A European size 38 shoe is usually about a women’s US 7 and a UK 5, with a foot length of roughly 23.7 cm (about 9.3 inches).

Here’s a quick breakdown (for women’s shoes, which is what most charts assume when they just say “38”):

  • EU 38 ≈ US women’s 7.
  • EU 38 ≈ UK women’s 5.
  • Foot length: about 237–241 mm (23.7–24.1 cm), depending on brand and chart.

For men’s shoes, some charts treat EU 38 as about a US 6–6.5 or 7, but this varies more by brand and region, so checking each brand’s size guide is important.

[9][1][3] [1][3][7][9] [5][9][1]
SystemTypical equivalent for EU 38
US (women)7
UK (women)5
Foot length≈ 23.7–24.1 cm (9.3–9.5 in)
Because different brands and countries tweak their charts a bit, it’s always safest to check the specific size chart of the store you’re buying from and compare it to your measured foot length.