The Biggest Shoe Size in the World: Record Holders and Facts

adminDecember 27, 2023

105 6 minutes read

The biggest shoe size in the world belonged to Robert Wadlow, the tallest man in recorded history, who wore a US size 37AA. His feet measured about 47 cm (roughly 18.5 inches) long, according to Guinness World Records. Among living people, the record for the largest feet is held by Jeison Orlando Rodríguez Hernández of Venezuela, whose feet measure a little over 40 cm and who wears around a US men’s size 26. Below, you will find the stories behind these records, how shoe sizes scale, and where people with very large feet actually buy shoes.

Table of Contents

Robert Wadlow: the all-time record holder

Robert Pershing Wadlow was born in Alton, Illinois, in 1918. A condition affecting his pituitary gland caused him to keep growing throughout his life, and at his last measurement he stood about 8 feet 11 inches (2.72 m) tall, which remains the tallest height ever reliably recorded for a human. He died in 1940 at the age of 22.

Wadlow’s shoes were made to order, since nothing on the market came close to fitting him. His US size 37AA is still the largest shoe size on record. The “AA” refers to width, meaning his feet were long but relatively narrow. Reports from his lifetime note that a shoe company supplied his footwear, and that each pair was expensive to make and wore out relatively quickly because of the strain his height placed on his feet. His case is a reminder that extreme size is not just a curiosity: Wadlow relied on leg braces later in life, and an infection linked to a poorly fitting brace contributed to his death.

Who has the biggest feet today?

Jeison Orlando Rodríguez Hernández, from Maracay, Venezuela, is recognized by Guinness World Records as the living man with the largest feet. His feet measure a little over 40 cm (about 15.8 inches), with the right foot slightly longer than the left. He is often reported as wearing a US size 26, compared with the roughly 26 to 27 cm foot of a typical adult man. He has spoken publicly about how hard it was to find shoes growing up, and about relying on custom footwear made by specialist shoemakers.

Before him, Sultan Kösen of Turkey, who is also the tallest living man, was known for having the largest feet, measuring roughly 36 cm. Several of the people in this small group have had their shoes made by specialist orthopedic shoemakers, including German craftsman Georg Wessel, who has been widely reported as making shoes for record holders with extremely large feet.

Why some people have extremely large feet

Foot length generally tracks overall height, so taller people tend to have longer feet. Genetics explain most of the normal variation: if your parents have large feet, you are more likely to as well. The record holders are a different case. Extreme foot size is often linked to conditions that cause excess growth hormone, such as pituitary gigantism, which begins before the growth plates in the bones close, or acromegaly, which starts in adulthood and can gradually enlarge the hands, feet and facial features.

These conditions are medical issues rather than curiosities, and they can affect the heart, joints and overall health. Today, doctors can often diagnose them earlier and treat them with surgery, medication or radiation, which is one reason heights and foot sizes like Wadlow’s are so rare now. For most people, a shoe size in the teens is simply a family trait and nothing to worry about.

Famous people with very large shoe sizes

Outside record books, basketball is where you see the biggest feet in everyday life. Shaquille O’Neal is well known for wearing a US size 22, and plenty of NBA centers and forwards wear sizes in the high teens or low twenties. Because professional athletes have shoe deals, brands build special lasts (foot-shaped molds) for them, which is one reason these sizes exist in limited runs at all.

How shoe sizes scale with foot length

In the US system, each full size adds about one-third of an inch (roughly 8.5 mm) to the length. That sounds small, but it adds up quickly at the top of the scale. The table below gives approximate foot lengths for large US men’s sizes. Exact measurements vary by brand and by the shape of the shoe, so treat these as a guide rather than a standard.

US men’s size	Approx. foot length (inches)	Approx. foot length (cm)	Where to find it
12	11.25 to 11.5	28.5 to 29	Most stores
14	About 12	About 30.5	Many stores, fewer styles
16	About 12.5 to 12.75	About 32	Online and big-and-tall retailers
18 to 20	About 13.25 to 14	About 34 to 35.5	Specialty retailers, some athletic brands
22 and up	14.5 and longer	37 and longer	Mostly custom-made

For comparison, the average adult man in the US is commonly said to wear somewhere around a size 10 to 11, and the average woman around a size 8.5 to 9. Average foot sizes have crept upward over the past century along with average height and body weight.

How sizing differs around the world

Shoe sizes are not universal. UK sizes run about one size smaller than US men’s sizes, so a US 13 is roughly a UK 12. European (Paris point) sizes use a different unit, and a US men’s 13 usually lands around EU 47 to 48. Some countries, including Japan and parts of Asia, use a simple length in centimeters. That is why record books describe giant feet in centimeters: it avoids confusion between systems.

Why finding very large shoes is hard

Most retail stores stock men’s sizes up to around 13, sometimes 14 or 15. The reason is simple economics: shoes are made on lasts, and every extra size needs its own molds, materials and inventory. When only a small share of customers wear a size, stores cannot justify keeping it on the shelf. People with large feet commonly run into:

Few style choices, often limited to athletic shoes and basic dress shoes.
Higher prices, especially for custom or small-batch pairs.
Poor width options, since big sizes are often made only in a standard width.
Long waits, because custom shoes can take weeks to make.

Where people with big feet buy shoes

Athletic brands: several major sneaker brands make select models in sizes up to the high teens or beyond, mostly sold online.
Big-and-tall and specialty retailers: some stores focus specifically on large and wide sizes, carrying casual, dress and work boots.
Custom and orthopedic shoemakers: for sizes above the low twenties, custom is usually the only option. Expect a fitting or detailed measurements, a higher price and a longer wait.
Online marketplaces: filter by size and read reviews for fit notes, since big sizes can run differently from brand to brand.

Women with large feet face an even smaller selection, since many women’s lines stop around size 10 or 11. Many choose men’s or unisex styles, or specialty brands that carry women’s sizes up to 13 or 15. If you have ever struggled to find a dressy pair for an event, this guide to finding your perfect prom pair has styling ideas that work across sizes.

Getting the right fit when you wear a big size

A shoe that is too small or too narrow causes more trouble in large sizes because the foot carries more load. A few habits help:

Measure both feet at the end of the day, when feet are slightly larger, and fit the bigger one.
Leave about a thumb’s width of space between your longest toe and the front of the shoe.
Check width as carefully as length, and look for wide (2E) or extra-wide (4E) options.
Choose supportive insoles and good socks, since cushioning and circulation matter for comfort. Our article on the health benefits of compression socks explains when they can help people who spend long hours on their feet.

Anyone whose feet change size suddenly, swell or hurt persistently should see a doctor or podiatrist, since shoe size alone is rarely the whole story.