Women's 5.5 to men's shoe size
A women's US 5.5 shoe is a men's US 4, the same shoe at a foot length of 22.5 cm.
Women's 5.5 in every system
| US Men | US Women | UK | EU | Foot (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 36 | 22.5 |
Sizes near women's 5.5
| US Men | US Women | UK | EU | Foot (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 5 | 3 | 35.5 | 22.1 |
| 4 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 36 | 22.5 |
| 4.5 | 6 | 4 | 37 | 22.9 |
| 5 | 6.5 | 4.5 | 37.5 | 23.3 |
The reverse conversion
Going back the other way, a men's US 4 is a women's US 5.5. The shoe never changes, only the range it is listed under, which is why sneaker sizing confuses so many people: the same pair can appear as a women's 5.5 on one product page and a men's 4 on another. See men's to women's shoe size for that direction in full.
What the 22.5 cm anchor means
Both numbers describe a 22.5 cm foot. That figure is the only part of the conversion that is physical rather than conventional, so it is also what lets you cross into UK (3.5) and EU (36) sizing without guessing. If you are buying a style that only comes in one gender's range, convert to the 22.5 cm foot length first and then read the size you need off the chart above.
Length converts exactly, width does not. Men's lasts are typically cut wider at the same length, so someone crossing from a women's range into a men's one may find the fit across the ball of the foot changes even though the length is right. If the brand publishes width options, pick by width after you have picked by length. To check your own measurement, see how to measure shoe size, or read the full women's to men's shoe size chart.
Common questions
What size is a women's 5.5 in men's shoes?
A women's US 5.5 shoe is a men's US 4, the same shoe at a foot length of 22.5 cm. In unisex terms that is UK 3.5 or EU 36.
Why is the men's number different?
US men's and women's sizing runs on the same barleycorn scale, a third of an inch per size, but the two scales start counting from different points. The gap works out at about 1.5 sizes, so the same shoe carries two different numbers depending on which range it is sold in.
Will a men's 4 fit the same?
The length is identical, both are built for a 22.5 cm foot. Width is the part that can differ: men's lasts are usually cut a little wider than women's at the same length, so check the width option if the brand offers one.
What is a women's 5.5 in UK and EU sizes?
UK 3.5 and EU 36. Both of those scales are unisex, so there is no separate men's and women's number on that side of the chart.
Last reviewed and updated on July 25, 2026. Conversion tables are checked against published international sizing standards.