Ordering clothes or shoes from a foreign online store almost always runs into the same question: which size to pick when the site lists US, EU, or UK, and you're used to a different sizing system.
What the converter converts
The size converter converts clothing and shoe sizes between the Russian (RU), American (US), European (EU), and British (UK) systems. Choose a category — women's, men's, or children's shoes, women's, men's, or children's clothing — and enter a known size in any of the systems: the rest fill in automatically.
Why foot length is a better guide for shoes
Beyond converting between systems, the converter also shows foot length in centimeters — the most reliable reference point when choosing shoes, because size numbering can differ slightly between manufacturers even within the same system (an RU 38 from one brand and another doesn't always mean the same foot length). To measure your foot length accurately, stand on a sheet of paper in the evening (feet swell slightly over the course of a day), trace the outline with a pencil, and measure the distance from the heel to the tip of the longest toe.
Why children's sizes are especially unreliable
There's no single standard for children's clothing and shoes: different manufacturers use their own sizing charts based on height, age, or foot length in their own way. The values in the converter are averaged and work as a starting point, but when ordering children's items from a specific brand, it's worth double-checking that brand's own size chart.
When this matters most
- Ordering from a foreign online store where sizes are listed only in US, EU, or UK.
- Reading reviews — understanding which size a reviewer means when they list it in an unfamiliar system.
- Buying shoes from a specific brand — checking the approximate size match before ordering, especially from a brand you haven't tried before.
Bottom line
The size correspondence in the converter is standard and works for most mass-market brands, but isn't guaranteed to be exact for every manufacturer. For shoes, the most reliable way to avoid a mistake is to check against foot length in centimeters, not just the size number.