Size 6 in EU: UK Irish US Shoe & Clothes Chart

If you’ve ever stared at a pair of shoes online only to find the size listed in EU numbers, you’re not alone. UK shoppers especially hit this snag regularly—and size 6 happens to be one of the most frequently searched conversions.

UK/Irish 6: EU 39 · US Men’s 7: EU 39 · Foot Length: 246 mm · UK Women’s 6: EU 39-40 · Common EU Pairing: UK 6

What is a size 6 in EU?

When someone asks “what is a size 6 in EU?”, the short answer is almost always EU 39—but the full picture depends on whether we’re talking shoes or clothes, and whether it’s men’s or women’s sizing. Retailer charts from Laughing Hens and Buchanan Orthotics confirm this consistency for shoes, with clothing conversions being less standardized.

Shoes

For shoes, UK size 6 converts to EU 39 across virtually all verified sources. This applies to both men’s and women’s footwear, making it one of the most straightforward conversions in the sizing system. Laughing Hens shows UK women size 6 = EU 39 and UK men size 6 = EU 39 in their comprehensive conversion charts. The foot length corresponding to this size is approximately 246 mm, according to O’Neills (Irish sports retailer).

The pattern holds because the EU system uses the Paris point (roughly 2/3 cm between sizes), while UK uses the barleycorn (1/3 inch). Despite different origins, UK 6 converges to EU 39 for most adult sizing—a rare alignment between systems.

Clothes

Clothing conversions are messier. Wide Fit Shoes sizing guide notes that UK women’s clothing size 6 often translates to S/M, with EU equivalents around 36–38 for bust and waist measurements. Unlike shoes, clothing sizes vary significantly by brand, cut, and retailer—never assume a shoe size maps directly to a clothing size.

This disconnect means UK women who comfortably wear EU 39 shoes may need EU 36–38 clothing depending on the retailer’s cut intentions.

Men’s vs Women’s

One key difference: men’s and women’s UK size 6 both equal EU 39 for shoes, but the US equivalents differ. Laughing Hens confirms UK men 6 = US 7, while O’Neills shows UK women 6 = US 8. The EU size stays constant because the continental system uses the same numeric base for both genders.

What’s UK size 6 in EU?

UK size 6 is EU 39 for shoes, plain and simple. Buchanan Orthotics (clinical orthotics guide) confirms EU 39 women’s converts to UK 6 in standard tables. The reverse lookup also holds: if you see EU 39 on a shoe, it’s typically a UK 6.

Men’s shoes

For men’s shoes specifically, UK size 6 equals EU 39 with a corresponding US size 7. Grivet Outdoors size chart (outdoor retailer) lists men’s US 6 as UK 5.5 and EU 39. The 246 mm foot length measurement from O’Neills confirms this is the standard baseline for men’s size 6 across UK and Irish sizing.

Women’s shoes

Women’s UK size 6 corresponds to EU 39 with a 246 mm foot length, per O’Neills. Footlocker UK sizing guide (UK retailer) shows UK size 6 women’s corresponds to 24.1 cm foot length—slightly different from the 246 mm figure, but representing the same size range. Some charts show minor variations like EU 38.5–39, according to Famous Footwear size charts.

Foot length equivalents

Foot length provides the most reliable measurement for sizing. For UK women’s size 6, Footlocker UK lists 24.1 cm, while O’Neills cites 246 mm for Irish/UK size 6. Wikipedia’s shoe size article explains that shoe sizes differ by measuring length, unit, and reference point—the Paris point system used in Europe adds roughly two-thirds of a centimeter between sizes.

This measurement approach matters most for shoppers encountering brands that list sizing purely in millimeters.

What is an Irish size 6 in EU?

Irish shoe sizing is identical to UK sizing—no conversion is needed within the island itself. O’Neills (Irish sportswear retailer) explicitly states: “All footwear on the website are listed using Ireland/UK shoe sizes.” This means an Irish size 6 converts to EU 39 the same way a UK size 6 does.

Men’s guide

For Irish men’s sizing, UK/Irish size 6 is EU 39 with a 246 mm foot length. O’Neills confirms this equivalence, and Laughing Hens independently verifies the same mapping. No discrepancies exist between Irish and UK men’s size 6 conversions.

Women’s variations

Irish women’s size 6 also maps to EU 39 consistently. O’Neills lists Ireland/UK women’s size 6 as EU 39 with 246 mm foot length and US 8 equivalent. Buchanan Orthotics confirms EU 39 converts to UK 6 for women. Some retailers show minor variations in the EU 39–40 range, but the standard remains EU 39.

US cross-reference

Cross-referencing with US sizing reveals the key differences by gender. Laughing Hens shows UK men’s size 6 = US 7, while O’Neills lists UK women’s size 6 = US 8. So an Irish woman looking at US sizing needs to account for a two-size difference between men’s and women’s conversions. Shoe City conversion chart (tier 3) shows women’s US 6 as UK 3.5 and EU 36, which confirms the gender gap in US sizing.

Irish shoppers should treat US sizing charts with caution, as the offset between UK and US systems varies by gender.

What size is a 6 in clothes?

Clothing size 6 follows a different logic than shoe sizing. While UK shoe size 6 is consistently EU 39, clothing sizes are less standardized and vary by retailer and fit intention. Wide Fit Shoes sizing guide notes that UK women’s clothing size 6 often maps to S/M, with EU equivalents around 36–38 for bust and waist measurements.

Women’s clothing

For women’s clothing, UK size 6 typically falls in the S/M range, corresponding roughly to EU 36–38. Wide Fit Shoes clarifies that UK6 clothes ≈ EU38 in general terms. However, this conversion is far less precise than shoe sizing—different retailers use different baseline measurements for their clothing cuts. A UK 6 from one brand may fit like an EU 36, while another brand’s “6” aligns with EU 38.

Girls sizes

For children’s sizing, UK girls’ size 6 converts to approximately EU 23, according to Laughing Hens size chart. This is significantly smaller than adult women’s size 6, which corresponds to EU 39. Children’s sizing follows its own developmental chart and shouldn’t be confused with adult conversions.

ASOS reference

Online retailers like ASOS typically list UK sizing with EU equivalents in their size guides. For ASOS specifically, women’s clothing size 6 would map to their “S” category with EU 36–38 measurements. Always check the retailer’s specific size chart before ordering—Wikipedia’s shoe size article notes that variations exist due to brand-specific lasts and width fittings, a principle that applies equally to clothing.

Is EU 39 a UK size 6?

Yes—EU 39 corresponds to UK size 6 for women’s shoes, confirmed by multiple retailer charts. Buchanan Orthotics (clinical sizing guide) explicitly lists EU 39 as UK 6 for women in their EU-to-UK conversion table. Grivet Outdoors (outdoor retailer) independently confirms men’s US 6 = UK 5.5 = EU 39, showing the same pattern for men’s sizing.

Confirmation from charts

Cross-verification across retailer charts confirms EU 39 = UK 6. Laughing Hens shows UK women 6 = EU 39 and UK men 6 = EU 39. O’Neills lists the same conversion for Irish sizing. Four independent sources confirm this mapping for women’s shoes, and three confirm it for men’s.

Related sizes like 40

Moving up from EU 39, UK size 6.5 corresponds to EU 40 according to O’Neills. Laughing Hens confirms EU 42 = UK 8 for men, showing the consistent half-size increment pattern. This means if you’re between sizes, EU 40 is the next increment up from the EU 39 that corresponds to UK 6.

Reverse lookup

If you’re working backward from EU sizing, EU 39 is almost certainly a UK 6 for women’s shoes or a UK 6 for men’s. Buchanan Orthotics provides the reverse lookup confirmation. However, Famous Footwear notes some charts show minor half-size variations like UK 6 = EU 38.5–39, so checking the specific retailer’s chart is always advisable when precision matters.

Size 6 Conversion Chart: UK, EU, US, and Foot Length

Five sizing systems in play, but only one consistent pattern for size 6 across gender and region.

How to Measure Your Foot for EU Sizing

Four steps to find your exact EU size when the label only shows UK or US numbers.

1. Trace your foot: Place a piece of paper on a hard floor. Stand with your full weight on the paper and trace around your foot with a pen held vertically.
2. Measure the length: Use a ruler to measure from the back of your heel to the tip of your longest toe. Record the measurement in centimeters.
3. Convert to mm: Multiply your cm measurement by 10 to get millimeters. UK size 6 corresponds to approximately 246 mm.
4. Check the retailer’s chart: Compare your mm measurement to the retailer’s foot length chart. Different brands may size differently based on their lasts.

According to Wikipedia’s shoe size article, variations exist due to brand-specific lasts and width fittings. Even if your foot measures exactly 246 mm, a brand with a narrower fit may feel tight, while another with a wider last fits perfectly. Footlocker UK lists UK women’s size 6 as 24.1 cm—slightly different from the 246 mm figure but within the same size band.

“While there have been attempts to standardise shoe sizes with the use of the mondopoint system, which was adopted by NATO, they have not really gained any traction.” — Buchanan Orthotics clinical guide

“All footwear on the website are listed using Ireland/UK shoe sizes.” — O’Neills help centre

Confirmed vs. Unconfirmed for Size 6 Conversions

The implication: shoe conversions for UK size 6 are reliable and well-documented. Clothing conversions, however, require checking the specific retailer’s size chart. For online orders from European retailers, knowing your foot length in millimeters gives you the most precise baseline for finding the right EU size.

For UK shoppers ordering from European websites, the path forward is straightforward: UK size 6 almost always means EU 39 for shoes, regardless of gender. The half-size bump to UK 6.5 takes you to EU 40. Keep your foot measurement (246 mm) handy for brands that size in Mondopoint, and always cross-reference against the retailer’s own chart when available.

Related reading: Kg to Stone and Lbs Converter: NHS Charts & Calculator

Frequently asked questions