Italian Size 42 in US Shoes Depends on the Brand
IT 42 is US men’s 9 and women’s 12 at some Italian brands, but an EU 42 converts differently at Nike, adidas and Diadora.
For shoes, an Italian size 42 converts to US men’s 9 or US women’s 12 on the Golden Goose and Giuseppe Zanotti charts. That is a useful starting point for those brands—not a universal conversion for every shoe carrying a 42 label.
A sneaker marked EU 42 can map differently at Nike, adidas or even across categories within Diadora. Check whether the listing says IT or EU, then use the chart for the exact brand and shoe category.
Size 42 conversions by brand
| Brand or chart | US men’s | US women’s | Listed foot length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Goose IT 42 | 9 | 12 | 27.7 cm |
| Giuseppe Zanotti Italy/Europe 42 | 9 | 12 | Not stated as foot length |
| Nike EU 42 | 8.5 | 10 | 10 3/16 in men’s; 10 5/16 in women’s |
| adidas EU 42 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 25.9 cm |
| Diadora EU 42 lifestyle | 8.5 | 10 | 26.5 cm |
| Diadora EU 42 performance | 9 | 10.5 | 26.5 cm |
Golden Goose maps IT 42 to US men’s 9 and women’s 12 and associates both with a 27.7 cm foot. Giuseppe Zanotti also lists Italy/Europe 42 as men’s 9 and women’s 12 (Golden Goose size chart; Giuseppe Zanotti size guide).
Nike’s charts instead map EU 42 to US men’s 8.5 and women’s 10. The corresponding foot-length entries also differ slightly: 10 3/16 inches on the men’s chart and 10 5/16 inches on the women’s chart (Nike men’s chart; Nike women’s chart).
On the adidas footwear chart, EU 42 is US men’s 8.5 or women’s 9.5, with a heel-to-toe measurement of 25.9 cm.
Even one brand can use more than one conversion. Diadora lists EU 42 as US men’s 8.5 and women’s 10 for lifestyle sneakers, but men’s 9 and women’s 10.5 for running, tennis and football shoes. Both category charts associate EU 42 with a 26.5 cm foot (Diadora size guide).
Which US size should you order?
Use this order of priority:
- Read the label carefully. Determine whether the seller calls the size IT 42, EU 42 or simply 42.
- Open the exact brand chart. If the brand separates lifestyle, running or other categories, choose the chart matching the shoe.
- Compare your foot length. Measure both feet while standing, wearing the socks you plan to use, and follow the brand’s instructions for the longer foot.
- Check the model’s fit. A length conversion does not establish forefoot width, heel hold or instep volume. Use these separate checks in our guide to how sneakers should fit.
Do not compare centimeter entries without reading the chart heading. Nike explicitly says the CM/JP number printed on its boxes and labels differs from its measured foot-length value. Use the dedicated “Foot Length” row rather than treating every centimeter figure as the same measurement.
Size 42 in clothing is different
Do not use a shoe conversion for apparel. Golden Goose, for example, maps a women’s IT 42 top to US 6; its men’s apparel uses a separate set of equivalents on the same chart. Jackets, pants and dresses need the product’s clothing chart.
The short answer is therefore brand-specific: IT 42 is US men’s 9 or women’s 12 at Golden Goose and Giuseppe Zanotti. For an EU 42 sneaker, the official examples above range from US men’s 8.5 to 9 and US women’s 9.5 to 10.5.