Finding the correct boot size online is quite a difficult task with all the numbers 8, 8.5, 11.5, etc. etc. confusing you!
The task in hand becomes even more difficult with the infusion of letters like B, C, D, E, etc.
Yes, according to the US shoe sizing, shoes and boots are marked with the letters mentioned above which can tickle your mind to introspecting what they really mean!
To end your curiosity, the letters in your shoes indicate their widths while the numbers indicate the lengths!
Starting with the letter B which indicates an extra narrow width, C indicating narrow, the corresponding letter D indicates the width “medium” or “regular” or what you might call a normal shoe size, and the letters E,EE & EEE stand for wide, extra wide and triple wide respectively!
Still confused with the letters?
Let’s read on to find in details…
What is D shoe size?
A shoe has varied ranges of sizes. It’s difficult to understand the exact size of shoe for your feet and thus, for your convenience the shoe companies allot sizes to the shoes.
Generally, the size D denotes that it is of standard or medium size. D is considered as the most common shoe size for men.
For women, the size D is considered to be wide. Well, you might be thinking that what actually the measurement of D size is. It is generally 3-5 inches across the bottom of the foot arch.
Is D wider than M?
Wide shoe sizes are denoted by applying a lot of terminologies and thus, it creates a lot of confusion.
There are numerous sizes like Medium, Normal, Wide and Extra Wide, also letters like M, D, E, etc., again there are letters with numbers like 2A, 2E, 4E. So it’s definitely difficult to choose the real fit.
Now, coming to the discussion, the letter D as well as M comes under medium widths. Both are of same size and fits for medium foot size and so, the question of one being wider than the other does not exist.
Does D stand for wide?
As mentioned earlier in the article that the size D falls under the category of medium width shoes. D is the most common size for men as it is considered to be of Normal or Medium or Standard width. But in case of women, it is considered to be wide.
What does 9.5 D mean in boot size?
So by now we know that D means medium or the regular size. But what if the shoes you are buying are labelled with both numbers and letters?
For example, let us take the size 9.5D.
So, here 9.5 is the size of the shoe in its length whereas D is the size of the shoe in width. Which means according to US shoe sizing, the shoe is 10.4375 inches or 26.7cm in length and the width of the shoe is 3.9 inches or medium.
What do the letters B,C,D,E,EE,EEE mean in boot size?
We are all accustomed with numbers when it comes to shoe and boot sizes. But, have you ever thought about what those letters stand for in your shoes and boots?
Your feet’s measurement is not only the length but the width as well. So, say your feet is 10 inches long and 3.5 inches in width, what size shoe will you buy?
If you buy a size 9 shoe, it won’t determine the width!..
In this case you need a shoe that says 9D, where D stands for medium width from 3.0 to 4.0 inches roughly.
Similarly the letters B,C,E,EE,EEE also stand for certain width measurement:
B stands for extra narrow
C stands for narrow
D stands for medium or regular
E stands for wide
EE stands for extra wide
EEE stands for triple wide
See also: Should I Get D or EE Boots?
But, the measurement of the width can be different for different sizes of shoes, which I am going to make clear in the section below…
Boot width measurement chart:
| Boot size | B | C | D | E | EE | EEE |
| 5 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| 5.5 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.0 |
| 6 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.1 |
| 6.5 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.1 |
| 7 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| 7.5 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.3 |
| 8 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.3 |
| 8.5 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.4 |
| 9 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.4 |
| 9.5 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.5 |
| 10 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| 10.5 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| 11 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 |
| 11.5 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| 12 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| 13 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.9 |
| 14 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 5.1 |
And it’s a wrap!
That’s all with the letters in boot sizing according to the U.S. shoe sizing chart.
Hope this article was helpful to you and of so, do stay tuned for more exciting articles on my website…
Till then take care and have a great day ahead!
