Irish Shoe Sizing: What You Need to Know Before You Buy

When you’re shopping for shoes in Ireland, you’re not just picking a style—you’re navigating a system that’s tied to Irish shoe sizing, the standard foot measurement system used across Ireland and the UK, which aligns with UK sizes and differs from US or EU standards. Also known as UK shoe sizing, it’s the only system that reliably matches the footwear sold in Dublin, Cork, and Galway stores—and the one your local cobbler still uses. If you’ve ever bought shoes online and ended up with toes poking out or heels slipping, you’re not alone. Irish shoe sizing doesn’t follow the same logic as American sizes. A US size 8 isn’t an Irish size 8. It’s closer to a UK size 6. And that difference? It matters when you’re walking on wet cobblestones or standing all day in a pub.

Most Irish footwear brands—like Clarks, a long-standing British-Irish brand known for durable, well-fitting shoes built for damp climates—design their lasts (the foot-shaped molds used to make shoes) based on average Irish foot shapes: slightly wider forefeet, medium arches, and a tendency toward shorter toes. That’s why a size 7 in Clarks often fits better than a size 7 in a brand made for continental Europe. Even Herring & Sons, Ireland’s oldest heritage shoe brand, founded in the 1800s and still hand-making footwear in County Kilkenny, sticks to UK sizing because that’s what Irish feet have grown used to. If you’re used to buying shoes in the US or EU, you’ll need to convert. A US women’s 9 is a UK 7, which is an Irish 7. A EU 39 is usually a UK 6. But here’s the catch: conversion charts lie. The real test is how the shoe feels when you stand, not how the number matches.

And it’s not just about numbers. Irish weather changes how shoes fit. In winter, people wear thicker socks. In summer, feet swell in the heat. That’s why local shoppers always try shoes on in the afternoon, not the morning. Many Irish women buy their shoes a half size up just to account for swelling. Brands like Lodi Shoes & Fashion Ireland know this. That’s why their posts keep talking about how to spot quality leather, why wellies are called wellies, and why you shouldn’t wear socks with UGGs here—it’s all connected to fit, function, and the damp reality of life in Ireland. You won’t find a single article in this collection that ignores the fact that shoe sizing isn’t just a number. It’s about comfort in rain, stability on slippery paths, and the quiet pride of wearing something that lasts. Below, you’ll find real advice from Irish shoppers, cobbler tips, and brand insights that actually help you get the right size—without the guesswork.