When we talk about Doc Martens, the words “durability” and “comfort” immediately spring to mind. These boots are well-known for their appearance and feel, in addition to their durability.
However, if you’re a fashionista, you’ll understand the importance of finding the “perfect fit” in boots. And if you don’t have the correct fit, you’ll miss out on a lot.
The worst part about not having a properly fitted boot is that you will not receive the same level of support. So, back to the question at hand: are Doc Martens true to size?
Doc martens, on the whole, stay true to their size. So, while picking them, it’s best to go with your typical size. If you’re trying for half-size, though, it’s best to go down a size.
But that’s not all, we’ve got a lot more in this guide for you. So grab a seat and relax because we’re about to take you on a rollercoaster journey.
Doc Martens Sizing Explained
We’ll start with the flagship 1460s and other similar boots from Dr. Martens.
1460 Variations, Jadon’s, and Chelsea boots
Most people think of Dr. Martens when they think of the 1460s. Combat boots with transparent soles and bright yellow stitching have become nearly synonymous with the brand.
Dr. Martens 1460 is one of the best-known and most famous shoes in the world. Despite the fact that it is a combat-style boot, it lacks a number of useful and durable features, such as robust leather, fine stitching, and a steel shank. Despite this, it has become an iconic fashion standard thanks to its glossy top, yellow sole stitching, and translucent outsole.
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In spite of Dr. Martens’ boast that their shoes are true in size, the 1460s are slightly roomier than other models. Those who wear half sizes are affected by this, though. Because the brand only sells full sizes, if you’re a 10, you’ll have to settle for a 10 instead.
Full-sized people will barely notice the somewhat bigger fit. This boot fits snugly around my size 8 foot, but not so snugly that my toes squish out the sides.
The Dr. Martens Chelsea Boots, the Jadon’s, and any other variant of the 1460s all have the same size issue. The WinterGrips, as well as vegan and patent leather options, are also available.
One 1460 “exception” does exist, though. The fur-lined 1460s have a slightly tighter fit, which is ideal for fur-lined boots. Because you’d still be the same size, I put “exception” in quotation marks.
If the extra-long space in any of these types bothers you, you can always load the boots with insoles to make them suit you better.
Are Dr. Martens true to size?
Dr. Marten’s boots are known for being true to size. When clients do experience size concerns with their Doc Martens, it’s usually because the boots are a little too big for them. Given that Doc Martens does not provide half sizes, this is relatively understandable.
We looked at whether Dr. Martens runs true to size, too big, or too small, based on consumer feedback. We looked at the data from the 858 Amazon reviewers who had left a fit review for the Dr. Martens Jadon Boots at the time of publishing.
The following is a breakdown of the 858 consumers that reviewed the fit of Dr. Martens:
Too Small | True to Size | Too Large | |
# of customers | 73 | 581 | 204 |
% reporting | 8.5% | 67.7% | 23.8% |
As you can see, approximately two out of three Amazon reviewers say Dr. Martens are true to size.
We also carefully analyzed the top 20 reviews that discussed size difficulties to have a better understanding of how this plays out in practice.
About half of the 20 consumers who left written reviews said the boots were a half size to a size too large. In the vast survey size, this is higher than the 23.8 percent who said Doc Martens were too big. However, keep in mind that dissatisfied customers are more outspoken in evaluations than delighted consumers.
It’s worth mentioning that numerous female reviewers stated that Dr. Marten’s women’s boots were essentially men’s sizes.
What’s the bottom line? If you’re concerned about sizing, get a half size smaller than your usual shoe size to be safe. This is especially true if your typical size is half-size, which Dr. Martens does not carry. “I’m a 6.5 and I always get 6 and it never fails,” said a lady who owns multiple pairs of Dr. Martens, according to a forum post I stumbled across.
If you normally wear a size 6.5 shoe, a size 6 Dr. Martens should be a decent fit. If you normally wear a size 6, get a size 6 and expect it to be a touch large. If the shoes are a little too big for you, a comfortable pair of socks will assist compensate for the extra wiggle space.
In Dr. Martens, should you size up or down?
When it comes to Dr. Martens, there is no need to size up or down. They stay nearer to their size here. As a result, you won’t have to worry about going up or down a size.
But here’s something to think about:
If you usually wear a half-size, you’ll need to order a size smaller. Normally, the size of Dr. Martens remains the same. However, reducing them to half their original size will lead them to lose their shape. As a result, it’s best to go down a size.
In addition, if Dr. Marten does not give the proper fit, insoles should be purchased. The tighter boots appear to be more difficult to break in. But why is it the case?
Even though leather will stretch, the tighter boots will take some time to break in. To acquire some insoles since they’ll help you fill in any gaps.
Aside from that, stick to the standard sizes, as Dr. Martens are the same size as you imagine them to be.