Sock Sizes and Sock Heights, Explained
Sock sizes are letter sizes that each cover a range of shoe sizes, so a men's 10 is a Large on Nike's chart; the sock's height is chosen separately.
By Jennifer HunterContributing writer.
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The short answer
Socks are not sized like shoes. Most brands sell them in letter sizes, and each letter covers a range of shoe sizes. Find your shoe size on the brand's sock chart and buy the letter it falls in. The ranges are set by each brand and differ by market, not by one common standard, so the same shoe size can be a Medium with one brand and a Large with another.
Height is a separate choice. "Crew" or "ankle" tells you how far up the leg the sock reaches, not how big it is.
Sock size chart
This is Nike's sock chart, by US shoe size:
| Sock size | US men | US women | EU |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 3 to 5 | 4.5 to 6.5 | 35 to 37.5 |
| M | 5.5 to 9 | 7 to 10.5 | 38 to 42.5 |
| L | 9.5 to 12 | 11 to 13.5 | 43 to 46 |
| XL | 12.5 to 15 | 14 to 16.5 | 47 to 49.5 |
| XXL | 16 to 18 | 17.5 to 19.5 | 50.5 to 52.5 |
Women's ranges on this chart sit 1.5 sizes above men's.
What size socks for shoe size 10
On Nike's chart, a men's 10 is a Large (9.5 to 12) and a women's 10 is a Medium (7 to 10.5). A women's 10.5 is the top of Medium, so check the brand's chart if your shoe size sits at the edge of a range.
Some socks are sold as one size. The Modest Man puts a typical one size crew sock at roughly US men's 8 to 12, so larger or smaller feet do better with sized socks. Socks that are too big slide down during the day; socks that are too small can squeeze the foot and leg.
Crew vs ankle socks and other heights
From shortest to tallest:
| Height | Where it ends | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Liner or no-show | Below the shoe collar, hidden | Loafers, boat shoes, low sneakers |
| Ankle | Right at the ankle | Running and other sports |
| Quarter (micro crew) | Above the ankle, below mid-calf; about 6 in tall | Hiking, mid and high top shoes |
| Crew | Mid to upper calf | Everyday wear, boots in thicker wool |
| Over-the-calf | Just below the knee | Dress wear; stays up well |
Crew vs ankle: an ankle sock stops at the ankle and suits running, hiking and other sports. A crew sock reaches the mid to upper calf and is the usual everyday length, including with boots. Names vary between brands, so "quarter" and "micro crew" can mean nearly the same height.
How we count
Heights and materials are read from each listing's store data on Wiki Shopping on October 26, 2026. Of the 529 socks listed that day, 58 state a height that we can count: 26 calf, 15 ankle, 11 no-show and 6 crew. On material, 136 listings are wool and 42 cotton. Counts change as listings are added or removed. Browse the range from clothing, shoes and jewelry, and see shoe sizes and widths to confirm your shoe size first.