The only time that you could wear a shoe in a bigger size is when purchasing a sneaker but you should only go up about half a size. The reason for this is that our feet tend to swell because fluid accumulates due to gravity with prolonged standing and weight baring activities.
Is a Half Size in Shoes a Big Difference? A half-size represents a 1/8” difference. It may not seem significant but is enough to distinguish between comfort and discomfort. Because there is no standardisation for shoe sizing, a half size difference will also depend on the brand of shoe.
The effects of wearing shoes that are too big are almost the same as with small shoes. When wearing ill-fitting shoes, your feet won't receive the needed support and will instead work to support the shoes. This increases your risks of painful blisters and even deformities such as bunions and hammertoes.
As a rule of thumb (or toe), you should have about 3/8″ to 1/2″ of room from the tip of your longest toe to the end of the shoe. Your big toe is not automatically your longest toe. Pick the shoes that match your foot shape.
A half size in shoes is only 1/8 of an inch in added length. Shoes size can vary for many reasons, from sports injuries to weight gain and age. It's not uncommon to go up a half size if your feet or arch height begins to become more flat overtime.
Length: There is approximately a 1/6" difference between each half-size (e.g., between 9 and 9.5, between a 9.5 and a 10, and so on) For every half size up, the width (across the ball) will increase by 1/8"
Half a size smaller could create problems. Not only would they be uncomfortable, they could damage your feet for life! Buying shoes 1/2 size too large should not be a major problem. You could tighten the laces and you would be good to go, with the exception being that that they could cause you to trip and fall.
When purchasing the perfect shoe, fit is always the most important. If your shoe is too tight, you may have blisters, numbness and general discomfort; to avoid this, many experts recommend buying a running shoe half a size larger.
Wear thicker socks (or multiple pairs).
Perhaps the easiest thing you can do to make a loose pair of shoes fit better is to "bulk up" your feet with thicker layers of socks. For example, you might try exchanging a skin-tight pair of dress socks or tights for a padded set of crew socks.
If your feet slide back and forth while you walk, the shoes are too big in length and you may consider going down a half or full size. However, if your feet are sliding side to side, the shoes are too wide for you.
You should be able to slide your finger between them with little force. If your finger cannot fit, the shoes are too tight. If your finger has too much room, the shoes are too large. Your toes need wiggle room so that you don't get blisters, calluses or damaged toenails.
Shoes will typically stretch all on their own as you wear them. Leather shoes, whether it be men's dress shoes or women's heels, will fit over time. But if they are too tight and uncomfortable to wear in, try some of these easy hacks to stretch your shoes up to half a size or so to accommodate your feet.
While the difference between the length of whole and half sizes are small, keep in mind that shoe width does increase with size. So, selecting a half size larger will give you a little more wiggle room for both length and width.
Generally speaking, there should be about one finger's width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Another way to check this is to slip a finger between the heel of your foot and the heel of your shoe. There should be just enough space for your finger to fit nice and snugly.
Q. What is the difference in length between a men's size 10 and a men's size 10.5? A. The difference between a half size is about a sixth of an inch.
Averages in the U.S.
In the United States, the average height for men who are at least 20 years old is around 5 feet 9 inches, with an average shoe size of around 10.5 and a medium width (D).
It is possible to fit into a size 8.5 shoe if you are a size 9, but it may be uncomfortable.
What is the difference between two shoe sizes? Shoe sizes in the United States are determined by the foot's length (or half-size), and its width (generally N, M, or W - narrow, medium or wide, with greater widths available). There is a difference of 1/6”, or 4.23 mm, between half sizes.
There is a significant difference between a size 10 and a size 10.5 shoe. A size 10 shoe is significantly smaller than a size 10.5 shoe, and as such, it will not provide the same level of comfort or support. If you are looking for a comfortable, supportive shoe, then you should opt for the larger size.
As a rule of thumb, make sure there's about half an inch of space between your big toe and the front of the shoe. The side-to-side space in the shoe matters, too. If you have a wider foot, you may need to look for a walking shoe that offers "wide" size options.
How much room should be in the toe of a shoe? Leave 1/2 inch at the front of the shoe. There should be about a 1/2 inch between the end of your longest toe and the end of the front of the shoe. Generally, this is about the size of the tip of your index finger (small hands) or pinky finger (large hands).
Generally, walking shoes follow the same sizing as regular shoes, so the best place to start is with your normal size. If you can't find boots in your exact size - for example if you usually wear a half size - then try the next size up.