Which football boots run big, and should you size down?
Boots that fit longer than their label, so most players should size down. How far depends on the model: some run a quarter size long, which only matters if you fall between sizes, while others run a full half size.
Running long is the most repeated piece of boot advice and the most over-applied — it is true of a minority of models, and how far they run varies enough that a blanket half-size-down rule will leave you in the wrong boot as often as the right one. Each boot below carries its own measured offset, so check the model rather than following the rule.
32 of 175 boots in our database match.
What to check before you buy
- A quarter size long only matters if you fall between sizes; a clean whole size should take their usual size.
- Sizing down takes width as well as length. If you are already snug across the ball, size down with caution.
- Your longest toe decides the length you need — for a Greek foot that is the second toe, not the big one.
Every match in our database
- Nike Tiempo Maestro EliteHeritage · Standard width · FGTrue to size
- Puma Future 9 UltimateAll round · Narrow width · FG/AGTrue to size
- Mizuno Alpha III Made In JapanSpeed · Standard width · FG½ size down
- Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 EliteSpeed · Narrow width · FGTrue to size
- Mizuno Morelia II JapanHeritage · Accommodating width · FGTrue to size
- Adidas Copa MundialHeritage · Accommodating width · FGFull size down
- Mizuno Morelia Neo Beta VSpeed · Standard width · FG½ size down
- Puma Ultra 6 UltimateSpeed · Standard width · FGTrue to size
- Asics Jetray EliteSpeed · Narrow width · FG½ size down
- Sokito Scudetta BiotouchHeritage · Standard width · FG½ size down
- New Balance Furon v8 EliteSpeed · Narrow width · MGTrue to size
- Mizuno Morelia Sala EliteHeritage · Accommodating width · TurfTrue to size
- New Balance 442 v3 EliteHeritage · Accommodating width · FGTrue to size
- Adidas Copa Pure IV EliteHeritage · Standard width · FGTrue to size
- Mizuno Morelia DNA JapanHeritage · Narrow width · FG½ size down
- Adidas Team MundialHeritage · Accommodating width · Turf½ size down
- Puma Ultra 6 Ultimate (Women's)Speed · Standard width · FGTrue to size
- Nike Tiempo Maestro AcademyHeritage · Standard width · TurfTrue to size
- Mizuno Alpha III EliteSpeed · Standard width · AG½ size down
- Asics DS Light ProControl · Standard width · AG½ size down
- Puma Ultra 6 Ultimate (MG)Speed · Standard width · MGTrue to size
- Puma King LigaHeritage · Accommodating width · SGTrue to size
- Mizuno Morelia Monarcida EliteHeritage · Accommodating width · FG½ size down
- Lanzera ProfessionaleHeritage · Accommodating width · FGTrue to size
- New Balance Furon v9 ProSpeed · Narrow width · SGTrue to size
- Nike Phantom GT2 EliteControl · Standard width · FGTrue to size
- Mizuno Morelia Neo IIHeritage · Narrow width · FG½ size down
- Adidas X Speedportal.1Speed · Narrow width · FGTrue to size
- Adidas Predator 25 Elite LacelessControl · Standard width · FGTrue to size
- Mizuno Alpha I Made In JapanSpeed · Narrow width · FG½ size down
- Mizuno Alpha II Made In JapanSpeed · Narrow width · FG½ size down
- Adidas Predator 26 Elite LeatherControl · Narrow width · FGTrue to size
Common questions
- Which football boots run big?
- The boots on this page, each with its own measured offset. Some run about a quarter size long, which only matters between sizes; others run a full half size and genuinely need sizing down.
- Should I always size down in football boots?
- No. Most boots fit their label. Sizing down by habit leaves you short in the boots that are already true to size, and it removes width as well as length.
Other fit questions
- Best football boots for wide feet
- Best football boots for narrow feet
- Football boots for a high instep or high-volume midfoot
- Football boots with a roomy toe box
- Football boots that stretch and mould to your foot
- Which football boots fit true to size?
- Which football boots run small, and should you size up?
- Football boots for heel slip
Groupings are derived from BootShapes’s own fit data and are a guide, not a guarantee. For a personalized match, build your foot profile and overlay these boots on your own model.