Understanding Shoe Width - A Guide to A, B, C, of Shoes - Pedilop (2024)

The shoe industry is filled with acronyms and abbreviations. There are a bunch of them for shoe width. These terms were meant to simplify shoe shopping but often do the opposite.

There is a good chance you have seen letters like A, D, E, or even EEE in shoe descriptions and wondered what they meant. Well, these letters are actually referring to the width of the shoe.

Different brands use different terms to label their shoe widths. However, some abbreviations hold the same meaning throughout the industry.

In this article, we will decode the mystery of shoe widths for you. We will cover all the standard terms used to label shoe widths. After reading this article, you will be a pro at finding shoes that fit you perfectly.

Let’s start by looking at a table showing all the common width terms and their meaning.

Shoe Width Guide

Here is a list of all the standard widths with their meaning. This table will give you a general idea of what terms to expect when shopping for shoes.

What Does A Mean In Shoe Size?

If you see a shoe labeled as size “A,” it means that it is a narrow-width shoe. However, the meaning will vary depending on gender.

For men, the letter “A” denotes an extra narrow shoe. On the other hand, for women, it represents narrow shoe width.

On average, A-width shoes have a measurement ranging from 3.4 to 3.9 inches across the lower ball of the foot. This measurement will vary depending on what your shoe or foot size is.

What Does AA Mean in Shoe Size?

The term “AA” or “2A” is used to label a shoe that is even narrower than “A.”

Men’s shoes with the label “AA” are extra-extra narrow. Whereas for women, it just denotes extra-narrow shoe width.

Women’s “AA” labeled shoes are sometimes called “Slim.”

What Does AAA Mean in Shoe Size?

The term “AAA” or ” 3A” is used to label a shoe that is the narrowest of all.

This width is usually only available in women’s shoes. It denotes exceptionally narrow-width shoes. Men’s shoes with “AAA” width are very rare.

Women’s “AA” shoes are sometimes called “Super Slim.”

You may even find “AAAA” or “4A” width shoes in women’s shoes. These are ultra-narrow-width shoes.

Basically, as more As are added to the label, it just denotes that the shoe is getting narrower. Also, with each addition of “A,” the width decreases by about 0.25 inches an inch.

What is B Width in Shoes?

The letter “B” for women’s shoes denotes a regular or standard width shoe. They are not too narrow or too wide. For men, “B” labeled shoes are narrow-width shoes.

The “B” label is more commonly used for women’s shoes. If you don’t find women’s shoes marked as thin or wide, they will have a “B” tag.

Shoes with a B-width are generally between 3.6 and 4.1 inches wide. This measurement is usually taken across the area of the ball of the foot.

What Does D Mean In Shoe Size?

“D” labeled shoes are considered standard width shoes for men and wide width shoes for women.

The width of a “D” labeled shoe typically measures 3 to 5 inches across the ball of the foot. However, these measurements vary depending on your shoe size. For instance, a pair of size 10D men’s shoes is 4 inches wide, whereas a pair of size 14D shoes is 4.5 inches wide.

D-width shoes are common for both genders. In fact, it is the most common width for both men and women. You will find plenty of options in this width.

Is D the Standard Shoe Width?

Yes, “D” refer to the standard width, but just for men’s shoes. For women’s shoes, the standard width is “B.”

The letter “D” represents a wide shoe width for women.

What Does DD Mean in Shoe Size?

“DD” or “2D” labeled shoes are wide-width shoes for women. They are about .05 inches wider than “D” shoes. They are not too common and can be challenging to find.

DD labeled shoes are only available for women. You will rarely find this width in men’s shoes.

What Does E Mean In Shoe Size?

The term “E” is used to label a wide-width shoe for males and extra-wide-width shoes for females.

An “E” width shoe measures between 3.2 and 5.2 inches wide. This measurement is taken across the area of the ball of the foot. However, just like other widths, this measurement will vary depending on the shoe size.

For example, a size 10E men’s shoe is 4.2 inches wide; a size 14E men’s shoe is 4.7 inches wide.

What does EE Mean in Shoe Size?

As mentioned above, shoes with an E width are considered wide for men and extra wide for women. When you see an extra E, such as EE, it means that the shoe is even wider. Basically, “EE” or “2E” labeled shoes are extra wide-width shoes for both males and females.

EE/2E shoe widths are sized between 3.4 to 5.4 inches across the ball of the foot.

However, “EE” shoes are difficult to find, particularly for females. EE shoes are extremely wide to fit a woman’s foot and are rarely demanded. Therefore, shoe brands don’t produce them as often.

Fortunately, shoe brands are starting to produce more EE-width shoes for women. This is primarily due to an increase in sales of wide-width shoes, especially among transgender individuals.

Also, as a woman, if you have difficulty finding your size in EE shoes, it’s best to try on men’s E-width shoes. You may find a perfect fit even though they are technically too wide for you.

Which is Wider D or EE?

When it comes to width, EE is wider than D.

The term “D” is used to label a standard shoe width for men and wide width for women. Meanwhile, “EE” widths are considered wide for men and extra wide for women.

What Does EEE Mean in Shoe Size?

The letters “EEE,” “EEE Wide,” or “3E” refer to the widest width shoe you will find for both males and females. Finding this type of shoe is extremely difficult.

In most cases, “EEE” shoes are custom-made for individuals with extremely wide feet.

Also, these shoes are perfect for people who have undergone foot surgery or suffer from foot conditions such as bunions or hammertoes.

What Does M Mean In Shoe Size?

The term “M” is an abbreviation that stands for “Medium” or “Medium Width.” This term is used to refer to shoes that have a medium width. In other words, M-width shoes are neither too narrow nor too wide.

This abbreviation holds the same meaning for men’s and women’s shoes. M labeled shoes will fit a majority of people comfortably.

M labeled shoes are common, and you will find plenty of options in this width.

What Does N Mean In Shoe Size?

The letter “N” is an abbreviation for “Narrow.” This term is used to distinguish between shoes with narrow widths and those with regular or medium widths.

This abbreviation holds the same meaning for men’s and women’s shoes.

For women, an “A” labeled shoe is considered narrow, whereas a “2A” or “3A” (or up) labeled shoe is considered extra narrow.

For men, a shoe with a “B” label is considered narrow, and one with an “A” label is considered extra narrow.

What Does W Mean In Shoe Size?

“W” in shoe size means “Wide.” This abbreviation is used to refer to shoes that are designed for individuals with wide feet. “W” is a gender-neutral term, i.e., it is used for both men’s and women’s shoes.

For women, the letter “D” is a wide width. On the other hand, for men, the letter E is defined as wide-width shoes. Remember that not all shoe brands sell shoes in every width increment. However, E and 2E are the most common ones.

What Does H Mean In Shoe Size?

The abbreviation “H” has two meanings when it comes to shoes.

Firstly, “H” is an abbreviation for “Half-Sizes.” This term is used to inform consumers that the shoe they are looking at is a half size. For example, if a shoe is marked as size “12H”, its actual size is “12 ½”. In short, H= ½.

The second meaning of “H” refers to shoe width. The letter “H” indicates extra wide shoes for men. You will never find a women’s shoe with an “H” width designation.

The meaning of “H” will vary depending on the brand and shoe stores. Therefore, asking a salesperson or referring to the store’s size chart before making a purchase is the best option.

What Does Y Mean in Shoe Size?

The letter “Y” is an abbreviation for “Youth.” This term is used to distinguish between shoes designed for children and those designed for adults.

The abbreviation “Y” is a gender-neutral term, i.e., it is used for both boys’ and girls’ shoes.

What Does EUR Mean in Shoe Size?

The term “EUR” is an abbreviation for “European.” EUR is the sizing system used to refer to shoes designed according to European sizing standards.

This sizing system is used in European and non-European countries, such as Argentina and Brazil.

European shoe sizes are unisex. In other words, a shoe with a size “36 EUR” will have the exact dimensions regardless of whether it is a man’s or woman’s shoe.

The only way to identify whether a shoe is meant for a man or woman is by looking at the color and style of the shoe.

European shoe sizes start at size “30” and go up to size “50”. However, not all brands and stores sell shoes in every European size increment.

What Does R Mean In Shoe Size?

The letter “R” is used explicitly by the company Birkenstock. It’s not an industry standard width designation and is only found in their product line.

For men, an “R” labeled Birkenstock shoe is equivalent to a regular width shoe. Whereas, for women, an “R” labeled Birkenstock shoe is equivalent to a wide-width shoe.

The Bottom Line

There are several acronyms and abbreviations that can be found on shoe labels to indicate different meanings. However, letters are mostly used to designate widths.

Now that you know what all these letters mean, choosing the perfect fitting shoe will be a breeze. Keep in mind that not all brands use all of these sizing designations. Therefore, it is best to ask a salesperson or consult the store’s size chart before making a purchase.

If you have accidentally bought a loose pair of shoes, worry not. Check out our blog “How to Make Big Shoes Fit.”

We hope you found this article helpful. If you have any questions or want to share your experiences, please leave a comment below.

Happy shopping! 🙂