New Balance vs Nike Sizing: A Comprehensive Comparison

When you’re looking for a new pair of shoes, one of the most important decisions you have to make is what size to get. Different brands can have different sizing standards, so it can be tricky to know which size to choose.

New Balance and Nike are two of the most popular athletic shoe brands. They are both great brands, but their sizing is quite different.

In this article, we will compare Nike and New balance shoe sizes. We will look at both men’s and women’s sizes to see which brand offers the best fit. But before that, let’s see how we can determine the correct shoe size at home.

How to Find the Right Shoe Size at Home

Finding the correct shoe size at home is not very difficult. You will need a measuring tape, paper, a pencil or pen, and socks that you intend to wear with your new shoes.

First, take a piece of paper and place it on the floor. If your foot is larger than one sheet, tape two sheets together, slightly overlapping one another. Make sure you’re wearing the sock you plan on wearing with the shoe.

Stand straight on the piece of paper so that your entire body weight is on your foot. Make sure you do not lean against anything because this will alter your measurements.

Next, carefully trace around the outline of your foot. Make sure the pen or pencil is at a 90-degree angle with the paper. We recommend taking someone’s help to ensure accuracy.

Once you have traced the outline of your foot, measure the length from the tip of the longest toe to the back edge of your heel using a measuring tape. This is called the “foot length” measurement. Note this measurement and look up the corresponding shoe size in a sizing chart.

Make sure you convert the length to inches or centimeters, according to the unit of measurement the brand uses.

New Balance Sizing Guide

New Balance uses a standard sizing chart for both men and women. Almost all NB shoes are designed to fit true-to-size, making finding the right fit easy.

New Balance offers shoe sizes in the US, UK, EU, and length (in cm). It also provides different shoe sizes for men, women, and kids. The kids sizing is further divided into three categories –

  1. Crib to toddler – for kids aged between 0 to 4 years.
  2. Little kids – for kids aged between 4 to 8 years.
  3. Big kids – for kids aged between 8 to 12 years.

Men’s NB shoes range from 4 to 20 (US), while women’s shoes range from 4 to 15 (US). The company offers half sizes up to 13 in men’s size and up to 14 in women’s size.

New Balance Men’s Shoes Sizing

Here is a table showing sizes in the US, UK, EU, and length (in cm) for all New Balance men’s shoes –

US SizeUK SizeEU SizeLength(cm)
43.53622
4.543722.5
54.537.523
5.553823.5
65.538.524
6.5639.524.5
76.54025
7.5740.525.5
87.541.526
8.584226.5
98.542.527
9.594327.5
109.54428
10.51044.528.5
1110.54529
11.51145.529.5
1211.546.530
12.5124730.5
1312.547.531
1413.54932
1514.55033
1615.55134
1716.55235
1817.55336
1918.55437
2019.55538

New Balance Women’s Shoes Sizing

Here is a table showing sizes in the US, UK, EU, and length (in cm) for all New Balance women’s shoes –

US SizeUK SizeEU SizeLength(cm)
423421
4.52.534.521.5
533522
5.53.53622.5
6436.523
6.54.53723.5
7537.524
7.55.53824.5
863925
8.56.54025.5
9740.526
9.57.54126.5
10841.527
10.58.542.527.5
1194328
11.59.543.528.5
12104429
12.510.54529.5
131145.530
13.511.54630.5
141246.531
15134832

New Balance Men’s Shoes VS Women’s Shoes

Here is how the men’s and women’s shoe sizes compare –

Men - US SizeWomen - US Size
2.54
34.5
3.55
45.5
4.56
56.5
5.57
67.5
6.58
78.5
7.59
89.5
8.510
910.5
9.511
1011.5
10.512
1112.5
11.513
1213.5
12.514
1315
14-
15-
16-
17-
18-
19-
20-

New Balance Kid’s Sizing

Kids’ shoe sizes are given in inches rather than centimeters. Here is how the three kid’s shoe categories compare –

Crib to Toddler 

Kids - US SizeShoe TypeKids - UK SizeKids - EU SizeLength(in)
0Crib0153 1/8
1Crib0.5163 1/2
1.5Crib116.53 5/8
2Crib/Infant1.5173 3/4
2.5Crib/Infant2184
3Crib/Infant2.518.54 1/8
3.5Crib/Infant3194 1/4
4Crib/Infant3.5204 1/2
4.5Crib/Infant420.54 5/8
5Crib/Infant4.5214 3/4
5.5Infant521.55
6Infant5.522.55 1/8
6.5Infant6235 1/4
7Infant6.523.55 1/2
7.5Infant7245 5/8
8Infant7.5255 3/4
8.5Infant825.56
9Infant8.5266 1/8
9.5Infant926.56 1/4
10Infant9.527.56 1/2

Little Kids

Kids - US SizeShoe TypeKids - UK SizeKids - EU SizeLength(in)
10.5Pre-School10286 5/8
11Pre-School10.528.56 3/4
11.5Pre-School11297
12Pre-School11.530 7 1/8
12.5Pre-School1230.57 1/4
13Pre-School12.5317 1/2
13.5Pre-School13327 5/8
1Pre-School13.532.57 3/4
1.5Pre-School1338
2Pre-School1.533.58 1/8
2.5Pre-School234.58 1/4
3Pre-School2.5358 1/2

Big Kids 

Kids - US SizeShoe TypeKids - UK SizeKids - EU SizeLength(in)
3.5Grade School335.58 5/8
4Grade School3.5368 3/4
4.5Grade School4379
5Grade School4.537.59 1/8
5.5Grade School5389 1/4
6Grade School5.538.59 1/2
6.5Grade School6399 5/8
7Grade School6.539.59 3/4

New Balance Widths: What Do They Mean?

Many people do not know that New Balance offers different widths in many of their shoes. The different width options help ensure there are New Balance models for everyone, no matter what type of foot you have.

New Balance men’s shoes and women’s shoes are available in six different widths, while the kid’s shoes come in three. Here is an explanation of the extra width types

New Balance Widths for Men and Women

X-Narrow – It is denoted by 2A for men and 4A for women. These shoes are narrowest and suitable for people who want a smaller toe box.

Narrow – It is denoted by B for men and 2A for women.

Standard- It is denoted by D for men and B for women. These shoes are suitable for people with an average width foot.

Wide – It is denoted by 2E for men and D for women. These shoes are slightly wider than the standard.

X-Wide – It is denoted by 4E for men and 2E for women.

XX-Wide – It is denoted by 6E for men and 4E for women. These shoes are the widest and can be worn by people with high-volume feet.

New Balance Widths for Kids

Standard – It is denoted by M. This width is suitable for kids with average or narrow feet.

Wide – It is denoted by W. This width is slightly wider than the standard and is recommended for kids who have a wide foot.

X-Wide – It is denoted by XW. This width is the widest and can be worn by kids who have wide feet.

Nike Sizing Guide

Nike also uses a standard size chart for both adults and kids. However, the fit of Nike shoes can be a bit tricky. Nike shoes tend to run slightly smaller than their competitors. Most of the time, they’ll be too short both in width and length.

The brand offers shoe sizes in the US, UK, EU, and length (in cm). Like New Balance, Nike also offers different shoe sizes for men, women, and kids. The company’s kid’s sizing is further divided into three categories –

  1. Baby and toddler
  2. Little kids
  3. Big kids

Men’s Nike shoe sizes range from 3.5 to 20 (US), while women’s Nike shoe sizes range from 4 to 22.5 (US). The brand offers half sizes for all shoe sizes. The kid’s sizes range from 1C to 7Y (US).

Nike Men’s Shoes Sizing

Here is a table showing sizes in the US, UK, EU, and length (in cm) for all Nike men’s shoes –

US SizeUK SizeEU SizeLength(cm)
3.5335.522.5
43.53623
4.5436.523.5
54.537.523.5
5.553824
65.538.524
6.563924.5
764025
7.56.540.525.5
874126
8.57.54226.5
9842.527
9.58.54327.5
1094428
10.59.544.528.5
11104529
11.510.545.529.5
12114630
12.511.54730.5
131247.531
13.512.54831.5
141348.532
14.513.54932.5
151449.533
15.514.55033.5
161550.534
16.515.55134.5
171651.535
17.516.55235.5
181752.536
18.517.55336.5
191853.537
19.518.55437.5
201954.538
20.519.55538.5
212055.539
21.520.55639.5
222156.540

Nike Women’s Shoes Sizing

Here is a table showing sizes in the US, UK, EU, and length (in cm) for all Nike women’s shoes –

US SizeUK SizeEU SizeLength(cm)
41.534.521
4.523521.5
52.535.522
5.533622.5
63.536.523
6.5437.523.5
74.53824
7.5538.524.5
85.53925
8.564025.5
96.540.526
9.574126.5
107.54227
10.5842.527.5
118.54328
11.594428.5
129.544.529
12.5104529.5
1310.545.530
13.5114630.5
1411.54731
14.51247.531.5
1512.54832
15.51348.532.5
1613.54933
16.5145033.5
1714.550.534
17.5155134.5
1815.551.535
18.5165235.5
1916.552.536
19.5175336.5
2017.553.537
20.5185437.5
2118.554.538
21.5195538.5
2219.555.539
22.5205639.5

Nike Men’s Shoes VS Women’s Shoes

Here is how the men’s and women’s shoe sizes compare –

Men - US SizeWomen - US Size
2.54
34.5
3.55
45.5
4.56
56.5
5.57
67.5
6.58
78.5
7.59
89.5
8.510
910.5
9.511
1011.5
10.512
1112.5
11.513
1213.5
12.514
1314.5
13.515
1415.5
14.516
1516.5
15.517
1617.5
16.518
1718.5
17.519
1819.5
18.520
1920.5
19.521
2021.5
20.522
2122.5

Nike Kid’s Sizing

Kids’ shoe sizes are given in centimeters rather than inches. Here is how the three kid’s shoe categories compare –

Baby and Toddler

Kids - US SizeKids - UK SizeKids - EU SizeLength(cm)
1C0.5169.1
2C1.51710
3C2.518.510.8
4C3.519.511.6
5C4.52112.5
6C5.52213.3
7C6.523.514.2
8C7.52515
9C8.52615.9
10C9.52716.7

To know more about toddler’s shoe sizing, check out our blog post “What Does TD Mean In Shoes.”

Little Kids

Kids - US SizeKids - UK SizeKids - EU SizeLength(cm)
10.5C1027.517.2
11C10.52817.6
11.5C1128.518
12C11.529.518.4
12.5C123018.8
13C12.53119.3
13.5C1331.519.7
1Y13.53220.1
1.5Y13320.5
2Y1.533.520.9
2.5Y23421.4
3Y2.53521.8

Big Kids

Kids - US SizeKids - UK SizeKids - EU SizeLength(cm)
3.5Y335.522.2
4Y3.53622.4
4.5Y436.522.7
5Y4.537.523.2
5.5Y53823.5
6Y5.538.523.8
6.5Y63924.3
7Y64024.6

Nike Shoe Widths

Nike does not offer different widths in its shoes. The brand offers a single standard width. It may not be suitable for people with wide feet or narrow feet.

There are, however, a few methods you can follow to stretch your shoes. Here is a guide that explains how to stretch shoes for wide feet. On the other hand, if you accidentally get a large pair of shoes, you can follow these tips on how to make shoes smaller.

New Balance vs Nike Sizing: What is the Verdict?

The truth is, there are no winners and losers here. Both shoe brand offers a variety of shoe sizes for men, women, and kids.

When it comes to sizing, New Balance definitely offers more width options than Nike. However, Nike shoes tend to run small and can be tricky to fit. If you have wide feet, it is recommended that you go for New Balance shoes.

Both brands offer half sizes for their shoes. However, Nike has an advantage as they provide more half sizes than New Balance.

The Bottom Line

In the end, it all boils down to personal preference and comfort. Both brands offer a variety of sizes for men, women, and children. The correct size for you will depend on the width of your feet.

We hope this article has cleared up the confusion between New Balance and Nike shoe sizing. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below!

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