What Is the Average Shoe Size for Men?

Although there’s no official nationwide statistic for men’s average shoe size, it generally corresponds with height and is often estimated to fall between sizes 10 and 11.

Several elements influence shoe size, including:

• age
• body weight
• foot disorders
• heredity

While formal data on the typical men’s shoe size in the United States is lacking, observational reports suggest an average around size 10.5 with a medium (D) width.

Shoe size is not a marker of overall health, nor does it correlate with penis size — a persistent myth. Any shoe size for men is within the range of normal.

Average shoe size by height

Foot length tends to scale with stature in males, particularly after puberty. Taller men usually have larger feet than those of average or shorter height.

Of course, things like age, activity level, and body mass can influence foot dimensions.

Estimated shoe sizes by height for men in the United States are:

Feet and shoe measurements often grow with age. This happens for a number of reasons, such as weight gain and cumulative stress on the feet. Over time, ligaments and tendons can loosen, the arch may flatten, and the foot can lengthen and widen.

Specific foot conditions — for example, hammer toe or bunions — can also make a larger shoe size necessary.

How shoe size is determined

Shoe sizing includes both length and width. The numerical value represents foot length, while the letter or letters denote width.

Many men’s shoes are produced predominantly in medium widths, commonly shown as a D following the size. Specialty widths range from narrow (B) through wide, extra wide, and beyond.

Averages in the U.S.

Among U.S. men aged 20 and older, the average height is approximately 5 feet 9 inches, and the typical shoe size is about 10.5 with a medium (D) width.

Averages worldwide

Globally, the most frequent men’s shoe sizes usually lie between 9 and 12.

Countries with more ethnically mixed populations, like the United States, tend to show broader variation in height and shoe size. In more homogeneous nations, people’s statures and shoe dimensions are often more similar, which influences national averages.

Childhood nutrition also plays a role: inadequate nutrition before and during puberty can limit growth, affecting adult height and, consequently, foot size.

Does size matter?

For most people, foot size has little bearing on life or health. An exception is elite athletes in certain sports: for instance, Michael Phelps is known for his size 14 feet, which reportedly help with propulsion in the water.

The bottom line

Men’s foot size is not a health indicator. Generally, taller men have larger feet than shorter men. In the United States, the commonly cited average shoe size for men is roughly 10.5.

For related body-proportion topics, you may find information about average shoulder width and average breast size useful.