What size football boots should I get? (2024)

It’s something which is often overlooked, but hugely important. You’re going to potentially shell out a fair bit of money for your next pair of football boots and you’ll want to get it right from the off, we understand. What size football boots should I get? It’s an eternal question. Often there’s talk of going half a size up in this brand, a size down in that model - and we’re here to clear it all up. Simply.

We’ll be telling you which models are tight, which boots give you room and a whole host of other useful info to help you make the perfect decision on your next pair. Then you can play them into oblivion without any unwanted pain. Let’s do it.

Shop all football boots >

How tight should football boots be?

Your football boots should fit you according to your preference. If you prefer a hugging fit, then of course it makes sense to find the size that suits that feel. Some players on the other hand, prefer a bit of room in their boot, to allow for an extra pair of socks. No problem, take the extra +0.5 and be on your way. We can all agree though, that nobody enjoys scrunched, blistered toes.

How your football boots fit is down to a couple of things, a) feel on the ball, and b) agility on the move. They should be wrapped around your foot enough to let you enjoy the spongy caress of the leather ball, but secure enough to let you push off and change direction à la Messi - without worry of slippage or pain.

Are football boots unisex?

What size football boots should I get? (2)

In the UK, absolutely. The only difference is that due to genetics, the female foot generally tends to be a little slimmer than the male foot, with higher arches too. This means as a rule of thumb, female players should stick to slimmer boot models (Nike Mercurial / Puma Ultra) and go down half a size or more, if needed. If you need to know more, we cover this topic in detail within our men’s vs. women’s football boot guide on our blog.

How to measure your feet

For knowing your exact size, you’re going to want to understand your baseline measurements. We’re not kids anymore and you don’t need to head to the shoe shop to find out, I mean, you can if you want to? It’s easy enough to do at home though, and look… we’ve only gone and created a simple graphic to show you how it’s done!

What size football boots should I get? (3)

First of all, place your foot flat on a blank piece of paper - make sure it’s resting on a hard, flat surface. Then, pencil around the edges of your entire foot. The length measurement is taken from the centre of the heel to the head of the big toe. The width measurement is taken across the widest part of the foot. Voilà, you’ve only gone and got your measurements!

UK shoe size guide

Once you’ve picked up your basic foot length and width measurements, then it’s time to find the size for you. To cover all the bases, we’ve given you a table with inches and centimetres which correspond to the exact UK sizing (yes it’s boring but it’s important stuff, people). Scroll a bit further down to see our recommended sizing for each boot model…

What size football boots should I get? (4)

What size football boots should I get? (5)

Football boot model size guide

Now it comes to the pièce de résistance (probably an overstatement), our ultimate guide to football boot model sizing in the UK. For it, we’ve gathered research from far and wide to understand fitting for all of the available silos from leading brands such as adidas, Nike, Puma and New Balance.

This list is by no means perfect, but it will give you a great steer towards which size to order for your next pair, if you’re after a standard fit to suit your measurements. NOTE: the sizing relates to those who would like a standard fit, not loose or extra tight. ‘Same’ means you should buy your usual size.

What size football boots should I get? (6)

Where to buy football boots

Well, what are the chances? You’ve only gone and landed on the only website which compares prices on football boots from 100+ retailers to bring you the lowest price! Lucky you. We’ve helped you as much as possible to understand your sizing, but online retailers today understand that you’ll want a return policy, in case you misjudge it a smidge. Find deals and buy your new football boots in confidence through FOOTY.COM today.

Shop all football boots >

What size football boots should I get? (2024)

FAQs

What size football boots should I get? ›

The old rule of free space that is enough to fit a thumb doesn't apply to football boots. They should fit as tight as possible while still being comfortable. It's up to you how much free space you prefer, but in general, it's good to leave about 4 − 8 milimeters. More space would be too much.

Should football boots be a size bigger? ›

Generally speaking, a football boot will fit true to regular shoe size. That said, some players (especially elite-level athletes) prefer their boots to fit much more snug than, say, a pair of running shoes. This is because elite-level athletes tend to prefer a more sensitive touch on the ball.

How to find your football boot size? ›

Use a size chart to measure your feet & use your personal measurement and adjust accordingly to the brand's own sizing measurement to get the boot that provides just the needed amount of tight fit for both comfort and lockdown.

Should I buy football cleats a size bigger? ›

Most adidas football cleats will run true to size, but there can be variation in width depending on the silhouette. A well-fitting football cleat should have enough room to wiggle your toes, while the uppers should fit snugly around your foot without slipping.

How much space do you want in football boots? ›

To make sure that your soccer cleats fit properly, you've got to have enough space to allow your feet to move comfortably, especially when making sudden turns or shifts in direction. A general rule of thumb is to have about a finger's width of space between the end of your toes and the front of the cleat.

Is it bad if football boots are too big? ›

The old rule of free space that is enough to fit a thumb doesn't apply to football boots. They should fit as tight as possible while still being comfortable. It's up to you how much free space you prefer, but in general, it's good to leave about 4 − 8 milimeters. More space would be too much.

Is it OK to buy boots a size bigger? ›

Foot Swelling: Keep in mind that your feet can swell throughout the day, especially if you're on your feet for extended periods. Buying boots that are slightly larger can provide more comfort during these times.

Are football boots supposed to be tight? ›

To stretch out football boots without having to wear them, consider using a shoe stretcher or stuffing them with newspaper. If your shoes are feeling way too tight at the tip and your toes are all scrunched up, this is a sign that you need a different pair.

How do I know my perfect boot size? ›

HOW TO MEASURE BOOT SIZE
  1. STEP 1: TRACE YOUR FOOT. Put on the socks or tights you plan on wearing with your boots. ...
  2. STEP 2: MEASURE LENGTH. Using a measuring tape, measure the longest part of your foot to find your boot size.
  3. STEP 3: FIND YOUR FIT. Repeat steps 1 through 2 on your other foot.

What football boots suit me? ›

Consider Your Playing Position and Style

The lightweight adidas X and Nike Mercurial, for example, are the ideal boots for wingers with bags of pace, while a robust centre-back might feel more at home in a pair of Nike Tiempos.

Are football boots true to size or half a size up? ›

Generally speaking, a football boot will fit true to regular shoe size. That said, some players (especially elite-level athletes) prefer their boots to fit much more snug than, say, a pair of running shoes. This is because elite-level athletes tend to prefer a more sensitive touch on the ball.

Where should your toes be in boots? ›

You should be able to wiggle your toes inside the toe box (the front of the shoe). To see if you have enough room, slide your foot forward so your toes are just touching the end of the unlaced boot. In this position, you should have a finger's width (about ½") between the base of your heel and the boot.

Should your toes touch the end of your football boots? ›

Tips on getting the right size

A general rule of thumb is to have a ¼ - ½ inch gap between your toes and the top of the boots. In this case, if you have a thumb space between your toes and the top of the boots, they're too big.

What to do if my boots are too big? ›

A popular solution is to add an extra pair of cushion insoles. There are two basic insoles, insoles with arch cushion and flat insoles without any arch cushion. Flat insoles will tighten the boot evenly. Insoles with arch cushions will make the instep area more snug and can then take slipping out of the heel.

Should you size up or true to size boots? ›

If you don't remember the size, look inside the shaft of the boots or on the inside bottom. If this is your first pair of workboots, normally start with 1/2 a size down from your normal shoe size. If you are between sizes, order 1/2 size up.

Do footballers wear boots too small? ›

Players frequently wear boots a few sizes too small so they can get a better “feel” for the ball.

Why do my new football boots feel tight? ›

If your boots have shoe laces, it may just be the laces that are making them feel tight. Loosen the laces all the way down to the tip of the shoe and put the shoe on your foot. Adjust the tongue of the shoe so it's comfortable, and retighten the laces around your foot.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Gov. Deandrea McKenzie

Last Updated:

Views: 6182

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Gov. Deandrea McKenzie

Birthday: 2001-01-17

Address: Suite 769 2454 Marsha Coves, Debbieton, MS 95002

Phone: +813077629322

Job: Real-Estate Executive

Hobby: Archery, Metal detecting, Kitesurfing, Genealogy, Kitesurfing, Calligraphy, Roller skating

Introduction: My name is Gov. Deandrea McKenzie, I am a spotless, clean, glamorous, sparkling, adventurous, nice, brainy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.