Brooks vs New Balance Shoe Size - Which Runs Smaller?

Brooks and New Balance run true to each other. Keep your usual size when switching. If you wear Brooks in US 9, start by checking New Balance in US 8.5. Both brands use the same foot-length measurement; the small differences are in last shape, not the conversion formula.

Brooks to New Balance size chart

Starting New Balance size to check when you wear Brooks in each US men size.
US Men (Brooks) Brooks -> New Balance Foot length
7 6.5 246mm
8 7.5 254mm
9 8.5 262mm
10 9.5 271mm
11 10.5 279mm

Fit verdict

  • Brooks: True to size (65% of buyers)
  • New Balance: Runs large (50% of buyers)

Why the sizes differ

Brooks and New Balance are close enough to treat as the same size at the brand level. The measured gap is about 2mm.

Brooks foot length is measured in millimetres, then mapped to US size. The New Balance starting size stays the same because of each brand fit bias, not a different conversion formula.