Normal Feet vs Wide Feet: Which Option to Choose

Here's something that trips up almost everyone standing in front of a size chart.

A foot measuring 8.9cm across is wide if you're an AU 5. That exact same measurement is perfectly normal on an AU 8. Width means nothing on its own. It only means something next to length, which is why plenty of people who swear they have wide feet just have long ones.

So before you pick a style, it's worth knowing what you're picking between.

 

Wide vs regular shoes: what actually changes

Not the length. That surprises people.

The difference sits across the ball of the foot, the widest part, where a regular shoe is cut for average measurements and a wide fit is cut with more room. Everything else is usually identical.

What that extra room does, in practice:

• Fewer spots where the upper presses into the side of your foot
• Less rubbing over bunions, curled toes or any bump that sticks out
• Room left over if your feet swell during the day, which most feet do
• Less need to size up in length just to buy width you weren't getting

Podiatrists often link long-term squeezing across the forefoot with hard skin, corns and toes that gradually shift position, so a fit that isn't fighting your foot shape is worth getting right.

The tricky part is working out which side of the line you're on.

 

How to tell which one you are

 

Measure at the end of the day. Feet spread and swell as you use them, so a morning measurement gives you shoes that feel fine at 9am and awful by 4pm.

 

Socks and shoes off. Stand on a sheet of paper with weight through both feet, trace around the outline, then do the other foot. Get someone to help if bending down that far isn't comfortable.

 

Measure two things on each outline: the length at the longest point, and the width at the widest. Feet are rarely a matched pair, so take the larger of each and use those numbers against the brand's own chart.

 

And remember, width is relative:

• The same measurement can read as wide on a small size and standard on a larger one
• Men's shoes are generally cut wider, so a women's wide can be close to a men's regular
• Cut-offs differ between brands, so a wide from one label may match a regular from another

 

The most useful test isn't a number at all. If an AU 7 pinches across the foot but an AU 8 is too long, that's your answer. You don't need a bigger shoe, you need a wider one. Our piece covers the other giveaways.

Resist the urge to keep sizing up. Too-long shoes slide, your heel lifts, and you swap tightness for blisters.

 

What causes wide feet?

 

Plenty of things, and most of them aren't your fault.

Genetics is the big one. Some families run to broad feet the way others run to tall.

Ageing does it too. Ligaments loosen over the years, so feet spread and flatten. Older feet swell more easily as well, which is why shoes that fitted at 50 often don't at 70.

Some health conditions make swelling more likely, including diabetes, heart conditions and kidney problems. If that's you, footwear is worth raising with your doctor rather than sorting out from a blog.

Pregnancy changes feet as well. The body releases relaxin, a hormone that lets everything loosen and expand, and for some women the change sticks around long after the baby arrives.

Then there are foot shapes that need more room: bunions, hammertoes, claw toes, corns and calluses. Some you're born with, some develop later. A podiatrist can look properly and tell you what fits you.

 

What to look for in a wide-fit pair

 

Look for a genuine wide option rather than a stretchy upper on a regular last. Stretch helps, but it's not the same as being built wider.

Check the sole is broader too, not just the upper. Your foot shouldn't be hanging over the edge.

Adjustable closures are worth having if your feet change through the day. Anything you can loosen at 3pm beats a fixed fit.

And check the chart lists a foot length in centimetres, not just a size number. That's the only part of a size chart you can compare against your own tracing.

 

Where our two options sit

 

They are sold in both a Normal Feet and a Wide Feet style, with the wide version about 1cm broader across the foot. Same shoe otherwise.

Sizing runs AU 5 to 13, and each size lists a foot length in centimetres, so you can hold your tracing next to it instead of guessing. Cushioned insoles, flexible sole, breathable upper. They come as a two-pair pack, which suits anyone doing long shifts and rotating between pairs. If width isn't your issue but cushioning is, the wider is worth a look.

 

Measure first, choose second

 

Back to that AU 5 versus AU 8 problem.

Width only makes sense next to length, so the answer isn't a feeling, it's two numbers and a size chart. Trace your feet tonight, measure the widest point, and compare it properly. If the width is snug while the length is right, go wide. If both feel fine, normal it is.

Free shipping and 30 days to change your mind, so there's room to get it wrong once.

 

This information is general in nature and not medical advice. See your GP or a podiatrist about any ongoing foot concerns.