Measure Your Feet Day Date in the current year: January 23, 2026

Wearing the right size shoes is important for comfort, balance, posture, and overall musculoskeletal health. Shoes that are too small can compress toes, restrict circulation, and lead to problems such as blisters, bunions, corns, nerve irritation, and ingrown toenails. Shoes that are too large can cause the foot to slide around inside the shoe, which increases friction and the risk of falls and strains.

Over time, poorly fitting shoes can alter gait and posture, placing extra stress on the ankles, knees, hips, and lower back. This can lead to chronic pain or joint issues. Properly sized shoes help distribute weight evenly, allow normal foot motion, and reduce the risk of short-term discomfort and long-term injury.

Many people mistakenly believe that their shoe size stays the same once they stop growing. While your shoe size usually won’t change drastically after adolescence, certain factors may cause it to increase by half to one full size. For example, our feet can gradually become slightly larger and/or wider because the ligaments and tendons that support the foot’s structure lose elasticity over time, causing the arch to flatten. Weight gain contributes to this process because extra body weight puts pressure on foot ligaments.

Pregnancy can cause feet to become larger due to weight gain, hormonal changes that affect ligament elasticity, and swelling. As you age, changes in muscle tone and balance, as well as conditions such as arthritis, edema, diabetes, and bunions, can alter the shape and width of your feet, sometimes requiring larger shoes.

This is why it is important to measure your feet’s length and width every now and then, especially if you’ve noticed shoes that once fit well are now uncomfortable. To measure your foot length, place a sheet of paper on a hard floor with one edge against a wall. Stand on the paper with your heel lightly touching the wall and put your full weight on your foot. Mark the tip of your longest toe, and then measure the distance from the edge of the paper to the mark. To measure width, wrap a tape measure or string around the widest part of your foot while standing. Then, measure the length of the string or tape.

It is recommended that you measure both feet because they are often slightly different sizes, and you should use the larger measurement when choosing shoes. For more accurate results, measure in the evening when feet tend to swell slightly, and wear the type of socks you usually wear with the shoes to ensure a better fit.

Another way to celebrate Measure Your Feet Day is to book an appointment with a pedorthist if you have any lower limb problems. Pedorthists (not to be confused with podiatrists) specialize in modifying and fitting footwear to help people with conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, foot deformities, foot injuries, and gait abnormalities.