Birkenstock Fitting

Between sizes?
Most people are. Consider arch length, personal preference, and width to choose your size.

Arch length
If you have a relatively long arch length, it makes sense to consider the larger of two possible sizes. If you have a relatively short arch length, you might like the smaller of two possibilities.

How can you tell your arch length is relatively long or short? Here's a good method. If you have long toes, your arch length is probably relatively short. If you have short toes, your arch length is probably relatively long. So, in general, if you're trying to decide between two sizes, long toes take a smaller size, short toes take a larger size.

Personal preference
Many folks can take either of two sizes.

Some people like a little trimmer fit. If you don't mind your toes touching the toe rim a little at the end of each step, the rim will gradually conform, pushing out a bit for toes that touch.

If you prefer a longer fit, the extra area at the heel and toe will tend to curl up with time, like the bottom of a rocking chair, and gradually the sandals will feel shorter.

That said, too short is too short and too long is too long. If you stand in a new pair of sandals and your toes are pressing hard into the cork toe rim, or landing on top of it, they are probably too short. On the other hand, if there is more than a quarter-inch of space at the heel and toe, they are probably too long.

Fitting Clogs
With no strap over the forefoot, clogs can feel less secure than sandals. Many customers who take the Regular/Wide width in their sandals prefer their clogs in the Narrow/Medium width.

A common option is to go "up a size and narrow". Determine your Regular/Wide sandal size, go up one size and take the Narrow/Medium width. For example, if your Birkenstock sandal size is 38 Regular/Wide, you might feel very comfortable in a 39 Narrow/Medium clog. (If your feet are genuinely wide, you should probably stay with the Regular/Wide width.)

Width
Medium-to-wide feet take the "Regular/Wide" width, medium-to-narrow feet take "Narrow/Medium". Note: Kids' Birkenstocks are only offered in the Narrow/Medium width, which works well for almost all children.

One More Thing
Folks with wide feet are sometimes in the habit of asking for a size longer than their foot length because they've learned that conventional shoes squeeze their toes if they don't. That's not necessary in a Birkenstock. Regular/Wide Birkenstock footwear is plenty wide at the toes, so you might go down from your conventional size. For example, someone with wide feet who usually asks for a men's 10½ in conventional shoes might feel comfortable in a Birkenstock men's 9½, or 42.

Mail Order
If your sandals arrive by mail, you'll want to try them on a clean floor or carpet while wearing a thin pair of socks. (Shoes marked with wear cannot be returned.)

Test
A good test starts with placing one foot at the back of a sandal, with your heel against the back of the sandal's heel cup. Starting with the strap closest to your toes, adjust the buckle so the fit is secure but not tight. Adjust other buckles going from front to back, then repeat with the other foot and sandal.

Now stand and wriggle your feet forward a little in the sandals, to a comfortable position. If you have to move your foot so far forward in the sandal to be comfortable that there's a large space behind your heel, say more than a quarter of an inch, the sandals might be too long.

Now slowly take a good-size step. When your weight on the trailing foot is on your toes, with the sandal bent at the ball of the foot, freeze and observe. Your toes on the trailing foot should approach the toe rim at the front of the sandal, or touch it gently. If your toes are over the rim at that point, or pushing hard against it, the sandals are probably too short.

Tip: All shoes tend to feel shorter as you break them in because they develop a curl, like the bottom of a rocking chair. That's why we like to see a little space at the heel and toe when fitting a new sandal, so it will feel comfortable after it's broken in with room for your toes to reach out and help you balance when your weight is on them at the end of the step.

Confirm
If you're in doubt after you've tried them on, you can email us a photo looking down at your toes in your new sandals so we can be sure they look right.

We're also glad to consult with you by phone.

P.S. Birkenstock shoes and sandals have more arch support than other brands. When new, those arch supports rarely line up just right. With time, however, the warmth and pressure of your feet let the arches conform more and more perfectly. It might take a couple of weeks, so break them in gradually. Maybe start with an hour the first day, then longer periods until they're so comfortable you'll want to wear them all the time. If they don't break in before your patience wears out, visit or call. We know some tricks. 😊