Knowing your shoe size is only enough if you’re like most people. Width is also a factor, but shoe manufacturers don’t blatantly state that shoes are wide or narrow. They use a range of letters and numbers to refer to shoe widths, such as A, M, 2E, and S. They vary by manufacturer, and it can be hard to figure out as some of them are simply alphabetical rather than an acronym for “narrow” or “wide.”
This kind of industry jargon makes shoe shopping more confusing, especially if you’re shopping online and not on the manufacturer’s site. But once you’ve mastered the different ways to refer to your shoe size, shopping will be a breeze.
Below is a chart to help you sort out which markings constitute slim, narrow, wide, and extra-wide men’s shoes.
Men’s Shoe Width Size Chart:
| X-Narrow/Slim | Narrow | Medium | Wide | X-Wide |
| 2A | B | D | E | EEE |
| A | N | M | 2E | 4E |
| S | C | R | EE | H |
| – | – | – | W | WW |
| – | – | – | – | XW |
If you’re shopping for women’s shoes, see the Women’s Shoe Width Size Chart.
Helpful Tips to Remember Shoe Width Letters
The more letters, the more drastic the size. For example, EEE is wider than EE, and WW is wider than W.
If you’re still confused, which is understandable considering how confusing the shoe measurement system is, visit a shoe store, get properly sized by a salesperson, and pick up a new pair of shoes all during the same trip.
If you are shopping online, look for a link to the shoe manufacturer’s shoe fitting information where they can decode their abbreviations.
Shoe Width Ranges by Shoe Size
Larger shoe sizes are wider, while smaller shoe sizes are narrower, at least as they are measured in inches.
The quarter of an inch difference between a narrow and a regular can make a big difference in comfort and fit. But you don’t want to buy shoes that are too long or too short to get the width you need.
If you’re willing to measure your foot width with a ruler, you can match that up with the usual widths of shoes for each shoe size.
Then you’ll be more likely to get a good fit, especially when ordering online. You’ll know if you need a size 10B, a size 11E, or if you need to opt for an extra wide.
Measure your feet by tracing around each one and then measuring the widest point of each foot. Then take a look at the Men’s Shoe Size and Widths Chart to figure out your real shoe size.
Also, see the Men’s International Shoe Size Conversion Chart when shopping for shoes made around the world.
Where can you find the perfect pair of shoes now that you know your exact size? Here’s help for finding shoes for those who need something other than regular width:
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
