Slippers are forgiving in terms of fit; after all, they’re designed to provide maximum comfort, and the most action they’ll typically see is scooting from the couch to the refrigerator. Still, we all know what it’s like to try on a new pair of slippers only to feel your foot sliding around - or worse, your toes left crammed together. Below, we offer our top tips for ensuring a perfect fit.

A Note on Japanese Sizing

If you’ve ever shopped for clothing in Japan, you know it can sometimes be challenging to navigate Japanese sizing. Generally speaking, Japanese sizes are smaller than their Western equivalents, so it’s not unusual to find yourself buying clothes one or two sizes larger than what you’re used to.

To further complicate things, many international brands have been known to adjust their sizes for different markets. (For instance, if you find an “A” listed next to the size on a tag, it means the garment has been tailored for the Japanese market.)

When it comes to footwear in particular, finding sizes larger than a US women’s size 8 or men’s size 10 can require a visit to a specialty store. Add to this the fact that Japanese shoes tend to be more narrow, and you have a perfect storm for sizing issues.

Luckily, Japanese brands use what is probably the most straightforward shoe sizing method there is: Your size is the length of your foot in centimeters. Still, US sizes rarely align perfectly with Japanese standards, making streamlined conversions difficult. To ensure a perfect fit, we suggest following the steps below.

How to Measure Your Foot for a Japanese Slipper

Grab two sheets of paper. Some A4 or letter size paper should work unless your feet are especially large.
Put on the type of socks - if any - that you plan to wear with your new slippers.
Stand directly on the paper and use a pencil to trace your feet. To ensure an accurate measurement, make sure your full weight is on the foot when tracing.
Draw a line connecting the base of your heel to the farthest tip of your toes, then measure it in centimeters. Repeat with your other foot.

The longest measurement between your two feet is your Japanese shoe size. If you’re on the edge of two sizes or have wide feet, move up a size to ensure adequate room.

The size charts below offer an at-a-glance conversion between Japanese and US sizing, though it should be noted that a measurement in centimeters is truly the best indicator of your ideal room shoe size.

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