The Difference Between Men’s And Women’s Shoes + A Helpful Conversion Chart

Before you can even begin narrowing down the selection of shoes to find the right pair for your needs, you have to decide if you will buy menโ€™s or womenโ€™s shoes.

Is there a difference between menโ€™s and womenโ€™s shoes? Can women wear menโ€™s running shoes or other types of sneakers? What is the womenโ€™s to menโ€™s shoe size conversion and the men’s to women’s shoe size conversion?

In this article, we will cover the difference between menโ€™s and womenโ€™s shoes, along with a shoe size conversion chart that you can use to convert womenโ€™s to menโ€™s shoe sizes or menโ€™s to womenโ€™s shoe sizes so you can choose whichever shoes you like best!

More specifically, we will cover the following: 

  • Can Women Wear Menโ€™s Running Shoes?
  • Is There a Difference Between Menโ€™s and Womenโ€™s Shoes?
  • Primary Differences Between Menโ€™s and Womenโ€™s Shoes
  • Menโ€™s and Womenโ€™s Shoe Size Conversion Chart

Letโ€™s dive in! 

A pair of women's and a pair of men's shoes.

Can Women Wear Menโ€™s Running Shoes?

There are certain types of shoes that clearly seem to be designed with men or women in mind rather than being a unisex shoe style.

Of course, this point, along with everything discussed hereafter in this article, is based on the general category of two gendersโ€”men and womenโ€”with the understanding that some people identify as non-binary or another gender.

With that said, when looking at dress shoes, for example, styles like high heels and ballet slipper-like flats are almost exclusively designed for women, and menโ€™s dress shoes similarly have a distinct appearance.

However, when it comes to athletic shoes, such as running shoes, the difference between men and women shoes for running or other sneakers are more nuanced.

Although certain running shoes or sneakers might be found in the menโ€™s section of a shoe store or labeled as โ€œmenโ€™s running shoes,โ€œ some women may choose to wear menโ€™s running shoes if the fit, feel, and appearance better meet their needs and preferences or vice-versa.

Thus, the short answer to both questions โ€œCan men wear womenโ€™s running shoes?โ€ and โ€œCan women wear menโ€™s running shoes?โ€œ is yes.

Ultimately, you should get the shoes that feel most comfortable.

A person trying on shoes.

Is There a Difference Between Menโ€™s and Womenโ€™s Shoes?

Within certain sectors of the footwear market, when womenโ€™s shoes first debuted, there were hardly any differences between womenโ€™s and menโ€™s shoe models.

In fact, there was even a popular saying to describe the differences between womenโ€™s and menโ€™s running shoes as โ€œshrink โ€˜em and pink โ€˜em.โ€

This cutesy saying essentially just referred to the fact that womenโ€™s running shoes and menโ€™s running shoes were virtually identical from a design and features standpoint, and the only real differences between womenโ€™s running shoes and menโ€™s running shoes were the colorways and sizing.

In this way, you could just use a womenโ€™s to menโ€™s size conversion chart or a menโ€™s to womenโ€™s size conversion chart to get the same fit with a menโ€™s or womenโ€™s running shoe in the color option of your choice.

However, as running shoe companies and other manufacturers of athletic shoes and footwear have spent more time investigating the differences between menโ€™s and womenโ€™s foot shapes, biomechanics, and support needs, the differences between men and women shoes have expanded beyond just color options and a basic shoe size conversion.

A person trying on shoes.

Primary Differences Between Menโ€™s and Womenโ€™s Shoes

Letโ€™s examine some of the main differences between menโ€™s and womenโ€™s shoes for running as well as other types of sneakers and athletic shoes.

Note that not all of these differences will necessarily apply to every single type of sneaker or footwear, but they are some of the common differences between menโ€™s and womenโ€™s running shoes, walking shoes, and general cross-training shoes.

#1: Sizes

Despite the fact that advancements in R&D and technology have created more of a diversion in menโ€™s and womenโ€™s shoes in general, still, the primary difference between menโ€™s and womenโ€™s shoes of any type is the sizing.

We will provide a menโ€™s to womenโ€™s shoe size conversion chart later in this article, but for now, noting the main difference in sizing with menโ€™s shoes versus womenโ€™s shoes is that menโ€™s shoes are typically about 1.5 sizes larger than womenโ€™s shoes when the shoe size number is the same.

A person trying on shoes.

In other words, when you compare a menโ€™s shoe size 8 to a womenโ€™s shoe size 8, the menโ€™s shoe size 8 actually corresponds to what the same brand would label as the womenโ€™s shoe size 9.5.

Therefore, if a woman wanted to wear a menโ€™s running shoe, and she usually wears size 8.5 womenโ€™s shoes, she would need a menโ€™s size 7.

#2: Fit

Although the primary difference in sizing between menโ€™s and womenโ€™s shoe sizes is the length, menโ€™s shoes also tend to be somewhat wider overall.

Even more nuanced than that, womenโ€™s shoes are typically narrower in the heel relative to menโ€™s shoes but wider in the forefoot and toe area.

These differences in fit have been implemented due to research suggesting differences in both the anatomy or shape of the foot, as well as the biomechanics of the running stride.

A narrower heel is thought to help better control pronation upon landing, which has been demonstrated to be more of a need for women versus men due to the Q-angle of the hips.

A person on a track.

These differences in the overall fit and sizing of menโ€™s running shoes vs womenโ€™s running shoes (or other athletic sneakers) tend to apply even once you convert sizes between menโ€™s and womenโ€™s shoes.

For example, as mentioned, menโ€™s shoes are typically 1.5 sizes larger than womenโ€™s shoes. 

Therefore, when you compare a menโ€™s shoe size 8.5 and a womenโ€™s shoe size 10, the length of the shoes may be similar, but the shape of the shoe, and thus the fit, may still be somewhat different, as described above.

Note that the overall shape and fit of a shoe varies based on the brand. 

For example, with running shoes, Brooks running shoes tend to have a wider toebox than Nike or ASICS running shoes.

Still, the general trends that menโ€™s running shoes will be slightly wider overall and womenโ€™s running shoes will have a snugger heel and roomier toebox tend to still apply across brands when comparing the menโ€™s vs womenโ€™s running shoe models.

People in a corral waiting to start a race.

#3: Weight

Another key difference between menโ€™s and womenโ€™s training shoes is the materials used and the weight of the shoe. 

These construction differences are based on the fact that the average woman is lighter and smaller than the average man. 

In general, particularly with running shoes, menโ€™s running shoes are designed to support and cushion about 15% more body weight than womenโ€™s running shoes.

Accordingly, menโ€™s running shoes and training shoes typically have materials used in the midsole and outsole that are more durable and designed to sustain greater impact forces due to the heavier body weight.

Womenโ€™s running shoes are lighter than menโ€™s running shoes and have a softer midsole because lower impact forces will be applied.

Of course, not all women are lighter than men, even when you convert between womenโ€™s and menโ€™s shoe sizes.

A variety of sneakers.

For this reason, if you are a larger woman, you may be better suited to wearing menโ€™s running shoes or training shoes.

The menโ€™s shoe will not only better support your body weight and provide the cushioning you need upon landing during high-impact activities like running, but the sole of the shoe will also be more durable, helping increase how long the shoe will last.

This does not necessarily mean that every woman should immediately switch to wearing menโ€™s running shoes because they are inherently more durable; as mentioned, when comparing menโ€™s vs womenโ€™s running shoes of the same size, menโ€™s shoes will be heavier, which can impact running speed and performance.

Finally, one other difference between womenโ€™s and menโ€™s shoes based on weight is the fact that womenโ€™s shoes often have deeper grooves in the forefoot (to be more flexible) to help make it easier to flex the forefoot at push-off.

This again goes back to the fact that women tend to be lighter, so it can be more difficult to flex a stiff shoe, and the weight distribution between womenโ€™s and menโ€™s bodies change the force pattern throughout the foot strike.

A person tying their shoe.

Menโ€™s and Womenโ€™s Shoe Size Conversion Chart

Here is a basic menโ€™s to womenโ€™s shoe size conversion chart:

Women’s Shoe Size77.588.599.51010.51112
Men’s Shoe Size5.566.577.588.599.510

For more information about how shoes should fit, check out our guide here.

A pair of colorful running shoes.

2 thoughts on “The Difference Between Men’s And Women’s Shoes + A Helpful Conversion Chart”

  1. Thank you for your article, as I have learned more from it than anything else I have been able to find in my search for information on the subject of the differences between women’s and men’s shoes. I’m not much into running or walking regularly but I have a lot of problems with my feet since I have gotten older and I’m looking for ways to help me with the pain in my feet when I wear shoes, especially for extended amounts of time. I’m curious to know whether or not I would have an issue with the heel area slipping and causing problems if I switched to a men’s shoes for everyday wear? My toes, and the sides of the toe areas are my biggest issue, it’s almost like the foot padding has slipped out from under the part of the foot below the toes, and is riding beside it and it’s painful to walk after awhile.

    Reply

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Amber Sayer, MS, CPT, CNC

Senior Fitness and News Editor

Amber Sayer is a Fitness, Nutrition, and Wellness Writer and Editor, as well as a NASM-Certified Nutrition Coach and UESCA-certified running, endurance nutrition, and triathlon coach. She holds two Masters Degreesโ€”one in Exercise Science and one in Prosthetics and Orthotics. As a Certified Personal Trainer and running coach for 12 years, Amber enjoys staying active and helping others do so as well. In her free time, she likes running, cycling, cooking, and tackling any type of puzzle.

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