adidas size guide: what size should you get?

If there’s one brand that turns shoe sizing on its head, it’s adidas. While the rest of the world thinks in half sizes, adidas uses one-third sizes. So instead of 36 and 36.5, you get 35⅓, 36, 36⅔ and 37⅓. This isn’t an error but a deliberate choice — and it’s also why eighteen of the twenty-three men’s sizes don’t match a standard size chart.

• adidas’ one-third sizes
• How big is the difference?
• Fit
• The full size chart
• Frequently asked questions

Fit

adidas fits true to size in terms of length. Simply go with your usual size — bearing in mind that with a brand using one-third sizes, you’ll need to convert it correctly.

The main thing to watch out for is the width. The terrace models from the Originals line — such as the Samba, Gazelle and Spezial — have a narrow toe box. If you have wide feet, going up half a size is the usual workaround, simply because adidas doesn’t offer wider versions of these models.

adidas’ one-third sizes

An adidas label doesn’t show 42.5 but 42⅔. These fractions aren’t just for show: they fall at different points from the half sizes used by other brands. So an adidas 42⅔ isn’t the same as a Nike or New Balance 42.5.

When shops simplify everything into whole and half sizes, some of that information gets lost. If you see an adidas pair listed as 42.5, that’s a conversion, not the factory size. The chart below keeps the one-third sizes intact.

How big is the difference?

Of the twenty-three men’s sizes, eighteen have a different EU value from what a generic conversion would predict, and sixteen have a different UK value. For women’s sizes, it’s nine out of ten. This isn’t a brand where you can simply stick to an “approximately” correct size.

Men’s and women’s sizing also differs within adidas itself. US 5 is EU 37⅓ in men’s sizing and EU 36 in women’s sizing. For unisex models, the shop determines which sizing system you see, so make sure to check.

The adidas size chart

Still not sure?

Measure your foot from heel to longest toe and compare that length with the cm column. Do this while standing, at the end of the day, and measure both feet. Your larger foot determines your size. Especially with a brand that uses one-third sizes, the centimetre column is your best reference.

Once you know your size, you’re two clicks away from being done. Enter it in the filter and you’ll only see shops that have your size in stock, starting with the cheapest. No more keeping multiple tabs open to compare prices, and no guessing at checkout.

Frequently asked questions about adidas sizing

Why does adidas use sizes like 42⅔?

adidas uses one-third sizes instead of half sizes. So the label shows 42⅔ instead of 42.5. These sizes fall at different points from the half sizes used by other brands, so an adidas 42⅔ isn’t the same as a 42.5 from another brand.

Do adidas sneakers run large or small?

Eighteen of the twenty-three men’s sizes have a different EU value from what a standard conversion would predict, and sixteen have a different UK value. So there’s no simple rule of thumb: use the chart on this page to convert your size.

Is adidas sizing the same for men and women?

No. US 5 is EU 37⅓ in men’s sizing and EU 36 in women’s sizing. For unisex models, the shop determines which sizing system you see, so check before ordering.