Bloch Size Guide
Bloch is a world-leading dance footwear and apparel brand renowned for precision engineering and performance. Since establishing its reputation in classical ballet, Bloch has expanded across all dance disciplines—pointe, contemporary, jazz, tap, character, and dancesport—each with carefully calibrated sizing. Bloch's sizing philosophy prioritises support, comfort, and the technical demands of professional and recreational dancers alike. The brand designs for a medium-width foot as standard; dancers with wider feet should consider sizing up by half a size. All footwear sizing is presented in multiple international standards (UK, US, European, and dance-specific categories) to accommodate global customers.
How to Measure
- For Shoes: Measure your foot length in centimetres from the back of your heel to the tip of your longest toe. Stand on a firm surface with your weight distributed evenly.
- For Ballet and Pointe Shoes: Use your standard street shoe size as a reference point, then consult the Bloch conversion chart. Pointe shoe sizes differ significantly from street shoe sizes.
- For Dance Sneakers and Contemporary: Measure your foot and cross-reference both your UK/US street shoe size and Bloch's dedicated sneaker size chart, as this style uses a +3 conversion from UK sizing.
- For Leotards and Tights: Measure your height and weight, then cross-reference the size chart table provided. Children's leotards use codes (CHP, CHS, CHM, CHL); adults use standard numeric or alpha sizing.
- Check Foot Width: If your foot is notably wider than average, select the next half-size up from your calculated size, as all Bloch guidelines assume medium width.
- Try Both Feet: Measure both feet, as they may differ slightly; always size to the larger foot.
Ladies' Footwear Size Chart
| UK | US | European | Pointe | Ballet | Tap / Jazz / Character | Contemporary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 4 | XS |
| 1.5 | 3.5 | 34.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 4.5 | XS/S |
| 2 | 4 | 35 | 2 | 2 | 5 | S |
| 2.5 | 4.5 | 35.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 5.5 | S |
| 3 | 5 | 36 | 3 | 3 | 6 | S |
| 3.5 | 5.5 | 36.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 6.5 | S/M |
| 4 | 6 | 37 | 4 | 4 | 7 | M |
| 4.5 | 6.5 | 37.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 7.5 | M |
| 5 | 7 | 38 | 5 | 5 | 8 | M |
| 5.5 | 7.5 | 38.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 8.5 | M |
| 6 | 8 | 39 | 6 | 6 | 9 | M/L |
| 6.5 | 8.5 | 39.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 9.5 | L |
| 7 | 9 | 40 | 7 | 7 | 10 | L |
| 7.5 | 9.5 | 40.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 10.5 | L |
| 8 | 10 | 41 | 8 | 8 | 11 | L/XL |
| 8.5 | 10.5 | 41.5 | — | 8.5 | 11.5 | XL |
| 9 | 11 | 42 | — | — | 12 | XL |
| 9.5 | 11.5 | 42.5 | — | — | 12.5 | XL |
| 10 | 12 | 43 | — | — | — | XL |
| 10.5 | 12.5 | 43.5 | — | — | — | XL |
Mens' Footwear Size Chart
| UK | US | European | Ballet | Tap / Jazz | Dance Sneaker | Contemporary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5 | 5 | 38.5 | 4.5 | 6 | 7.5 | S |
| 5 | 5.5 | 39 | 5 | 6.5 | 8 | S |
| 5.5 | 6 | 39.5 | 5.5 | 7 | 8.5 | S |
| 6 | 6.5 | 40 | 6 | 7.5 | 9 | M |
| 6.5 | 7 | 40.5 | 6.5 | 8 | 9.5 | M |
| 7 | 7.5 | 41 | 7 | 8.5 | 10 | M |
| 7.5 | 8 | 41.5 | 7.5 | 9 | 10.5 | M |
| 8 | 8.5 | 42 | 8 | 9.5 | 11 | M/L |
| 8.5 | 9 | 42.5 | 8.5 | 10 | 11.5 | L |
| 9 | 9.5 | 43 | 9 | 10.5 | 12 | L |
| 9.5 | 10 | 43.5 | 9.5 | 11 | 12.5 | L/XL |
| 10 | 10.5 | 44 | 10 | 11.5 | 13 | XL |
| 10.5 | 11 | 44.5 | 10.5 | 12 | 13.5 | XL |
| 11 | 11.5 | 45 | 11 | 12.5 | 14 | XL |
| 11.5 | 12 | 45.5 | 11.5 | 13 | 14.5 | XL |
| 12 | 12.5 | 46 | 12 | — | 15 | XL |
| 12.5 | 13 | 46.5 | 12.5 | — | 15.5 | XL |
| 13 | — | 47 | 13 | — | 16 | XL |
Youth Footwear Size Chart
| UK | US | European | Japanese |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 35 | — |
| 2.5 | 2.5 | 35.5 | — |
| 3 | 3 | 36 | — |
| 3.5 | 3.5 | 36.5 | — |
| — | 4 | 37 | 22 |
| — | 4.5 | 37.5 | 22.5 |
| — | 5 | 38 | 23 |
| — | 5.5 | 38.5 | 23.5 |
Omnia Sneaker Size Chart (Unisex)
Important: The Omnia Sneaker uses a +3 conversion from UK size. When ordering, select your UK size and Bloch will send the corresponding Omnia BLOCH size.
| UK | US | European | BLOCH Omnia Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 5 | 35 | 5 |
| 2.5 | 5.5 | 35.5 | 5.5 |
| 3 | 6 | 36 | 6 |
| 3.5 | 6.5 | 36.5 | 6.5 |
| 4 | 7 | 37 | 7 |
| 4.5 | 7.5 | 37.5 | 7.5 |
| 5 | 8 | 38 | 8 |
| 5.5 | 8.5 | 38.5 | 8.5 |
| 6 | 9 | 39 | 9 |
| 6.5 | 9.5 | 39.5 | 9.5 |
| 7 | 10 | 40 | 10 |
| 7.5 | 10.5 | 40.5 | 10.5 |
| 8 | 11 | 41 | 11 |
| 8.5 | 11.5 | 41.5 | 11.5 |
| 9 | 12 | 42 | 12 |
Product-Specific Guidance
Ballet & Pointe Shoes
Bloch's pointe and ballet shoe sizing deviates significantly from street shoe sizing. A dancer's street shoe UK size 5 typically converts to Bloch pointe size 3, not size 5. Always consult the dedicated pointe and ballet columns in the footwear chart above. Pointe shoes must fit snugly without pinching the sides; the foot should sit level inside the shoe. Allow approximately 1 cm of space beyond the longest toe. First-time pointe shoe wearers should visit a specialist fitter whenever possible, as improper fit can lead to injury.
Tap, Jazz & Character Shoes
These styles are designed for floor work and require more freedom of movement than ballet. They typically run approximately one size larger than pointe shoes in Bloch's range. Tap shoes must allow full articulation of the ball of the foot and heel, with taps striking cleanly against the floor. Jazz shoes need flexibility in the arch and ball. Character shoes provide heel support and are slightly roomier than jazz. If you wear a street shoe UK 7, select Bloch tap or jazz size 10 (not 7).
Dance Sneakers
Bloch's Omnia and other dance sneakers cater to contemporary and urban styles. The Omnia Sneaker operates on a unique +3 conversion, meaning UK size 6 orders Bloch size 9. These shoes are unisex and offer more arch support and cushioning than traditional dance shoes. They suit both professional dancers seeking cross-training options and recreational dancers preferring comfort. Refer to the dedicated Omnia chart provided above; do not use standard Bloch conversions for sneaker products.
Contemporary & Modern Dance
Contemporary styles use alphabetic sizing (XS, S, M, L, XL) rather than numeric. These shoes accommodate barefoot dancing techniques and flexibility work. Size selection depends less on street shoe size and more on fit preference and foot shape. If you typically wear UK 5–6, try size S; UK 7–8 often fits size M. Contemporary shoes are designed to move with the foot, so a snug fit (without excessive tightness) is preferred to allow natural articulation.
Tights & Leotards
Children's sizes use codes: CHP (child petite), CHS (child small), CHM (child medium), CHL (child large). Adult tights are sized by height and weight; consult the provided chart matching your measurements to find your correct size. Leotards similarly use children's codes and adult numeric sizing. Always measure both height and weight for tights, as sizing is not based on street clothing size.
Sizing Tips
- Foot Shape Varies: Bloch's size guides assume a medium-width foot. If your feet are notably wide, add a half-size to the recommended size. Conversely, narrow feet may fit a half-size smaller, though this is less common in dance.
- Pointe Shoes are Not Street Shoes: Never assume your street shoe size converts directly to pointe shoe size. A UK 5 street shoe typically corresponds to Bloch pointe size 2 or 3. Always cross-reference the official conversion chart provided above.
- Dance Sneakers Use +3 Conversion: The Omnia Sneaker and similar styles follow a different sizing rule than traditional dance shoes. UK 6 = Omnia size 9. Do not apply standard Bloch conversions to sneaker products.
- Try Both Feet: Feet often differ in size by up to a half-size. Measure both feet standing; always fit to the larger foot. A snug fit in the larger foot is preferable to a loose fit in the smaller one.
- Tap & Jazz Run Larger: Tap, jazz, and character shoes are intentionally roomier than pointe shoes to allow foot articulation and percussive strikes. Expect them to fit roughly one to two Bloch sizes larger than your pointe conversion.
- Check Width Carefully: If you have a wide foot, size up half a size rather than choosing a wider shoe style that Bloch may not produce. All Bloch guidance is calibrated for medium width; there is no separate wide-fit line.
- Contemporary Uses Alpha Sizing: Do not try to map contemporary alphabetic sizes (S, M, L) back to numeric sizes. These categories are independent. A dancer who wears pointe size 3 may comfortably wear contemporary size S or M depending on personal fit preference.
- Youth Sizes Sit Between Children & Adult: Youth sizing (UK 2–3.5) bridges junior and adult ranges. If a child is between sizes, measure the foot length in centimetres and cross-reference the European size column for precision.