If you’ve ever pulled a pair of EU-sized shoes off a shelf only to wonder what size that actually is in the UK, you’re not alone. International sizing systems don’t align perfectly, and EU 43 trips up a lot of shoppers. The good news: the answer is straightforward and consistent across retailers. Read on for a full EU-to-UK conversion breakdown backed by retail charts and specialist guides.

4 related posts

EU 43: UK 9 · EU 43: US Men’s 10 · EU 42: UK 8 · EU 44: UK 10 · EU 45: UK 11

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact brand-specific variations between Nike and Adidas for EU 43 sizing
  • Half-size discrepancies not fully reconciled across all retailers
3Related conversions
4Women’s note
Key conversion facts for EU size 43
Measurement Value Source
EU 43 UK Men’s 9 ASOS men’s chart · Parade Protection PDF
EU 43 US Men’s 10 Grivet Outdoors chart
Foot length (cm) 27.3 snow-boots.com sizing table
Foot length (mm) 271 ASOS sizing guide
Foot length (inches) 10.5625 Grivet Outdoors conversion chart
EU 43 UK Women’s 10 Famous Footwear size chart
EU 43 US Women’s 12 Famous Footwear sizing guide
UK 8 Men’s EU equivalent 42 Parade Protection sizing PDF

What is a size 43 in the UK?

For men’s footwear, EU size 43 corresponds to a UK size 9. This equivalence is confirmed across multiple retailer charts, including ASOS and Parade Protection’s official sizing PDF (ASOS men’s chart, Parade Protection guide).

Men’s sizes

The conversion follows a consistent progression: EU 42 equals UK 8, EU 43 equals UK 9, and EU 44 equals UK 10. This pattern holds across major UK and international retailers. The corresponding foot length for EU 43 is 27.3 cm (snow-boots.com measurement chart) or precisely 271 mm according to ASOS (ASOS sizing guide).

Women’s sizes

Women’s sizing follows a different track. EU 43 for women is typically UK 10, according to Famous Footwear’s gender-specific chart (Famous Footwear size chart). Women’s sizes run roughly 1.5 sizes larger than men’s for the same EU number, so the same pair of EU 43 shoes will fit a woman who wears UK 10 rather than UK 9.

Bottom line: EU 43 means UK 9 for men’s shoes and UK 10 for women’s shoes. For shoppers buying online, this distinction determines whether shoes fit correctly or require costly returns.

Is size 43 a 9 or 10?

The confusion around whether size 43 is 9 or 10 usually stems from mixing up sizing systems. EU 43 is UK 9 for men’s shoes — not UK 10. However, if you’re comparing across systems, US men’s size 10 aligns roughly with UK 9.5 and EU 43 (Grivet Outdoors chart), which can create the illusion of a “size 10” equivalence.

UK vs US comparison

The relationship breaks down like this: UK size 9 (men’s) = EU 43 = US size 10. Laughing Hens, a UK-focused retailer, confirms this exact triplet: UK 9 = US 10 = EU 43 (Laughing Hens conversion chart). So if a US-sized shoe says 10, you’re looking at the same foot length as EU 43 or UK 9.

Common confusions

Several retailers show slightly different pairings due to half-sizes and rounding. ShoeCity lists US men’s 9 = UK 8.5 = EU 43 (ShoeCity chart), while Famous Footwear places US men’s 9 = UK 8 = EU 43 (Famous Footwear chart). These variations highlight why knowing your foot length in millimetres offers more precision than relying on any single size number.

The catch

Retailers don’t use a universal standard. Half-sizes like EU 43.5 = UK 9 (per ShoeCity) and EU 42.5 = UK 8.5 (per Laughing Hens) add complexity. For the most reliable match, measure your foot and compare the millimetre length rather than trusting a single size number.

Is EU 43 UK size 9?

Yes. EU 43 is confirmed as UK size 9 for men’s footwear across four or more independent sources. ASOS lists UK 9 as the direct equivalent in their men’s sizing chart (ASOS men’s size chart). Parade Protection’s official PDF guide also confirms the same conversion (Parade Protection sizing PDF).

Verification from charts

Multiple cross-verifications strengthen this claim. The Parade chart shows a clear sequential progression: EU 42 = UK 8, EU 43 = UK 9, EU 44 = UK 10. ASOS confirms the 271 mm foot length for this size. Snow-boots.com provides the centimetre baseline: EU 43 = 27.3 cm, with EU 42 = 26.7 cm for reference (snow-boots.com measurement chart).

Why this matters

Online shoppers ordering EU-sized shoes assuming a UK 10 when they need a UK 9 will receive ill-fitting footwear. The stakes are higher for work or sports shoes where exact fit affects performance and safety.

Is size 8 the same as 43?

No. UK size 8 corresponds to EU 42, not EU 43. The Parade Protection chart confirms this progression: EU 42 = UK 8, EU 43 = UK 9 (Parade Protection PDF). If you’re wearing a UK 8, you need EU 42 shoes, not EU 43.

US 8 vs EU 43

US men’s size 8 is also smaller than EU 43. While US men’s 10 aligns with UK 9 and EU 43, US size 8 falls between UK 7.5 and UK 8, corresponding roughly to EU 41-42. Grivet Outdoors charts this relationship clearly: US 10 = UK 9.5 = EU 43 = 27 cm (Grivet Outdoors chart), showing where US 8 sits outside this cluster.

UK equivalents

For UK buyers, the sequence is straightforward: UK 8 = EU 42 (foot length ~26.7 cm), UK 9 = EU 43 (foot length ~27.3 cm). The 0.6 cm difference per size increment may seem small, but it makes a noticeable difference in fit comfort, especially in narrow or structured footwear.

What is size 43 in Ireland?

Ireland uses the UK sizing system, so EU 43 in Ireland is also UK size 9 for men’s shoes. There’s no separate Irish sizing standard for footwear — Irish retailers and brands follow the UK sizing conventions exactly as they do in Britain (Famous Footwear international guide).

Ireland uses UK sizing

Whether you’re shopping in Dublin, Cork, or Belfast, the size on the label will use UK numbers. An EU 43 shoe purchased online or in an Irish shop will fit a man who typically wears UK size 9. The same cross-border consistency applies to women’s sizing: EU 43 = UK 10 in Ireland.

EU to UK Shoe Size Conversion Chart

Three retailers, three perspectives: here’s how the most commonly cited charts align on men’s conversions.

EU Size UK Men’s (ASOS) UK Men’s (Parade) UK Men’s (Laughing Hens)
40 6.5 6.5 7
41 7.5 7.5 7.5
42 8 8 8
43 9 9 9
44 10 10 10
45 10.5 11 11
46 11.5 12 12

For most everyday purchases, treating EU 43 as UK 9 will yield a correct fit — but the minor discrepancies in upper ranges reflect real differences in how retailers define their last shapes.

How to Measure Your Foot for Size 43

Retail charts are useful, but your actual foot dimensions offer the most precise fit. ASOS recommends measuring foot length for accuracy over relying on charts alone (ASOS sizing advice).

  1. Trace your foot: Stand barefoot on a sheet of paper and trace around your foot with a pen held vertical.
  2. Measure the length: From the heel to the longest toe, measure in millimetres. For EU 43, expect around 271 mm.
  3. Measure the width: At the widest point of the ball of your foot. This matters for brands with narrow or wide fits.
  4. Compare to the chart: Match your millimetre measurement to the retailer’s foot-length guide. Snow-boots.com provides a full centimetre-to-EUS mapping for reference (snow-boots.com measurements).

What this means: measuring your foot eliminates the guesswork between sizing systems and protects you from ordering the wrong size based on a retailer’s specific chart conventions.

Brand Variations: Nike, Adidas, and Others

Standard charts provide a solid baseline, but brand-specific fits can vary. StockX notes that Nike and Adidas both produce shoes in EU 43, yet their actual fits differ slightly due to last shapes and design intended for different foot geometries (StockX brand guide).

What to watch

Athletic and formal footwear often runs narrow. If you have wide feet, consider going up half a size even if your measured length suggests EU 43. Sneaker culture brands like Nike sometimes use “US” sizing on their labels even for shoes sold in UK or EU markets, which adds another layer of confusion.

The implication: brand-specific variations mean shoppers should always check a retailer’s specific fit notes before ordering, especially for athletic footwear where sizing inconsistencies can affect performance.

Confirmed facts

  • EU 43 = UK 9 for men’s across ASOS, Parade Protection, Laughing Hens, and others
  • US Men’s 10 aligns with UK 9 and EU 43
  • Foot length for EU 43: 27.3 cm / 271 mm
  • Women’s EU 43 = UK 10 (different from men’s)
  • Ireland uses UK sizing, so EU 43 = Ireland 9 for men

What’s unclear

  • Exact fit variations between Nike and Adidas for EU 43
  • Half-size discrepancies not fully reconciled across all retailers
  • Limited official standards — all data retail-derived rather than government-backed

Expert Perspectives

The number, though, does not correspond directly to the size of the shoe. For example, an EU size 37 will not be 37 centimetres long, but will, in fact, be about 24 centimetres in length.

— greek-sandals.com sizing guide

To easily convert a UK shoe size in EU size, simply add 33 to your existing UK size – eg a UK size 6 is an EU size 39.

— snow-boots.com size chart

What this means: the EU sizing number is a rough code, not a measurement — shoppers who assume otherwise risk significant fit errors when ordering online.

Key Takeaways

EU 43 maps to UK 9 for men’s footwear and UK 10 for women’s. The conversion is consistent across major UK retailers including ASOS and Parade Protection, with a foot length of approximately 27.3 cm. Minor discrepancies appear in half-sizes and the upper size ranges due to retailer-specific last shapes, so measuring your foot remains the most reliable approach before ordering.

Related reading: UK shoe size equivalents · size conversion charts

While EU 43 maps directly to UK men’s 9, the EU to UK shoe size chart offers equivalents for men, women, and kids across ranges.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between UK and EU shoe sizes?

UK and EU sizing use different zero points. UK sizes start from 1 (child size 1), while EU sizes start from 16 for infants. For adults, the conversion requires adding roughly 33 to the UK size to get the EU equivalent — UK 9 becomes EU 43. The UK system is roughly half a size smaller than the EU system for the same foot length.

Does shoe size 43 fit UK women?

EU 43 fits UK women’s size 10, not UK 9. Women’s sizing runs about 1.5 sizes larger than men’s for the same EU number. Famous Footwear confirms EU 43 = UK 10 for women versus UK 9 for men in their gender-specific charts.

What is US size for EU 43?

US men’s size 10 corresponds to EU 43 and UK 9. For women’s, US size 12 aligns with EU 43 and UK 10. The relationship between sizing systems varies slightly by retailer, but these are the most widely accepted equivalences.

Are Ireland shoe sizes the same as UK?

Yes. Ireland uses the UK sizing system for footwear. EU 43 in Ireland means UK size 9 for men’s shoes and UK 10 for women’s. There’s no separate Irish sizing chart — retailers in Ireland sell shoes with UK size labels.

How to measure for shoe size 43?

For EU 43, your foot should measure approximately 271 mm or 27.3 cm. Trace your foot on paper, measure from heel to longest toe in millimetres, and compare against the retailer’s foot-length chart. ASOS and snow-boots.com both publish foot-length guides that map mm/cm measurements to their EU sizes.

What shoe size is next after 43 EU?

The size after EU 43 is EU 44, which corresponds to UK 10 for men’s. For women’s, EU 44 is roughly UK 10.5 or 11 depending on the retailer. Each step up represents approximately 0.6-0.7 cm of additional foot length.

Do brands vary on EU 43 UK conversion?

Yes. While the core conversion is consistent, some brands — particularly athletic and fashion footwear — may run narrow or wide, effectively making EU 43 fit slightly differently. StockX notes specific variations between Nike and Adidas for EU 43 sizing. Half-sizes like EU 43.5 exist at some retailers but not others, adding further nuance.

Is the +33 rule reliable for UK to EU conversion?

The +33 rule (add 33 to UK size for EU) works as an approximation for most men’s sizes, but it doesn’t account for half-sizes and brand variations. Greek-sandals.com suggests this rule as a quick method, though retailers like ASOS and Parade Protection use more precise mappings. For accuracy, use the retailer’s specific chart rather than the +33 formula.

For UK shoppers buying EU-sized shoes online, the stakes are clear: a mis-sized order costs both money and time. Measure your foot, cross-reference the millimetre length, and verify against the specific retailer’s chart before checkout. EU 43 is UK 9 for men — but only if you know to look for that distinction.