Ice Skate Size Chart: How to Size Ice Skates and Figure Skates
Ice skate size depends on the type of skate. Recreational soft-boot ice skates such as K2 and Bladerunner generally match your regular shoe size. Traditional figure skates such as Riedell usually run about a half to one size smaller than a woman’s shoe size, and hockey skates run about 1.5 sizes smaller than a men’s shoe size. Measure your longer foot in centimeters and match it to the chart for your skate.
Last updated: November 12, 2026 · By the Skates.com Editorial Team
How do you size ice skates?
Size ice skates by foot length, not shoe size alone, then check the fit on the ice or at home. Follow these steps:
- Measure both feet. Wear the thin socks you’ll skate in, stand on a sheet of paper on a hard floor with your heel against a wall, and mark the tip of your longest toe. Measure from the wall to the mark in centimeters. Feet are often different lengths, so use the longer one. K2’s sizing tips and Riedell’s sizing blog both give this method (K2, Riedell).
- Match the chart for your skate. Find your foot length on the chart for the brand and type of skate below. Brands size differently, so check the chart for the exact model when it is listed. If you fall between sizes, K2 says to round up, and Riedell says to start with the smaller size when length is in question and confirm the fit.
- Check the fit. The heel should sit back and stay locked, your toes should lightly brush the front without curling, and your foot should not slide. See the fit checks below.
- Choose a width if the brand offers one. Many figure skates come in narrow, medium and wide widths; most recreational skates come in one.
Do ice skates run smaller than shoe size?
It depends on the type of skate. Use this table to start, then confirm with a foot-length chart.
| Skate type | Typical size vs. your shoe size | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recreational soft-boot (K2 Alexis, K2 F.I.T., Bladerunner Igniter) | About your regular shoe size. K2’s size charts list foot length by US shoe size, and Ice Warehouse says to order your normal shoe size for these models. | K2 size chart; Ice Warehouse |
| Traditional figure skates (Riedell) | Women start ½ to 1 size down from street shoes. Men may take the same size or ½ size down. Kids may match their shoe size. | Riedell |
| Hockey skates (Bauer chart) | About 1.5 sizes smaller than a men’s shoe size (men’s 9 is a skate size 7.5), about 2 to 2.5 sizes smaller than a women’s shoe size, and about 1 size smaller for kids. See the hockey skate size chart. | Bauer; Skates.com |
Riedell’s own advice is not to rely on shoe size alone for figure skates, because every brand builds its skates differently. If you are learning to skate,
figure skates are the best place to start; hockey skates are a good choice if you plan to play hockey.Adult ice skate size chart (K2 recreational skates)
This chart combines K2’s women’s Alexis size chart and K2’s men’s/unisex F.I.T. size chart, which use the same foot-length scale. Women’s sizes are US women’s; men’s/unisex sizes are US men’s. Find your foot length in the first column.
| Foot length | K2 US women’s (Alexis) | K2 US men’s / unisex (F.I.T.) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 cm | 4 | – |
| 22 cm | 5 | – |
| 23 cm | 6 | 5 |
| 23.5 cm | 6.5 | – |
| 24 cm | 7 | 6 |
| 24.5 cm | 7.5 | 6.5 |
| 25 cm | 8 | 7 |
| 25.5 cm | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| 26 cm | 9 | 8 |
| 26.5 cm | 9.5 | 8.5 |
| 27 cm | 10 | 9 |
| 27.5 cm | 10.5 | 9.5 |
| 28 cm | 11 | 10 |
| 28.5 cm | – | 10.5 |
| 29 cm | – | 11 |
| 29.5 cm | – | 11.5 |
| 30 cm | – | 12 |
| 30.5 cm | – | 12.5 |
| 31 cm | – | 13 |
| 32 cm | – | 14 |
Source: K2 Skates product size charts for the
Alexis Ice Pro and F.I.T. Ice Pro, checked November 12, 2026. A dash means K2 does not make that size on that scale.Bladerunner Igniter XT women’s ice skates
Bladerunner’s Igniter XT women’s skates are sized by foot length: US 6 = 23 cm, US 7 = 24 cm, US 8 = 25 cm, US 9 = 26 cm and US 10 = 27 cm, per Ice Warehouse’s published chart. Rollerblade lists the range as 23.0 to 27.5 cm (
Rollerblade USA). Ice Warehouse notes that ordering your US shoe size works for most skaters, and suggests adding 0.5 cm if you want extra toe room or have wider feet.Figure skate size chart (Riedell)
Riedell boots are sized differently from shoes. This chart lists foot length for each Riedell boot size and comes from the Riedell Ritz Stick measurements on our
Riedell Ice Skate Size Chart page. Riedell sizes its boots for a snug, competitive fit; if you prefer a little extra room, Riedell says to add 1/4 inch to your measurement.| Riedell boot size | Foot length (inches) | Foot length (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 8 7/8" | 22.5 cm |
| 4.5 | 9" | 22.9 cm |
| 5 | 9 3/16" | 23.3 cm |
| 5.5 | 9 3/8" | 23.8 cm |
| 6 | 9 1/2" | 24.1 cm |
| 6.5 | 9 11/16" | 24.6 cm |
| 7 | 9 7/8" | 25.1 cm |
| 7.5 | 10" | 25.4 cm |
| 8 | 10 3/16" | 25.9 cm |
| 8.5 | 10 3/8" | 26.4 cm |
| 9 | 10 1/2" | 26.7 cm |
| 9.5 | 10 11/16" | 27.1 cm |
| 10 | 10 7/8" | 27.6 cm |
| 10.5 | 11" | 27.9 cm |
| 11 | 11 3/16" | 28.4 cm |
| 11.5 | 11 3/8" | 28.9 cm |
| 12 | 11 1/2" | 29.2 cm |
| 12.5 | 11 11/16" | 29.7 cm |
| 13 | 11 7/8" | 30.2 cm |
| Riedell boot size | Foot length (inches) | Foot length (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| 12.5 | 7 3/8" | 18.7 cm |
| 13 | 7 1/2" | 19.1 cm |
| 13.5 | 7 11/16" | 19.5 cm |
| 1 | 7 7/8" | 20.0 cm |
| 1.5 | 8" | 20.3 cm |
| 2 | 8 3/16" | 20.8 cm |
| 2.5 | 8 3/8" | 21.3 cm |
| 3 | 8 1/2" | 21.6 cm |
| 3.5 | 8 11/16" | 22.1 cm |
Centimeters are converted at 2.54 cm per inch. Riedell boots also come in different widths, so measure the ball of your foot too; the full width instructions are on the
Riedell chart page.Hockey skate sizing
Hockey skates use their own scale, which runs smaller than shoe size. Use the full
hockey skate size chart for youth, junior, intermediate and senior tables. Quick conversions from Bauer’s player skate chart:| Your shoe size | Typical hockey skate size |
|---|---|
| Men’s 8 | 6.5 |
| Men’s 9 | 7.5 |
| Men’s 10 | 8.5 |
| Men’s 11 | 9.5 |
| Men’s 12 | 10.5 |
| Women’s 7 | 5 |
| Women’s 9 | 6.5 |
| Women’s 10 | 7.5 |
| Kids’ 1 | Y13 |
| Kids’ 3 | 2 |
| Kids’ 5 | 4 |
Kids’ ice skate size chart
Most kids’ beginner ice skates are adjustable and sold in ranges that cover several sizes. Match your child’s foot length (in centimeters) to the range, not to a single shoe size. These ranges come from each brand’s own chart.
| Brand and model | Size range (US) | Foot length |
|---|---|---|
| K2 Raider and Marlee (Ice and Beam) | J8–12 | 15.5–19 cm |
| K2 Raider and Marlee (Ice and Beam) | 11–2 | 17–20.5 cm |
| K2 Raider and Marlee (Ice and Beam) | 1–5 | 19.5–23 cm |
| K2 Raider and Marlee (Ice and Beam) | 4–8 | 22–25.5 cm |
| Bladerunner Micro Ice and Micro XT | 12J–2 | 18.5–21.5 cm |
| Bladerunner Micro Ice and Micro XT | 2–5 | 20.5–23.5 cm |
| Bladerunner Micro Ice and Micro XT | 5–8 | 22.5–25.5 cm |
| Roces Moody Ice 3.0 | 13J–3 | 19.8–22.2 cm |
| Roces Moody Ice 3.0 | 4–7 | 22.5–25.5 cm |
Sources:
K2 Skates Fall/Winter 2025 ice catalog, Rollerblade USA Micro Ice (foot lengths) with US size labels from Ice Warehouse, and Roces size guide. Not every model is made in every range.Choose the range that fits your child’s foot now, with the adjustment set to fit today. Riedell warns that skates that are too big do not support the foot properly, so don’t buy extra size to grow into. For more, see our
kids’ ice skates guide.How should ice skates fit?
Snug, with your heel locked back and your foot held still. Riedell’s fitting advice is that the ends of your toes should lightly brush the front of the boot and be able to wiggle slightly up and down, but not slide side to side.
- Heel: your heel stays firmly in place when you stand and bend your knees. K2 says the heel pocket is the most important part of the fit.
- Toes: they lightly touch the front without curling or going numb.
- Insole check: stand on the skate’s insole with your heel lined up. Per USA Hockey’s Learn to Skate program, your big toe should almost reach the front, with no more than about 1/4 inch showing.
- Finger test: with the skate laced, you should be able to fit no more than about one finger behind your heel.
Too tight and painful, or loose with a heel that lifts, means the size is wrong. New skates should also be sharpened before the first use; see
how often to sharpen your ice skates.Shop ice skates and read more guides
Browse figure skates, ice skates and kids’ ice skates that are in stock now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size ice skates should I get?
Measure your longer foot in centimeters and match it to the chart for your skate. Recreational ice skates such as K2 and Bladerunner generally match your regular shoe size, traditional figure skates usually run a half to one size smaller than a woman’s shoe, and hockey skates run about 1.5 sizes smaller than a men’s shoe.
Do ice skates run smaller than shoe size?
Figure skates and hockey skates usually do. Riedell says women should start ½ to 1 size below their street shoe size and men may take the same size or ½ size smaller. Bauer’s hockey chart puts men’s skates about 1.5 sizes below shoe size. Recreational soft-boot skates such as K2 are sized to your normal shoe size.
How do I measure my foot for ice skates?
Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall, wearing the socks you skate in. Mark your longest toe and measure from the wall to the mark in centimeters. Do both feet and use the longer one, then find that length on the chart for your skate.
How should ice skates fit?
Snug, with your heel locked in place and your toes lightly brushing the front without curling. Your foot should not slide, and you should not feel pain or numbness. A loose skate lets the ankle roll and a skate that is too tight hurts.
What size ice skates should a kid get?
Match your child’s foot length in centimeters to a size range, such as K2’s 11–2 for a 17 to 20.5 cm foot or Bladerunner Micro’s 2–5 for a 20.5 to 23.5 cm foot. Most kids’ beginner skates adjust across several sizes, so pick the range that fits today’s foot rather than buying a size to grow into.
Are figure skates and hockey skates sized the same?
No. Figure skates are sized by the brand’s own scale, such as Riedell’s foot-length chart, while hockey skates use a separate scale that runs about 1.5 sizes below a men’s shoe size. Always use the chart for the type and brand you are buying.
Should I buy ice skates a size bigger to grow into?
No. Riedell says skates that are too big do not fit or support the foot properly and can cause discomfort, breakdown and injury. For kids, choose an adjustable skate that fits now and expand it as their feet grow.
Are K2 ice skates true to size?
K2’s ice skate size charts match foot length to US shoe size, and its sizing tips say to choose the size that matches your longer foot and to round up if you are between sizes. The heel should stay put without movement when you kick and slide.