5 Best Shoe Size Measuring Devices For Kids 2023 + User Guide

Buying shoes for your kids is a responsibility to ensure your kid’s well-being and growth are looked after. Buying shoes online makes this chore very easy, but you need to do some work to determine which size fits your kid. For your convenience, I listed the 5 best shoe size measuring devices for kids and added a user guide to this article.

These devices take away the trouble of trying to measure your kid’s feet using a pen, paper, and ruler. It also reduces the chances of writing the wrong measurement of your kid’s feet.

It is so convenient that you will realize just why on earth you still have not owned one yet. Follow me as I dive into the topic.

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Facts About Shoe Size Measuring Devices

When you use these devices it immediately gives you the size of the shoe that will fit your kid.

It will not give you measurements in centimeters or inches which will give you another headache of doing conversions on the size charts.

You do not need the size chart anymore, you go directly to purchasing the correct shoe for your kid.

1. NBC Practical Foot Measuring Device

Features:

• Portable
• Suitable For Kids And Adults
• US Size
• Sturdy Plastic
• Blue
• Length: 34Cm
• Weight: 100g

Pros:

• Affordable
• Gives US Size And Length In Centimeters

Cons:

• No Width Sizing
• No Length Measurement In Inches

The NBC Practical Foot Measuring Device can measure kids’ and adults’ feet in US size. It also comes with measurement in centimeters should you opt to use the shoe manufacturer’s shoe size chart.

You can measure your kid’s shoe size by sliding out the white plastic marker, placing your kid’s foot against the heel stopper, then sliding back the white marker until it touches his or her large toe. The correct size is shown by the arrow in the window of the white marker.

Here is a tip: Take the size indicated by the arrow, if you are measuring for an adult, take the reading next to the arrow, not where the white maker touches the toe. And be careful not to confuse yourself with the centimeter.

This is a good basic measuring device but it can be confusing for some parents.

My Rating: 4.5/5

2. Squatchi Foot Measuring Device

Features:

• Fit As Expected: 89%
• Colors: Aqua Blue And Green – Check It Out Here
• Lightweight & Portable
• Sturdy Plastic
• US Size
• Size Range: 2 Toddlers – 5 Youth (12 Years Old)

Pros:

• No Moving Parts
• Simple To Operate

Cons:

• No Width Sizing
• A Bit Pricey For A Simple Tool

The Squatchi foot measuring device is probably one of the most simple tools on this list. It is already shaped like a foot so parents will not have any difficulties figuring out where to place the heel and the direction the toe should be pointing.

Once your kid’s foot is placed, all you have to do is take the measurement in front of the toe. This is a true shoe size measurement so you have to allow space for a sock. Better still, have your kid wear socks before taking the measurement.

A great keepsake for the family.

My Rating: 4.8/5

3. RITZ Stick Foot Measuring Device

Features:

• Measure Children, Men, And Women’s Shoe Size
• US Size
• Measure the Length And Width Of Feet
• Wooden – Portable & Lightweight
• Weight: 4 Ounces
• Dimension: 17 x 1.5 x 1.8 inches
• Instructions Are Printed On The Back Of The Stick
• APMA Accepted
• Commercial Grade Durability

Pros:

• Measure the Length And Width Of Feet
• Can Be Used By Children And Adult

Cons:

• None That I can Find

Although this shoe sizer does not look fancy it solved some issues that others do not. Firstly, children and adults can use this same device to measure their feet.

Most brands produced two separate devices for children and adults, meaning you have to buy them separately.

Secondly, this device can measure both the length and width of feet, whereas, products in the same price range only measure the length of the feet.

I would say this is the best affordable shoe sizer.

My Rating: 4.9/5

4. Junior (US) Genuine Brannock brand Device

Features:

• Size Range: Infant To Size 5 (10-Year-Old)
• Dimensions: 11.8 x 5.2 x 1.8 Inches
• Weight: 1.05 Pounds

Pros:

• Very detailed

Cons:

• Pricey

This is a genuine Brannock brand that is used by a lot of shoe stores across the US and is the standard foot measuring tool in the footwear industry – as they claimed.

The US military even hired Brannock, the inventor,  to measure shoe sizes for soldiers during WWII.

The device is sturdy and can last longer if well looked after.

This is a good investment for the family and also a great value for a product that has come a long way through history.

My Rating: 4.8/5

5. AMZ Wholesale Foot Measuring Device

Features:

• Gives Measurement In Centimeters
• High-Quality ABS Material
• Range: 0 – 30 CM
• Weight: 51.9 Grams
• Portable & Lightweight
• Durable & Strong

Pros:

• The product Is Less Than $10

Cons:

• Only Gives Length Of Foot In Centimeters. Not The Shoe Size.

The AMZ foot measuring device is simple because it saves you from having to use a ruler, paper, and pen. The device itself does not give the size of the shoes but rather the length of the foot in centimeters.

Another issue is that it does not give measurements in inches so if you are trying to use a size chart that only uses inches, then you need to make a conversion from centimeters to inches.

I think this is why some parents gave it a bad review because they did not read the product information carefully before making the purchase.

However, this measuring device still does the job by accurately giving the measurement in centimeters. For the price of less than $10, I think it is still a useful tool to have in the house.

My Rating: 4.4/5

How To Measure Kids’ Feet For Shoes – User Guide

Buying shoes online for your kid has never been easier but best of all is the convenience of doing it in the comfort of your own home. However, shoes are not one-size-fits-all items and many parents fall victim to buying the wrong-sized shoes for their kids. If you are one of them then you need to master the skill of how to measure your kid’s feet for shoes.

By following the very simple steps described below you will have a good chance of finding the right shoe for your kid.

Facts About Your Kid’s Feet

Kids’ feet grow very fast and their shoe sizes must always be checked before getting new shoes.

Here are some facts:

• Kids who are between 1 – 3 years old can grow their feet 1.5mm per month or a total of 18mm per year. That is ¾ of an inch.
• Kids who are between 3 – 6 years old can grow their feet 1mm per month, or 12mm per year. That is ½ of an inch.
• Kids who are between 6 – 10 years old can grow their feet at least 1mm per month, which is a little less than 12mm per year. You will notice the growth gets a bit slower at this stage.
• Older kids between 12 – 17 years old started to vary as the boy’s feet will grow an additional 10% while the girls only 2%
• Boys and girls under the age of 10 use the same size

Having read through this, you can forgive yourself for buying the wrong shoe size for your kid. The data above is enough to cause you a huge challenge to keep up!

According to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society, 88% of women wore shoes that are too small for them and 70% of men wear shoes that do not fit their feet.

Read on and you can help yourself as well.

Effects Of Wearing Wrong Size Shoe

• Your kid will develop blisters, especially on the heel and the toe but they can be anywhere. This is a sign that the shoe is too small or too big.
• Your kid will not be willing to participate in any activities such as playing soccer or running because his or her feet are hurting.
• Your kid’s toe will be crammed in the toe area which will make walking very uncomfortable. If you press on the toe area you will notice there is no room left and you can feel the toe being squeezed.
• If the shoe is too big you will see that his or her heels will come off easily when he or she walks,
• Big shoes also cause your child to trip and fall as the toe will kick the floor while walking. This will cause your kid to drag his or her feet rather than walk normally.
• Generally, you will notice your kid will walk awkwardly.
• If your kid started complaining of sore feet then you should investigate immediately.

Ill-Fitting Shoes Can Hurt The Feet?

Shoes that are either too small or too big can hurt your kid’s feet in the short and long term. The following are some examples:

• Blisters are the most common short-term injury
• Corns and calluses will develop on the toes in the long term
• Ingrown nails will become infected and cause pain, redness, and fluid draining from the area.

Tips For Measuring The Feet

• Measure feet when the day is over and feet are at their largest size of the day.
• Measure while wearing the socks the child will be wearing the shoes with.
• After measuring both feet use the length of the bigger one to find the shoe size. Allow some space in front of your kid’s toe, the rule of thumb is the width of your finger.
• Make sure to measure while the child is standing up.

3 Methods Of Measuring The Feet

1. Straight Line Method

To follow this method, you will need a piece of paper, a ruler, and a pen

Follow these simple steps:

1. Draw a straight line down a piece of paper
2. Place the paper along a wall. Place the child’s foot with his or her heel against the wall and aligned it to the line on the paper.
3. Mark the spot where the big toe stops at. Feet may vary in size so make sure to measure both.
4. Take the distance from the end of the paper at which the child’s heel was placed and to the spot where the big toe was marked.
5. Use the measurement to find your child’s shoe size in the graph provided below.
6. Make sure to record the measurement in centimeters and inches

Note: For small children hold the paper to their foot and mark both the big toe and heel and measure between the two marks. Write the length in centimeters or inches.

2. Tracing Method

You will need the following materials paper, marker, ribbon, and ruler

Follow these simple steps:

1. Trace both feet on paper – you may need a helper for the younger kid
2. Measure the length of feet: Using the ruler, measure each foot from the outside of the heel to the biggest toe
3. For each foot write the measurement in centimeters and or inches
4. Measure the width of feet: Using the ribbon, wrap around the widest part of each foot. Mark where the ribbons meet with a marker.
5. Lay the ribbon straight on the floor and use the ruler to measure the length of the ribbon from the tip to where you marked the ribbon.
6. For each foot write the measurement in centimeters and or inches
7. Go to the vendor size chart to select the correct size.

3. Using A Foot Measuring Device

Investing in a measuring device can save you a lot of trouble such as getting inaccurate data or having to take your kid to the shoe store as well.

These devices vary from simple to more complex features that will help determine the right shoe size.

Generally, they are flat devices where you can place your kid’s fit on them and find out immediately what is your kid’s shoe size.

The benefits of using these devices are:

• You can get the shoe size of your kid’s feet immediately – forget the size charts
• You will have a lower chance of getting the wrong size shoes – unless the vendor totally messes up
• You can track your kid’s growth as the size increases
• You can give it to your kid as a keepsake when he or she grows up

All you need to do is get the shoe size from the measuring device and go straight to ordering your kid’s shoes online.

How To Find The Correct Shoe Size

If you are using methods 1 and 2 then you need to look up the vendor’s size chart or you can check the vendor’s size calculators on their website. I have below links to size calculators and charts from 3 major shoe brands. They are Adidas, Nike, and Puma

How To Use Adidas Kid’s Size Chart

1. Go to the Adidas shoe size guide here
2. You will find Adidas also uses the same measurement guide as described in method 1 above.
3. Adidas uses inches instead of centimeters. So write down your kid’s foot length in inches.
4. When you scroll down the page you will see 3 charts or tables:
   • Babies and Toddlers (0 – 3 Years)
   • Children (4 – 7 Years)
   • Youth and Teens (8 – 16 Years)

The chart also converts US sizes to UK and EU.

Let’s say my 6-year-old kid’s foot is measured at 6.9 inches

I would go to the Children’s chart because my kid’s age is in the 4 – 7 Years range.

When I checked the chart I see that my US kid’s size is 11.5K, 29 EU size, and 11K UK size.

How To Use Nike Shoe Size Calculator

1. Go to the Nike shoe size guide here
2. You will find they also have the measurement guide as described in method 2 above.
3. Nike used a calculator that is super easy to use
4. Scroll down until you come to the GET A SIZE RECOMMENDATION as shown in the screenshot below:

5. Click on the CM if your measurement is in Centimeter and click IN if it is Inches

6. Under the HEEL-TO-TOE-LENGHT click on the dropdown arrow

7. Scroll down and select the size range of your kid’s feet by clicking on it.

8. Click on the CONTINUE button

9. Nike will give you the recommended shoe size instantly

10. In this case, your kid’s shoe size is 13.5C

11. You may proceed to buy your kid’s Nike shoes.

How To Use Puma’s Kids Size Chart

1. Go to Puma’s kid’s size chart here
2. You have to scroll down quite a bit to reach the kid’s chart – which is super annoying
3. The Puma shoe size chart for kids has 3 categories for toddlers, little kids, and juniors.
4. Once you get there, you will find that they have a similar chart to Adidas but they include German, French, Italian, and Spanish shoe conversion instead of the whole EU.

5. Once you find your kid’s correct size you may proceed to purchase online.

Different Sizing Standards

It is very easy to blame the parents and not the shoe manufacturers for the wrong sizes but one thing is clear, centimeters and inches do not lie.

Every shoe manufacturers seem to have its own standard sizing and that is why it is important to look up their sizing chart on their website.

Also, look out for knock-off shoes that are sold by crooks online as they are not approved products and do not conform to the genuine brand shoe size chart.

Ruler Vs Measuring Devices

Both methods have their pros and cons which I am going to point out below:

Ruler Measurement Method

Pros:

• It offers the flexibility to refer to any shoe size chart which I believe is not the same among the shoe manufacturer.
• Cheaper method. All you need are a pen, paper, and a ruler.

Cons:

• A bit time-consuming as you have to measure your kid’s feet and then refer to the sizing chart for conversion.
• Human error. The chances of you getting mixed up with the centimeters and inches are possible.

Foot Measuring Device

Pros:

• It will save you a lot of time when buying online and even offline because all you need to do is get the size and make the purchase.
• Good investment. Some devices are durable and of high quality and last a long time.

Cons:

• You need to spend some money to get these devices. Some are expensive.
• The shoe sizing standard from manufacturers is not usually the same. You may still end up getting the wrong size.

Conclusion

None of these methods proved to be better than the other therefore they should be used to complement each other.

The most accurate method of getting the right shoe size is the traditional method of taking your kid to the shoe store and trying each shoe.

However, this is no longer practical for most parents due to busy schedules and we now have online shops that make our lives very easy.

Either way, our main goal is to get shoes for our kid that fit well and does not cause any harm to them.

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Source:

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