Find your shoe size in the chart at the top of this page. For most of you, the column with your shoe size will tell you which size socks to wear, XS, S, M, L, or XL.

Pick your socks now .

(If you have very narrow or wide feet, or you’re very tall, or have very wide calves, continue to step 2. )

If you have very wide feet, EE or wider, may need you to wear one size larger .
If you have narrow feet, AA or AAA, you may want to choose one size smaller than the chart shows.

Pick your socks now .

(If you are very tall and/or have large calves, continue to step 3. )

Compression sock sizing can be complicated. A sock that fits someone with skinny legs may not fit a person with wider calves, even though both people have the same shoe size and are the same height.

In our size chart, we’ve indicated the maximum calf size and height for our regular size compression socks. For each of our sizes, we’ve created a “long” sock, with extra fabric to cover wider calves comfortably, or stretch high enough if you have long legs and calves.

To check if you need a long sock, measure around the widest part of your calf, either with a cloth tape measure, or a piece of string and a ruler. If your calf measurement is larger than the Calf Size we show for your shoe size in our size chart, our long size might be a better fit.

Likewise, measure your leg, when you’re standing, from the floor to about an inch below the back of your knee. If your leg measures more than the Approximate Sock Height in our chart, a long size might best for you.

Right now, our longer socks are available in a limited range of patterns. If you have questions about the best size for you and our longer compression socks, email us at rickandneil@xoab.us .

A sock foot should be long enough to fit comfortably. It shouldn’t scrunch up your toes, and the heel of the sock should be positioned on your heel. If your toes are cramped, you need a larger size. If the heel of the sock ends up riding up your heel towards your achilles tendon, you need a smaller size.

What complicates sizing is that the fabric of a sock stretches in two directions, and a given size can only stretch so far. Think of a sock like a rubber band – if you stretch a rubber band hard between your two hands, it won’t be easy for someone else to pull it out from side to side. Likewise a sock might fit someone with long, narrow feet, but there won’t be enough stretch in the fabric to fit someone with the same length but wider foot.

Our goal for the top of our socks, the welt, is that they should reach comfortably up your leg, past the top of your calf, to just below your knee. We’ve worked hard to design a top welt that won’t be too tight or leave deep indentations on your leg when you take them off. However, the comfortable welt doesn’t mean your socks will fall down. If your socks fall down as you wear them, it’s not a sign that the welts are too loose, but that the socks aren’t long enough for you.

Again, the fabric in the sock leg can only stretch so far, up and down and side to side – a sock that fits someone with skinny legs may not fit a person with wider calves, even though both people have the same shoe size and are the same height. The socks need more fabric; either a larger size, or longer sock, with more fabric to stretch.

Conversely, if a sock is too long, and reaches past your knee, you’re not using up all the stretch, and need a shorter sock. Folding the sock over isn’t a good solution, as it’s like doubling up a rubber band – the pressure on your leg will be doubled at the top, and the sock might be too tight for comfort, or for the graduated compression to do its job.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at rickandneil@xoab.us.