Ordering shoes or clothes online from a European retailer means second-guessing every number on the size chart. UK size 6 splits between EU 39 for footwear and EU 34 for clothing, with gender adding further complexity — men, women, and children all map differently.

4 related posts

UK Men’s 6 Shoes: EU 39 (Guineys) · UK Women’s 3 Shoes: EU 35.5 (Pavers) · UK 2.5 Shoes: EU 35.5 (Pavers) · EU sizes jump: 5/6 UK size per EU (Beggshoes) · ASOS Shoe Charts: Women-specific (ASOS)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • UK men’s size 6 shoes convert to EU 39 (Laughing Hens)
  • UK women’s size 6 shoes convert to EU 39 (Laughing Hens)
  • UK women’s clothing size 6 converts to EU 34, XS (Foot Locker)
2What’s unclear
  • A minority of charts list UK women’s size 6 as EU 38 instead of 39
  • Exact brand-by-brand variation remains difficult to pin down without checking each retailer’s own chart
3Timeline signal
  • UK and EU shoe sizing systems have remained stable since the 19th century with no recent changes recorded (Wikipedia)
4What’s next
  • Always cross-reference your specific retailer’s size chart before purchasing — brand-specific fit can vary by half a size or more
Label Value
UK Men’s 6 EU 39 (246mm, Guineys)
UK Women’s Reference EU 39 common (ASOS)
EU Scale Jump 5/6 UK per size (Beggshoes)
Pavers UK 3 EU 35.5
UK Women Shoe 6 (Foot length) 246mm (ASOS)
UK Women Shoe 6 (US equivalent) US 8 (ASOS)
UK Men Shoe 6 (US equivalent) US 7 (Grivet Outdoors)
UK Children Shoe 6 EU 23
UK Women Clothing 6 EU 34, XS (Foot Locker)

What is UK size 6 in EU?

For shoes, UK size 6 most commonly maps to EU 39 for both men and women — though the path to that number differs slightly by gender, and the story changes entirely once you move from footwear to garments.

Shoes vs clothing differences

Shoe sizing and clothing sizing follow different measurement systems. UK shoe sizes use a barleycorn-based formula where each size equals one-third of an inch (Wikipedia). EU shoe sizes use the Paris point, roughly two-thirds of a centimetre. This means converting shoe sizes isn’t a simple addition — the ratio shifts at each step. UK clothing sizes, on the other hand, are based on body measurements like bust, waist, and hip circumference, which means EU clothing equivalents reflect those measurements rather than a direct numeric conversion.

Men’s vs women’s variations

Major retailers consistently list UK men’s size 6 shoes as EU 39 (Laughing Hens). The same is true for UK women’s size 6 shoes — EU 39 appears on charts from ASOS, Laughing Hens, and Shoe City. One footnote: a small number of charts show UK women’s size 6 as EU 38, creating a split that reflects minor brand variation rather than a standardized rule (Famous Footwear).

The catch

The EU shoe size number does not correspond directly to centimetres. An EU 39 is roughly 24–24.6cm in actual foot length, not 39cm (Greek Sandals).

What size is a UK 6 in clothing?

Clothing conversions work differently. UK women’s size 6 in clothing corresponds to EU 34, which is typically labelled as XS in most European high-street stores (Foot Locker). This differs sharply from shoes, where the same numeric size (6) jumps to EU 39.

Women’s clothing charts

Charts from Foot Locker and Laughing Hens US both confirm UK women’s clothing size 6 = EU 34 = US 2. The pattern holds consistently as sizes scale up: UK 8 becomes EU 36, UK 10 becomes EU 38. Some retailers apply a rough rule of adding approximately 28 to the UK clothing size to reach EU, but that rule breaks down at size 6, which lands at 34 rather than 34 exactly matching the formula.

XS/S equivalents

EU 34 reads as XS across most European retailers including ASOS, Zara, and H&M. UK size 6 does not have a standard men’s clothing equivalent — men’s UK clothing charts typically start at UK 36 (English Brands). If you’re buying men’s garments and happen to wear UK 6 in shoes, you would likely need to look at waist or chest measurements rather than a numeric size label.

Is a UK 6 a 39 or 40?

For shoes, UK 6 most commonly lands at EU 39. The answer to “39 or 40?” depends on the specific chart and sometimes the brand, with EU 39 being the majority rule and EU 40 appearing in a minority of cases.

Shoe size grids from retailers

Beggshoes, a specialist UK footwear retailer, notes that EU sizes jump roughly 5/6 of a UK size at each step. This suggests the conversion isn’t a neat one-to-one mapping, which explains why some charts round up or down at the boundary. Laughing Hens lists both UK men’s and women’s size 6 as EU 39 across their comprehensive gender and age charts.

Pavers and Begg Shoes insights

Pavers, another UK-based shoe retailer, shows UK size 6 falling within the EU 39–40 range for men in some seasonal fits, while Beggshoes confirms the conversion rounds consistently to EU 39 for standard lasts. The practical takeaway: EU 39 is the safest default, but checking the retailer’s own chart is worthwhile for high-street fashion brands with narrower fits.

Is a UK Size 6 an EU 39?

Yes — for the vast majority of retailers and for both men’s and women’s shoes, UK size 6 converts to EU 39. The Foot Locker guide, ASOS women’s shoe charts, and independent calculators such as Calculator.net all confirm this equivalence, with a foot length of approximately 24.6cm associated with EU 39.

Elevate Your Sole confirmation

Elevate Your Sole, a UK footwear blog, confirms EU 39 as the standard equivalent for UK women’s size 6. The blog notes that a 246mm foot length aligns with this size across most mainstream brands.

ASOS women’s shoe charts

ASOS lists UK women’s size 6 as EU 39, US 8, with a foot measurement of 246mm. Their US-specific size chart mirrors this data, suggesting the conversion holds across their global sites (ASOS US).

Is size 6 a 36 or 37 in EU?

For clothing, UK size 6 does not correspond to EU 36 or 37 — it maps to EU 34. For shoes, EU 36 or 37 would represent a significantly smaller foot than UK size 6. UK size 6 sits closer to EU 39 in footwear, a full two to three EU sizes higher than EU 36 or 37.

European size charts overview

Shoe-Inn, a European footwear trade resource, confirms that EU sizes start lower for smaller feet and scale upward. UK children’s shoe size 6, for instance, is EU 23 — far removed from EU 39 in adult sizing. This demonstrates how EU numbering reflects age category as well as foot length. For a detailed explanation of how to convert UK size 6 to EU sizes, refer to this 100 CHF in Euro Wechselkurs.

Shoe-Inn references

Shoe-Inn’s sizing grid places UK children’s size 6 at EU 23, which tracks with Laughing Hens’ data. The jump between children’s and adult EU sizes is stark: EU 23 in children’s corresponds to roughly 14cm foot length, while EU 39 in adults corresponds to approximately 24–25cm.

Category UK Size 6 EU Equivalent US Equivalent Foot Length Source
Men’s shoes UK 6 EU 39 US 7 24.1cm Grivet Outdoors sizing guide, Shoe City size chart
Women’s shoes UK 6 EU 39 (majority) / EU 38 (minority) US 8 246mm ASOS women’s shoe chart, Laughing Hens conversion chart, Famous Footwear size chart
Women’s clothing UK 6 EU 34 (XS) US 2 — Foot Locker clothing guide, Laughing Hens US clothing chart
Men’s clothing UK 6 Not standard (starts UK 36) — — English Brands size table, Foot Locker sizing guide
Children’s shoes UK 6 EU 23 US 7 ~14cm Laughing Hens children’s chart

Upsides

  • UK size 6 converts consistently to EU 39 for shoes — straightforward for most purchases
  • Women’s clothing conversion to EU 34 / XS is reliable across retailers
  • Foot length data (246mm) provides a measurement-based backup when size charts conflict

Downsides

  • No standard UK size 6 for men’s clothing — measurements needed instead
  • Minority of charts show UK women’s 6 as EU 38 — creates uncertainty at the boundary
  • Brand-specific fit variation means identical sizes can fit differently across manufacturers
Conversion rule Formula Example (UK 6) Reliability Source
Shoe conversion (simplified) Add 33 to UK size UK 6 + 33 = EU 39 Approximate — works for most adult sizes Greek Sandals size chart
Shoe conversion (retailer-standard) Chart-based UK 6 = EU 39 High — confirmed by ASOS, Laughing Hens ASOS shoe chart, Laughing Hens conversion chart
Clothing conversion (approximate) Add ~28 to UK clothing size UK 6 + 28 = EU 34 Moderate — formula breaks at boundaries Foot Locker clothing guide
Clothing conversion (measurement-based) Bust/waist/hip cm UK 6 = EU 34 / 84cm bust High — measurement driven Foot Locker sizing guide, Laughing Hens US size chart
Children’s shoe conversion Chart-based (age grouped) UK 6 = EU 23 High — consistent across charts Laughing Hens conversion chart
EU to cm length Not 1:1 with number EU 39 ≠ 39cm Important caveat — EU numbers are not measurements Greek Sandals sizing explanation

To easily convert a UK shoe size in EU size, simply add 33 to your existing UK size – e.g. a UK size 6 is an EU size 39.

— Greek Sandals (Retailer Guide)

Converting English sizes to European requires a chart because the two systems are measured differently. The number does not correspond directly to the size of the shoe. For example, an EU size 37 will not be 37 centimetres long.

— Foot Locker (Retail Expert)

For online shoppers based in Ireland or the UK ordering from European retailers, the practical implication is clear: shoe purchases default to EU 39 when you see UK 6 on the label, while clothing purchases call for EU 34 (XS). Men’s clothing in UK size 6 is not a standard sellable size, so check actual body measurements rather than relying on a numeric label. Brand-specific charts remain the most reliable final reference before adding anything to your basket.

Related reading: stone to kg conversion chart · cm to feet conversion

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, asos.com, ifsohonewyork.com

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Frequently asked questions

What is UK size 7 in EU?

UK size 7 in shoes typically converts to EU 40 for men and women, following the same pattern as size 6 shifting to EU 39. Always verify with the specific retailer’s chart, as some brands use half-size increments.

What is UK size 8 in EU?

UK size 8 in shoes commonly maps to EU 41 for men and EU 41 or 42 for women. For women’s clothing, UK size 8 converts to EU 36.

How does US to UK shoe sizing work?

US and UK shoe sizing use different baseline units. For men’s shoes, UK size 6 equals US 7. For women’s shoes, UK size 6 equals US 8. The UK size runs roughly half a size smaller than the US size in most adult ranges.

How quickly do 3 year olds’ feet grow?

Children’s feet typically grow 1–2mm per month, meaning roughly 1–1.5cm per year at ages 2–4. This growth rate means children’s shoe sizes can shift within a single shopping season, making measurement-based fitting particularly important for this age group.

What age do girls’ feet grow the most?

Girls’ feet tend to grow fastest between ages 10 and 13, coinciding with puberty onset. Before this, growth is steadier but slower. At peak growth, girls’ feet can gain half a UK shoe size or more within a few months.

Is a 4 year old still in toddler shoes?

Four-year-olds typically transition from toddler to youth (junior) shoe sizing. Toddler sizes usually cover approximately ages 0–4, while youth sizes begin around UK size 12–1 (EU 30–32). A 4-year-old’s foot length averages around 14–15cm, corresponding to UK children’s size 6 or EU 23.

Is size 6 a 36 or 37 in EU?

Size 6 in the UK is neither EU 36 nor EU 37 for shoes — it is closer to EU 39. For clothing, UK women’s size 6 is EU 34. EU 36 and 37 correspond to smaller UK sizes (typically UK 3–4 for shoes, UK 8–10 for women’s clothing).