Buying Kids' Shoes on a Budget: Sizing, Growth Room and When to Spend
How to measure children's feet, how much growth room is sensible, how often kids need new shoes, and where it is and isn't worth saving money.
Children's shoes are a budget challenge for one simple reason: feet grow, so even a well-made pair has a short useful life. It is tempting to buy the cheapest option or to buy several sizes too big. Both approaches can backfire. Here is how to keep costs down while still getting shoes that fit properly.
How fast children's feet grow
Young children's feet grow quickly, and it is common for toddlers and young children to need a new size every few months. Growth slows as children get older, but school-age kids can still move up a size or more each year, often in spurts. The practical lesson: check the fit regularly rather than waiting for complaints. Many children will not mention that shoes are tight, especially if they like the shoes.
How to check the size
Use the same method as for adults, described in our guide to measuring feet at home:
- Measure in the afternoon, with your child standing with full weight on the foot.
- Trace both feet and measure from heel to the longest toe.
- Use the larger foot.
- Compare the length to the specific brand's kids' size chart.
Then check the fit of shoes they are wearing now. With the shoe on and your child standing, press gently at the front. If there is little or no space beyond the longest toe, it is time for the next size.
How much growth room is sensible
A modest amount of room is good; a lot is not. A common rule of thumb is about a thumb's width (roughly 1 to 1.5 cm) between the longest toe and the front of the shoe. That leaves room for growth and for the foot moving forward while walking.
Buying two sizes up to "get more wear" causes problems:
- The shoe's flex point no longer lines up with the ball of the foot.
- Heels slip, which causes blisters.
- Children trip more easily over long toes.
- Kids compensate by gripping with their toes, which is uncomfortable.
If you want to stretch a budget, one size up with a thicker sock in the early weeks is more reasonable than two sizes up.
Where to save money
Kids' shoes from last season. Children's athletic shoes get discounted when new colorways arrive, and children rarely care whether a shoe is this year's design. See our guide to the best time of year to buy shoes for when markdowns tend to happen.
Hand-me-downs, with care. A lightly worn pair from an older sibling can be fine for casual wear. Check that the sole is not worn unevenly, the heel counter is not crushed, and the insole has not compressed into the shape of someone else's foot. Avoid passing on shoes that are heavily worn.
Simple, durable designs. Light-up soles, elaborate straps and licensed characters add cost without adding fit or durability.
Buying one good everyday pair rather than several cheap pairs. Kids are hard on shoes. A sturdier pair worn daily can outlast two flimsy pairs, which helps the cost-per-wear math.
Where not to cut corners
- Fit. A cheap shoe that fits is better than an expensive shoe that does not.
- Secure closure. Laces, a good strap or a hook-and-loop closure that holds the heel in place. Slip-ons that need toe-gripping to stay on are not ideal for all-day wear.
- Flexibility in the right place. The shoe should bend where the toes bend, not in the middle of the arch.
- Sports-specific needs. If your child plays a sport seriously, a shoe designed for it (cleats for field sports, court shoes for basketball) is worth it for grip and support.
Youth sizes for small adults
There is a useful flip side. "Big kids" sizes overlap with small adult sizes, and youth versions of popular sneakers are sometimes priced lower than the adult version. If you are an adult with small feet, it can be worth checking the youth range. Be aware that youth versions may use different materials or cushioning than the adult model.
The bottom line
Check your child's fit every couple of months, aim for about a thumb's width of growth room, and save money on design rather than fit. Last season's colorways, simple styles and carefully chosen hand-me-downs keep costs down without making your child pay for it in comfort.
This guide is general consumer information, not medical advice. If you have foot pain that does not settle, see a podiatrist or doctor. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.