Are Birkenstocks Good For Wide Feet? (Advice & Size Charts)

So, you love the idea of Birkenstocks and are sold on getting a pair, but you have the same old dilemma; will they be good for your wide feet?

You know, all too well, the frustration of purchasing a pair of shoes only to find out they cramp your feet. In this post we’ll take a look at the Birkenstock design and see how how it works for wide feet (including my own personal experience with wearing them).

Birkenstocks are good for wide feet if your feet fit C-D for women or D-DD for men. Wide width is indicated on the footbed as a clear footprint. If your feet are broader than this, the fit will be uncomfortable. Birkenstocks come in 2 widths; opt for the regular/wide fit for wider feet.

Birkenstocks offer medium/narrow fit and a regular/wide fit footbeds across their range. Take a look at the wide fit option here.

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My Experience

Personally my feet are slightly wide and I find they is plenty of space for me in my Birkenstocks footbed. I purchased a regular fit and haven’t had any problems with it. Here’s how mine look on me:

I find there is a little bit of extra space, as you can see in the above image, which I really like.

Birkenstocks Go Wide

Looking at the Birkenstock website, there is a page dedicated to optimal Birkenstock fits. The site mentions that shoes are available in regular/wide and medium/narrow.

Take a look:

The regular/wide size for women’s feet is equivalent to C-D width, and for men’s, D-DD. Medium/narrow in women’s width is a standard A-B width; for men, it’s a B-C width. 

Width is indicated by either a colored footprint or a clear footprint. Clear footprints indicate regular/wide sizes, and colored footprints indicate that a shoe is medium/narrow. This is indicated on the inner sole of Birkenstocks, to the left of the shoe size, and on the shoe box. 

The site mentions Birkenstock’s generous footbed, roomy fit, and adjustable straps as benefits for wide feet.

A great plus for Birkenstock is that they are true to size, so using the sizing chart will not deliver surprises when your shoes are delivered to your door.

Birkenstocks come in half sizes which are ideal for wider feet. Many shoe brands don’t have half sizes, so big props to Birkenstocks for this. 

Taking A Chance Isn’t Worth It 

Wide feet fitting into shoes is a challenge. Most shoes are designed for normal width, so narrow and wide feet have unique challenges. Because Birks have side ridges, your foot must fit comfortably into the footbed. The ridges are molded onto the shoe, so they aren’t going to disappear after you’ve worn your Birkenstocks for a while. 

If any part of your foot sticks over the edges, despite their reputation as super-comfy, Birkenstocks will be super-uncomfortable. 

A common wide-foot solution is to buy shoes a size bigger. Width measurements increase as size increases, so a bigger size will be wider irrespective of its status as narrow or wide. 

The trouble with Birks is the molded footbed. A longer shoe size will cause slipping and sliding, so your foot will not align with the arch support, toe bar, and heel cup. Walking in too long Birkenstocks is tantamount to foot abuse. 

Suppose your feet are broader than an E, and you can’t try your Birks on before buying; rather, opt for a shoe that does not have footbed molding and is more flexible along the sides.

Breaking In Birks Isn’t For The Faint Of Heart

The downside to Birks is that they are difficult to break in for fans with wider feet. The common complaint is that the area around the toe ridge is narrow for wider feet. The baby toe rubs against the ridge, causing blistering and, in some cases, even drawing blood. 

For those who work through the pain, a pair of Birks eventually molds to fit your foot and delivers extreme comfort. The challenge is that it takes so much longer to wear Birkenstocks on wider feet. 

Breaking in Birkis on wide feet takes more determination and endeavor. Because Birkenstocks have ridges around the shoe, a wider foot will rub on the ridges, which is painful. 

• Always wear thick socks in the wearing-in phase; failure to do so will render your feet raw and sore.
• Use band-aids under your sock to lessen the rub a bit more. 
• Bend and flex the sole as much as possible to eliminate rigidity. 
• Soften the ridges by gently hammering them down.

A cool way to know whether your Birks are taking shape is to look at the footbed. A softening or shaping in any area says: ‘I’m molding.’ Keep at it! If you notice any wear marks on your shoes and reduced stiffness on the hard bits, your efforts are worth making.

Get The Numbers To Find The Fit

Birkis won’t break the bank but are considered a footwear investment. So, getting the measurements right the first time is an absolute must.

Top Tips For Tip Top Accuracy:

1. Place your foot on a thickish A4 sheet of paper or cardboard. A great idea is to firmly tape down the paper to prevent slippage. 
2. Stand firmly on your feet and balance with the same pressure as barefoot. Always measure your feet on a hard surface. On a soft surface, the paper may crumple and affect the accuracy of the measurements. 
3. Ask a friend or family member to trace your feet. If you bend down to draw around your feet, you shift your balance, which changes your feet’s circumference.
4. Have your friend trace firmly around the shape of your foot.
5. Trace your foot along the outside edge of the foot. Do not let the pen or pencil slip under your foot, as this will alter the shape and size of your foot measurement.
6. Trace both feet and then take use the measurements.
7. To get the width measurement, measure across the widest part, just below your toes, where your bunion would be. 
8. Take the measurement of your foot from the back edge of your heel to the tip of your longest toe.  
9. These are the measurements you use to decide on your shoe size. Remember that your feet are most likely slightly different in size, so use the numbers of your widest foot to choose a shoe size.

Pair The Numbers With The Letters 

In men’s sizes, sandals and shoes are all manufactured to the same width specs. Birkenstocks state that their footbed is roomy, medium/narrow, and fits most women’s feet well. Thongs, however, are narrower and are better in medium/wide fit. 

Unfortunately, the Birkenstock online site does not provide exact measurements for width. Given that Birkenstocks are touted as true to size let’s look at standard width measurements for shoes:

Men’s Shoe Width

US Size	Narrow (C)	Average (D)	Wide (E)
6	3 5/16”	3 ½”	3 11/16”
6.5	3 5/16”	3 5/8”	3 ¾”
7	3 3/8”	3 5/8”	3 ¾”
7.5	3 3/8”	3 11/16”	3 15/16”
8	3 ½”	3 ¾”	3 15/16”
8.5	3 5/8”	3 ¾”	3 15/16”
9	3 5/8”	3 15/16”	4 1/8”
9.5	3 11/16”	3 15/16”	4 1/8”
10	3 ¾”	4″”	4 3/16”
10.5	3 ¾”	4 1/8”	4 5/16”
11	3 15/16”	4 1/8”	4 5/16”
11.5	3 15/16”	4 3/16”	4 3/8”
12	4″”	4 5/16”	4 3/8”
12.5	4 1/8”	4 5/16”	4 ½ “
13	4 1/8”	4 5/16”	4 5/8”
13.5	4 3/16”	4 3/8”	4 ¾”

Women’s Shoe Width

US Size	Narrow (C)	Average (D)	Wide (E)
6	3 5/16”	3 ½”	3 11/16”
6.5	3 5/16”	3 5/8”	3 ¾”
7	3 3/8”	3 5/8”	3 ¾”
7.5	3 3/8”	3 11/16”	3 15/16”
8	3 ½”	3 ¾”	3 15/16”
8.5	3 5/8”	3 ¾”	3 15/16”
9	3 5/8”	3 15/16”	4 1/8”
9.5	3 11/16”	3 15/16”	4 1/8”
10	3 ¾”	4″”	4 3/16”
10.5	3 ¾”	4 1/8”	4 5/16”
11	3 15/16”	4 1/8”	4 5/16”
11.5	3 15/16”	4 3/16”	4 3/8”
12	4″”	4 5/16”	4 3/8”
12.5	4 1/8”	4 5/16”	4 ½ “
13	4 1/8”	4 5/16”	4 5/8”
13.5	4 3/16”	4 3/8”	4 ¾”

Remember that the smallest millimeter makes a difference to shoe comfort, so bear this in mind when deciding on shoe size. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Birkenstock’s Footbeds Stretch?

Birkenstock soles are made from cork. Cork is flexible but always bounces back to its original shape. You’ll get a small amount of stretch leeway when you wear your shoes, but they won’t stretch permanently.

For more on this, read: Do Birkenstocks Stretch? Design Breakdown (My Experience).

What Do I Do If I Buy Birkenstocks Online And I Can’t Get Them To Fit?

Before you begin the stretching in stage, make a logical decision on how much stretch you need. If your feet feel jammed into the shoe or any part of your foot touches on or protrudes from its edge, no amount of wearing it will fix this. Return the shoes. If you’ve ordered a narrow/medium fit, exchange your Birks for regular/wide. 

Conclusion

Birkenstocks work for wide feet, provided your foot is not extra wide. Birks come in 2 sizes narrow/medium (A-B for women), (B-C for men), and regular/wide (C-D for women and D – DD for men). Because feet must fit into the Birki’s foot mold, an extra-wide foot could be uncomfortable. Measure the width of your foot as accurately as possible to avoid excess rubbing and friction.

For more Birkenstocks content, check out:

Why Are Birkenstocks So Expensive? (Top 15 Reasons)

Do Birkenstocks Have Arch Support? Design Analysis

Are Birkenstocks Vegan? Range Breakdown

Are Birkenstocks Cool? 2023 Guide (Poll Results)

Are Birkenstocks Worth It? My Experience (PHOTOS)

How Long Do Birkenstocks Last? My Experience (PHOTOS)

Can Birkenstocks Get Wet? Water Test (PHOTOS)