Cycling Shoe Size Guide
So you found the perfect cycling shoe manufacturer, but you’re not quite sure what size shoes to order, well here are some cycling shoe charts to help you decide.
From my experience road, cycling shoes don’t fit the way normal everyday shoes fit. Most cycling shoes are designed to fit snug, so you want to go down a 1/2 to a full size. So, for example, I generally wear a 10.5 or 11 in everyday shoes, but I wear a 43.5 in road cycling shoes.
Winter cycling shoes are a bit different because you will want to wear thicker socks so the chart below is about perfect.
Ultimately if you can try the shoes on first you’re better off, but that isn’t always an option, especially if you’re wanting some of the high-end cycling shoes that most bike shops don’t inventory.
Cleats – Will You Need To Buy Them?
Most cycling companies don’t include cleats or pedals with their cycling shoes. That is an extra cost that you will have to take into an account. The good news is cycling cleats and pedals usually last longer than the cycling shoes they are attached to. That means you should be able to swap out an older set of cleats with a new set of shoes.
I am a big fan of Shimano pedals and cleats. They have been tested and worn by some of the best cyclists in the world and continue to be very reliable.
Men’s Cycling Shoe Size Chart
| US SHOE SIZE | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 13.5 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome | 37.5 | 38 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 47.5 | 48 | ||
| Diadora | 38 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | |||
| DMT | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 43.5 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 47 | 48 | ||||
| Five Ten | 37 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 | ||
| Fi’zi:k | 38 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | |||
| Gaerne | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | |||||
| Giro | 39 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 43.5 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 | 48 | |||
| Lake | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 | 48 | |
| Louis Garneau | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 | 48 |
| Mavic (US/EU) | 38 | 38.7 | 39.3 | 40 | 40.7 | 41.3 | 42 | 42.7 | 43.3 | 44 | 44.7 | 45.3 | 46 | 46.7 | 47.3 | 48 | 48.7 | |
| Northwave | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 47 | 48 | |
| Pearl Izumi | 38 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 46 | 46.5 | 47 | 48 | 48.5 | 49 |
| Shimano | 38.5 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46.5 | 47 | 49 | 50 | ||
| Sidi | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | |||||||
| Six Six One | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | |
| Suplest | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 46 | 47 | ||||
| Vans | 37 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 |
Women's Cycling Shoe Size Chart
| US SHOE SIZE | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diadora | 36 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 | ||||
| Giro | 36 | 36.5 | 37 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | |||||
| Lake | 36 | 36.5 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 39.5 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | ||
| Louis Garneau | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 43.5 | ||||||
| Mavic (US/EU) | 36 | 36.7 | 37.3 | 38 | 38.7 | 39.3 | 40 | 40.7 | 41.3 | 42 | 42.7 | 43.3 | 44 | 44.7 | 45.3 | 46 | 46.7 |
| Northwave | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | |
| Pearl Izumi | 36.5 | 37 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 39.5 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 43 | 43.5 | 44 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 47 |
| Shimano | 36 | 37 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39.5 | 40.5 | 41 | 41.5 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 | ||||
| Sidi | 36.5 | 37.5 | 39 | 40.5 | 41.5 | 42.5 |
My favorites cleats are both from Shimano
- SHIMANO SH51 SPD (Off-Road Cleats
- SHIMANO SPD-SL Cleat Set (Roadie Cleats)
FAQ Cycling Shoe Guide
Are cycling shoes true to size?
Most cycling shoes are smaller than dress/street shoes. I usually go down a 1/2 size. The reason is you want a tighter fit for more control on the pedal and also so your feet don’t move around.
Do Sidi cycling shoes run small?
Sidi Shoes are made in Italy and most Italian/European cycling clothing and shoes tend to run smaller than the US equivalents.
Do cycling shoes wear out?
It really depends on the person, but for me personally, I have yet to wear out a pair of cycling shoes. Unlike running shoes, cycling shoes should last you a few seasons of moderate cycling.
Are cycling shoes worth it?
Heck Yeah, they are. Cycling shoes and pedals with cleats (a.k.a. clipless pedals) provide a fantastic platform for cycling and provide you with the ability to pull up on the upstroke giving you more power.
What size should my cycling shoes be?
You want your cycling shoe to feel snug, but not overly so. They should feel comfortable on with the ability to tighten them as needed.
Should I get Cycling Shoes with the BOA lacing system?
I prefer the BOA system to others. They are easy to use, usually easy to tighten while riding and easy to undo after the ride.
Should I buy the most expensive cycling shoes or entry-level or somewhere in between?
When I buy cycling shoes I usually opt for the higher end ones. They are lighter, usually have a better lacing system and almost always look cool.
Is the Cycling Shoe Size Chart Accurate?
I would refer to it as a baseline. Different cycling shoe manufacturers design their shoes to fit the average person, but if you find you have a high arch, a really wide foot or a really narrow foot, you might have to try several manufacturer’s cycling shoes. NOTE: Never buy online unless there is a return policy.
Check Out Our Latest Reviews Of Top Cycling Shoes
very practical and detailed reference!
I am trying to find the right size SIDI mega cycling shoe.Toe to heel measurement is 26.5 cm which puts at about 42.5 according to the SIDI size chart. I wear size 9.5 extra wide Asics running shoe and Shimano size 44 wide cycling shoe and they seem too narrow now. What size SIDI WOULD FIT ME PLEASE ???
Thanks for the useful information. What about the size of the peloton? Should I consider anything when buying it?
I have a pair of Scott Comp Boa in size 44 summer MTB shoes and I’m looking to buy a pair of Northwave Celsius Arctics. According to their size charts I need a 43, which is my general shoe size. Do you have any comparison advise with Scott shoes?
Thx.
Why end the chart at size 14? I wear size 15 and many men do. Department stores typically don’t stock shoes in my size because of diminishing returns but there’s no need to end your chart there!
Hello, do you have chart sizes for Specialized. Thanks
Hi…..i normally take 8.5 or 9 uk size……ifind the shimano shoe is tight so need a 45 ….using your reasoning i should be okay in a 43 but theres no was a 43 will do…..so I’d say from experience with shimanos and mavics your reasoning doesn’t work for me.??
Hey David,
45 seems really big for your sized foot. An 8.5 or 9 UK size, is roughly a 9 or 9.5 us shoe size. I wear a size 10.5 to 11 in US shoes and usually can fit into a 43.5 or 44. A 45 would usually be too big for me. I am assuming that your foot is wider than mine, which then would make you have to get a bigger size. Still, a 45 seems really big for your foot size.
Hello,
I wear a size 45.5 Shimano 240 model road shoe. Looking to buy a Gaerne shoe, It says that a 45 is the right choice, but my feet a flat with little arch and I am concerned that the Gaerne shoe will be to narrow. Would help to go up to 46, or is the Gaerne shoe to narrow for wide feet like mine. Thanks, Dave.
Hi Dave,
The best advice is to buy the shoes where you can return them if they don’t fit. I like to have my shoes fit tighter, so I tend to go down a size rather than up. Cycling shoes also can fit different from year to year, even within the same manufacturer. They tend to tweak stuff that sometimes changes the fit.
From your shimano size chart it says my size 10 foot is 44.5. I’m an in-between. Should i go 44 or 45? I got a normal sized foot, not wide. I always wear size 10.5 US on Nike running and basketball shoes. My foot measurement with socks on is exactly 10.5 inches or 27 cm., which is size 10 US. This is an exact measurement of my foot from heel to the toe. No additional mm for some space. I’ve asked around forums and online stores, most advise i got is to go 45, some say 44. Now i’m all confused which size fits me best. Hope you can help.
Hi Lefty,
I would give the 44s a try first unless you plan on wearing thick socks. Cycling shoes, in general, should fit more snug than street wearing shoes.
I usually wear a size 10.5 or 11 in casual shoes and almost always like wearing 43.5 to 44 in cycling shoes.
Just make sure you can return them if they don’t fit.
Shimanos run narrow though, and wiggle, etc advise to go a size up. Thanks for the help, appreciate it.