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Birkenstock footwear uses European sizing. In the UK men and women's sizing is different, while European sizes are unisex.
Please use this chart as a general guideline to determine your size. Your exact size will ultimately depend on the structure of your individual
foot and the style of the shoe.
For more information about the fit of Birkenstocks, please click here.
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Birkenstock
Footprints
Some Footprints shoe styles are sized metrically. Please use
this chart as a guide to find your optimum fit.
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How Birkenstocks should fit
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Trying your shoes on
Regular or narrow?
Tips for sandals
Tips for shoes and clogs
Tips for children's footwear
How to break in Birkenstock footbeds
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Trying your shoes on
Damages to the foot are one of the most widespread health problems of today's population. A large portion of the symptoms are provoked by
ill-fitting footwear, and so it is important that you get the correct size/fit. If you make sure you get the correct size by following our
sizing guide and our fitting tips when purchasing your Birkenstocks, you will extend the life of your sandals tremendously and enjoy them a
lot more. Always try on, and break in, your shoes indoors on carpet. We cannot accept shoes back that show signs of being worn.
When buying Birkenstock Footwear, please ensure that you are getting the correct length as well as the correct width. To check that you
have the right size, place your heel within the heel cup (the lower part of the foot bed); your foot should fit inside the edges of the shoe
with a few millimetres at the front and back of your foot. This allows for movement while walking. Your toes and heel should NOT touch the
rim of your sandals while standing in them.
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| Your toes and heel should not touch the rim of your sandals while standing in them |
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| The extra room is needed to perform the natural rolling motion of the foot without restrictions - just as if you were barefoot.
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| The contours of the footbed should follow the curves of your foot. The raised arch might feel unusual at first, but the arch
support will feel less pronounced as the cork/latex footbed moulds to your foot.
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Regular or narrow?
Even with foot health sandals the right fit is important. Therefore the Original Birkenstock foot bed is manufactured in two
widths. When purchasing your Birkenstock sandals, ensure that you get the correct width.
Birkenstocks are designed to be roomy. When you first try your sandals they might feel big. Most people are fine with a regular fitting, but if
your foot moves side to side when you walk and adjusting the strap does not help, a narrow fitting may be more suitable. If you want to check
the width of a pair of Birkenstocks you already own, you can tell by inspecting the foot bed where there is a small image of a foot - if it's
filled in the shoe is a narrow fitting, and if it's an outline it's regular.
Also all stock codes for narrow fittings end with 3.
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Tips for sandals
When fitting sandals, the strap closest to your toes should fit comfortably, but not tight. The other straps should be more loosely
fitting to allow your heel to lift slightly off the footbed while walking. Birkenstocks should never be worn tightly fitting.
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Tips for shoes and clogs
Slip the removable footbed from the shoe. To check whether your shoe is the correct length
and width, stand on the footbed and inspect the fit. Toes should not hang over the edge and the arches should follow the contours of your
feet, as described above. Reinsert the footbed into the shoe.
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Tips for children's footwear
We find that most kids' feet are best suited for the "Narrow" widths. The "Regular" sizes are best suited for wider feet. Birkenstock
footwear may not be suitable for children under 3 years old.
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How to break in Birkenstock footbeds
Birkenstock footwear works by supporting your arches, reducing the strain on the muscles of the foot.
When you try on your first pair of Birkenstock shoes, take time to walk around indoors and get used to them. You should break them in
gradually. Your feet should fit completely inside the footbeds, with 1/8 to 1/4 inch of extra length for walking. The width should fit
closely to prevent your foot slipping side to side.
If your toes have become curled from wearing tight shoes, make sure your Birkenstocks are long enough to accommodate them once they have
resumed their natural shape. The Birkenstock footbed is contoured to match the shape of a healthy foot. Because few people have perfectly
shaped feet, new shoes may feel "different". The toe grips should be in the right place for your feet and some wearers find the arch support
can feel prominent initially.
If you have worn high heels for years, your Achilles tendons may have contracted. Our footwear can help to restore their natural length.
Birkenstock footwear is meant to be worn comfortably; the support comes from the footbed, not from tightly buckled straps. It may take
several days to become used to the feeling, but your toes will soon learn to grip the footbeds as you walk. Although the footbeds may feel
stiff at first, as you wear your Birkenstocks, the footbeds will become softer and more flexible. Soon your shoes will adjust to the shape
of your feet, and form a truly unique fit that, properly cared for, will provide you with years of long-lasting comfort.
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