Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know my sock size?
Measure your foot length in centimetres and match it to the chart. Shoe size is a guide, not a specification, because shoe lasts differ between brands.
Are EU and US sock sizes the same?
No. A sock knitted for EU 37–41 corresponds roughly to US women 6.5–9.5, but the conversion is approximate and varies by brand.
What if I am between two sizes?
Choose the larger size for a looser fit, the smaller for a tighter fit. For grip socks, choose the size that gives a snug fit, because a loose sock rotates and the grip moves off the sole.
Do socks shrink after washing?
Cotton socks can shrink in hot water or a dryer. Wash cold and air dry, and the size you bought is the size you keep.
Can I order custom sizes?
Yes. Custom sizing is possible on an order, and the minimum is 50 pairs per size per design. Send the foot length range and the factory will knit to it.
Sock sizes are matched to foot length, not to shoe size, and the same sock marked “medium” means different things in different markets. A factory size chart starts from foot length in centimetres and then maps to US, EU and UK shoe sizes for each market. That is why a sock that fits in one country can be too small in another.
Why Shoe Size Is Not Enough
Shoe sizes are not standardised. A US men’s 9 is not the same length as a EU 42, and the conversion differs between brands and between shoe types. Socks, though, are knitted to a foot length, and the foot length is a physical measurement that does not change with the label on the shoe.
This is why a proper size chart starts from centimetres. The shoe size columns are a convenience for the customer; the centimetre column is the one the factory knits to.
The Standard Ranges We Knit
| Range | Foot length | Typical shoe size |
|---|---|---|
| Kids small | 19–23 (EU) | EU 19–23 |
| Kids medium | 24–27 (EU) | EU 24–27 |
| Kids large | 28–31 (EU) | EU 28–31 |
| Women | EU 37–41 | US women 6.5–9.5, UK 4–7 |
| Men | EU 39–44 | US men 6.5–10.5, UK 6–10 |
| Unisex / one size | Stretch fit | Covers a wide range with elastane |
These are the ranges we knit as standard. Custom sizing is possible on an order, and it is the right answer when a market sits between two standard ranges.
Conversion Tables Are Approximate
Every conversion table on the internet is an approximation, because shoe lasts differ. A EU 42 from one brand can be closer to a EU 41.5 from another. For a sock, the practical approach is to publish a centimetre range and let the shoe size columns act as a guide rather than a specification.
For a brand selling online, this matters: a customer who orders the wrong size costs a return, and returns on socks are usually not resellable. Publishing foot length and telling the customer to measure is the cheapest way to reduce that.
How Socks Stretch, and Where Sizing Goes Wrong
A knitted sock stretches, which is why one size can cover a range. The stretch comes from the elastane in the blend and from the knit structure. Too much stretch and the sock slides; too little and it cuts in at the cuff.
The failure is usually at the ends of the range. A sock sized for EU 37–41 will fit a 37 and a 41, but the fit at 41 is at the limit of the stretch. Customers at the edge of a range are the ones who complain about tightness, which is why a chart with overlapping ranges serves better than one with hard boundaries.
Kids Sizes: A Separate Problem
Children’s socks are sized by foot length in centimetres in most of Europe, and by a shoe size range in the US and UK. The two systems drift apart as the child grows, so a chart that only gives shoe size will be wrong at least once per growth stage.
For school and playground socks, the volume buyer usually orders three size bands rather than a continuous range, because the bands match how the product is sold in packs. Our tech pack guide covers how to write the size band into the specification.
Sizing for Grip Socks
Grip socks have an extra constraint: the grip pattern sits on the sole, so the sock has to hold position as well as fit. A sock that is slightly loose will rotate, and the grip ends up at the side of the foot instead of under it. That is why grip socks are usually sold in tighter size bands than plain socks.
For studio and trampoline use, the size bands we knit are matched to the venue’s own sizing, because venues buy in bulk and need a simple chart at the counter. Our trampoline and indoor playground sock page covers the venue sizing approach.
What to Put on a Size Chart
A useful chart has four columns: the sock size name, the foot length in centimetres, the US/UK shoe size equivalent, and the EU equivalent. Add a note that the shoe columns are approximate and that measuring the foot is the reliable method.
For a private-label order, the chart is part of the specification and should be approved with the sample. A chart copied from another brand is a chart that will generate returns.
Ordering multi-size runs from 50 pairs per size per design? Review our custom studio grip socks, five-toe grip socks, and needle count sizing chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know my sock size?
Measure your foot length in centimetres and match it to the chart. Shoe size is a guide, not a specification, because shoe lasts differ between brands.
Are EU and US sock sizes the same?
No. A sock knitted for EU 37–41 corresponds roughly to US women 6.5–9.5, but the conversion is approximate and varies by brand.
What if I am between two sizes?
Choose the larger size for a looser fit, the smaller for a tighter fit. For grip socks, choose the size that gives a snug fit, because a loose sock rotates and the grip moves off the sole.
Do socks shrink after washing?
Cotton socks can shrink in hot water or a dryer. Wash cold and air dry, and the size you bought is the size you keep.
Can I order custom sizes?
Yes. Custom sizing is possible on an order, and the minimum is 50 pairs per size per design. Send the foot length range and the factory will knit to it.
Need a size chart for your market? Send us your target foot lengths and we will build the chart with the sample.