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If you just want the size and width pictures look down near the bottom. If you want to know how to fit Birks read on.
Birkenstock sandals and shoes come in a variety of contoured footbeds and use a type of European sizing. Most people that haven't liked them in the past, find that when properly sized they are extremely comfortable. If you have never worn them before it might be wise to go to a retail store and try them on. Try on more than one size and width and write down your findings. Often the sales staff at retail stores don't know a lot about the product, unless it's a dedicated "Birkenstock" store. The differences in the various footbeds are slight in appearance but can have a major impact after a couple of hours on your feet. Some have a more pronounced toe ridge and some have a deeper more fitted heal cup. One type is molded from waterproof material and will NOT mold over time. There is also a newer softer synthetic footbed. It all depends on what feels best to you, more secure or easy fitting. The web site below has the best information I have found on Birkenstocks. http://www.birkenstockexpress.com/sizeandfit/Sizeandfit.cfm/id.250420062251-966452 If you have wide feet, like I do, with a very high arch and instep the classic footbed in the Regular or Normal width with adjustable straps works well. If you have average or narrower feet you may be able to wear some of the styles that don’t have adjustable uppers. All of the traditional cork footbeds will, to a degree, mold to your foot over time. Try wearing them two hours at a time until they have somewhat molded to your own foot contours. The sizes below are from Birkenstock, although most people find that the shoes are on the large side if they use these sizes. A size 37 is supposed to fit a size 6 to 6 1/2 US women but it usually it fits more like a 6 1/2 to as large as a 7 1/2. The most important fitting is from the peak of the arch to the toe ridge. If that's off, the shoe can be quite uncomfortable. Make sure the toe ridge fits just behind the toes and the arch fits comfortably under your own arch. The heal cup will soften and adjust over time, as will the front edge beyond your toes. When fit properly, some folks will have room after their toes, other’s toes will be right up against the edge or rim. Another consideration is with style. A closed toe style may fit better in a size up if the toe ridge and arch still fit well. Just make sure you don’t buy something that is uncomfortable to start with. It shouldn’t be a miserable time with weeks of “breaking in” your Birkenstocks. They should feel good but maybe a bit stiff until you get used to them or they get used to you. There are two basic widths. Regular or normal has a foot symbol that is an outline. Narrow has a foot symbol that is a solid filled in foot. There are some newer Birkenstocks now with a new width called medium, not many of these are out there yet. The foot symbol for the medium has the upper half of the foot solid and the heal portion an outline. The widths these fit depend on the size range. They get wider in the larger sizes and narrower in the smaller sizes.
Regular-Designed for medium to wide feet.
(Women's U.S. widths B-C+ and Men's U.S. widths D-EE)
Narrow-Designed for narrow feet.
(Women s U.S. widths AA-B and Men s U.S. widths C-D)
Medium-Designed for medium to narrow feet.
(Women s U.S. widths A-C and Men s U.S. widths C-E)
Birkenstock sandals and shoes come in a variety of contoured footbeds and use a type of European sizing. Most people that haven't liked them in the past, find that when properly sized they are extremely comfortable. If you have never worn them before it might be wise to go to a retail store and try them on. Try on more than one size and width and write down your findings. Often the sales staff at retail stores don't know a lot about the product, unless it's a dedicated "Birkenstock" store. The differences in the various footbeds are slight in appearance but can have a major impact after a couple of hours on your feet. Some have a more pronounced toe ridge and some have a deeper more fitted heal cup. One type is molded from waterproof material and will NOT mold over time. There is also a newer softer synthetic footbed. It all depends on what feels best to you, more secure or easy fitting. The web site below has the best information I have found on Birkenstocks. http://www.birkenstockexpress.com/sizeandfit/Sizeandfit.cfm/id.250420062251-966452 If you have wide feet, like I do, with a very high arch and instep the classic footbed in the Regular or Normal width with adjustable straps works well. If you have average or narrower feet you may be able to wear some of the styles that don’t have adjustable uppers. All of the traditional cork footbeds will, to a degree, mold to your foot over time. Try wearing them two hours at a time until they have somewhat molded to your own foot contours. The sizes below are from Birkenstock, although most people find that the shoes are on the large side if they use these sizes. A size 37 is supposed to fit a size 6 to 6 1/2 US women but it usually it fits more like a 6 1/2 to as large as a 7 1/2. The most important fitting is from the peak of the arch to the toe ridge. If that's off, the shoe can be quite uncomfortable. Make sure the toe ridge fits just behind the toes and the arch fits comfortably under your own arch. The heal cup will soften and adjust over time, as will the front edge beyond your toes. When fit properly, some folks will have room after their toes, other’s toes will be right up against the edge or rim. Another consideration is with style. A closed toe style may fit better in a size up if the toe ridge and arch still fit well. Just make sure you don’t buy something that is uncomfortable to start with. It shouldn’t be a miserable time with weeks of “breaking in” your Birkenstocks. They should feel good but maybe a bit stiff until you get used to them or they get used to you. There are two basic widths. Regular or normal has a foot symbol that is an outline. Narrow has a foot symbol that is a solid filled in foot. There are some newer Birkenstocks now with a new width called medium, not many of these are out there yet. The foot symbol for the medium has the upper half of the foot solid and the heal portion an outline. The widths these fit depend on the size range. They get wider in the larger sizes and narrower in the smaller sizes.
Regular-Designed for medium to wide feet.
(Women's U.S. widths B-C+ and Men's U.S. widths D-EE)
Narrow-Designed for narrow feet.
(Women s U.S. widths AA-B and Men s U.S. widths C-D)
Medium-Designed for medium to narrow feet.
(Women s U.S. widths A-C and Men s U.S. widths C-E)
Guide created: 04/25/06 (updated 10/28/09)
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