Having one foot bigger than the other is very common. Sometimes it can literally be by the mm and is only discovered by having your feet measured. Approximately 60% of adults have one foot that’s longer and/or wider than the other. In the vast majority of cases, these variations aren’t particularly noticeable or troublesome.

Although we think of our bodies as being symmetrical, they are not. Having feet of different sizes is actually more common then having feet of the same size.

The left foot is often the culprit. Why? This is often caused by the way we walk. For most people, the right side of the body is dominant. It’s, therefore, easier for them to maintain their balance when they’re stepping forward with their left foot and relying on their right side to help keep them steady.

As a result, the left foot is exercised somewhat more thoroughly, grows stronger and achieves a slightly bigger size. Also, using one foot more than the other when playing sport can lead to your more dominant foot increasing in size.

In rare cases, the variation in size is considerable and results from a health problem. Health problems that can lead to differently sized feet include clubfoot (a deformity that makes the foot point inwards and scoliosis (sideways curvature of the spine, the asymmetry makes one leg longer than the other and puts the corresponding foot under strain, flattening its arch.

If there’s a difference in size between your feet, take extra care when choosing shoes. If one foot is 1½ sizes bigger than the other (or more), it’s best to buy shoes in non-matching sizes. Some retailers have ‘split-size’ policies: you could buy one shoe in size 8 and another in size 9 ½, say.

If you want to ensure your feet work in harmony with each other and shoes fit properly, visit our skilled London podiatry team.

We can examine your feet, perform gait analysis and treat issues arising from size differences and asymmetry. For example, we design custom-made shoe inserts called orthotics to support feet and enhance foot function.