Nike Junior or Women's size? The difference between GS and W, with the size guide

Same Dunk Low, same colorway, two product pages. One is marked (W) and the other (GS), and the latter often costs 20 to 40 euros less. If you wear sizes 36 to 40, you’ve definitely wondered if it’s the same shoe, if it will fit the same, and what you lose by choosing the junior version.

To answer this, we checked Nike’s official size guide for children and women, noted the price differences in our catalog, and listed the cases where the GS is a bad idea.

To remember in 30 seconds

·       GS stands for Grade School. It is the Nike and Jordan junior range, which covers European sizes 35.5 to 40 for most models.

·       In European sizing, the number is the same. A woman who wears a 38 buys a GS in 38. Only the US label changes; a women’s 38 is called 7 in W and 5.5Y in GS.

·       According to Nike’s own size charts, the GS is cut slightly shorter than the women’s version for the same size, up to 4 mm at a size 40. If you are between sizes, go for the adult version or size up by half a size.

·       In our catalog, the GS averages 20 to 60 euros cheaper than the adult version of the same model.

·       Beyond size 40, the question is moot. There is no GS in 40.5 or 41.

What GS, PS, TD, and W mean on the box

Nike categorizes its shoes not by age but by size range, and each range has its own abbreviation. You can find them on the box, on the inside label, and in the product page names of most retailers, including ours.

Abbr.	Meaning	US Sizes	EU Sizes	For whom
TD	Toddler	1C to 10C	16 to 27	From birth to approx. 3 years
PS	Preschool	10.5C to 3Y	27.5 to 35	Preschool and primary school kids
GS	Grade School (Junior)	3.5Y to 7Y	35.5 to 40	Teens, and adults up to size 40
W	Women	5 to 12+	35.5 to 44	Women’s chart, US size offset by 1.5 from men’s
No label	Men, or unisex	6 to 15	38.5 to 49.5	Brand’s reference chart

 

At Nike, children’s sizes marked with a Y are based on the men’s grid. A 7Y corresponds to a men’s 7, which in turn corresponds to a women’s 8.5. All three denote a European 40 and a 25 cm foot, and it is this equivalence that makes GS interesting for adults.

Size conversion: in Europe it’s the same number

The table below compares the Big Kids grid and the Women’s grid published by Nike. It stops at size 40, since GS doesn't exist beyond that.

EU	GS Size (US Kids)	Women’s Size (US W)	Men’s Size (US M)	GS Foot Length	Women’s Foot Length
35.5	3.5Y	5	3.5	22.2 cm	22 cm
36	4Y	5.5	4	22.4 cm	22.4 cm
36.5	4.5Y	6	4.5	22.7 cm	22.9 cm
37.5	5Y	6.5	5	23.2 cm	23.3 cm
38	5.5Y	7	5.5	23.5 cm	23.7 cm
38.5	6Y	7.5	6	23.8 cm	24.1 cm
39	6.5Y	8	6.5	24.3 cm	24.5 cm
40	7Y	8.5	7	24.6 cm	25 cm

 

There is no size 37 at Nike, neither in GS nor in women's; the chart skips from 36.5 to 37.5. It is also noticeable that the foot length indicated for the same European size changes from one chart to another, and this is what requires the most attention.

What changes between a GS and a W

Length, a few millimeters less

For a size 40, Nike lists a foot length of 24.6 cm on the junior chart and 25 cm on the women's chart. For a 38, it is 23.5 cm compared to 23.7 cm. The difference is zero at 36 and grows as the size increases, which means that at the same size, the GS is designed for a slightly shorter foot. On a shoe worn with thin socks, 2 or 3 mm go unnoticed. If you are already at the limit of your usual size, or if you wear thick socks, these millimeters are felt at the tip of the foot.

Width, field feedback rather than official data

Nike does not publish any width measurements for its charts. What is frequently reported in stores is that a GS model fits a bit narrower than a W at the forefoot and heel, as the shape is designed for an adolescent's foot. This is not measured, but the feedback appears often enough to be mentioned. A narrow foot often finds better support there than in the adult version. A wide foot, conversely, will be more comfortable in a W.

Materials and details, to be checked model by model

On a Dunk Low or an Air Force 1, the construction of the GS mirrors the adult version, including the sole and cushioning unit. However, it sometimes happens that the brand simplifies the junior version. Leather becomes synthetic, an embroidered detail becomes printed, or a midsole loses its aged finish. This depends on the model and colorway, and no general rule applies. The only reliable way is to compare the photos and descriptions on both product pages. We indicate the upper material when it differs.

Colorways, sometimes exclusive to GS

Some colorways are released only in junior sizes. Nike frequently reserves vibrant shades or seasonal themes for the GS range, and they have no equivalent in 41 or 42. For adults who wear up to a size 40, this is the opposite of the usual frustration. You have access to colors that the rest of the world cannot wear.

The price of a GS compared to a W

The GS is sold at a lower price by the brand, and this difference is found among all retailers. Rather than a cherry-picked example, the table provides the median price noted in our catalog on August 30, 2026, all colorways combined, between GS product pages and adult pages for the same model.

Model	Median GS price	Median adult price	Difference
Air Jordan 1 Low	€87.50	€145	€57.50
Nike Air Force 1	€95	€135	€40
adidas Samba	€90	€120	€30
New Balance 530	€100	€125	€25
Nike Dunk Low	€100	€120	€20

 

These medians mix common colorways and more sought-after editions; they do not mean that a given GS will always cost 40 euros less than its twin. They mean that for an equivalent catalog, the junior range is significantly lower. And the logic holds beyond Nike, as shown by the Samba and the 530. Our children's collection currently counts more than 260 references, including more than 220 in GS, distributed among Nike, Air Jordan, New Balance, adidas, and ASICS.

Who benefits from buying GS

Women who wear sizes from 35.5 to 40, primarily. This is the largest audience. Men who wear 38.5, 39, or 40, next—less numerous but affected in the same way, with the same European sizing. And teenagers, who are the original target for the range.

To find the right shoes in this range, filter the selection by your European size and compare the GS and W offers of the same model side-by-side. Conversely, a wide foot, a length that is already borderline in your usual size, or a model where the GS version uses different materials are all reasons to stick with the women's version, because the savings are not worth the discomfort. Our women's sneakers start at size 35.5 for most models.

How to choose your GS size when you are a woman

1.       Start with your usual European Nike size. If you wear a 38 in W, look at the 38 in GS. Never convert using US numbers; that is where mistakes happen.

2.       If you are between sizes, or if you already have a bit too much room in your W size, go up half a size in GS to compensate for the shorter cut. If the next half-size up doesn't exist, as is the case between 36.5 and 37.5, choose the women's version.

3.       Measure your foot if you have doubts. Standing up with your heel against a wall, measure from the heel to the tip of your longest toe, then look up that length in the GS column of the table above. If you are between two values, Nike recommends taking the larger size, and we agree.

4.       Compare the two product pages before confirming, especially the upper material.

If you are looking for the same type of guide for other brands, our articles on adidas Samba sizing and New Balance 530 sizing follow the same logic, using each brand's official charts.

How to read the label inside the shoe

When you are hesitating over a second-hand pair or a box without a datasheet, the label sewn under the tongue clears things up in ten seconds. It provides the same series for all the brand's lines, the US size, UK size, EU size, and the length in centimeters. On a GS model, the US size includes a Y, for example "6Y," and the product code ends in a different suffix than the adult version. On a W model, the US size is just a number and the label often specifies "W" or "WMNS." The EU column and the length in cm are the two values that do not depend on the product line; these are the ones to read first.

What about adidas, New Balance, or ASICS?

The GS logic is not limited to Nike. adidas, New Balance, and ASICS also offer their adult models in junior versions, with the same GS, PS, and TD designations, and the same lower price principle. In our store, the Samba, Gazelle, Handball Spezial, New Balance 530, and Gel-1130 exist in GS, and the median price differences in the table above show this for the Samba and the 530.

Two nuances, however. The child-to-adult size grids overlap in roughly the same way from one brand to another; the GS goes up to a 40 for adidas, New Balance, and ASICS just as it does for Nike, but not all colorways go up to that size, and some stop at 38.5 or 39. The rule of using the same European size remains valid, but the difference in cut between junior and women's is not documented by these brands the way it is by Nike. For these brands, our size guides per model remain the reference point: choose the GS at the same size as the adult version and check product page by product page.

Traps to look out for

The US label confuses many people. A GS page displays "6Y," a W page displays "7.5," and one might think the 7.5 is larger even though both are 38.5s. Look at the European number, and only that one.

Next, the upper limit. GS stops at 40, without exception. If your women's size is 40.5 or 41, the junior version does not exist for you, and going down to a 40 to take advantage of it would be a mistake, as the cut is already shorter.

Finally, resale. The box, label, and product code distinguish a GS from an adult version, and its value on the second-hand market follows the junior grid. For a pair bought to be worn, this does not matter at all. For a pair bought as an investment, it is better to know this.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does GS mean on a Nike shoe?

Grade School. It is Nike and Jordan's junior line, from 3.5Y to 7Y US, which corresponds to 35.5 to 40 EU. The Y stands for Youth.

Can a woman wear a Nike GS shoe?

Yes, up to a European 40, by choosing the same European size as your usual women's size and going up half a size if you are between two sizes.

What is the size range for Nike junior shoes?

The junior GS range goes from 3.5Y to 7Y US, or 35.5 to 40 EU, and from 22.2 to 24.6 cm in foot length according to the Nike size guide. Below that, the PS range covers 27.5 to 35.

What is the difference between Nike men's and women's shoes?

The European number is the same; only the US label changes, with a US women's size equal to the US men's size plus 1.5. A 40 EU is a 7 in men's and an 8.5 in women's. However, women's models are built on a slightly narrower last.

What GS size for a woman who wears a 38?

A 38 in GS, which is called 5.5Y on the US label. The women's version of the same 38 is called 7 in W.

Do Nike GS shoes run smaller?

Slightly. Nike charts associate a 40 GS with a 24.6 cm foot, compared to 25 cm for the 40 women's, and the gap narrows as you go down until it disappears at 36. The GS is also often perceived as narrower.

Why are Nike GS shoes cheaper?

Because the brand sets a lower price on its entire junior range, regardless of the retailer. In our catalog as of August 30, 2026, the median gap between GS and adult sizes ranges from 20 euros on the Dunk Low to 57.50 euros on the Air Jordan 1 Low.

Can you buy running shoes in GS?

Yes, mainstream running models are available in GS with the same cushioning unit as the adult models. The caveat is the same as for the rest: the fit is designed for an adolescent foot, so it is a bit shorter and narrower.

Is a Dunk Low GS the same shoe as the adult version?

The shape, sole, and cushioning are the same. The upper material may change depending on the colorway; leather can become synthetic. You must compare both product pages.

Next time you are hesitating between two pages for the same model, start with the European size, then the upper material, before looking at the price or the US label. If both suit you, the GS is a good deal. To see what the junior range has to offer right now, the Dunk Low, the Air Force 1 and the Air Jordan 1 Low are the three models for which we have the most GS references in stock.