Insole Size Guide: UK, EU and US Sizes, and How to Trim

8ease insoles come in UK size bands and trim to fit, so you do not need an exact size, only the right band. This page maps UK, EU, US and foot length in centimetres to each 8ease size, shows how to measure a foot at home, and walks through trimming. If you are between two sizes, take the larger one and trim down.

Shoe size conversion

Sizes vary a little between shoe brands, so the foot length column is the one to trust if you can measure. All figures are approximate.

Which 8ease size is yours

Each insole has its own bands. Find your UK size in the row for the insole you are buying.

The insole kits contain two different insoles; you pick a size for each one on the kit page using the bands above. Note that the bands differ at the edges: a UK 7 is S in the Plantar Specialist and M in ComfortStep, and a UK 10 is M in the Plantar Specialist and L in ComfortStep.

Children's sizes

Order to the size the child wears now, which is printed inside the school shoe, not the size they will grow into. Sprouts trims to the guide lines, which covers most of the length risk.

How to measure a foot at home

Two minutes, and more reliable than a shoe size.

1. Put a sheet of paper on a hard floor against a wall. Stand on it with your heel touching the wall, wearing the socks you normally wear.
2. Mark the tip of your longest toe. It is not always the big toe.
3. Measure from the edge of the paper at the wall to the mark, in centimetres.
4. Do the other foot. Feet are rarely identical; use the longer one.
5. Find that length in the foot length column above. If it falls between two sizes, take the larger.

Measure in the evening if you can. Feet spread slightly over the day, and an insole that fits at 7 pm will fit at 7 am.

How to trim an insole to fit

Every 8ease insole comes slightly oversized within its band, with trim lines printed on the underside. Trimming takes about a minute.

1. Take the shoe's original liner out. It lifts out of almost every sneaker, formal shoe, school shoe and sports shoe. If it is glued, leave it and trim the new insole to the inside outline of the shoe instead.
2. Lay the old liner on top of the new insole, heels lined up, and trace around the toe end with a pen.
3. Cut along the line with sharp scissors. Cut a little outside the line first; you can always trim more, never less.
4. Put the new insole in, cushioned side up, and push the heel fully back into the heel of the shoe. The toe end should lie flat with no bunching.
5. Trim the second insole to match the first, or lay the two back to back and cut together so they come out symmetrical.

Heel pads need no trimming. Place the pad flat side down at the back of the shoe and press it in; it stays put with its anti-slip base. Belle stick-on pads peel and stick where the shoe needs them.

Do I need to remove the existing insole?

Yes, whenever it lifts out. Stacking a new insole on top of the old one raises the foot into the toe box, makes the shoe tight across the top, and puts the arch support in the wrong place. The old liner also becomes your cutting template, so you need it out anyway.

The exception is shoes with a liner that is glued in and very thin, such as some formal shoes and most sandals. There the new insole or pad goes on top, and you trim to the shoe's inside outline.

Will an insole make my shoes tight?

Not if the old liner is out. 8ease insoles are designed to replace the factory liner, not add to it, and the everyday ones are slim. The structured insoles, ProSupport and the Plantar Specialist, are deeper at the heel; they fit sneakers, walking shoes and most formal shoes, but a very shallow dress shoe or a loafer with no removable liner may not take one. For those, a heel pad or a Belle pad is the better choice.

Custom orthotics or off-the-shelf?

An honest answer, because the two are often confused.

Custom orthotics are made to a cast or scan of your foot, prescribed by a podiatrist or orthopaedic specialist, and cost several thousand rupees a pair. They are the right choice for a diagnosed structural problem: a significant deformity, a leg-length difference, a foot that needs a specific correction, or a condition where the specialist wants precise control. If a doctor has told you that you need them, you need them, and nothing on this page replaces that.

Off-the-shelf insoles like 8ease are for the much larger group of people whose feet are tired, flat, high-arched or sore from hard floors, long hours and unsupportive shoes. They come in set arch heights and sizes, trim to the shoe, and cost between ₹279 and ₹1,499. For everyday fatigue, mild flat feet, heel pain from standing and the ordinary problems of a long day, they do most of what a custom orthotic would, at a fraction of the price, and you can try one at home before trimming and return it within 15 days if it does not suit you.

A reasonable rule: start off-the-shelf unless a doctor has said otherwise. If three weeks of daily wear in the right insole has not eased the problem, see a specialist.

Returns if the size is wrong

Return or exchange within 15 days of delivery, as long as the insole is unused, untrimmed and in its original packaging. Trim-to-fit covers most of the length risk, and the return covers the rest. Email customercare@8ease.in with your order number.

Frequently asked questions

I am between two sizes. Which do I order?
The larger one. You can trim an insole down; you cannot make it longer.

Are 8ease sizes men's or women's?
UK sizes are the same for men and women. If your shoe is marked in US sizes, use the conversion table: US women's is two sizes above UK, US men's is one size above.

My feet are two different sizes.
Order for the larger foot and trim the other insole a little shorter. The trim lines make this easy.

Can I move one pair between shoes?
Yes, if you trim it to the smallest shoe you will use it in. Many people keep one pair per shoe instead; the kits pair the two insoles most often needed together.

Do the kits need two sizes?
Yes, one for each insole, chosen on the kit page. The bands are listed above.

Which arch height should I choose?
That is a separate question from size. Wet your foot and step on a dry tile: almost the whole foot showing means Low Arch, a clear curve means Medium, a thin strip means High. Arch support insoles explained walks through it.

Which 8ease insole should I buy?
Our comparison of all eleven insoles sorts them by foot type, shoe and need.

My shoe is UK 8.5 (or 9.5). Which size do I order?
Take the band your half size falls in. UK 8.5 and 9.5 are M in every 8ease insole. For ComfortStep heel pads, UK 9.5 sits between M (UK 7 to 9) and L (UK 10 to 12), so take L. For insoles, trim to the larger line first and take more off only if it still feels long.

Can an insole make a loose shoe fit?
A little. An insole fills some space under the foot, but it will not take a shoe down a full size, and a thicker one can push the heel up and out. If your heel slips, a heel grip pad at the back of the shoe works better.

Should I try them before trimming?
Yes. Wear them untrimmed around the house first. An untrimmed insole can be returned within 15 days; a trimmed one cannot.