Adidas Shoe Sizing Guide: Do They Run Small?
Adidas fits true to size for most buyers — your usual US size is usually the first size to check. The one nuance is the Ultraboost, which runs slightly narrow through the midfoot and a touch long, so it can feel different from the rest of the range even though the label is correct. Stan Smith and the originals line are reliably true to size.
Across our data Adidas true to size: 15% of wearers report it runs small, 70% true to size and 15% large.
Adidas sizing philosophy
Adidas grades around a fuller, rounder last than Nike, which is the single biggest reason the two brands feel different at the same label. Where Nike locks the foot down, Adidas leaves a little more room across the forefoot — so a buyer moving from Nike to Adidas at the same number usually finds the Adidas roomier, not the other way round.
The brand spans two design cultures: the Originals lifestyle line (Stan Smith, Samba, Gazelle) built on classic, predictable lasts, and the performance line (Ultraboost, Adizero) tuned for a snug, sock-like hold. Treat them as two different sizing conversations — the Originals are the true-to-size benchmark, the performance shoes the ones to read carefully.
How Adidas models differ
There is no single "Adidas size" — different lines are graded on different lasts. Here is how the key models compare:
- Stan Smith / Originals
- True to size and forgiving — the safest Adidas starting point. Start by checking your normal US size.
- Ultraboost
- Runs slightly narrow at the midfoot because of the snug Primeknit upper, and a touch long. True to size for length, but try before committing if you have a wide midfoot.
- Samba / Gazelle
- Low-volume and slightly narrow underfoot; most people stay true to size, but very wide feet sometimes go half up.
Practical sizing advice
If you normally wear US 9, start by checking Adidas in US 9 — no adjustment is usually needed for most models.
If your feet are wide
Adidas is largely a standard-width brand without a dedicated wide grade, but its rounder last means standard-width Adidas often suits a medium-wide foot better than standard-width Nike. For genuinely wide feet, the Originals silhouettes are more forgiving than the snug Primeknit performance uppers.
If you wear US 9, start by checking Adidas in US 9
This table starts from the US size you wear in a true-to-size brand, converts it to a foot length, and applies Adidas's measured fit so you can see the first size to check — plus the UK, EU and CM equivalents.
| You normally wear (US) | Foot length | Check Adidas (US) | UK | EU | CM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 7 | 246mm | US 7 | 6 | 37 | 24.5 |
| US 8 | 254mm | US 8 | 7 | 38 | 25.5 |
| US 9 | 262mm | US 9 | 8 | 39 | 26 |
| US 10 | 271mm | US 10 | 9 | 41 | 27 |
| US 11 | 279mm | US 11 | 10 | 42 | 28 |
| US 12 | 288mm | US 12 | 11 | 43 | 29 |
EU sizes are always rounded to a whole size — there is no exact half-size equivalent. The recommended Adidas size applies this brand's average fit; individual models still vary, so check the model notes above.
Full Adidas size conversion
For the complete Adidas size chart with US, UK, EU and CM by foot length, the reported-fit distribution and our sources, visit the Adidas brand hub.
Adidas size guide & converter →
Adidas offers wider widths (2E) — see the brand hub for the full width breakdown.