Many sneakerheads know the problem: you order a new pair of shoes on the internet and wait full of anticipation for the package to arrive. But then the big shock: the shoe is either too small or too big and you have to send it back. Totally frustrating!
To avoid this in the future, we have created a New Balance sizing guide just for you.
How to determine your own shoe size
First of all, it is important to determine your own shoe size. When you order sneakers online, it is not as easy as when you walk into a shoe shop and can try on the shoe on the spot.
Here is what you need to measure your own shoe size:
- 2 sheets of A4 paper
- A pencil
- A ruler
How to calculate the dimensions of your foot:
Take a sheet of paper and the pencil, choose a wall you can stand upright against, and put your heel all the way up against it. It is best to put on the socks you will also wear in your new shoes. Secure the sheet of paper to the floor with tape or your weight and stand on it with your heel against the wall. It is best to ask someone to draw around your foot with the pencil. Once you have a nice outline, grab a ruler and measure the distance from the heel to the tip of your big toe. Record this result in centimetres.
Repeat this process on your other foot too. It may sound duplicate, but for many people, the sizes differ from one foot to another. Then take the largest foot as a reference to determine your shoe size using the appropriate table. Remember that information from different manufacturers may differ and therefore you should always follow their size charts.
You can use each brand's size charts to find the perfect shoe size by comparing it to your measured size. But beware! Many styles differ in fit, even if the brand is the same. Manufacturers often write this in the description.
The Sizing Guide for your New Balance Favourites
The New Balance Arch Support Company was founded in 1906 by William J. Riley in Boston, Massachusetts. At first, the company mainly produced orthopaedic insoles for shoes until they finally designed the New Balance Trackster in 1960. The Trackster was the first running shoe with a wave-shaped sole, which was also produced in different widths. The size specifications for the widths of the shoes are described as follows:
Shoe widths for Men
B - Narrow
D - Standard
2E - Wide
4E - X-Wide
6E - XX-Wide
Shoe widths for Women
2A - Narrow
B - Standard
D - Wide
2E - X-Wide
Shoe widths for Kids
M - Standard
W - Wide
So you can see that comfort and fit have always played an important role at New Balance. We're taking a look at the most popular New Balance models and telling you how the shoe fits on your foot and which size you should choose.
Are New Balance sneakers true to size?
New Balance 530 Sizing
The New Balance 530 was released in 1992 and was intended as a performance running sneaker, but the model quickly became a favourite among sneaker enthusiasts due to its simple and clean design. The NB530 features an ENCAP midsole and ABZORB heel cushioning for ultimate comfort.
The New Balance 530 is available in width size D (standard). The sneaker is known to fit true to size and is incredibly comfort due to its cushioning technologies.
Conclusion: fits true to size
New Balance 550 Sizing
The New Balance 550 was introduced in 1989 as a basketball shoe. The pair has a retro look and features a leather upper. Despite not catching on with the general public at the time of its release, Aimé Leon Dore re-released the model in 2020. This the lifestyle brand did with great success and since 2020, the model has been unmissable.
The New Balance 550 is available in width size D (standard). The sneaker falls true to size, but should you have wider feet, we recommend going half a size up. This is because the pair has a fairly narrow fit.
Conclusion: fits true to size, for wide feet choose half a size bigger
New Balance 574 Sizing
The New Balance 574 is simply THE classic sneaker from New Balance. Everyone has seen this shoe at some point, whether it's for sports or simply on the street, the 574 is simply an icon and has already experienced a lot with its over 30 years. The shoe comes with the in-house ENCAP cushioning system and thus ensures a comfortable fit on the foot.
This sneaker also comes in a D width as standard, but some colorways are also available in larger widths. For the shoe size, the sneaker is again true to size, but if you have wider feet, it may be advisable to choose a width of 2E-4E, or simply go up half a size.
Conclusion: true to size, for wide feet choose size up or larger width
New Balance 878 Sizing
The New Balance 878 was first released in 1990 and was a classic sports shoe as was usual for the time. In 2016, the shoe was re-released when the retro trend broke out and the designs of the 90s were fashionable again. Many people refer to this chunky and clean type of sneaker as a dad sneaker, which is not meant in a negative way.
Unfortunately, due to the few colorways that have been released so far, there are no different widths. The general fit of the shoe, however, is described by most as true to size. So if you're looking for an 878, you can't go wrong with your usual size.
Conclusion: true to size
New Balance 990 Sizing
More of a running shoe than a casual shoe, this New Balance 990 has a much sportier silhouette than most of the other models on this list, but is still popular with fashion fans and athletes alike. The sneaker is made in America and is the oldest shoe on this list at almost 38 years old.
Since the focus of this shoe is really more in the sports area, you have a large selection of different widths with this model. However, the 990 is supposed to fit a little bigger than most other New Balance models, so a size down of half a size can make a difference. If you have wider feet, you should also look for a width of 2E-4E.
Conclusion: size down 0.5 Sizes, pay attention to width specifications
New Balance 991 Sizing
The New Balance 991 is an updated version of the 990 and is rather the baby of our list. The shoe was first released in 2001 and brought a few changes to the previous model. An ENCAP midsole provided more stability and high-quality materials made the shoe rougher. However, due to the revised upper, the choice of different widths has been compromised, mostly the shoe is only available in the standard width D.
The fit of the shoe is true to size and can be bought in your usual size. As always, if you have particularly wide feet, you can go half a size up to give your feet more room.
Conclusion: true to size, size up for wide feet
New Balance 1500 Sizing
The 1500 series from New Balance already has a few years under its belt, as the design is already 30 years old. The shoe was first released in 1989 and has been one of the most popular models in the New Balance family ever since. The shoe is made in England and is of high quality.
On the New Balance homepage, most 1500 models are marked as a D width, which is a standard size. The shoe size itself, however, is usually described within the community as true to size. If you have a very narrow foot and prefer a tighter fit in the toebox, you can size down half a size.
Conclusion: true to size
New Balance 2002R Sizing
New Balance's 2002R model has a retro look. The sneaker is inspired by the running shoes of the 2000s. The midsole is supported by ABZORB technology. This technology provides cushioning and comfort. The upper combines the materials mesh, leather and suede.
The 2002R model is also available in width D (standard) only. The sneaker fits true to size, so we recommend choosing your own size. Also for people with wider feet, it is recommended to take your own size.
Conclusion: true to size
For more sizing guides for your favourite sneaker models, visit the Sneaker Sizing Guide page.