How to Measure Kids' Feet at Home Without a Gauge
No foot gauge? Measure foot length with paper and a ruler, and learn where this method falls short.
A foot gauge gives the best home result. Without one, you can still estimate foot length with paper, a pencil and a ruler.
The paper method
- Tape a sheet of paper to a hard floor, against a wall.
- Ask your child to stand on it with their heel touching the wall and weight on both feet.
- Hold a pencil upright and mark the tip of the longest toe.
- Measure from the wall to the mark in centimetres.
- Repeat for the other foot and keep the larger number.
Turning length into a size
Look up the length in our kids’ shoe size chart. Pick the size whose foot length matches or sits above your measurement. That leaves a little room for growth and movement.
The limits
- No width: paper and a ruler can’t give you a width fitting.
- Wriggling: small children move, so measure 2 or 3 times.
- Different scale: centimetres are not gauge numbers. Keep them out of the gauge calculator.
When to use a gauge or a fitter
Use a gauge or book a fitting if your child has narrow or wide feet, or you’re buying everyday shoes. Then enter the gauge numbers in the calculator for both size and width.
