Ever bought a pair of sneakers online that looked fire in the photos, only to realize they feel like literal torture chambers for your toes? You're not alone. Most of us in India have been blindly following a sizing system that wasn't even made for us. We've been stuck with the British legacy for decades. Honestly, it's a mess.
If you’ve ever looked at an indian shoe chart size and wondered why a "Size 8" feels different depending on where you buy it, there’s a massive reason for that. India has historically used the UK sizing system. But here’s the kicker: Indian feet are structurally different from European feet. We generally have wider feet. This mismatch is exactly why you probably have a "favorite" brand that fits and three other pairs gathering dust because they're too narrow.
The Big Shift: Meet "Bha"
For the longest time, we just dealt with the discomfort. But things are changing fast. The CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) recently conducted a massive pan-India survey, scanning over 100,000 feet across 73 districts. They found out what we already knew—the UK and US charts are failing us.
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They’re introducing a new system called Bha (short for Bharat). It’s designed to replace the old UK/US/EU systems by late 2025 or early 2026. Instead of a million different variations, Bha aims to simplify everything into eight primary categories.
- Bha I to IV will cover babies and kids.
- Bha V and VI are for teenagers.
- Bha VII is for adult women.
- Bha VIII is for adult men.
The goal? Stop making us buy a size larger just to get the width right. When you buy a size up to accommodate width, the "flex point" of the shoe—where it's supposed to bend with your foot—ends up in the wrong place. That’s how you get blisters and long-term arch pain.
How to Read the Current Indian Shoe Chart Size
Until Bha becomes the absolute standard on every Amazon or Flipkart listing, we’re still playing the conversion game. Basically, if a brand says "Indian Size," they almost always mean "UK Size."
Here is how the math usually works out for men:
If you are a US Size 10, you are likely an Indian/UK Size 9.
If you are looking at European (EU) sizes, that same Size 9 is roughly a 43 or 44.
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For women, it gets a bit more annoying. A US Women's Size 8 is generally an Indian Size 6.
You've got to be careful here because some international brands listing on Indian sites don't always clarify if they've already converted the size for the local market.
The Measurement Hack
Don't trust the number on your old shoes. Your feet change. Weight fluctuations, age, and even pregnancy can literally change the physical length and width of your feet.
- Wait until the evening. Your feet swell throughout the day. If you measure in the morning, those shoes will feel like a vice grip by 6 PM.
- Tape a piece of paper to a hard floor. Don't do this on carpet; it's too squishy for an accurate reading.
- Trace with a vertical pen. If you tilt the pen, you're adding or subtracting millimeters.
- Measure the longest distance. Usually, this is from the heel to the big toe, but for some, it’s the second toe. Use that longest point.
Why Width is the Silent Killer
Most indian shoe chart size guides focus entirely on length. This is a trap. If you have a wide foot (which most Indians do), a "Standard" or "D" width shoe in Western sizing will feel tight.
Look for brands that offer "Wide" or "EE" fittings. If you’re shopping on global sites like Nike or Adidas, they often have specific wide versions of their popular models. In India, because we don't have a standardized width marking yet, we often default to buying one size up. Stop doing that. It ruins the support of the shoe.
Instead, look for materials that have some give. Suede and soft leather will eventually mold to a wider foot. Synthetic "plastic-y" materials won't. They’ll just stay tight until they rip.
Kid's Sizes: A Different Ballgame
Parents, listen up. Kids' feet grow in spurts, but don't buy shoes that are too big. You think you're saving money, but you're actually messing with their gait.
In the current Indian system, kids' sizes often start from 0 and go up to 13 before restarting at 1 for "older kids." It's confusing as hell. The new Bha system aims to fix this by basing it on age-appropriate growth patterns. For now, the "thumb rule" is literal: there should be about a thumb's width of space between their longest toe and the end of the shoe.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Purchase
Stop guessing. Next time you're looking at an indian shoe chart size, do this:
- Check the CM/MM: Forget the 8s, 9s, and 10s. Look for the "Centimeters" or "Mondopoint" measurement on the chart. That is an absolute value and doesn't change between brands.
- Look at the "Last": A "last" is the wooden or plastic mold a shoe is built around. Some brands use a "European Last" (narrow and long) while others use a "Global Last" (slightly wider). If you have wide feet, brands like Skechers or New Balance often fit the Indian foot shape better than narrow-leaning brands like Puma or Converse.
- Read the "True to Size" reviews: On sites like Myntra, users usually vote on whether a shoe runs small, large, or perfect. Pay attention to those.
- The 15-Minute Rule: When you get your new shoes, wear them inside the house on a clean surface for 15 minutes. If you feel any "hot spots" or pinching, return them immediately. They won't "break in" as much as you hope they will.
We are on the verge of finally having shoes that actually fit our feet thanks to the Bha system. Until then, grab a ruler, measure your foot in centimeters, and use that as your primary guide. It’s the only way to avoid the heartbreak of a "perfect" shoe that you can't actually wear.