to tight. As alternative I started looking for shoes without shoes strings and are adjustable. Do you think that approach will be ok?
Hello Alewishes,
I dont think that is the right approach. If your child is complaining about his or her shoes feeling too tight, I will start by making sure the shoes are not too narrow. Remember that shoes are available in different widths such as wide and extra wide.
Even if your kids’feet don’t appaear to be wide, he or she might have a high instep, and require a wider shoe. If you are not sure what the instep of the foot is, you can find more information about children with high insteps here:
The Best Shoes for High Instep – Stop Getting the Wrong Shoe Size for Your Child!
I hope this helps!
What a wealth of information! I have noticed the notations of “medium” or “wide” on children’s shoes before but I do not think I have ever seen “narrow” or “extra wide”. Possibly I just have not been paying attention. My son has always worn “medium” shoes so far, so I have just always focused on that classification.
However, my son is being fitted with orthotics to help correct how he walks. His orthotics will be ones which go into his shoes and fit around the bottom of his foot — what recommendations do you have for a situation like this to ensure that his shoes fit the way that they should?
Kristin,
It is extremely important to choose the correct type of shoes if your son will be wearing an orthotic. I wrote a post where I explain and describe the best kids shoes for a child that needs orthotics. You can find that post here:
Shoes with Removable Insoles for Orthotics- Make Sure You Get the Right Fit
That article covers everything you must know if your child wears orthotics.
Hi Juan
Really informative article! I have 2 kids of my own and one of my daughters of 8 years old loves playing soccer, and I understand that getting the correct shoes is vital in a sport as it can lead to injuries. She is constantly complaining about her feet that move inside her shoes when she suddenly needs to stop from a sprint and I always thought how is that possible as the shoes fit perfectly length wise.
Does that mean that those specific shoes are too wide for her feet then? Never thought of it, please advise!
Hello Mornay,
The shoes are either too wide for her feet, or she might not be tying the shoes tight enough. Make sure you teach her how to properly tie her shoes, and then ask her if her feet still move too much inside the shoe.
I wrote an article where I describe the best way to tie your kids shoes and you can find it here: How To Tie Your Kids Shoes – Stop Heel Slippage!
Hope that helps!
I completely agree with what you are saying regarding the importance of correctly fitting shoes for children. It’s just a shame that lower income families, who rely on cheaper department stores for purchasing footwear, cannot afford to visit specialty footwear stores for custom fitted shoes.
Thanks for the great article, I’m going to do some research on the availability of lower priced footweat that has different foot widths available.
Joanne,
Families who take their kids to department stores to be fitted for shoes end up paying more money for shoes since they don’t only need to replace them faster, but they are also creating all sort of foot problems by letting their kids walk and run around in shoes that don’t fit.