Shoes are one of the easiest things to get wrong on AliExpress: the listing says 240 or 245, the seller's chart mixes EU, US and centimetres, and the same foot comes out as two different EU sizes. This guide explains what the numbers mean and how to choose in two minutes.
What “240” means
Many Asian shoe listings are labelled by foot length in millimetres: 240 means a foot 24 cm long, 245 means 24.5 cm. That makes centimetres the one measurement you can trust across every seller — EU and US labels vary between brands, the length of your foot does not.
Measure your foot (2 minutes)
- Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall.
- Mark the tip of your longest toe, then measure from the wall to the mark in centimetres.
- Measure both feet and use the longer one. Measuring in the evening is better — feet are slightly larger by then.
How to read the seller's chart
Look for a column called foot length or insole length. If it says foot length, pick the row that matches your measurement. If it says insole length, pick an insole about 0.5–1 cm longer than your foot, so your toes have room. If the chart only lists EU sizes, convert with the table below or our size converter.
Why the same foot has two EU sizes
Women's and men's charts do not line up: at the same foot length, a men's chart usually gives an EU size about half a size larger. A 24 cm foot is EU 38 on a women's chart and 38.5 on a men's. For unisex sneakers, go by centimetres, not by the EU number.
When to size up
- You are between two sizes — take the larger one.
- Your feet are wide or high-arched, or the shoe is a narrow Asian last (reviews often say “runs small”).
- Winter boots that you will wear with thick socks.
- Children's shoes: leave about 1 cm of room to grow.
Shoe size table (by foot length)
Approximate; brands differ by about half a size. EU is shown as women–men where the two charts differ.
| Foot (cm) | Asian label | EU | US women | US men |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.0 | 230 | 36.5 | 6 | 4 |
| 23.5 | 235 | 37.5 | 6.5 | 5 |
| 24.0 | 240 | 38–38.5 | 7 | 6 |
| 24.5 | 245 | 38.5–39 | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| 25.0 | 250 | 39–40 | 8 | 7 |
| 25.5 | 255 | 40–40.5 | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| 26.0 | 260 | 40.5–41 | 9 | 8 |
| 26.5 | 265 | 41–42 | 9.5 | 8.5 |
| 27.0 | 270 | 42–42.5 | 10 | 9 |
| 27.5 | 275 | 42.5–43 | 10.5 | 9.5 |
Find shoes in your size
OneFindMe searches AliExpress in your own language and shows prices in your currency. Try women sneakers, then open the listing and check its chart in centimetres before you choose a size.
Disclosure: OneFindMe is a search tool for AliExpress and earns a commission on some AliExpress purchases made through it. The size table is our own, the same one used by our free size converter.
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❓ FAQ
What does 240 mean in AliExpress shoe sizes?
It is the foot length in millimetres: 240 = a 24 cm foot, which is about EU 38 on a women's chart (38.5 on a men's) and US women's 7.
Do AliExpress shoes run small?
Often, yes — many are made on narrower Asian lasts. Measure your foot in centimetres, compare with the seller's chart, and take the larger size if you are between two.
Should I go by EU size or centimetres?
Centimetres. EU sizes differ between women's and men's charts and between brands, while the foot length on the chart is the same measurement you took.
How much room should children's shoes have?
About 1 cm beyond the length of the foot, so there is room to grow without the shoe being loose.