Measure and Fit Guide

We know how tricky measuring your child’s feet at home can be, especially when wiggly little toes are involved and there are much more exciting things they would rather be doing. But with a couple of practice runs you’ll soon get the hang of using your Toddler Foot Gauge and Junior Foot Gauge at home.

Before you start, just check a couple of things:

You have a foot gauge ready.
Your child is wearing socks or tights that are well-fitting and not creased.
You have something ready to take a note of the measurements.

Measure and Fit Guide for toddlers

While measuring your toddler’s feet, ensure they’re sat as still as possible. They could either sit safely by themselves on a firm chair with their knees bent, or on a helper’s knee with their legs dangling.

Measure the length

Step 1

Kneel in front of your child and hold the measuring gauge in your left hand, with the toe slide end facing you. Rest their foot in the gauge, with their heel in the heel rest. Gently hold their foot in place with your left thumb and make sure it’s straight.

Step 2

Keep the gauge parallel to the floor and try to keep knees and ankles at right angles. Gently hold their toes flat and move the toe slide until it just touches the tip of their longest toe.

Step 3

Make a note of the length measurement, as indicated by the number in the circular window. If the window doesn’t line up precisely with a number, use the black lines on the side of the scale for an exact reading.

Measure the width

Step 1

If the toe slide is touching the tip of the longest toe, the width tape will now be lined up at the correct part of the foot. Pull the tape until it just rests on the foot. Try not to pull the tape tight though, as this will result in a narrow measurement.

Step 2

Hold the tape end out, parallel to the floor, and make sure you don’t twist the gauge. Take a note of the width measurement at the point indicated by the three black arrows.

Step 3

Repeat all the steps for length and width on the other foot as your child’s feet may be slightly different sizes.

Next steps

To turn your measurements into a Clarks size, visit our size calculator. If you’re in any doubt at all about the measurements you’ve taken, just pop into one of our stores where one of our expertly trained fitters will be happy to help.

Measure and Fit Guide for juniors

Measure the length

Step 1

Place the foot gauge on a flat, even surface and position your child’s foot on the gauge, with their heel snug in the heel rest. Ask them to stand up straight, and make sure that they keep their weight evenly spread over both feet.

Step 2

Make sure their foot is straight and gently hold their toes flat. Move the toe slide until it just touches the tip of their longest toe.

Step 3

Make a note of the length measurement, as indicated by the number in the circular window. If the window doesn’t line up precisely with a number, use the black lines on the side of the ruler for an exact reading.

Measure the width

Step 1

For the width measurement, the tape needs to be positioned across the widest part of the foot. To find that, place a finger in the middle of your child’s foot on the big toe side and move it towards the toes.
Stop when you feel a slight bump - this is the big toe joint. Slide one end of the tape until it sits in the middle of the big toe joint.

Step 2

Slide the other end of the tape until it sits in the middle of the joint at the base of the little toe. The tape should now follow the line of the joints - the widest part of the foot.

Step 3

Pull the tape until it just rests around the foot. Try not to pull the tape tight, as this will result in a narrow measurement. Make a note of the width measurement at the point indicated by the black arrow.
Repeat all the steps for measuring both length and width on the other foot.

Next steps

Once you’ve calculated the size of your child’s feet, explore our range of kids’ shoes to find the perfect pair of school shoes, trainers or sandals.