What do your feet measure? Can't figure out my shoe size and need new shoes!

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I've worn a UK 5 since I was a young teenager, I've never thought it felt too small. I have bunions and very narrow feet. However I'm looking to buy a new pair of shoes online and I'm measuring my feet for the size chart, my feet measure 25cm on one foot, and 24.5cm on the other, the chart puts me at an 8! Apparently the 5 I've been wearing all this time is meant for a 23.5cm foot? I've tried on a 6 in a shop and it was far too large! Is this brands size chart way off or am I really wearing the wrong size somehow?!

That chart is way off (is it American sizes maybe?)!. I’m an 8/9 -42/43 - and my feet are 28.5 cm long ish.

Your foot length in cm is the Japanese size.

Are the sizes on the site US? As a US 8 is about a UK 5.5.
My feet are the same measurements as you but I take a 6 as find a 5 too tight on my left heel.

But also, I don’t think shoe sizes are that well standardised. I have shoes in my wardrobes labels everything from UK 7.5 (Blundstone) to UK 10 (Shimano cycling shoes)

The particular brand I was looking at was Brazilian, but they showed the sizes in EU, UK and US too. I've looked at some other sizing charts I could find from other brands and every one I see seems to say a different thing. When did shoe shopping get so difficult?! I wonder if there's adult foot measuring services in any shops

I would order them in your normal size and change them if necessary.

The reviews might say whether they're true to size?

Shoes were always quite good for standardisation but less so these days. I've bought a couple of pairs of 6's recently when I'm very much a 7.

Just had a cheeky measure for you - my feet are exctly the same as yours.
Most of my life I've worn a 5, but now I have to look out a 5.5 or occasionally a 6. Don't know if this is my post menopausal feet growing, or cheaply made shoes being more economical with their materials ??

As an aside, I've been given a really lovely pair of size 6 shoes that are just too big. Does anyone know if it would work if I put an insert in them ? (and where I'd get it from - only come across them in Clarks when they were given 'free' when buying children's shoes).

Mine measure 24 and 24.5 for my right foot. I wear a size 5

@StCharlotte - that’s odd, I’ve been an 8 forever, but now have to search out like gold dust and hens teeth a 9. My feet have not changed, because I my older shoes still fit.

@BackforGood - using insoles is a very common way of refusing the size/volume of a shoe. You can buy them in most shoe shops, supermarkets and Amazon. The cork ones are most hard wearing.

As an aside, I've been given a really lovely pair of size 6 shoes that are just too big. Does anyone know if it would work if I put an insert in them ?

Yes it would. I buy leather half insoles from Deichman (you can also get full insoles but I find half enough). They work really well on some LK Bennett courts I have where my heel slips out of the back.

Thanks both

@BackforGood I could have sworn I bought mine from Deichmann but can't find them on their website. I've found identical ones on Amazon though. I'm a big fan, the half insoles are very unobtrusive but make all the difference.