Birkenstock Sizing & Fit Guide: How to Find Your True Size

Birkenstock Size Conversion Charts

Birkenstock sizes are based on the EU sizing system, which means the number on the box won't match your usual US size. The charts below give you an accurate EU-to-UK-to-US conversion along with the corresponding foot length in centimeters. Use these to find your match across popular styles like the Arizona, the Boston, the Gizeh, and the Papillio. DSW product pages include size and width filters to help you narrow choices quickly.

One important note before you dive in: Birkenstock recommends a "buffer zone" of about 10mm behind your heel and 5mm in front of your toes. This wiggle room allows the contoured footbed to support your foot properly. So if you're right between two sizes, go up rather than down.

Men's Birkenstock Size Conversion Table

EU Size	UK Size	US Size	Foot Length (cm)	Foot Length (in)	Shop by Size
39	6	6-6.5	24.6	9.7	Shop US 6.5
40	6.5	7-7.5	25.0	9.8	Shop US 7.5
41	7	8-8.5	25.4	10	Shop US 8
42	8	9-9.5	26.3	10.4	Shop US 9
43	9	10-10.5	27.2	10.7	Shop US 10
44	9.5	11-11.5	27.6	10.9	Shop US 11
45	10	12-12.5	28.0	11.0	Shop US 12
46	11	13-13.5	28.9	11.4	Shop US 13

Women's Birkenstock Size Conversion Table

EU Size	UK Size	US Size	Foot Length (cm)	Foot Length (in)	Shop by Size
35	2.5	4-4.5	21.2	8.4	Shop US 4.5
36	3	5-5.5	22.1	8.7	Shop US 5
37	4	6-6.5	22.9	9.0	Shop US 6
38	5	7-7.5	23.7	9.3	Shop US 7
39	5.5-6	8-8.5	24.6	9.7	Shop US 8
40	6.5	9-9.5	25.0	9.8	Shop US 9
41	7	10-10.5	25.4	10.0	Shop US 10
42	8	11-11.5	26.3	10.4	Shop US 11

Narrow vs. Regular Width: Which One Do You Actually Need?

Here's the part that confuses most first-time Birkenstock buyers: Narrow Fit is actually the standard width for roughly 80% of women. Despite the name, it's not a slim or restrictive fit. It's simply the default women's footbed width. Regular Fit is the wider option, and it's the standard for most men's styles and unisex pairs like the Arizona.

So how do you know which one you need?

Narrow Fit is right for you if your feet sit comfortably within the raised rim of the footbed without pressing against the edges. This is the go-to for most women.

Regular Fit is the better choice if your feet tend to spread past the edges of the footbed, if you prefer extra room, or if you typically buy wide-width shoes.

A quick way to check: stand on the footbed without the straps fastened. Your foot should rest inside the outer rim with a small gap on each side. If your foot is touching or overlapping the rim, switch to the wider option.

How to Measure Your Foot at Home

Getting an accurate measurement is the single best thing you can do to nail your Birkenstock size. You just need a piece of paper, a pencil, and a ruler that measures in centimeters.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Place a piece of paper on a hard floor (not carpet) and stand on it with your full weight on your foot.
2. Hold a pencil vertically and mark the very back of your heel.
3. Mark the tip of your longest toe. For some people, that's the second toe rather than the big toe. Mark whichever extends furthest.
4. Step off the paper and measure the distance between the two marks in centimeters.
5. Repeat for your other foot. If one foot is longer (this is common), use the longer measurement.
6. Add approximately 1 cm to your measurement to account for the buffer zone Birkenstock recommends.

Converting Centimeters to Your Birkenstock EU Size

Once you have your foot length, you can use a simple formula to estimate your EU size:

EU size ≈ (foot length in cm + 1.5) ÷ 0.667

Here's a worked example: if your foot measures 24.0 cm, the math looks like this:

24.0 + 1.5 = 25.5

25.5 ÷ 0.667 ≈ 38.2

You'd round to EU 38, which corresponds to a US women's 7 or a US men's 5 (per the charts above). Cross-reference your result with the conversion tables to confirm.

You can also skip the math entirely and match your centimeter measurement directly to the "Foot Length (cm)" column in the tables above. Either way, you'll land in the right spot.

FAQs

Do Birkenstocks run true to size?

Yes, Birkenstocks generally run true to size when you shop by your EU size. The confusion usually comes from inconsistent EU-to-US conversions across different retailers. If you know your EU size from a previous pair, stick with it. If you're starting from scratch, measure your foot in centimeters and use the conversion chart above rather than guessing based on your usual US size. If you're shopping at DSW, use the EU size and centimeter measurement on the product page to pick the correct pair.

What size Birkenstock should I order?

Start by measuring your foot using the steps outlined in this guide. Match your foot length to the closest EU size in the conversion table, and remember to account for Birkenstock's recommended fit: about 10mm of space behind the heel and 5mm in front of the toes. If you fall between two sizes, size up. You want your foot to sit within the raised rim of the footbed without touching the edges. Use DSW's size and width filters to narrow options and find matching styles quickly.

What's the difference between Birkenstock Narrow and Regular?

Narrow is the standard women's width and fits about 80% of women comfortably. Regular is the wider footbed and serves as the default for men's styles. The names can be misleading. Narrow doesn't mean tight, and Regular doesn't mean average. Check the width by standing on the footbed: if your foot sits inside the rim with a small gap on each side, you've got the right width.

How should Birkenstocks fit when I first try them on?

Your toes should not touch the front edge of the footbed, and your heel should not press against the back. There should be a visible gap of roughly 5mm in front of your toes and 10mm behind your heel. The straps should be snug enough to hold your foot in place but loose enough that you can slide a finger underneath. If the buckles dig into your skin, the straps are too tight, or you may need to switch from Narrow to Regular width.

Do Birkenstocks stretch or break in over time?

Yes. The cork-latex footbed molds to the shape of your foot over the first two to three weeks of wear. We recommend wearing them for an hour or two at a time indoors to start. Styles with leather uppers will also stretch slightly, while Birko-Flor (Birkenstock's synthetic material) holds its shape with minimal give. The Soft Footbed versions feel cushioned right out of the box and require less break-in time than the Original Footbed.

Are Birkenstocks good for arch support?

Every Birkenstock features a contoured cork-latex footbed with a deep heel cup and built-in longitudinal arch support. This design helps distribute your body weight more evenly, which is why Birkenstocks are frequently recommended for people dealing with plantar fasciitis or general foot fatigue. The Original Footbed offers firmer, more structured support, while the Soft Footbed adds an extra layer of cushioning foam for sensitive feet. DSW product details list the footbed type so you can compare support levels when choosing a style.