Part 1: How To Measure Your Feet For Irish Dance Pumps
Getting the right size in a new pair of Irish dance pumps can sometimes feel tricky, especially if you’re trying them for the first time.
With over 30 years’ experience fitting dancers, we’ve created this guide to make the process as straightforward as possible — while sharing the expert tips that will help you avoid the common pitfalls.
Please do not choose your pump size based on the dancer's school shoe size, by sizing down one size from normal footwear or by drawing around their feet. These are all highly inaccurate and you will probably end up buying the wrong size.
Sizing at a Glance
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Always measure the foot length – don’t rely on trainer size, school shoes, or old pumps. Use the recommended measuring method for an accurate result.
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Measure both feet – use the smaller foot for the best fit and arch profile.
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Check the Sizing Guide for the pump you would like to buy (sizing advise differs between styles) to see what size pump we suggest purchasing.
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Watch our step-by-step video or follow the steps below.
Measure the Length of Your Foot
The first step is to measure the length of the dancer's feet.
We strongly recommend measuring using the method below as it is the most reliable way to choose the right size for pumps and boys’ reel shoes. There is only a small difference between half sizes so accuracy is really important for a great fit.
- Place a sheet of plain A4 paper against a wall so that the edge of the paper touches the wall.
- Put on the socks normally worn for dancing. Place the foot on the paper with the heel against the wall. (Double check the paper hasn’t slipped!)
- Relax the foot and toes. Mark the paper at the longest point of the foot (you may need a helper for this).
- Draw a straight line from the wall edge of the paper to the mark, then measure this distance with a ruler. This measurement is what you’ll use to select your size.
👉 Measure both feet – it’s common, especially in children, for one foot to be slightly longer than the other. We recommend ordering for the smaller foot so the pumps fit tightly and the dancer can achieve a beautiful arch and point.
We strongly advise not ordering based on:
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School shoes or trainers (sizing varies widely)
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Existing pumps or jig shoes (they stretch with wear, so the marked size is no longer accurate)
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The old method of drawing around the foot (it’s prone to error because the result depends on the thickness of the pen and the angle you draw at)
You should now have two measurements.
Length of Left Foot:
Length of Right Foot: