Shoeboxes are typically made of paperboard. It is a rigid material that consists of a composite of wood pulp and fibers. Some of the fancier shoes can come in plastic or even wooden shoeboxes. However, most mass-manufactured shoes come in inexpensive packaging to keep costs down.
Before you turn an old shoebox into, say, a storage container for arts and crafts supplies, you first might want to know the shoebox’s dimensions.
Shoeboxes come in various sizes based on the size of the shoe they once held. So, the dimensions of your shoebox might vary from that of your partner’s. But if you’re short on time, allow me to summarize the standard shoebox dimensions for you:
- Men’s shoeboxes typically measure 14 × 10 × 5 inches (35 × 25 × 13 centimeters).
- Women’s shoeboxes typically measure 13 × 7.5 × 4 inches (33 × 19 × 10 centimeters).
- Children’s shoes can be as small as 9 × 6 × 3 inches (22 × 15 × 8 centimeters).
If you have time and want to learn more about shoebox dimensions, I invite you to continue reading.
Shoebox Dimensions
First things first, let’s address one common problem everyone is familiar with: a lack of shoe sizing standards.
David from Foot Solutions Halifax on YouTube offers a comprehensive lesson on why there is no standard shoe size. And what’s most surprising, according to David, is the shoe sizes within a single brand can vary greatly based on the shoe style.
However, that’s not to say that we can’t find the average shoebox dimensions. To figure out the average or standard shoebox dimensions, we’ll have to look at shoebox sizes for men’s shoes, women’s shoes, and children’s shoes.
Men’s Shoebox Dimensions
Men’s shoeboxes typically measure 14 × 10 × 5 inches (35 × 25 × 13 centimeters). This box size can usually house 8.5 to 10.5 size shoes.
Women’s Shoebox Dimensions
Women’s shoeboxes measure 13 × 7.5 × 4 inches (33 × 19 × 10 centimeters), which can fit 7.5 to 9 women’s shoe sizes.
Children’s Shoebox Dimensions
Due to their smaller feet, children have the smallest shoebox dimensions of all. They typically measure 9 × 6 × 3 inches (22 × 15 × 8 centimeters). This is usually spacious enough to house shoes made for five-month-old babies to five-year-old preschoolers.
Shoebox Purposes
Shoeboxes can house shoes when they aren’t being worn. These boxes can protect unworn footwear from collecting dust and dirt to preserve the look of the materials and reduce general wear and tear. The shoebox size varies by brand, footwear type (e.g., sneakers shoeboxes are smaller than shoeboxes for boots), and the materials that go into the shoebox.
In general, shoeboxes with thicker walls will do a better job at standing the test of time and preserving the integrity of your shoes. They can be costlier to purchase or construct on your own, but if you value your footwear, it can be more than worth the cost.
Most shoeboxes come in cardboard or paperboard boxes, which weigh close to nothing and are recyclable. However, if you purchased shoes in the recent past, odds are you probably have the shoebox hidden in a closet somewhere. Don’t toss it out yet since there are so many things you can upcycle old shoeboxes.
Sizing a Shoebox
Measuring a shoebox is pretty straightforward since they are rectangular prisms. Here’s how you can calculate a shoebox using nothing but a ruler or tape measure. You might want to calculate the size of the lid separately from the shoebox, which you can do by following these steps:
Use the ruler or tape measure to calculate the length of the shoebox. The length typically refers to the longest side of the shoebox.
Next, measure the width of the shoebox.
Finally, measure the height of the shoebox.
So, for instance, the standard shoebox for a pair of size 9.5 men’s shoes will measure 14 × 10 × 5 inches (35 × 25 × 13 centimeters).
If you plan on using an old shoebox as makeshift storage compartments for small items, it would be a good idea to know the shoebox’s volume. The volume will give you a rough idea of how much space the makeshift container will take up in a closet/underneath a bed/on racks/etc.
To do this, simply multiply all three figures (length × width × height). So, using a standard shoebox for men’s shoes, we would get a volume of 700 cubic inches (11,375 cubic centimeters).
FAQs About Shoeboxes
1. Why do shoe sizes differ by brand?
The primary cause of differing shoe sizes between brands—i.e., a size 9 pair of Nikes is not the same as a size 9 pair of Adidas sneakers—stems from the production process. Companies use self-standardized molds, known as shoe lasts, when creating shoes and determining shoe sizes.
The most accurate method of determining your shoe size is to use a Brannock device, which measures the length (heel to toe) and width of your feet.
2. Can I store shoes in shoeboxes?
Yes, you can, but it’s not recommended. Cheap paperboard or carboard boxes do very little to prevent moisture from seeping in, potentially contributing to mold growth. Excess moisture can also lead to cracking on the shoe’s surface, which can be difficult or impossible to restore.
3. How high can you stack shoeboxes?
How high you can safely stack shoeboxes depends on the material used to construct the shoebox. You might be able to stack wooden shoeboxes up to the ceiling without causing damage to the box or the shoes. However, paperboard/cardboard boxes aren’t nearly as durable and may begin crushing the bottom pairs of shoes when stacked more than five boxes high.
Conclusion
In this short guide, I’ve described what the average shoebox size is for women’s, men’s, and children’s shoes. In case you forgot, men’s shoeboxes measure 14 × 10 × 5 inches (35 × 25 × 13 centimeters), women’s shoeboxes measure 13 × 7.5 × 4 inches (33 × 19 × 10 centimeters), and children’s shoes are 9 × 6 × 3 inches (22 × 15 × 8 centimeters).
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to let us know in the comments section. Also, if someone you know is interested in learning about shoebox dimensions, let them read this article by sharing it on social media.
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