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Half of British women are wearing the wrong shoe size… here’s how to find YOUR perfect fit

Many people haven’t had their feet measured since childhood and find out their size by trying on a variety of different shoes

IF your feet often feel sore by the end of the day and you’re developing unsightly blisters, it could be because you’re wearing the wrong shoe size.

released a study last month that found nearly half of British women are wearing the wrong shoe size – and a third of 2,000 people admit to wearing shoes that don’t fit properly.

 Half of British women wear the wrong shoe size, according to a new study (Picture posed by model)
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Half of British women wear the wrong shoe size, according to a new study (Picture posed by model)Credit: Getty Images

Many people haven’t had their feet measured since childhood and simply figure out their shoe size by trying on a few pairs in their favourite shop.

Following the shock findings, has created a clever guide to help you accurately measure your feet – and discover your real size.

 Most Brits haven't had their feet measure since childhood (Picture posed by model)
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Most Brits haven't had their feet measure since childhood (Picture posed by model)Credit: Getty Images

How to discover your true shoe size

1. Place a piece of paper on the floor.

2. Sit on a chair and place your foot on the paper, ensuring you're on a hard, flat floor, rather than carpeted.

3. Use a pen or pencil to trace the outline of your foot.

4. Using a ruler, draw a perfectly straight line on each end of your foot: the tips of your toes and heel.

5. Use the ruler to measure between the two parallel lines and write down the number.

6. Subtract 3/16ths of an inch from the number, and use the chart below to calculate your true shoe size...

The definitive guide to working out your REAL shoe size

  • Size 4: 8 3/16" or 20.8 cm in length
  • Size 4.5: 8 5/16" or 21.3 cm
  • Size 5: 8 11/16" or 21.6 cm
  • Size 5.5: 8 13/16" or 22.2 cm
  • Size 6: 9" or 22.5 cm
  • Size 6.5: 9 3/16" or 23 cm
  • Size 7: 9 5/16" or 23.5 cm
  • Size 7.5: 9 1/2" or 23.8 cm
  • Size 8: 9 11/16" or 24.1 cm
  • Size 8.5: 9 13/16" or 24.6 cm
  • Size 9: 10" or 25.1 cm
  • Size 9.5: 10 3/16" or 25.4 cm
  • Size 10: 10 5/16" or 25.9 cm
  • Size 10.5: 10 1/2" or 26.2 cm
  • Size 11: 10 11/16" or 26.7 cm
  • Size 11.5: 10 13/16" or 27.1 cm
  • Size 12: 11" or 27.6 cm

Meanwhile, a woman has made more than £2,000 by selling her old, smelly shoes online.

Emma, who pens the money website , hit the jackpot after a buyer snapped up a pair of her Primark flats – originally bought for £3 – for £70.

Speaking to the , the shoe selling professional said: “I stumbled across someone selling their old, smelly shoes on eBay back in 2011 and I knew that I had to give it a try!

“I list my old shoes that aren’t any good to a charity shop and not only have I made £2,000 in cash, I’ve had almost £500 worth of gifts bought for me by happy customers.”

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