Shoe Widness Chart: What B, D, E & EE Letters Actually Mean
Most people glance at the shoe size on the label and ignore the letter beside it. That letter is the width code, and skipping it is one of the most common reasons a shoe that fits in length still feels wrong on the foot.
Width codes have existed in US footwear for over a century, yet most brands never explain them. This guide decodes the full system, gives you a complete per-size width chart for both women and men (with real inch measurements at every half size), shows you how to read the shorthand labels on retail packaging, and walks you through measuring your own foot at home in under two minutes.
The charts are first. Scroll down for the full explanations.
Shoe Width Letters: Quick Reference Decoder
Before the full charts, here is the master key for every width code you are likely to see on a shoe box or a product page, and how they differ between women's and men's sizing:
|
Width Category |
Women's Equiv. |
Men's Equiv. |
|
Narrow |
AA |
B |
|
Medium |
B |
D |
|
Wide |
D |
EE |
|
Extra Wide |
EE |
4E |
|
Super Wide |
4E |
6E |
Women's Shoe Width Chart by Size (US)
Measurements are in inches at the widest point of the foot (ball width). Each width step is approximately 1/8 inch.
|
US Size |
A Narrow |
B Medium |
C/D Wide |
E Extra Wide |
EE / 2E Xtra Extra Wide |
|
5 |
2.81" |
3.19" |
3.44" |
3.56" |
3.75" |
|
5.5 |
2.88" |
3.25" |
3.50" |
3.63" |
3.81" |
|
6 |
2.94" |
3.31" |
3.56" |
3.69" |
3.88" |
|
6.5 |
3.00" |
3.38" |
3.63" |
3.75" |
3.94" |
|
7 |
3.06" |
3.44" |
3.69" |
3.81" |
4.00" |
|
7.5 |
3.13" |
3.50" |
3.75" |
3.88" |
4.06" |
|
8 |
3.19" |
3.56" |
3.81" |
3.94" |
4.13" |
|
8.5 |
3.25" |
3.63" |
3.88" |
4.00" |
4.19" |
|
9 |
3.31" |
3.69" |
3.94" |
4.06" |
4.25" |
|
9.5 |
3.38" |
3.75" |
4.00" |
4.13" |
4.31" |
|
10 |
3.44" |
3.81" |
4.06" |
4.19" |
4.38" |
|
10.5 |
3.50" |
3.88" |
4.13" |
4.25" |
4.44" |
|
11 |
3.56" |
3.94" |
4.19" |
4.31" |
4.50" |
|
12 |
3.69" |
4.06" |
4.31" |
4.44" |
4.63" |
Men's Shoe Width Chart by Size (US)
Same scale, different baseline men's feet run wider at the same letter than women's feet do.
|
US Size |
B Narrow |
C/D Medium |
E Wide |
EE / 2E Extra Wide |
4E Ultra Wide |
|
6 |
3.25" |
3.50" |
3.75" |
4.00" |
4.25" |
|
6.5 |
3.31" |
3.56" |
3.81" |
4.06" |
4.31" |
|
7 |
3.38" |
3.63" |
3.88" |
4.13" |
4.38" |
|
7.5 |
3.44" |
3.69" |
3.94" |
4.19" |
4.44" |
|
8 |
3.50" |
3.75" |
4.00" |
4.25" |
4.50" |
|
8.5 |
3.56" |
3.81" |
4.06" |
4.31" |
4.56" |
|
9 |
3.63" |
3.88" |
4.13" |
4.38" |
4.63" |
|
9.5 |
3.69" |
3.94" |
4.19" |
4.44" |
4.69" |
|
10 |
3.75" |
4.00" |
4.25" |
4.50" |
4.75" |
|
10.5 |
3.81" |
4.06" |
4.31" |
4.56" |
4.81" |
|
11 |
3.88" |
4.13" |
4.38" |
4.63" |
4.88" |
|
11.5 |
3.94" |
4.19" |
4.44" |
4.69" |
4.94" |
|
12 |
4.00" |
4.25" |
4.50" |
4.75" |
5.00" |
|
13 |
4.06" |
4.31" |
4.56" |
4.81" |
5.06" |
|
14 |
4.13" |
4.38" |
4.63" |
4.88" |
5.13" |
The Full Width Scale From Narrow to Ultra Wide
The US width system runs from AAA at the narrowest end to 6E or beyond at the widest. Here is how the full scale breaks down:
- AAA / 3A: Very narrow. Rare in mainstream retail. Usually found only in specialty footwear.
- AA / 2A: Narrow. Occasionally available in women's sizing.
- A: Narrow standard. The narrowest width most everyday shoe brands offer in women's.
- B: Medium in women's sizing. Narrow in men's sizing. The default width for most women's shoes is when no letter is listed.
- C / D: Wide in women's sizing. Standard/Medium in men's. The default for most men's shoes is when no letter is listed.
- E: Extra wide in women's. Wide in men's. Sold as "W" (Wide) on many retail pages.
- EE / 2E: Extra extra wide in women's. Extra wide in men's. Sold as "XW" or "2E" on retail pages.
- 4E: Ultra wide. More common in men. Found in orthopedic and specialty brands.
- 6E and beyond: Very rare. Available from a small number of medical and specialty manufacturers only.
The key rule: each step up the width scale adds approximately 1/8 inch of interior volume across the full shoe, not just the toe box. Moving from a D to an EE in men's is a quarter-inch difference across the ball of the foot, noticeable, but not dramatic in appearance.
What Actually Changes When You Go Wider
Width is not just about the toe box. When a shoe goes up a width, the internal volume increases throughout the shoe:
- Toe box: More lateral room for the toes to sit naturally without bunching.
- Ball of the foot: The widest part of the foot gets the most relief. This is where most width-related pressure builds up.
- Midfoot: The upper wraps less tightly across the top of the foot.
- Overall volume: Wider shoes typically have a slightly deeper interior too, giving more room for thicker socks, insoles, or orthotic inserts.
This is why going up in length does not solve a width problem. A longer shoe gives you more room from heel to toe, but the width across the ball of the foot stays the same. The compression does not go away it just shifts slightly.
Signs Your Discomfort Is a Width Problem, Not a Length Problem
Most people assume that if a shoe feels wrong, they should go up a half size. But if the length already works, the real issue is usually width. Look for these signs:
Pressure or redness along the inner or outer edge of the foot after wearing
- The little toe rubbing against the side of the upper
- Bunion pain or pressure at the base of the big toe joint
- The foot spilling over the edge of the insole when you stand
- Laces spreading wide, or the upper visibly bulging at the widest part of the foot
- Shoes that feel fine when you try them on sitting down, but painful after 20 minutes of walking
That last one is important: feet spread slightly under load. A shoe that feels fine when seated can become uncomfortably narrow after a short walk as the foot naturally widens during movement.
Size Up vs Go Wider: Use This to Decide
These are two different solutions to two different problems. Buying a longer shoe to solve a width problem creates a new issue a shoe that fits across the foot but is too long, which causes heel slippage, blisters, and changes to walking mechanics.
|
Size Up in Length If... |
Go Wider If... |
|
Toes are pressed against the front of the shoe |
Sides of the foot feel squeezed or compressed |
|
No room past the longest toe (less than a thumb's width) |
Little toe rubs the outer edge of the upper |
|
The heel slips because the shoe is too short overall |
Foot spills over the edge of the insole |
|
The shoe feels short when walking or going downstairs |
The bunion or the big toe joint feels pressure from the side |
If you are between widths, always go to the wider option. You can adjust a slightly wider shoe with a snugger lace pattern or a thin insole. You cannot fix a shoe that is too narrow.
How to Measure Foot Width at Home (Under 2 Minutes)
You do not need a Brannock Device or a specialist. Here is how to get an accurate reading:
Step 1. Place a blank sheet of paper on a hard floor. Tape two sheets together if needed.
Step 2. Stand on the paper with your full weight, not sitting. Weight-bearing is essential because feet spread under load.
Step 3. Hold a pencil vertically (not angled) and trace around your entire foot.
Step 4. Mark the widest point of the tracing, usually across the ball of the foot, just behind the base of the toes.
Step 5. Measure that width in inches using a ruler.
Step 6. Find your shoe size in the chart above and scan across to match your measured width to the closest column.
Three tips for accuracy:
- Measure both feet. It is very common for one foot to be slightly wider. Always buy to fit the wider foot.
- Measure at the end of the day. Feet naturally expand through the day due to standing and activity. A morning measurement will be slightly narrower than your true loaded width.
- If you normally wear orthotics, trace your foot with the orthotic in place (or measure the orthotic itself at its widest point) since orthotics add volume inside the shoe.
How PAHI Labels Width
Rather than asking buyers to decode letter codes, PAHI sells in two clearly labeled widths: Medium and Wide.
Medium corresponds to the standard B width in women's and D width in men's, the default fit that most shoes are built around.
Wide is built to accommodate the EE / 2E range, with a fuller toe box and more interior volume across the full shoe, not just the tip of the toe. The same P.O.R.T. base that supports balance and stability is present in both widths.
If your measurements point to a wider fit:
- B-Active Mesh Sneakers - available in Wide for men and women
- B-Casual Suede Sneakers - available in Wide for men and women
Still unsure? Measure at home using the steps above, and match to the chart.
