Black Friday - best deals from 50 stores Because of Vans' unisex sizing scheme where one last is used for both men's and women's trainers, there can be a slight (half-a-size) deviation from other athletic brands.
To make sure you get the accurate size from the start, we recommend measuring your foot length before referring to the chart below.
If your foot length falls in between (i.e. 264 mm), round it up by adding 5-6 mm to your foot length (270 mm) because there should be a small space between the end of your longest toe and the shoe upper.
Vans men's and women's size chart
Vans sizing vs Nike, Adidas, and Converse
Considering their sporty skate style, Vans trainers are often compared with similar kicks from Nike, Adidas, and Converse. In most cases, you can order the same size across all these brands but there can be small discrepancies in women's sizes (because Vans shoes are unisex).
Specific sneaker models (i.e. Chuck Taylor and Chuck 70) can also differ from standard sizes due to their unique design.
| Shoe length (MM) | Vans | Nike | Adidas | Converse (Chuck Taylor/Chuck 70) |
| Men's US sizes | ||||
| 270 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8.5 |
| 280 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9.5 |
| 290 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10.5 |
| Women's US sizes | ||||
| 230 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6 | 5.5 |
| 240 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7 | 6.5 |
| 250 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8 | 7.5 |
We measure the internal length of each Vans sneaker we test in our lab to determine if it runs true to the brand's sizing scheme.
How should Vans skate shoes fit
Originally designed as skateboarding-ready footwear, Vans shoes are meant to fit snug and keep your feet securely locked in for rapid moves. However, length-wise they should still have enough space and not pinch your toes.
That’s why the brand warns that performance-oriented collections like Vans Old Skool or Sk8-Hi are expected to fit snug and may require going half a size larger.
Vans Slip-On could feel slightly tight on the top where the elasticized straps are placed. It is okay because they are meant to stretch out a bit with use. These silhouettes should NOT feel loose from the start.
See our in-depth lab reviews of Vans kicks to find out how each model fits length- and widthwise.
How to break in Vans shoes
Don’t expect the size of your Vans pair to change over time. But what does change is the stiffness of materials themselves, which makes the fit more agreeable. Here are a few tips on how to make Vans feel “at home” a little quicker:
- wear thick socks or two pairs of regular ones with your new Vans and walk around the house the first few days for 1-2 hours
- occasionally grab the pair with your hands and bend each shoe in the forefoot. It will help vulcanised rubber soles to gain a little flex
It’s not recommended to wear brand new Vans outside for a long time to avoid heel scraping. Or be sure to take some band aid along with you.
Vans are not for wide feet
These moccasins with slightly pointed toes are not a top choice for people who need some extra space for the forefoot.
But the good news is that some of the brand's most popular models (like Old Skool and Slip-On) are available in the wide option.
Can’t measure your feet right now but have another kick nearby that fits you perfectly? Input its size into the tool below and find out the corresponding Vans size.
