How to measure kids’ feet at home - measuring guide and tips

No matter whether they’re jumping in wellies, running in trainers or getting dressed up ready for school, making sure your kids have the right size shoes is so important. It offers support and lets them explore the world at their own pace, whilst poorly-fitted shoes can be uncomfortable and have an impact on foot health in the future. Here’s our handy guide and tips for making sure you’re taking the right steps to accurate foot measurements.

How often do you need to measure your kids’ feet?

Especially in the early years, children’s feet can grow so quickly, and if they’re not able to tell you that the shoes feel too tight, it can be uncomfortable and harmful. So how often do you need to measure your kids’ feet? It all depends on their age:

Babies and toddlers: every six weeks
Pre-schoolers: every eight weeks
Between 5 and 10 years: every 12 weeks
10 and over: twice a year

Step by step: how to measure your kids’ feet at home

There are a few techniques for measuring kids feet. It can be as simple as using a pen and paper, or a foot ruler if you have one to hand. Don’t forget to measure both feet as they can have a size difference, and always go with the larger when choosing new shoes. Our top tip, particularly for energetic toddlers who don’t like to stand still, is to make a game of measuring. Ask them to stand still like a statue, or distract them with a toy or snack.

Footprint tracing

You’ll need: a pen or pencil, ruler and a piece of A4 paper
1. Place the paper on the floor and ask your kid to stand on it.
2. Trace around the outline of each foot with the pen or pencil, watching out for tickly spots.
3. Take your ruler and measure between the longest toe (which isn’t always the big toe) and the heel. If the feet are different sizes then take the longest measurement.
4. You’ll want a bit of wiggle room so add 1cm.

Heel to wall measurement

You’ll need: a pen or pencil, ruler, piece of A4 paper and a wall
1. Nudge a piece of paper up against the wall so the end is pushed up against it with no gaps.
2. Ask your kid to stand on the paper with their heels touching the wall, and make sure they’re resting their weight equally between both feet.
3. Draw a line where the longest toe of both feet ends.
4. Measure the distance between where you’ve drawn the line and the end of the paper.
5. You’ll want a bit of wiggle room so add 1cm.

Foot ruler measurement

You’ll need: a kid sized foot ruler
1. Pop the ruler onto the floor, making sure it’s completely flat.
2. Ask your child to step onto the foot ruler with one foot and make a note of the size.
3. Then do the same with the other foot, taking the larger measurement as the one to use.

How quickly do kids' feet grow?

You’ll know with babies, toddlers and kids, there’s no hard and fast rule that fits all - the speed of growth can differ depending on the child. For example, your first child may have slower foot growth than younger siblings. If you were going by the average, generally feet can grow at the following speeds:

Up to 15 months: around half a size every two months
15 months - 2 years: around half a size every two to three months
2 - 3 years: around half a size every three to four months
3-5 years: around half a size every months

From five years onwards it can be difficult to predict the size increases, but by the time girls get to 14 and boys get to 16 it’s common for their foot growth to stop, although sometimes it can be as late as 20-21 years old.

Wide fit shoes for kids

Just like adults, children can have wide feet, but you can check this with the measuring techniques from earlier. Use the drawing of the foot and measure diagonally from the ball joint of the little toe, along to the big toe. When you’re looking at the dimensions of the shoes you’re buying, be sure to check the width is right for your little one.

Kids shoe sizes FAQs

How to tell if your kids' shoes are too small?

Aside from your child telling you they feel too small or are difficult to get on, there are a few things you can look out for to check if your kids’ shoes are too small. Look out for indents on their feet where their shoes have pushed against them, there might also be blisters. Pain in the knees, hips, back or lower joints can be a tell-tale sign, as can your child refusing to put them on.

How to tell if your kids' shoes are too big?

earing shoes that are too big can be just as damaging and uncomfortable as too small, and can lead to twisted ankles. They can cause blisters, make your child walk differently or drag their feet along the floor. Keep an eye out for their heels lifting out of the shoes as they take each step, or if they trip frequently without any obstacles in their way.

Should I buy a size bigger to allow for growth?

Buying shoes that are far too big can cause problems for little ones, making them unstable or even having an impact on their gait later in life. Buying their current size is so important, but there should be a little bit of room left for wiggly toes - so try to find shoes that have between 5mm and 15mm beyond the longest toe. This will give you some growing room too.

Summary: how to measure kids feet at home

Measuring your kids’ feet at home is simple but makes all the difference to your little one’s comfort and foot health, even into adulthood. It doesn’t need to be complicated, you just need a pen, paper and ruler and you’re ready to go.

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