Size 38 Shoes in UK: EU to UK Women’s & Men’s Sizes
Anyone who has ever ordered shoes online from a European store knows the hesitation: the label says 38, but what does that mean when you shop in the UK? The short answer is that EU 38 converts to a UK women’s size 5, which corresponds to roughly 24.0 cm of foot length on the standard scale. The catch is that the same number looks like US women’s 7.5–8, which is why the confusion never goes away.
EU 38 foot length: 24.0 cm · UK women’s shoe size: 5 · US women’s shoe size: 7.5–8
Quick snapshot
- EU 38 = UK women’s size 5 (Foot Locker UK (footwear retailer))
- EU 38 measures a 237 mm foot length on QVC UK’s chart (QVC UK (shopping channel))
- Multiple retail charts place EU 38 in the same UK 5 band (PUMA (sportswear manufacturer))
- Men’s conversion splits between UK 5 and UK 5.5 depending on the chart (Wikipedia (EU size reference))
- Foot-length references for the same EU 38 vary noticeably between charts (EMP UK (lifestyle retailer))
- Nike’s EU 38 fit may differ from the generic UK 5 conversion depending on the model (HOKA (running brand))
- EU 38 keeps landing on UK 5 across retailer charts (Primark (high-street retailer))
- The “7 or 8” answers trace back to the US women’s column, where EU 38 sits near US 7.5–8 (Primark (high-street retailer))
- Measure both feet and let the longer one set your size (HOKA (running brand))
- Confirm the number with the brand’s own chart before you order (HOKA (running brand))
Nine rows, one pattern: EU 38 stays at UK 5 in the women’s column, while the US column and the men’s column drift between charts. Use the reference table below as a starting point, not the final word.
| Reference | Value |
|---|---|
| EU size 38 foot length | 24.0 cm (common conversion reference) |
| Brand foot-length range for EU 38 | 237 mm to 244–250 mm, depending on the chart |
| UK women’s size | 5 |
| US women’s size | 7.5–8 (some charts list 8) |
| UK men’s size | 5.5 standard; 5 on unisex/men’s readings |
| US men’s size | 5.5 standard; 6 on PUMA’s men’s chart |
| EU 39 foot length | 24.7 cm (standard reference) |
| EU 39 UK women’s size | 6 (standard reference) |
| EU 39 US women’s size | 8.5 (standard reference) |
What size is 38 in women’s shoes in the UK?
EU 38 converts to UK women’s size 5. PUMA (sportswear manufacturer) maps EU 38 to UK 5 and US 8 on its women’s chart (PUMA (sportswear manufacturer)), QVC UK lists UK 5 as EU 38 (QVC UK (shopping channel)), and Primark’s women’s shoe chart agrees. The UK answer stays 5 no matter which retailer you check.
The foot length under that number is the more reliable anchor. QVC UK’s chart puts EU 38 at 237 mm, while EMP UK’s table stretches the same size to a 244–250 mm range (EMP UK (lifestyle retailer)). Those differences are normal; they reflect how much room each brand builds into the shoe.
UK women’s size equivalent
- EU 38 → UK 5 (Foot Locker UK, QVC UK, Primark)
- UK 5 → EU 38 on QVC UK’s chart (QVC UK (shopping channel))
- EU 38 → UK 5 and US 8 on PUMA’s women’s chart (PUMA (sportswear manufacturer))
- If a chart pairs 38 with a UK 7 or 8, check the column heading before trusting it
Nike size conversion
- Generic US-based guides usually place Nike’s EU 38 at US women’s 7.5
- Nike publishes model-specific size charts, and fit can shift between styles
- On the UK scale, EU 38 stays in the women’s size 5 band
If you usually buy Nike in US sizes and your EU size is 38, open the product page’s own chart and compare your measured centimetres against its cm column. The UK conversion is still roughly size 5 for most women’s styles, but the model chart is the final authority.
The pattern is consistent: as long as the chart uses UK sizing, EU 38 means 5. The variation that shows up online comes from US columns, not UK ones.
The consistency across retailers confirms that UK women’s size 5 is the reliable answer.
What is EUR 38 in UK mens size?
Men’s conversion is where size 38 gets messy. Standard conversion tables list EU 38 as UK men’s size 5.5, while PUMA’s men’s chart maps it to UK 5 with US 6 (PUMA (sportswear manufacturer)). Foot Locker UK’s guide, shown in the snapshot, treats EU 38 as UK 5 in unisex or men’s sizing — so the honest answer is “between UK 5 and 5.5, depending on the chart.”
UK men’s size equivalent
- EU 38 → UK 5.5 on the standard conversion scale
- EU 38 → UK 5, US 6 on PUMA’s men’s chart (PUMA (sportswear manufacturer))
- EU 38 → UK 5 on Foot Locker’s unisex/men’s reading (shown in the snapshot)
- Men’s size 38 is uncommon beyond small sizes, so availability can be limited
The men’s column is the least reliable part of any size-38 conversion. PUMA (sportswear manufacturer) and Foot Locker UK (footwear retailer) disagree on the UK number even before you look at the US column.
The implication: for men’s shoes, the safe route is the brand’s own chart — ideally its cm column — rather than a one-number answer for EU 38.
How to measure shoe size in cm?
Measuring your foot in centimetres removes most of the guesswork, because EU sizing is a metric system at heart. European sizes run on Paris points: one size equals two-thirds of a centimetre (Wikipedia (EU size reference)). EU 38 therefore corresponds to roughly 24 cm of foot length, and each step up adds about 0.67 cm.
Steps to measure foot length
- Stand with your heel against a straight edge or wall (EMP UK (lifestyle retailer))
- Keep your weight evenly balanced while the foot is flat (QVC UK (shopping channel))
- Mark the longest toe — it isn’t always the big toe (EMP UK (lifestyle retailer))
- Measure the gap between the wall and the mark in centimetres
- Repeat on the other foot; if the lengths differ, the longer one determines the size (HOKA (running brand))
Using a ruler or measuring tape
- A soft tape measure works if it stays flat against the foot
- A ruler against a traced outline is more precise
The wall method described above is the one retailers recommend; a tape measure gives the same number if you keep it flat against the floor and measure from the heel to the longest toe.
Converting cm to EU size
- EU 38 sits at roughly 24.0 cm on the standard scale
- EU 39 sits at roughly 24.7 cm
- Compare your measurement with the same brand’s cm column rather than a generic chart
If your measured value sits inside a brand’s stated range for EU 38, that size is a reasonable bet. If it sits clearly above it, the next size up is the safer choice.
A 24.0 cm reference hides real differences: one chart fits an EU 38 to a 237 mm foot, another to a 250 mm foot. Shoe buyers who rely on the EU number alone can end up a half-size off without ever changing the number on the box.
The pattern: the EU number is a label, the centimetre is the fact. Trust the measurement.
The takeaway: a measured centimetre removes the guesswork that conversion numbers introduce.
Is a 38 a size 7 or 8?
No — and the confusion is completely understandable. EU 38 is UK women’s size 5. The “7 or 8” answers come from US women’s sizing, where EU 38 lands near 7.5–8 (Foot Locker UK (footwear retailer)). PUMA’s chart rounds the same value to US 8 (PUMA (sportswear manufacturer)). A site that tells you “38 is a size 8” is usually showing you the US column.
Common confusion explained
- EU 38 = UK 5 across retailer charts
- EU 38 = US 7.5–8 on Foot Locker’s guide (Foot Locker UK (footwear retailer))
- EU 38 = US 8 on PUMA’s women’s chart (PUMA (sportswear manufacturer))
- UK 7 and UK 8 sit several sizes above EU 38
The same EU 38 label reads “5” on a UK women’s chart and “8” on a US women’s chart. Both answers are correct for their own market — which is why the question gets asked so often.
What this means: before you trust a size chart, look at the column header. In the UK, EU 38 means 5; the 7-to-8 figure is the US translation.
Is 39 EU size 8?
No — EU 39 is not a UK size 8 either. Standard conversion references place EU 39 at UK women’s size 6, US women’s size 8.5, with an approximate foot length of 24.7 cm. The logic follows from the Paris-point system described above: one EU size step moves you one UK women’s size in this range, so EU 38 at UK 5 becomes EU 39 at UK 6.
EU 39 conversion
- EU 39 → UK women’s size 6
- EU 39 → US women’s size 8.5
- EU 39 foot length ≈ 24.7 cm
EU 39 to UK
- One EU size above 38 → one UK women’s size above 5
- UK women’s size 6 is the standard EU 39 equivalent
- UK size 8 sits several sizes higher and should not be used as a fallback for EU 39
The “is it an 8?” version of this question usually comes from shoppers converting the US number first. If a chart says EU 39 = US 8.5, that’s the US column again.
EU 39 to US
- EU 39 → US women’s 8.5 on standard references
- If you wear US 8, your EU size is closer to 38
- If you wear US 8.5, EU 39 is the more natural match
The trade-off: size labels are relative to the country’s system, not the foot. The exact same pair of feet can be “38” in Europe, “5” in the UK, and “7.5–8” in the US without changing a millimetre.
The pattern holds: EU 39 remains a UK 6, and any confusion stems from the US column.
Size 38 conversion reference table
Eight rows, one pattern: the UK women’s column moves one size between EU 38 and EU 39, while the US and men’s numbers shift more. This table lines up both sizes for a quick side-by-side check.
| Reference | EU 38 | EU 39 |
|---|---|---|
| UK women’s size | 5 | 6 |
| US women’s size | 7.5–8 | 8.5 |
| UK men’s / unisex size | 5–5.5 | — |
| US men’s size | 5.5–6 | — |
| Foot length (common reference) | 24.0 cm | 24.7 cm |
| Foot length (brand chart range) | 237 mm to 250 mm | — |
| PUMA women’s chart | UK 5, US 8 | — |
| PUMA men’s chart | UK 5, US 6 | — |
The implication: when brand charts disagree, the cm value explains why — a 237 mm foot and a 250 mm foot are not the same, even if both charts call the size 38.
How to order size 38 shoes in the UK without the guesswork
Once you know the EU number, the ordering process comes down to five checks. This sequence layers the measurement method retailers recommend over the brand-chart checks that conversion guides repeat.
- Open the brand’s official size chart for the exact model. Foot Locker’s guide is explicit about this: brand charts should be checked before you rely on a generic conversion.
- Measure both feet standing, heel against the wall, and write down the longer measurement in cm.
- Compare that number with the brand’s cm column — not its US column — because brands attach different cm values to the same EU 38.
- If your foot falls between two EU sizes, use the larger measurement as the deciding factor.
- Order from a retailer with easy returns, and test the shoes on carpet first.
That last step is practical, not paranoid: with brand charts differing by more than a centimetre, a return is sometimes the fastest fit test.
The trade-off: five minutes of measuring beats a week of returns.
What’s confirmed about size 38 — and what still varies
Confirmed facts
- EU 38 = UK women’s 5 across multiple retailer charts (Primark (high-street retailer))
- EU 38 lands near US women’s 7.5–8 in Foot Locker’s guide, and at US 8 in PUMA’s women’s chart
- European sizing runs on Paris points — 2/3 cm per size (Wikipedia (EU size reference))
- EU 38 is not a UK 7 or 8
What’s unclear
- Men’s conversion: UK 5 on Foot Locker’s unisex/men’s reading vs UK 5.5 on standard charts — both appear in the wild
- Foot-length values for EU 38 range from 237 mm (QVC UK) to 244–250 mm (EMP UK), so the same size can feel different between brands
- Whether Nike’s EU 38 fits like a generic UK 5 depends on the model
- US women’s values for EU 38 range from 7.5 to 8 depending on the chart
- Women’s shoes are typically narrower than men’s at the same EU length (Primark (high-street retailer))
The balance of evidence points one way: the UK conversion is stable for women’s shoes, while the men’s and US conversions carry real brand-to-brand variation.
What the brand charts actually say
The statements below are the closest the size charts come to direct explanations. Each one covers a different part of the size-38 puzzle.
“EU 38 may be treated as UK 5 in unisex or men’s sizing, but brand charts should be checked.”
— Foot Locker UK (footwear retailer)
“EU 38 corresponds to a 237 mm foot length.”
— QVC UK (shopping channel)
“Men’s and women’s shoe sizes are not identical, and women’s shoes are typically narrower.”
— Primark (high-street retailer)
“The larger foot measurement should generally determine the selected shoe size.”
— HOKA (running brand)
The pattern: even the brands don’t describe EU 38 as a single fixed size — they describe a range, a shape, and a measurement method.
The takeaway
Size 38 in the UK is, for women’s shoes, size 5 — the same number that reads as US 7.5–8 and that men’s charts may show as UK 5 or 5.5. For anyone shopping for size 38 shoes in the UK, the implication is clear: trust the brand’s own chart and your measured cm rather than a one-size-fits-all table, or budget extra time for a return.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between UK and EU shoe sizes?
European sizing runs on Paris points, where one full size equals two-thirds of a centimetre, so the EU scale is a simple metric sequence. UK sizing uses its own last-based increments. In practice, an EU 38 foot measures about 24 cm and maps to UK women’s 5.
How accurate are online shoe size conversion charts?
They are a useful starting point, not a guarantee. Different retailers attach different foot lengths to the same EU 38 — QVC UK uses 237 mm, while EMP UK’s table allows 244–250 mm for the same row. The safest move is to compare your measured cm against the brand’s own chart.
Do Nike shoes fit true to size for EU 38?
Nike publishes its own size guidance, and generic conversion guides typically place EU 38 at US women’s 7.5. Fit varies by model, so the model-specific Nike chart is the more reliable reference.
Is there a difference between women’s and men’s shoe size conversion for EU 38?
Yes. For women, EU 38 is UK 5 across the major charts reviewed here. For men, charts split between UK 5 and UK 5.5, and PUMA’s men’s chart adds US 6. Primark also notes that women’s shoes are typically narrower, so the same EU number can fit differently on men’s and women’s lasts.
Can I use a UK size 6 shoe if my EU size is 38?
Usually not as a straight conversion. EU 38 is UK 5; UK 6 is the standard equivalent of EU 39. Sizing up can work for wide feet or thick socks, but it changes the fit and shouldn’t replace measuring.
What is the best way to measure my foot for online shoe shopping?
Use the paper-and-wall method: stand with your heel against the wall, mark the longest toe, then measure the distance in centimetres. Measure both feet, because they can differ, and let the larger measurement decide. The longest toe is not always the big toe.
Why do shoe sizes vary between different brands?
Brands build different allowances and lasts around the same EU number. QVC UK’s chart puts EU 38 at 237 mm, while EMP UK’s table gives a 244–250 mm range for the same size. Primark adds that women’s shoes are typically narrower, which changes fit even at the same EU length.
The common thread in every answer: the EU number is consistent, but the brand chart decides the fit.
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