How does the Nike Dunk Low fit?

Before ordering a pair of Dunk Lows, the same question always comes up. Should you stick with your usual size, or go up because the leather feels tight? To find out how Nike Dunk Lows fit and choose the right size, we went back over Nike's official guide and collected the sizing feedback of more than 5 400 buyers on nike.com, on October 17, 2026.

Key takeaways in 30 seconds

·       The Nike Dunk Low fits true to size. Go for your usual Nike size.

·       With wide feet, Nike recommends going half a size up.

·       For loosely laced Dunks or a snug fit on a narrow foot, go half a size down.

·       New leather feels stiff, then softens. That's no reason to size up.

·       Women's, GS or SB Dunk: the European size stays the same.

What Nike's official size guide says

Designed by Peter Moore in 1985, the Dunk started out as a college basketball shoe. Today Nike devotes a buying guide to it, updated on November 2, 2024. Its conclusion is that the Dunk fits true to size. If you wear a 43 in Nike, a Dunk in 43 should fit you. The guide adds four half-size adjustments.

·       Wide feet: half a size up to give the forefoot more room.

·       Snug fit: half a size down.

·       Relaxed fit: half a size up.

·       Loose lacing to slip the pair on without unlacing: half a size down so your heel doesn't move.

What more than 5 400 buyers say

Under each nike.com product page, buyers place a slider between "runs small" and "runs large". At 50 %, the pair is considered true to size. We checked this slider on five models, along with the upper material listed by Nike.

All models fall between 48 and 51 %. The women's version leans very slightly towards small, and a few reviews find it snug. Nothing that justifies sizing up as a rule. How it feels depends mostly on the shape of your foot.

Why does the Dunk Low feel tight for the first few days?

Nike acknowledges it: leather Dunks can feel stiff at first, then soften and mold to your foot. The product pages say the same about the synthetic materials of the men's Retro, labeled "Recycled materials". The instinct would be to exchange them for half a size up. Once the leather has softened, that bigger pair would slip at the heel. If your toes don't touch the end, keep your size. To keep the leather supple, follow our method to clean white Nike sneakers.

Which Dunk Low size for women?

Nike's European sizing is the same for everyone. A women's Dunk Low in 38 and a men's in 38 carry the same EU label; only the US size changes (7 for women, 5,5 for men). So a woman can pick a men's colorway by reading the EU column, with no conversion. Women's models are marked (W). The only nuance: Nike's women's chart is based on a foot about 4 mm longer for the same size. If you're between two sizes, measure your foot.

Source: Nike men's size chart. The CM figure printed on the box is not your foot length, as Nike points out. A 42 shows 26,5 for a 25,8 cm foot.

Dunk Low GS, the kids' version

The Dunk Low GS runs from 35,5 to 40 on nike.com. Same European size as the adult version, same slider at 50 %, but the upper may be synthetic. We cover the differences in our article on Nike junior vs women's sizing.

SB Dunk Low and Dunk High: same size?

The SB Dunk Low Pro stays at 49 %, so same size. Its product page mentions a padded collar and Air Zoom cushioning, which take up volume over the top of the foot. With a wide foot, the half size up recommended by Nike also applies to the SB. Our SB Dunk Low follow the same chart. And the Dunk High? Nike's guide covers the Dunk as a whole, without distinguishing the High from the Low. The high collar affects ankle support, but the length is the same as the Low. Take the same size in a Nike Dunk High.

How to measure your foot before buying?

1.       Without a reference Nike pair, tape a sheet of paper to a hard floor (Nike's method takes 5 minutes).

2.       Have someone mark the tip of your longest toe and the back of your heel, with the pencil held vertically.

3.       Measure the distance in centimeters on both feet, keep the larger measurement and read the foot length column.

Between two sizes, Nike recommends the larger one. Nike uses the same chart for all its sneakers, but the fit varies from one model to another. The Air Force 1, for example, runs large. For another brand, our article on how New Balance fits compared to Nike lines up the two charts.

Frequently asked questions

Does Nike run small or large?

On the Dunk Low, neither. Nike concludes that the model fits true to size, and buyers place the slider between 48 and 51 %.

Should you go a size up in the Dunk Low?

Only with a wide foot or for a relaxed fit, the two cases Nike mentions. Otherwise keep your usual size: a pair that's too big slips at the heel once the leather has softened.

Why is there no size 37 at Nike?

The Nike chart follows US half sizes, which go from 36,5 to 37,5 in European sizing. The 36,5 is for a 22,4 cm foot, the 37,5 for a 22,9 cm foot. Measure to choose.

Is the Dunk Low available in a wide version?

None of the Dunk Low product pages we checked on nike.com offer a Wide fit. With a wide foot, the only option is still half a size up.

To know how Dunk Lows fit in black and white or in a rarer colorway, the rule is the same. Keep your Nike size, and go half a size up if your foot is wide. Shop the pairs here: black Dunk and Nike Dunk Low.

Sources: Nike buying guide on the Dunk updated on November 2, 2024, Nike men's and women's size charts, buyer reviews on nike.com/fr product pages. Data collected on October 17, 2026.