Wide Fit Shoes: What You Need to Know About Proper Fitting
Most people spend years buying shoes that don’t fit correctly. After nearly five decades of our family running this wide-fit shoe business, I have seen thousands of customers blame their feet when the real problem is simply unsuitable footwear.
This guide is designed for anyone who has feet that are above standard width or depth, whether due to naturally broad foot shape or conditions such as hammer toes, plantar fasciitis, gout, bunions, or diabetes-related swelling.
To help you avoid these mistakes and understand what makes a shoe truly fit, we’ve organised this guide into clear sections you can easily navigate.
How This Guide Is Structured
This guide is organised to help you quickly find the information you need:
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Width vs Length: Understand the most common fitting mistake people make.
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UK Width System Breakdown: Learn how width sizes work for men and women.
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How to Measure Foot Width: Clear instructions and tools to measure your feet.
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Medical Considerations: Why wide fit shoes are essential for specific health conditions.
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Signs You Need Wider or Deeper Shoes: Know the warning signs of poor fit.
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Brands That Work: Recommendations for trusted manufacturers.
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What Not to Do: Avoid common mistakes when buying shoes.
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When to Seek Professional Help: When you need expert fitting.
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Bottom Line: The key takeaway on finding footwear that supports your health.
Width vs Length: Getting It Right
Here’s the mistake almost everyone makes: their shoes feel tight, so they buy a larger size. The result? Shoes that are too long, heels that slide around, but at least nothing pinches. This is entirely the wrong approach.
Your feet need more room across, not in front. The width measurement is taken at the widest part—usually where the big toe joint protrudes. Depth refers to the vertical space inside the shoe from sole to upper. Learning how to measure your foot width accurately stops you from making the length mistake.
In the UK, we use letters to indicate shoe widths, though different manufacturers may vary slightly:
Men’s UK Width Standards:
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D: Standard fitting (the most common)
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E: A wider option
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2E (EE width): Genuinely wide
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3E (EEE) and 4E: For significant width requirements
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6E and 8E Extra wide and extra depth to accommodate more serious foot conditions
Women’s UK Width Standards:
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B and C: Narrow (now rarely available)
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D: Standard, but wider than a men’s D
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E and 2E: Wide
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3E and 4E: Extra wide
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6E and 8E Extra wide and extra depth to accommodate more serious foot conditions
These widths are missing the 6E and 8E width fittings and viable fits - using the blog link below for information on this would be better.
In reality, most men benefit from E rather than D widths, and many women are far more comfortable in E or 2E widths rather than cramming into D.
To fully understand this topic, please visit our blog "Understanding Width Fittings".
How to Measure Foot Width Properly
Ready to determine your correct width fitting? We offer a straightforward foot measuring guide along with an online foot width calculator to help you quickly and accurately measure the width of your feet. It only takes a few minutes and can make all the difference in ensuring you select shoes that genuinely fit and support your feet comfortably.
Visit our Measure Your Width page to access clear, step-by-step instructions.
Ladies
Click here to get your own measuring chart
Gentlemen
Click here to get your own measuring chart
If you would prefer personal assistance, we are always delighted to help. You are very welcome to call us for advice or visit our specialist wide-fitting store
Location: Antonio Pacelli Building, 14 Hallmark Trading Estate, Fourth Way, Wembley HA9 0LB
Phone: 0208 819 7756
One of our trained fitters will be pleased to guide you and ensure you find the perfect pair of shoes, whatever your foot shape or any specific foot conditions you may have.
Once you have your measurements, help yourself with this calculator.
Why We Actually Sell Wide Fit Shoes
The same problems come through our door every day. These are not merely comfort issues—they are medical realities that standard shoes cannot address.
What are wide-fit shoes? Purpose-built footwear with extra width and depth to accommodate a range of foot conditions.
Diabetes and Foot Health
Research shows people with type 2 diabetes develop plantar fasciitis 1.31% of the time, compared to 0.80% in the general population. Elevated blood sugar thickens the plantar fascia, making it stiff and prone to damage. Diabetic neuropathy means you may not feel when shoes are harming your feet.
Swollen Feet
Extra-wide fit shoes help manage chronic swelling. Many people around the country live with lymphedema, and conditions like heart disease, kidney disease, pregnancy, and medication side effects cause swelling that fluctuates throughout the day.
Bunions
Roughly 20% of adults have bunions, particularly women. The big toe angles across, creating a bony bump that standard shoes cannot accommodate. Severe bunions push the other toes out of alignment, causing hammer toes.
Hammer Toes
Hammer toes often occur alongside bunions or develop from shoes that are too narrow for long toes. Once toes start to contract, normal shoes can quickly become unwearable.
Plantar Fasciitis
Affects approximately 10% of people and results in more than a million GP appointments every year. The plantar fascia becomes inflamed, making every step painful. Proper width distributes pressure more evenly.
Severe Swelling
Severe cases require extra-wide shoes with removable insoles so you can adapt the fit as swelling changes throughout the day.
Gout
Sudden joint swelling, typically in the big toe. During a flare, you need shoes that accommodate the swelling without exerting pressure.
All these conditions leave feet highly sensitive to pressure and friction. Standard shoes don’t just cause discomfort—they can cause real harm.
Signs You Need Wider Shoes
Your feet will usually tell you:
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Shoes pinch across the sides
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The foot bulges over the shoe edges
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Pain across the ball of the foot
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You cannot fasten laces or straps comfortably
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Shoes leave marks on your skin
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The first thing you do at home is remove them
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Pressure on top of the toes
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You must take out insoles to tolerate them
If any of these apply, you almost certainly need wider shoes.
Depth Requirements
Depth issues are harder to spot than width. If your toes feel pressed from above, shoes are hard to get on, or you always remove insoles for extra space, you need more depth.
High arches, thick custom orthotics, and swelling often require extra depth. Lymphedema and severe bunions frequently need both width and depth.
Why Feet Become Wide
Genetics, age, weight gain, pregnancy, medical conditions and years of wearing narrow shoes all contribute. Around 70% of people with bunions have a family history of it—genetics are significant. Health conditions can change everything. Diabetics, for example, are more likely to develop plantar fasciitis due to weight and inactivity.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter why your feet are wider. What matters is fitting the feet you have today.
Brands That Work
After decades of fitting thousands of customers, here are our recommended brands for feet that need a wider and/or deeper fits:
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Clarks: Excellent for E and 2E widths, and widely available on the high street but they do not offer the extra wide widths often required by those with medical foot conditions.
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DB Shoes: Outstanding for accommodating medical conditions and very wide feet. They offer variable widths with removable insoles. Prioritises function over fashion.
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Skechers: A surprisingly good range of wide-fit trainers and casual shoes.
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Waldlaufer: German engineering and high quality, offering widths up to 6E.
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Cosyfeet: Designed for swollen feet and medical conditions. Adjustable, stretch uppers.
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Pedors: American brand with fittings up to 10E. Ideal for severe swelling, lymphedema and diabetes. Machine washable and removable insoles.
Note: Most high street retailers rarely stock beyond 2E. For 4E, 6E or 8E fittings, you will need a specialist supplier.
What Not to Do
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Do not buy tight shoes expecting them to stretch. They will not stretch enough to help.
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Do not size up instead of going wider. The shoe will be too long.
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Do not tolerate pain. Proper shoes should not hurt.
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Do not assume all wide shoes are unattractive. That was true 20 years ago, not now.
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Do not ignore swelling. Fifteen per cent of people with diabetes develop foot ulcers, often caused by poorly fitting footwear.
When to Seek Professional Help
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If you have diabetes, circulation issues or severe swelling, get professionally fitted. Never guess.
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If you use orthotics, always bring them along when trying shoes. The fit must accommodate them properly.
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If you experience persistent pain, something is wrong—shoes should not hurt.
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People with lymphedema, severe bunions or variable swelling need specialist fittings, removable insoles and stretch materials.
The Medical Facts
Evidence shows diabetic patients have a stiffer plantar fascia, affecting balance and gait. Proper shoes are not a luxury—they are a medical necessity.
Diabetics are 64% more likely to develop plantar fasciitis. Elevated blood glucose causes inflammation and tissue thickening. Wide shoes with the correct depth distribute pressure and help prevent complications.
Bunions make joints sensitive, make shoes harder to fit and limit mobility, creating a cycle of less activity and worsening health.
Bottom Line
Feet are unique. The footwear industry often acts as if everyone’s feet are the same. If standard shoes don’t fit, your feet are not the problem—your shoes are.
Wide feet, swollen feet, diabetic feet, bunions, hammer toes—these are all normal. They deserve properly fitting footwear.
Never settle for discomfort. Do not squeeze into the wrong size. Do not feel embarrassed about needing wide shoes or removable insoles.
Find reputable wide-fitting specialists. Get measured professionally. Choose shoes that fit your feet with all their medical realities.
Proper footwear for diabetes, lymphedema, and bunions isn’t a matter of vanity—it is part of your health care. Your feet carry you through life. If you have medical conditions, you deserve shoes designed to keep you safe and comfortable.
