New Balance vs Brooks Shoe Size - Which Runs Smaller?
New Balance runs about half a US size large compared to Brooks. If you wear New Balance in US 9, start by checking Brooks in US 9.5. Both brands use the same foot-length measurement; the difference is in the last shape, not the conversion formula.
New Balance to Brooks size chart
| US Men (New Balance) | New Balance -> Brooks | Foot length |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7.5 | 246mm |
| 8 | 8.5 | 254mm |
| 9 | 9.5 | 262mm |
| 10 | 10.5 | 271mm |
| 11 | 11.5 | 279mm |
Fit verdict
- New Balance: Runs large (50% of buyers)
- Brooks: True to size (65% of buyers)
Why the sizes differ
New Balance runs about half a US size large compared to Brooks, with roughly 2mm between the matched fit records.
New Balance foot length is measured in millimetres, then mapped to US size. The Brooks starting size shifts by about half a US size because of each brand fit bias, not a different conversion formula.